Oasis Spitbraai

[Vulcan]

I was eyeing the annual spitbraai at Oasis with anticipation, but the open spots disappeared quite quickly. Fortunate some spots opened in Keith’s group last minute, so I jumped at the opportunity.

I left Thursday after work to meet up with @Challa at his place in Brackenfell. I was treated with some excellent conversation, braai and some whiskey.

Friday, we left early to hook up with the rest of the group at Engen Winelands. We left there just after eight, direction Rawsonville, to meet up with some more riders. I soon discovered that the little 300 is at a deficit on tar running with the bigger bikes but I managed to kind of keep up.

We reached Rawsonville at about nine and met up with a few more riders, and headed of to Ceres, where another rider waited for us. After some refueling and chatting, we left for Oasis. The route took us over Bo-Swaarmoed, R356, Bike X Cape, Tankwa Padstal (where we saw some weird characters, probably on their way to Afrika Burn), Katbakkies and Oasis. Some parts of the R356 were excellent and some parts were quite loose. So far all was well and no spills according to my knowledge.

We were quite knackered and after some excellent ribs at Oasis, we turned in early. I didn’t sleep well as we were warned about the condition of the road to Wuppertal.

Saturday morning arrived and I was still a bit apprehensive about the day as this was only my second time I was going to do this route. I had my first and only unplanned dismount early in the day when I misjudged some sandy bits and ended up on the side of the road. No damage to me or bike and I felt better – like after that first tackle in a rugby game on a cold wet, winter morning. The road was in pretty bad shape as there were some big rain and flooding a few week back, but strangely enough a lot dryer that the last time we did it in August 2021. The sand in Eselbank was very loose and way more challenging than the stretch before the concrete road that goes down into Whuppertal. We regrouped in Wuppertal and you could see some tired faces. Some of the riders turned back to Oasis while the rest of us left for a ride along the Tra-Tra river. Lovely little road and I soon started enjoying the ride again. The little 300 was made for this.

We left Wuppertal and I faced one of the toughest things I have done in a long time – the return to Oasis...

We were tired, the road was loose and long. There were some close calls and a lot of swearing. Fatigue set in and caused some errors. The last of us reached Oasis just after four and that first beer tasted excellent.

That night we were spoiled with another excellent spitbraai, conversation and catching up with old friends.

Sunday we left a bit later than planned (blame the Irish for their nectar) and said our goodbyes. I did solo from Rawsonville and was treated with some howling winds and rain just as I turned off the N2, direction Bredasdorp. I eventually pulled into Struisbaai at 16:00.

The route for the weekend:

• Struisbaai to Brackenfell: 210km
• Brackenfell to Oasis: 310km
• Oasis to Whuppertal: 40km
• Interesting route from Whuppertal along Tra-Tra river and back: 30km
• Whuppertal to Oasis: 40km
• Oasis to Struisbaai: 360km

So, all in all, just under 1000km in four days.

Things to ponder:

• The 300’s seat is way more comfy than it looks.
• @Ri 's KLX 250 is quite quick, and I had to tuck knees and keep my head down on the long strait between Op Die Berg and Gydo to reel her in. In all fairness, she is about half my weight.
• I am unfit as hell.
• My sand riding needs a LOT more practice.
• I managed to only bin it once (there were a few close calls).
• I suck at sand riding.
• The rear suspension upgrade on the 300 works wonders and if you own a 300, I would really encourage anyone over 90kg’s to do it. It improves traction a lot and doesn’t ‘sit down’ in the bad parts anymore.
• The OEM front tire on the 300 needs to be replaced by an MT21 soon.

Thanks to everyone at Oasis for the excellent food.

Thanks to all my co riders for all your support and advice.

A special thanks to @ultraflight for all the planning and arrangements.

Please add some pics as I didn’t take a lot.

See you on the next one.

 

[Black_Hawk]

We came in from Whuppertal/Eselbank and I must say that it was quite an interesting 40km. The road was in the worst condition that I've ever seen it with quite a bit more sandy sections than I can remember and not to mention those lose stones. It was like riding on a bunch of golf balls. We arrived at Oasis shortly after 17h with some minor mishaps in our group, luckily nothing serious.

The food was excellent and and it seems like there was no end to it.

 

[Challa]

Lekker RR.

As always the spitbraai lived up to expectation.

The section back from Wupperthal was interesting once the exhaustion set in. Lost it proper in a sandy patch and ended up in the bossies.

 

[ultraflight]

The young Dutch couple (Wouter and Miriam) who rode with our group, made a little video of the ride to Wupperthal and back, showing the condition of the road.


They were brave, been riding only 3 months, but they thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sunday they did not return home with us, but went from Oasis via Tankwa to Sutherland, then Monday via Middelpos to Gannaga Lodge for 2 nights.
Just before the lodge, Miriam took a tumble in those deep truck tracks and bent the handlebar badly.
Wouter then carried her on pillion for the rest of their tour, including down Gannaga Pass.
Their insurance went to collect her bike.
They had quite an African adventure!

 

[Ri]

This is a lekker ride report @Vulcan, next time more pictures please

Wouter has been riding for some years apparently (not sure about off road?). Miriam learnt to ride on her BMW700GS when she did the Country Trax course(s) on their arrival in SA. She tackled Wuppertal with only about 4 months' gravel highway experience.

I take my hat off to her! She did quite well and kept going despite some tipovers. I helped pick up her bike once and was surprised that it was lighter than I expected. Maybe the weight distribution.

 

[Ri]

I left the route impromptu a few times on the way to Wuppertal and had to backpaddle or ride over shrubs to get back on the road, but it was great because my little Black Beastie is amazing.

Near the end of our Tra-Tra sidetrip, we unexpectedly stopped on a steep downhill hairpin with a wicked camber. My shortleg syndrome kicked in and Beastie bought a small plot with a view. I had him upright before the last rider came to a standstill

Going back to Oasis, things became harder. I was hot and tired, and my focus faded in and out. The position of the sun made it harder to read the road conditions. Still, things held together until I entered Eselbank and couldn't decide which sandy road to take around the patch of shrubs in the middle of the road.

I decided to go right but lacked conviction. Beastie shook his head at the thick sandpit, dove left into the shrubs, and rolled over and played dead. @Vulcan 's 300 did a parallel swerve into the shrubs in sympathy, but was too dignified to lie down. Again I had Beastie upright as quick as the locals reached us, and they stood gaping at my technique, gender, strength, or stinginess.

We left behind our synchronised sand carvings and paddled our way out of Eselbank. I gave myself a stern talking to, and things went a bit better.

I reached a little river crossing near the Eselbank side turnoff towards Verlatenkloof, and saw Duncan waiting on the other side. There was small churned up sandy patch by the river crossing.

I rode slowly and kept left on the high slanted turn, then at the last moment decided to rather cross the sand from the other side. I carefully started a short turn and must have inadvertently twitched the throttle.

Beastie's back kicked out and tilted me into the ground, his casing slamming into my sideways laying boot. Familiar agony shot through my foot and I squirmed around for a moment, breathless with pain. "Not broken, please, not broken again," I softly pleaded with my Lord.

I got to my feet carefully. Beastie wasn't going to right himself, the little twit. He was ridable side up again when Duncan reached me and put out the sidestand for me. @Vulcan rolled up in time to view the aftermath. They waited patiently while I tested the state of my foot. But what was a "tannie" to do? I had to get myself and the Beastie home.

Riders passed. I climbed on Beastie and we rolled slowly forwards Oasis. I'd never ridden to Oasis from Wuppertal side, and it is quite beautiful. @Vulcan followed, in no hurry.

At Oasis I showered and dressed and went to join the feast, gratefully sipping some cold Irish refreshment poured with a generous hand. But my pulsing, slow-burning foot took away my appetite. I was disappointed with my rookie crash, and sick at the thought of how what felt like a broken foot was going to mess up my life.

I took the anti inflammatory and Mybulens Jacques pressed into my hand, glanced at the hungry crowd queueing for the freshly dished feast, and hobbled to my tent. I was gutted that I was missing the first Spitbraai in ages, but I couldn't complain: it was self-inflicted.

The next morning, my foot was only a little swollen and bruised, and amazingly I could walk without much pain, if I didn't bend my foot. The trip home was without incident except for some wind, joyous praises clanging in my head. On Monday the doctor confirmed that prayers were indeed answered: my foot was not broken!

@ultraflight , thanks for a great ride, and everyone who joined, thanks for great company!

 

[the ruffian]

I’d be intrigued to know what thefuel consumption was on your 300l, @Vulcan , and on the KLX, @Ri ...

Grand report back from both of you, thanks...

 

[Vulcan]

I’d be intrigued to know what thefuel consumption was on your 300l, @Vulcan , and on the KLX, @Ri ...

Grand report back from both of you, thanks...

The 300L's computer showed an average of 29.2km/l and I think it used slightly (very marginal) less fuel than the KLX - @Ri ?

 

[sidetrack]

Pics of the small bikes in action please

 

[Vulcan]

Pics of the small bikes in action please

I didn't take any myself this time, but if ok with our travel group, I can share some of the footage from some of the other riders?

 

[ultraflight]

I didn't take any myself this time, but if ok with our travel group, I can share some of the footage from some of the other riders?

Go for it, we will not mind.