National Braai Day Canal Ride Report

[djpreston]

National Braai Day arrived and it was great adventure weather, but was going to reach a scorching 30°C out Brits way.

I arrived at the designated Engen Garage just before 8am and was greeted by 2 WD's: Wild Woody (New BMW 800, what a lekker bike) and shjakadi (Husqvarna Terra), a few minutes later Titanic pulled in on his KLR.  TrailBlazer (Transalp) and his wife Antigun (KLE500) pulled in about 15min later.

The plan was to take the western canals to Beestekraal, Jericho Rock and the eastern canals back to the meeting point at Harties. Everyone here....let the ride began, me taking the lead on my DR650.  We made our way around the western canals without much incident, besides my few navigational blunders... :-[  and some huge granite blocks in the path...



Antigun being helped around one of the blocks...



We enjoyed the lovely gravel highways and eventually made it to the tar section to Beestekraal for a much deserving bite to eat and refreshment...the place was packed and the food was good as always.

A bunch of sidecars pitch up, what beautiful machines.  :drif:

When everyone was sufficiently full we made plans to head for Jericho Rock...it was HOT!!

 

[djpreston]

The roads to Jericho Rock were very corrugated and there was a fine layer of gravel on top making going interesting...I don't have much "sand" riding experience and the tyres on the DR were not conducive to relaxed riding.  Not to mention poor Wild Woody on his GS800 with those slicks, the roads must have been like riding on ball bearings... 

Titanic had his mojo going strong and was enjoying the loose dirt... :ricky:

We arrived at the Rock and were quickly escorted by 2 entrepreneurs, looking to make a quick buck. They showed Titanic and I the different routes up and we opted for the "chicken" route. Unknown to us Antigun had a small off (not serious luckily) on the footpath to the Rock and the others didn't make it to the top...sorry guys!!

The DR and KLR on "Top of the World"



Titanic posing with his KLR!!



As it was getting late in the day we decided to take the shortest route to the canals from the Rock. The road was VERY corrugated.

Wild Woody arriving at the turn-off to the eastern canals.



TrailBlazer and Antigun arriving.



Taking a break before tackling the eastern canals...

 

[djpreston]

The ride along the eastern canals was nice and pleasant, with some nice twisties...  :ricky: and a few water crossings...

Wild Woody's splash...



Antigun making a BIG splash...



TrailBlazer following suite...



A while later Antigun had an off when her front wheel washed out on a corner, luckily she was only doing about 30km/h or the bike would have ended up in the canal.  :eek7: She sustained a minor injury to her elbow and the KLE had minor cosmetic damage. It was getting late and we decided to head for the nearest tar, shjakadi arranged for his wife to bring a trailer to come pick up the KLE as we all thought it safer that Antigun not ride it all the way back home.  A HUGE thanks to shjakadi, you are a true gentleman!! Thanks also to Wild Woody for keeping them comany while you guys waited for the trailer to arrive.  :thumleft:

Unfortunately I had an prior arrangement and had to head home, Titanic's KLR was getting hot and the fan was not kicking in, so opted to accompany me back, we made good time on some busy roads.

Thanks for an awesome ride, it was fantastic to meet some great people...

I'm glad everyone got home safely!!

Antigun, strongs and heal up quickly, you are doing well...keep it up!!

Till next time, ride safe!!  :ricky:

 

[Welsh]

I did some of the Eastern canals yesterday, I was too late to meet up with you guys, I found the front end felt very loose in the corners just put it down to running about 2.1 Bar and out of practice 8)

 

[shjakadi]

Thanks for organising the ride DJ.

Need to do it again so that we can finish it. 

 

[djpreston]

Thanks for organising the ride DJ.

Need to do it again so that we can finish it. 

Definitely  :thumleft:

 

[stan1975]

Nice RR DJ, Eugene (non WD) on his '06 R1200GS and me on my 06 R1200GS did the eastern canalsroute to the rock on Monday morning. We blitzed it there like Ninja's, left Sunninghill at 6am and were on top of the rock at 8:05. Eugene being a small mannetjie weighing around 65kgs and can really operate the big Beemer...

Glad you guys had a good ride, Hope Antigun's elbow heals quickly.

Let me know when you want to do the ride again... I'll be keen to join.

 

[Atigun]

Thanks again for the nice ride. Sorry for not completing it. Will go back to finish it. Elbow is fine not too much swelling but the knee has more damage than anticipated. Looks like I had a knee op! ;D. Hope to see you all soon for another ride!

 

[COLES]

very nice great photo,s

 

[Bashplate]

Nice RR  :thumleft:

 

[shjakadi]

Thanks again for the nice ride. Sorry for not completing it. Will go back to finish it. Elbow is fine not too much swelling but the knee has more damage than anticipated. Looks like I had a knee op! ;D. Hope to see you all soon for another ride!

Look after that knee and heal up well - then come join us for round two  :3some:

 

[Wild Woody]

Just to let everyone know I went back to re do the Jericho Road........ I got my MoJo back :ricky: :ricky:

Stood up on the pegs relaxed, 5th gear and sorted (on those crappy Pirelli tyres)

 

[stan1975]

Just to let everyone know I went back to re do the Jericho Road........ I got my MoJo back :ricky: :ricky:

Stood up on the pegs relaxed, 5th gear and sorted (on those crappy Pirelli tyres)

Nice one Wild Woody - that road can be powdery in places!  :ricky: :thumleft: