Lowvelders to the Richtersveld

[Noneking]

As we eventually complete the pass, I look at my watch and realise that we spent way too much time negotiating a fairly short distance.

We take shortcuts to get to Lutzville as quickly as possible. I phone Amsterdam for advice on timing on our route and it becomes apparent that we are going to have a very though time making Hondeklipbaai before dark. I shift focus and urge the guys to get going. Our goal will now be to get through the West Coast sand before sunset….. something that turned out to be harder than I thought. We reach the coast At 15:20 and go about negotiating the sand. The three newbies have never ridden in sand other than short stretches on our rides in the Lowveld

Lowvelders p@&$;?! Into the wind

 

[Wolzac]

One advantage of the 990's is that they "fall so well", the same fall on a 790/890 will almost certainly have financial implications. I like the Colours Light blue,Orange and white on the one 990, something different.

 

[Kamanya]

We reach the coast At 15:20 and go about negotiating the sand. The three newbies have never ridden in sand other than short stretches on our rides in the Lowveld

Yoh! Now that's an excellent way to leave a story hanging!

 

[adamktm]

Agreed! Can’t wait to hear how the sand went

 

[McSack]

View attachment 916172

That is definitely not for sissies... especially on bigger bikes

 

[Kamanya]

@Adriaan.theron Ja, it was you okes left those deep ruts ;-)

 

[JacoM]

As we eventually complete the pass, I look at my watch and realise that we spent way too much time negotiating a fairly short distance.

We take shortcuts to get to Lutzville as quickly as possible. I phone Amsterdam for advice on timing on our route and it becomes apparent that we are going to have a very though time making Hondeklipbaai before dark. I shift focus and urge the guys to get going. Our goal will now be to get through the West Coast sand before sunset….. something that turned out to be harder than I thought. We reach the coast At 15:20 and go about negotiating the sand. The three newbies have never ridden in sand other than short stretches on our rides in the Lowveld

Lowvelders p@&$;?! Into the wind

View attachment 916186

In the WC, one of the first lessons you learn is to always pee in down wind direction!!!
How was Hondeklipbaai? LAst we were there the town was without water for a few days already. Apparently it happened frequently a year or so ago. Really hope it is now sorted as it is such a nice destination !

 

[Noneking]

In the WC, one of the first lessons you learn is to always pee in down wind direction!!!
How was Hondeklipbaai? LAst we were there the town was without water for a few days already. Apparently it happened frequently a year or so ago. Really hope it is now sorted as it is such a nice destination !

Hondeklipbaai was good…. No water issues.

 

[Noneking]

Janus is n agricultural engineer from Nelspruit and was the accidental clown of our trip….

 

[Noneking]

Things start off easy… I try to make it to all the gates first to allow the newbies in the group to keep momemtum and energy levels up…. Open gate, let everyone through and then race to front again to hopefully be first at the next gate.

 

[Noneking]

Nico assists with this “task” and we get a good pace going….. but we haven’t really hit the sandy patches yet..

 

[Noneking]

And then things started going wrong…..

On one of my runs towards the front, I come up behind Gustav and Janus. Janus is ready to pass Gustav and chooses a good spot where Gustav seems to be stable and riding in a straight line. I switch lanes to follow Janus. Gustav seems to be riding well on the big 990, but as Janus passes Gustav becomes unsettled and bike starts snaking violently in the LH lane. I immediately slow down, but at the same time Gustav hits the middle man and goes down into “my lane” . I can see that I’m going to hit him and I try to lay my bike down. Gustav’s back is facing me as he goes down and I hit him from behind. Luckily we are both largely unhurt. Gustav has a bruised right leg and the plastics on left hand side of my bike are broken.

Gustav takes off again after we confirm he’s not badly hurt while the 890 is being put back together by cutting holes into plastics and putting everything back together with cable ties

 

[Noneking]

It’s at this stage that I realise the funny noises my bike has been making is nothing to worry about…..

 

[Noneking]

 

[Noneking]

 

[Noneking]

Behind us, Johan and Jesse have similar incident and Johan crashes into the back of Jesse’s 950, cracking the 950’s subframe, dents his Akrapovic and breaks rear light. Luckily both are unhurt.

 

[Noneking]

Janus has a few offs in the sand and picks up a ribcage injury which gives his confidence a big knock

 

[Noneking]

 

[Noneking]

 

[Noneking]

The 3x 890 were doing well in the sand and Gustav Jnr’s first outing on sand went very well, the young man looking like a natural from the get go.

My Rally felt great and was a joy to ride.