My Ride to the Snow Valley Bash

[JonW]

We left Hilton at 06h30, me on my XRR and Kevin (Outthere) and Sarah on their GS1200.

Had an uneventful early morning tar ride to Sani Pass and an easy 15 minute ride up the pass. I had no luggage at all on my bike, everything I took with was in my Camelbak on my back, including a few tools, two spare tubes and some clothes. Not that comfortable riding with that weight on my back, but I got used to it  :biggrin:

Still some snow around at the top of Sani

My XRR, with new rubber courtesy of Mitas, an absolute pleasure to ride, handled whatevere I could throw at it with ease

Kevin and Sarah cruising

At the bottom of Matebeng Pass just past the campsite

Matebeng Pass

At the top of the pass

Some snow on the pass

At the bottom of the pass we headed for the Chinese shop at Sehlabathebe where we filled up with fuel. We also visited the "Green House" where we bought some beers for the night ahead.

That night we stayed at the Lodge at Sehlabathebe Game Reserve, didn't have a booking, but they had space for us. Shared the lodge with some overseas tourists, was a great spot to spend the night. Just remember to take your own food with. Thanks Sarah for the steaks we braaid. Ataste of things to come  :biggrin:

Sehlabathebe is a very special place and is well worth a visit

We left early Friday morning, cold and sunny, but with a howling wind.

On the way to Rama's gate the road goes right along the SA border on top of the escarpment

From Rama's gate we headed on to Quacha's Nek, and from there took the long (boring) tar road towards Tele Bridge.

Now Kevin and I have ridden the Lundean's Nek road quite a few times, and each time we have noticed a road along the Lesotho side of the Bell River, which is the SA border, which looked very appealing. So with this in mind we plotted a track from the tar road near Quthing to the road next to the Bell River, Then we looked on Google Earth for a possible place to cross, and found it here:

The river was quite an easy crossing and we came out on the Lundean's Nek Rd, just at the start of the pass.

Feeling quite pleased with ourselves at our illegal border crossing, we hit the Bash at Snow Valley at about 15h00

To be continued.....

 

[whitedelight]

Cool nice pics :thumleft:

 

[Geotraveller]

Great photos.  :thumleft:

 

[dieterj]

Looks like a nice ride :thumleft:

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Hi JonW sat with you on the last night at the table with Kingly and Karen, nice report Schalk.

 

[JonW]

Hi JonW sat with you on the last night at the table with Kingly and Karen, nice report Schalk.

Hi Schalk, sorry I never got to chat with you at the bash, I know Kingsley and Karen enjoyed talking to you about your travels.

 

[wooly bugger]

:thumleft:
more pic's?

 

[edgy]

Pretty awesome ride! :thumleft:

 

[firecoast]

Flippen mooi fotos!

 

[Hentie bm]

:thumleft:

 

[JonW]

Due to the fact that I had to carry all my stuff on my back, camping was not an option for me.

So I managed to find a self catering cottage on a farm 4km from the Bash site on the Lundean's Nek Road. The nice thing about the cottage was that the huge storm on the Friday night didn't affect us, but the downside was we couldn't get too plasterd at the Bash as we had to ride our bikes back to the cottage afterwards.

Our cottage at Glen Lyon:

The actual bash was brilliant, everything ran like clockwork and I didn't hear even one negative remark about anything. For me the best part of the bash was finally meeting people I had been chatting to on the forum for the past 6 years or so.

Saturday evening we had to make a decision about which way we were going home. It was to be either up to Tiffendell, then Tenahead and down Naude's Nek and onto Matat, or back over the river and into Lesotho, then past Lake Letsie and down OngeluksNek. Sarah had never been to OngeluksNek and Offside and Wildside were keen to go that way, so it was decided to go back via Lesotho. Another plus for going that way was that we had left Lesotho illegally, so we could then have a chance to get our passports properly stamped.

After a quick solo ride up to Tiffendell and back we departed, having arranged to meet Offside and Wildside at the Ongeluksnek turnoff.

Had a nice relaxed ride up Lundean's Nek, when we came across ICM and his mate who had put a hole in his BMW tappet cover and leaked oil all over the road.

Kevin gave them his bottle of oil as well as his supply of Pratley Steel and gave them instructions on how to repair the damage. Unfortunately there was not too much else we could do.

Had an uneventful river crossing back into Lesotho, then an awesome ride along the river and out the valley to the tar at Quthing. Soon met up with Kingsley and Karen and took the OngeluksNek road, which was a treat as always.

Leaving Lesotho at the top of OngeluksNek

At the OngeluksNek Border Post we said cheers to Kingsley and Karen as it was already after 3 in the afternoon and I had to be back before dark as my XR's headlight is just about useless.

Anyway, we made good progress to Matat where we re-fueled, then hit the dirt road to Swartberg. This road had been recently graded and was awesome. i was hitting speeds of 150km/h on the XR, the fastest I have ever ridden on dirt. Then got to Underburg at just after 5 and decided I had enough range to make it home without filling up. We had done 120 km since we put fuel in at Matat and it was only another 100km to go, so off we went, pushing it to avoid riding in the dark.

Well I learned that the XRR is a thirsty beast when ridden at speeds in excess of 140, and I came to a grinding halt about 15km from home.

So I finished a brilliant bash trip being towed by Kevin and Sarah the last 15km in the pitch dark.

Thanks guys.

Can't wait for the next one.

 

[philemon]

Hey JonW

Always nice to read your RR.

glad that you enjoyed it.

Perhaps another time . . . . . . . who knows.

 

[Outhere]

My pictures from our three days riding with Jon and co.

 

[Outhere]

Great time at bash with new and old friends Thanks to all for organising.

 

[Cave Girl]

Lekker report thanks for posting! Outthere you and Sarah are legendary the way you stand through everything!

 

[Outhere]

All home safe

 

[Bashplate]

Nice RR, awesome picks.  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Dirt Junkie]

lekker photos thanks for the RR  :thumleft:

 

[wildside]

John and Kevin you have some awesome pictures and have really captured the beauty of the Lesotho country side. I just want to thank you both for accompaning us on the trip through Lesotho and down Ongeluksnek. It was a magic ride.  I'm sure if I hadn't slowed you down you would have made it home before dark.
Hope to see you all soon.

 

[ianb]

Nice Jon .Good you all home safe Nice RR.