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Just in case... My beadbreaker... Julle kan lag maar hy werk...
My WARR2022/23 - Richtersveld trips, prep and execution.
- Thread starter RobCrouch
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Safe travels!
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Agenys departure after a good night's rest.
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Last Wimpy brekkie for a while in Springbok.
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I really need new caliper pins... kriek op die briek was driving the local straatloper mutts crazy from Keimoes where it started and then I go and round the allen head trying to loosen it in Carnavon.
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Are you home yet, Rob? Enjoyed your fred so much I sommer re-read the whole thing!
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Yes, I chickened out when I saw the forecasts... glad I did, there was some serious rain on my route but it is the lightning that I hate the most...
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And so it started... the aim of Day1 25/10/02022 was to get as far as Prieska as the waterpump issue had left me 3 days to get to the Bash... MD took copious amounts of pictures as well as my attempt to get on board the loaded bike... not an easy task as the last real trip had been our honeymoon around Lesotho.
My route was Petrusburg, Koffiefontein then a brief stop in Orania to top up the tank, I tend to not take many pics when I am in the rhythm of riding. However the Havenga bridge over the Orange pics had to be done for proof... ;-)
Then onward to Hopetown where I took the wrong turn and ended up at Strydenburg, as it was getting late I saw a Prieska sighn and decided to wing it on the R387... as dirt goes not too bad after all with the loaded Shrek, reaching Prieska at around 7pm... tired as I was and due to it becoming dark I found the nearest accommodation at Gecko Lodge. Very comfortable and air conditioned too.
Then I rode over to the Riverview Lodge restaurant as this was also owend by the folks of Gecko. The bar had it's own watchdog Worsie... Supper was superb Barnsley or Butterfly Chops and Boerewors with chips and onion rings... Lekker!!
Then it was off to bed to freshen up for the next leg of the Outloop to Growcery Store.
Here are the pics & video of the day in no particular order.
My route was Petrusburg, Koffiefontein then a brief stop in Orania to top up the tank, I tend to not take many pics when I am in the rhythm of riding. However the Havenga bridge over the Orange pics had to be done for proof... ;-)
Then onward to Hopetown where I took the wrong turn and ended up at Strydenburg, as it was getting late I saw a Prieska sighn and decided to wing it on the R387... as dirt goes not too bad after all with the loaded Shrek, reaching Prieska at around 7pm... tired as I was and due to it becoming dark I found the nearest accommodation at Gecko Lodge. Very comfortable and air conditioned too.
Then I rode over to the Riverview Lodge restaurant as this was also owend by the folks of Gecko. The bar had it's own watchdog Worsie... Supper was superb Barnsley or Butterfly Chops and Boerewors with chips and onion rings... Lekker!!
Then it was off to bed to freshen up for the next leg of the Outloop to Growcery Store.
Here are the pics & video of the day in no particular order.
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Butterfly Chops
Hel hulle het moerse butterflies in daai wêreld!!!
Hel hulle het moerse butterflies in daai wêreld!!!
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Moer lekker... ;-)Butterfly Chops
Hel hulle het moerse butterflies in daai wêreld!!!
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Day two (26/10) started with me going into town with 4 things in mind.
1. Find Breakfast
2. Visit Prieska Meubels aka @ETS
3. Visit FNB to top up air time and date, had forgotten to do so the day before.
4. Buy some safety pins and some canned food and bikkies should I need to free camp along the way.
The other goal was to at least get to Poffader before sunset.
Breakfast was not available except a Kentucky Crunch... it would have to do for now.
I then set off to find FNB and Prieska Meubels... fortunately they are opposite from each other in the CBD of Prieska. Kobus was quite pleased to see me and we enjoyed some coffee and a chat while he multitasked his pile of correspondence that was waiting for him, being away overseas tends to have that result.
Then I found out that FNB only opens at 9am, not 8 like in the metropoles... so I walked around and found the shops that were open and ticked of the list of items I wanted. At 9 it was a quick pop in, log in, buy data/airtime and back to the lodge to pack and leave, by ten I was heading out on the N10 toward Marydale...
Arriving at Marydale I filled up and chatted to some locals as to the state of the road to Kenhardt... not good as recent rain had washed it away in places... so the better part of valour being so loaded was slab it to Upington.
Wile in Marydale the old Frasers shop was opposite the filling station... No longer used as a general dealer but a store for the Garage... some intresteing things were inside, a horse drawn hearse, some bikes and cars as well as some bare chassis... all destined for restoration by the guys inside.
Reacing upington and filling up it was onward westward to Pofadder, with the odd stop for water, coffee and P. Stopping over at the water mill in Keimoes and the Rose Cafe in Kakamas for toasties. An intresting feature in those environs is the almost blinding reflection of sunlight on the Khi Solar One tower where electricity is generated by concentrating sunlight on the boilers on the tower. leaving Khi fading behind it was onward to Poffadder.
The veld between Kakamas was a surprise to me as the last time I had seen it when working for Frasers was almost bare ground, shrubs and black boulders, this time there was calf high grass for miles and miles, clearly the rains has been good in the rainy season. Reaching Poffadder around 5 pm and after topping up with petrol I decided to head for the mining town of Aggenys for the night, either camp or guesthouse would do.
Just before one gets to Aggenys off the N10 on the left is Gamsberg... at first I thought the dust on the top was blasting operations... but no it was a pile of tailing as tall as the mountain itself, the tippers were moving the mountain! Impressed I rode into town... At Aggenys Guest house I was informed one had to book through the mine fefore 4pm... but the alternative was the Oase Gastehuis. Gave them a call and there was room available. Quite nice and run by the local NG congregation as a fund raising project, so I parted with the R700 with ease knowing it was going to the congregation.
Supper was had in the company of a gentleman named Neil Cohen, also staying at the gastehuis and busy with a assett survey at the mine. You meet the most intresting people during a bike trip...
After supper it was a shower and off to bed as I planned to be packed and on the way to Growcery by 8 am latest. Shrek was left outside with most of my belongings as crime is unknown in this mine town... cameras and patrols all over the show.
Once again pics in no order but I have named them to help in description.
1. Find Breakfast
2. Visit Prieska Meubels aka @ETS
3. Visit FNB to top up air time and date, had forgotten to do so the day before.
4. Buy some safety pins and some canned food and bikkies should I need to free camp along the way.
The other goal was to at least get to Poffader before sunset.
Breakfast was not available except a Kentucky Crunch... it would have to do for now.
I then set off to find FNB and Prieska Meubels... fortunately they are opposite from each other in the CBD of Prieska. Kobus was quite pleased to see me and we enjoyed some coffee and a chat while he multitasked his pile of correspondence that was waiting for him, being away overseas tends to have that result.
Then I found out that FNB only opens at 9am, not 8 like in the metropoles... so I walked around and found the shops that were open and ticked of the list of items I wanted. At 9 it was a quick pop in, log in, buy data/airtime and back to the lodge to pack and leave, by ten I was heading out on the N10 toward Marydale...
Arriving at Marydale I filled up and chatted to some locals as to the state of the road to Kenhardt... not good as recent rain had washed it away in places... so the better part of valour being so loaded was slab it to Upington.
Wile in Marydale the old Frasers shop was opposite the filling station... No longer used as a general dealer but a store for the Garage... some intresteing things were inside, a horse drawn hearse, some bikes and cars as well as some bare chassis... all destined for restoration by the guys inside.
Reacing upington and filling up it was onward westward to Pofadder, with the odd stop for water, coffee and P. Stopping over at the water mill in Keimoes and the Rose Cafe in Kakamas for toasties. An intresting feature in those environs is the almost blinding reflection of sunlight on the Khi Solar One tower where electricity is generated by concentrating sunlight on the boilers on the tower. leaving Khi fading behind it was onward to Poffadder.
The veld between Kakamas was a surprise to me as the last time I had seen it when working for Frasers was almost bare ground, shrubs and black boulders, this time there was calf high grass for miles and miles, clearly the rains has been good in the rainy season. Reaching Poffadder around 5 pm and after topping up with petrol I decided to head for the mining town of Aggenys for the night, either camp or guesthouse would do.
Just before one gets to Aggenys off the N10 on the left is Gamsberg... at first I thought the dust on the top was blasting operations... but no it was a pile of tailing as tall as the mountain itself, the tippers were moving the mountain! Impressed I rode into town... At Aggenys Guest house I was informed one had to book through the mine fefore 4pm... but the alternative was the Oase Gastehuis. Gave them a call and there was room available. Quite nice and run by the local NG congregation as a fund raising project, so I parted with the R700 with ease knowing it was going to the congregation.
Supper was had in the company of a gentleman named Neil Cohen, also staying at the gastehuis and busy with a assett survey at the mine. You meet the most intresting people during a bike trip...
After supper it was a shower and off to bed as I planned to be packed and on the way to Growcery by 8 am latest. Shrek was left outside with most of my belongings as crime is unknown in this mine town... cameras and patrols all over the show.
Once again pics in no order but I have named them to help in description.
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JustBendIt
Grey Hound
It was most excellent to meet you and have you at the WARR BASH ... thanks for making the effort Rob
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All other bashes will be measured against you guys effort henceforth.
It was an amazingly well orchestrated event at an iconic part of our country. A place on my bucket list.
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G clamp is the bomb, bullet proof.....also carry one .
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I was quite chuffed how well my zip ties worked. 3000 + k and it is still 100% secure.
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Day 3 dawned (27/10) and I was up early, quickly packed and was off before 8 am...
The veld continued to amaze me with all the grass... this was the case untill Springbok whereI filled up at the Engen and had breakfast at the Wimpy.
Then it was onward North on the N7 to Steinkopf, as one went northward the terrain started to look more desert like as well.
Steinkopf was my last refuel/top up and off we went seeking Vioolsdrif.
The P stops were also required as the Winpy coffee and hydration were kicking in. The places were quite scenic and some even had some Mesquite that was in bloom... amazing to see how plants still found a niche to flourish in what looks a very harsh enviroment.
I also called the last stretch the Glinsterveld, due to the sunlight sparkling on all the mica among the sand and pebbles.
Some of the rocky outcrops resemble mine tailings but are just erosion, passed several signs that denoted mines as well...
Getting closer to Vioolsdrif the magnificent Fyfmyl Poort pass surprised me with it's awesome twisties, I would be back a few times for the ride up and down.
Stopped at Vioolsdrif's cafe and made sure where to go next, then it was Westward along the south bank of the mighty Orange, no pics were taken as I wanted to get to Growcery and set up camp before exploring further.
20K down the road I finaly reached Growcery and the paperwork had to be done and I finaly met Justin and Andries aka Andrew. Putting faces and names to nicknames was one of the highlights of being at the bash for me. Some names I have not been able to remember but at least I now have a face to the nickname! ;-)
Found a spot and set up camp then wandered around greeting fellow dogs and gazing at the magnificent scenery around us.
The Growcery impressed me with the rustic facilities and competent staff that catered to all our needs, supper was a magnificent beef pot and after a kuier with @Goose and @Bokkeman as well as getting to meet @Leo and his tribe I wanderd back to my tent for bed... BUT!
Die manne van die panne were there having their own kuier, most interesting to meet all the Upington and Namibian guys. They kept me entertained for the next few nights and got to know them better as well. Some are quite famous as they featured in some of the Footpeg Diary episodes, Kalahari Kruuz...
Nick en Tiaan, Rikus, dit was lekker om julle te ontmoet.
Then word came through of @cocky and his band of brothers stuck in the sand... the next day would be intresting as I eventully fell asleep...
The veld continued to amaze me with all the grass... this was the case untill Springbok whereI filled up at the Engen and had breakfast at the Wimpy.
Then it was onward North on the N7 to Steinkopf, as one went northward the terrain started to look more desert like as well.
Steinkopf was my last refuel/top up and off we went seeking Vioolsdrif.
The P stops were also required as the Winpy coffee and hydration were kicking in. The places were quite scenic and some even had some Mesquite that was in bloom... amazing to see how plants still found a niche to flourish in what looks a very harsh enviroment.
I also called the last stretch the Glinsterveld, due to the sunlight sparkling on all the mica among the sand and pebbles.
Some of the rocky outcrops resemble mine tailings but are just erosion, passed several signs that denoted mines as well...
Getting closer to Vioolsdrif the magnificent Fyfmyl Poort pass surprised me with it's awesome twisties, I would be back a few times for the ride up and down.
Stopped at Vioolsdrif's cafe and made sure where to go next, then it was Westward along the south bank of the mighty Orange, no pics were taken as I wanted to get to Growcery and set up camp before exploring further.
20K down the road I finaly reached Growcery and the paperwork had to be done and I finaly met Justin and Andries aka Andrew. Putting faces and names to nicknames was one of the highlights of being at the bash for me. Some names I have not been able to remember but at least I now have a face to the nickname! ;-)
Found a spot and set up camp then wandered around greeting fellow dogs and gazing at the magnificent scenery around us.
The Growcery impressed me with the rustic facilities and competent staff that catered to all our needs, supper was a magnificent beef pot and after a kuier with @Goose and @Bokkeman as well as getting to meet @Leo and his tribe I wanderd back to my tent for bed... BUT!
Die manne van die panne were there having their own kuier, most interesting to meet all the Upington and Namibian guys. They kept me entertained for the next few nights and got to know them better as well. Some are quite famous as they featured in some of the Footpeg Diary episodes, Kalahari Kruuz...
Nick en Tiaan, Rikus, dit was lekker om julle te ontmoet.
Then word came through of @cocky and his band of brothers stuck in the sand... the next day would be intresting as I eventully fell asleep...
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