GSLaaitie
Race Dog
Never done a proper RR before, so here goes…
5 to 9 April 2012
Trip from PTA --> Barberton --> Mozambique (Beline) --> Waterval Boven --> Back home to PTA
1500 kms and 5 nights.
It started with first my skydiving buddies and then my Scuba buddies cancelling on me on the last day before the Easter long weekend, leaving me without any plans for the first part of my couple of days off. Staring at a map, I started making plans. I rode the pass from Barberton to Swaziland (Jozefsdal border post) at the end of last year and loved that road, so the plan was to pack my bike Thursday morning and leave directly after work. I should arrive at Barberton before it is too late, camp at the caravan park that Bosparra suggested and then shoot to Swaziland the next morning. I noticed Mozambique is not that far away, so quickly posted a question (Any ideas, anyone?) on the “Planning a Ride” Board on Wednesday night. Thursday came and just before 12, my boss decided to call it a day and chase us all out. Just before shutting down my machine, a reply appears from Dirty Des. Now usually I can’t read his posts, because the avatar distracts me completely, but this looked interesting, so I printed it out, put it in my pocket and proceeded to Barberton.
Leaving the office.
Route for day 1
The non-highway road goes right past my parent’s farm, so knowing I’d be fed, I made a quick pit stop.
First Gravel: Broodsnyersplaas to Hendrina Powerstation.
Leaving Hendrina much later as I had planned (It took some time convincing my mother that I knew exactly what I was going to do and where I was going to this weekend), I now was behind schedule and destined to only get to my campsite in the dark.
Could not resist the random “bospaadjies” still.
Arriving at Barberton at about 19:30, I gave Bosparra (Who I had met on the forum earlier that day in search of camp sites in Barberton) a call and met him for a quick drink.
Several hours later, Bosparra’s family, 4 of their friend and I were having a good kuier!
I never knew just how awesome the Barberton area is. There are very many bospaadjies and lots of interesting places to see. Bosparra told me about a deserted little village nearby that I am going back to check out very soon. I wanted to go explore the next day, but my mind was already set on following Dirty Des’ suggestions into Mozambique. Close to midnight, the restaurant closed and we left for our separate homes. Bosparra however insisted that I give camping a skip for the night and offered that I take a room in their house. (Camping’s fun, but a decent bed is a decent bed!)
5 to 9 April 2012
Trip from PTA --> Barberton --> Mozambique (Beline) --> Waterval Boven --> Back home to PTA
1500 kms and 5 nights.
It started with first my skydiving buddies and then my Scuba buddies cancelling on me on the last day before the Easter long weekend, leaving me without any plans for the first part of my couple of days off. Staring at a map, I started making plans. I rode the pass from Barberton to Swaziland (Jozefsdal border post) at the end of last year and loved that road, so the plan was to pack my bike Thursday morning and leave directly after work. I should arrive at Barberton before it is too late, camp at the caravan park that Bosparra suggested and then shoot to Swaziland the next morning. I noticed Mozambique is not that far away, so quickly posted a question (Any ideas, anyone?) on the “Planning a Ride” Board on Wednesday night. Thursday came and just before 12, my boss decided to call it a day and chase us all out. Just before shutting down my machine, a reply appears from Dirty Des. Now usually I can’t read his posts, because the avatar distracts me completely, but this looked interesting, so I printed it out, put it in my pocket and proceeded to Barberton.
Leaving the office.
Route for day 1
The non-highway road goes right past my parent’s farm, so knowing I’d be fed, I made a quick pit stop.
First Gravel: Broodsnyersplaas to Hendrina Powerstation.
Leaving Hendrina much later as I had planned (It took some time convincing my mother that I knew exactly what I was going to do and where I was going to this weekend), I now was behind schedule and destined to only get to my campsite in the dark.
Could not resist the random “bospaadjies” still.
Arriving at Barberton at about 19:30, I gave Bosparra (Who I had met on the forum earlier that day in search of camp sites in Barberton) a call and met him for a quick drink.
Several hours later, Bosparra’s family, 4 of their friend and I were having a good kuier!
I never knew just how awesome the Barberton area is. There are very many bospaadjies and lots of interesting places to see. Bosparra told me about a deserted little village nearby that I am going back to check out very soon. I wanted to go explore the next day, but my mind was already set on following Dirty Des’ suggestions into Mozambique. Close to midnight, the restaurant closed and we left for our separate homes. Bosparra however insisted that I give camping a skip for the night and offered that I take a room in their house. (Camping’s fun, but a decent bed is a decent bed!)
