Rocky Horror Road

[JonW]

So my buddy, Burp phoned me and told me he'd like to come down to Pmb this weekend to visit friends and bring his brand new KTM500 to try out on some of our local routes.
I agreed straight away, love showing like minded riders around our neck of the woods. The weather forecast for the weekend didn't look great though, hot on Friday, the cold and raining Saturday and Sunday, so I suggested Burp drive down a day early, I could take Friday off, then at least we'd be sure to at least get one good day of riding in.
Unfortunately, on Thursday, the day before Burp arrived I picked up a nasty bout of gastric flu and spent most of the day vomiting and pooping
It was by then too late to tell Burp not to come down, so i just had to hope I was up to it on Friday morning.

I had decided to do a couple of routes in the Muden area, starting off with one of my old favourites known as Rocky Horror.

Ride started fine, I was feeling ok, but unfortunately once it started warming up and getting more technical I realized I was far from ok, and started making stupid mistakes and falling off.

Anyway not my best, but a hard day on the bike is always better than an easy day in the office.

Some pics of the ride:

 

[JonW]

 

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[BuRP]

I realized I was far from ok

Unfortunately that's the understatement of the year - and yeah, I realize full well it's not over yet.
By my best non-medically schooled opinion Jon started the day dehydrated, hardly ideal for riding a rocky path on which one needs to be wakker - which is what he always is, I know him as a surefooted rider, so it was rather clear for me to see he was hardly himself.... except from his relentless stubbornness and vasbyt-attitude combined, a Ratel springs to mind
We actually should have called it a day a lot earlier than we did, but yeah, once committed to that trail there's no exit but for 'the end' - which we made too, never mind a few tumbles.
Once there at the top the rest was downhill..... we all have heard that before haven't we?

Anyway, Jon's bike, having started the entire day rather reluctantly upon pressing the happy button, suddenly said FU and refused to start... so the towstrap came out.
To no avail engine-budging wise, but this got him&his bike at least to the closest 'civilization' - in form of the only house in the vast vincinity.
Jon knew the people living there so could wait there for me, hopefully recuperating a bit in the meantime.
I left and rode home, to collect my car with which I returned to collect him and the bike.... and lo & behold, I found a Jon which was a LOT better than the one I left!
The magic of certain rehydrates are just that, magic!

We got home rather late but safe, and also sound when judged with the infallible wisdom of hindsight
So, all that ends will IS well - so we will do this again!
The riding I mean, there's always a next time!
Thank you Jon for a good day all in all

 

[Noneking]

Geluk met die nuwe bike @BuRP !
Nice trip @JonW !

 

[OomD]

Oh man, oh man, oh man. I love these trips you do, Jon, and the pics you post. All this on top of feeling quite kak, respect! And Burp, hope you have many happy miles on the new bike!

 

[JonW]

Oh man, oh man, oh man. I love these trips you do, Jon, and the pics you post. All this on top of feeling quite kak, respect! And Burp, hope you have many happy miles on the new bike!

Thanks Dirk,

Great to have someone like BuRP come down and ride them with me

 

[BuRP]

Great to have someone like BuRP come down and ride them with me

@Noneking , that's a veiled hint for you I reckon...... to get (read: add) a 500 to come join us there!
Jon's backpocket is alike yours, vast, wide, varied and stunning, however the routes he strings together (yes, I'm passing the blame squarely onto him lol) are not for bigger bikes, neither are they fast but for the liaison bits.
As always no pressure of course....


On this bit @chopperpilot , that house mentioned above is inhabited by a KDX owner who's been nagging Jon to come down with a few bikes, plastics ideally, to show him what kinda tracks he rides there. He was involved with recce-ing routes for the Impi or something like that, plus he lives there, he knows what's what.
On our longish drive back to Hilton we discussed actually doing this, the man even has accommodation there (a full house!) so this could make for a good day if not weekend! The sissy I am will bring my 300 then, because I can.... but you could do such too now!
Consider that an early warning for you squire
Oh, will take a while because up to ~mid December I can't, but thereafter I'll be looking for riding buddies again!

 

[BIGMAC]

Nice one JonW, to think we discovered that Rocky Road in 2012 with yourself and Kevin Wallis and we used it for Alfie's weekend in 2014. About 3 years a go we did a ride through there on 1290s with Alfie and the lads toiled in the heat and rocks, with some punctures and overheated bodies, is it still doable on a big bike? obviously you would need a certain skill and fitness level.

Cheers