Love & War Tour

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I agree, very interesting, especially the boer war stuff. A similar thing can be done with thr zulu/boer and zulu/english battles in Natal.

Cant wait for the next edition.  :thumleft:  :ricky:
 
Trailrider said:
Day 2


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Wasn't there a request for names of plants beginning with F here last week.  What could be better than that?

Great trip & report TR.
I have ethical problems with having rare exotic life forms as pets though.
 
Day 3

Few photos today. The camera was still set for taking photographs indoors at night with the subject behind glass so most of today's pics were not usable. :-\

Today we hit gravel right from the word go traveling North West towards the Spitskop dam.

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In my experience Day 3 is always the best day of a ride. By now you have switched off from your usual daily grind and you have settled into a routine. It was also to nice to be doing more gravel
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The Spitkop dam:

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Under this dam lies what used to be my dad's farm. The government disowned the land to build the dam and he moved on and bought a farm in George. All of this happened before I was born, but these events probably had huge bearing on my life. 

This was my first time here.

Traveling past the dam towards Jan Kempdorp the whole landscape changed. Greenery everywhere!

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It is clear that there are lots of water available to these farmers and the literally farm with everything. Crops, fruit (including Citrus), livestock, Olives and we even saw a Wine cellar! The roads are in a good condition (as in the rest of the Northern Cape) with green grass and trees lining it. I thought to myself (more than once) that I might as well have been riding between the farms in George. This is an oasis in the middle of the dry Northern Cape.

Next to the road there was another 1 metre wide tar "road" especially for the bicycles.
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I was truly surprised and impressed with this area.

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We were enjoying the ride and scenery, looking around and generally going slower and sticking to the speed limits. ;)

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We were riding along when suddenly...

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We were all smiles. I had no idea how fast we were going or what the limit was in the area, but we were just in such a good mood. He checked my license, lights, tyres etc. It was just a routine check and wished us a good journey ahead. What a friendly bloke.

We were now on the N18 traveling North into the North West Province - Taung, Pudimo & Huhudi (Vryburg). Still some interresting things around:

The Taung Skull

The Taung Heritage Site is of enormous scientific importance. It was at these limestone diggings at the old Buxton quarry in 1924 that the lime encrusted skull of a child was unearthed.

The discovery of the Taung child skull at the Buxton quarry was heralded as one of the most significant archaeological events of the time. The find effectively advanced the evidence of the existence of early man in Africa by more than a million years, leading many scientists to believe that the origin of early man was indeed initiated on the African continent.

The difference between the two provinces is apparent. The road condition worsened there were free moving animals everywhere. We were cruising the whole morning but now we were going even slower. We were dodging cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, people, dogs and chickens.

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By the time we got to Vryburg we had to fill up. After riding so slowly our fuel consumption was a whopping 20,6 km/L
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Two up with luggage! It pays to go slow
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Some more interesting sounding little towns like Delareyville, Sannieshof and Biesiesvlei (sorry - no pics) en route to Lichtenburg, our destination for the day.

Another great day's riding. By now we have travelled 1200 problem free km. The TransAlp is just purring along. Day 4 would be a "rest day" in Sun City.
 
So four of us set off today for a bit of riding in the Lichtenburg/Zeerust District.
I have no Camera and you'll have to wait for TR to post.
But I would just like to thank TR, JoGSA, HennieS for a great day's riding and some lekker  company!!
Great meeting you guys!!!
 
Excellent RR - keep it going - and educational at the same time, thanks!!
 
Hey TR and MrsTR you up to one of your out rides again super enjoy your quality time  :thumleft: :thumleft:
 
Fantastic trip manâ?¦â?¦  :thumleft: ooh I cannot wait to get back homeâ?¦. You made my evening, thanks.  ;)

Keep it coming!! :drif:
 
Stofstreep said:
So four of us set off today for a bit of riding in the Lichtenburg/Zeerust District.
I have no Camera and you'll have to wait for TR to post.
But I would just like to thank TR, JoGSA, HennieS for a great day's riding and some lekker  company!!
Great meeting you guys!!!

Thanks for the ride guys. It was GREAT. Was nice to meet you. You sure have a beautiful area.

I have a very bad internet connection here but will update the RR a.s.a.p. If not tonight then tomorrow in Bloemfontein.
 
Day 4

Not much to report about on Day 4. We had a rest day in Sun City.

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Always nice to treat and pamper the love of your life. We went to see the show as promised - had great tickets, 2nd row!

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Mrs. TR loved it! Mission accomplished.
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Day 5

The next couple of days we spend in Lichtenburg visiting family. As it turns out weâ??re staying on a farm just outside of Lichtenburg and itâ??s not just any farm â?? itâ??s a Game Farm!

All I can say is wow! Iâ??ve never had the opportunity to see wild animals, especially the predators, up close like this. This was an amazing experience.

Peanut, the tame warthog, up close and personal.

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Nile Crocodile:

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These were still small. I went into the enclosure to see them up close, but when the mom noticed me I hightailed it out of there! ;D

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"Bakoor" Jackal

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Seems like the Lichtenburg Wild dogs take it easy ;D

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But the highlight of course was the cats! Most were wild and kept that way, but some were bought in from farms where they had human contact so these cats would walk up for some attention. What an amazing experience. The first cat we saw was a (wild) Rooikat. He just ate a chicken. They seem quite ferocious.

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Then we saw a â??Tierboskatâ?, but he was very elusive so I donâ??t have a pic.

The Leopard is amazing. This really is a beautiful animal.

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That was until we saw the Tigers!

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These are BIG. Those paws have to be seen to be believed. This one grew up in some-oneâ??s garden:

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But when he got to big they had to get rid of him and so he ended up on the farm. He would walk right up to the fence to be petted!

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Then we saw the King of the animals.

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I was surprised at how big these cats really are.

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And they get still get bigger Iâ??m told. These males were only 20 months old. Most were wild, but three of them came up to be petted.

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Believe me - when a Lion roars this close to you, you are filled with the fear of God! Especially when it is unexpected.

This was my first experience with Lions. They are awesome awesome animals. While we were walking along the camp the three males would walk next to us along the fence. Amazing.

What a trip weâ??re having! Walking with a Lion is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.
 
Day 6

Today I ride with the local Wild Dogs! I just knew this was going to be good.

When I arrived at the designated spot Jo GSA (BMW GSA), Stofstreep (KLR650) and HennieS (V-Strom 650) were already waiting.

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We rode out on the Koster road where we took the first dirt.

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This area is flat and dry. They certainly need some rain.

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Then, suddenly, towards Groot Marico things started to change. More hills, more trees and much more green.

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I stopped every so often for a photo. They must have thought this "Capie" is mad
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But hey, when am I going to have a chance to ride here again.
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Little did I know that the best was yet to come. Jo GSA organized some special trails for us
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Look at this! I mean, look at this! Who would have thought?

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This great spot is where we stopped for lunch. Jo GSA even brought us some biltong and droewors ;D

The TA saw some dirt, that's for sure!

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My view during Tuesday lunch. To think that other people were sitting behind their desks now
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How privileged we are.

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Next Stofstreep took the lead. I think Jo GSA was feeling bad that the Beemer was the only bike with no dust on ;)

Stofstreep took us all the way to Groot Marico and then along a little gravel railway service road.

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These guys know all the best places. Always good to have a "local contact". Next we took some nice high speed gravel towards "Wondergat". I was following Stofstreep through a long sweeping turn that he power-slid through. It looked very cool
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but at the same time I was hoping my rear stays put
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Jo GSA and his "Mothership" bringing up the rear.

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Wondergat is a popular cave diving spot. Apparently 23 divers have lost their lives here so far.

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Then HennieS took the lead and took us to the Molopo eye. This is where the Molopo River rises. In the distant past the Molopo flowed into the Orange River and then to the Atlantic Ocean. A dam wall was built across the river on the orders of President Kruger to prevent residents of Mafikeng from receiving water. It was little realised that the river flowed underground through Mafikeng anyway. This was also the only source of water for Bakerville during the Diamond Rush. This is an protected area.

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The clear water springs from the earth (you can actually see it) from an underground lake. It's also the habitat of the Dwarf Tilapia, a small fish found only here and in the Okavango Delta.

The water is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. The fish are easy to spot.

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What a great day. This area has so much to offer. It's a pity I didn't have another day to explore.

Thanks so much to Jo GSA, Stofstreep and HennieS for organizing this day and taking time on a week day to show me around. It is much appreciated. If ever you find yourselves in the Southern Cape give me a shout. I'll gladly return the favour.
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Thanx TR, we Wtvl'lers liked the "Capie here, and we must certainly do it down there in the S/Cape too.  :ricky:

Captain Kirk out
 
It was great having you here!!
Excellent pics there. Hope you have a fantastic trip back homewards!
 
Day 7 was fantastic as well. Will upload that a.s.a.p.

In Bloemfontein now - Will be at the SA Karate championships tomorrow.
 
Hi TR Rudi here I see you still left some roads for Martine and me in december  :biggrin:
Keeo up the nice reports.
Friday I em oof to Koln Intermot will take prenkies end post them.

See ya

Rudi
 
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