We're heading down to CT on Sunday for my Mom's 80th birthday and will only be back on Tuesday - so I decided to get a "short" ride in today. The plan was to head towards Barrington and them take a sand track that comes out on the N2 at the Buffelsbaai turnoff, head into Buffels and enjoy a cold one and a toasted sandwich before heading back home. I had done this route about a year ago on the KTM with a bunch of maniacs from KTM George - I dropped the bike at least seven times and did not really enjoy the ride at all! So feeling slightly nervous, I set off at 11:30 and hit the short bit of tar to the Karatara turn-off.
I have passed this little church countless times and have never stopped to photograph it.
Then on past some naartjie orchards and on up the pass to Barrington.
This is great little stretch of road with some really nice corners - that's the joy of DS riding! This is where the road was washed away last year.
There's a turnoff about half way up on your RHS and you quickly get into forestry country, however, there are no signs whatsoever saying that this is private property blah bah! ;D
These roads are used by timber trucks throughout the year and can get quite badly churned up at times. We had a bit of rain about a week ago and I was quite surprised to see how wet the roads still were.
Looks like fun!
I followed the "road" for quite a while - it was SO much easier on the DRZ!!! but with still quite a few "oops!" moments.
I remebered the road as being basically straight, but all of a sudden I came to a 3 way intersection and wasn't quite sure which way to go. Oh well, lets see where this goes.
Then I took another turning - I saw an "8" painted on a tree at the intersection and thought ah... landmark. About 2k's later, I come to another intersection and see another "8" on a tree. Oh shit! Double back to the first junction and try another path.
I then discover this - a lean-to protecting the harnesses they use for the horses to drag trees out of the palntation. I was quite surpised, as I had only seen these being used for dragging logs out of the indigenous forest where most of the trees are not felled - it's easiest to use a horse, but did not know they were used in pine plantations.
Turn around again and go back the way I thought I had come - along the "main" road.
But all of a sudden, I can't see the tyre tracks that I should have made if I came in this way! I ride a bit further and recognise a turning I had come to. Carry on a while and meet a timber truck head on (not literally!). Stop and say I'm lost (don't wan't to cause any kark, as I wan't to come back and explore again). Tell him I'm looking for the road to Buffelsbaai. He says no problem, turn around and just follow the road! This is what I've been trying to do for the past hour!. He says just go straight - don't take any turn-offs. By now, I'm starting to run late. so I thank him and carry on back the way I came in. Now I know where I am, and see this little turn-off that looks intersesting.
Follow it a bit further and come to this "field" in the middle of the forest.
Stop the bike for a break and walk around to take some pics.
I come across some "bokkie" spoor...
...and then these...
They were about 12cm in length... too small for leopard?... a big rooikat (lynx)?.. can anyone ID these?
Turned the bike round and got back home about 2 - no beer or sandwich, but man, what a ride!
I wan't to go back next weekend and start at the Buffelsbay side and to see where I missed the track!
The DRZ is the perfect bike for this kind of riding - I never dropped it once even though I'm still no pro at riding sand like this. Some of the ruts are very narrow and if you hit the side, the bike wants to turn in. Due to its light weight though, it's fairly easy to get her back in line. Crossing over 150mm middelmannetjies is a skill I still have to master - but I WILL be back! ;D
I have passed this little church countless times and have never stopped to photograph it.
Then on past some naartjie orchards and on up the pass to Barrington.
This is great little stretch of road with some really nice corners - that's the joy of DS riding! This is where the road was washed away last year.
There's a turnoff about half way up on your RHS and you quickly get into forestry country, however, there are no signs whatsoever saying that this is private property blah bah! ;D
These roads are used by timber trucks throughout the year and can get quite badly churned up at times. We had a bit of rain about a week ago and I was quite surprised to see how wet the roads still were.
Looks like fun!
I followed the "road" for quite a while - it was SO much easier on the DRZ!!! but with still quite a few "oops!" moments.
I remebered the road as being basically straight, but all of a sudden I came to a 3 way intersection and wasn't quite sure which way to go. Oh well, lets see where this goes.
Then I took another turning - I saw an "8" painted on a tree at the intersection and thought ah... landmark. About 2k's later, I come to another intersection and see another "8" on a tree. Oh shit! Double back to the first junction and try another path.
I then discover this - a lean-to protecting the harnesses they use for the horses to drag trees out of the palntation. I was quite surpised, as I had only seen these being used for dragging logs out of the indigenous forest where most of the trees are not felled - it's easiest to use a horse, but did not know they were used in pine plantations.
Turn around again and go back the way I thought I had come - along the "main" road.
But all of a sudden, I can't see the tyre tracks that I should have made if I came in this way! I ride a bit further and recognise a turning I had come to. Carry on a while and meet a timber truck head on (not literally!). Stop and say I'm lost (don't wan't to cause any kark, as I wan't to come back and explore again). Tell him I'm looking for the road to Buffelsbaai. He says no problem, turn around and just follow the road! This is what I've been trying to do for the past hour!. He says just go straight - don't take any turn-offs. By now, I'm starting to run late. so I thank him and carry on back the way I came in. Now I know where I am, and see this little turn-off that looks intersesting.
Follow it a bit further and come to this "field" in the middle of the forest.
Stop the bike for a break and walk around to take some pics.
I come across some "bokkie" spoor...
...and then these...
They were about 12cm in length... too small for leopard?... a big rooikat (lynx)?.. can anyone ID these?
Turned the bike round and got back home about 2 - no beer or sandwich, but man, what a ride!
I wan't to go back next weekend and start at the Buffelsbay side and to see where I missed the track!
The DRZ is the perfect bike for this kind of riding - I never dropped it once even though I'm still no pro at riding sand like this. Some of the ruts are very narrow and if you hit the side, the bike wants to turn in. Due to its light weight though, it's fairly easy to get her back in line. Crossing over 150mm middelmannetjies is a skill I still have to master - but I WILL be back! ;D
I went looking again this morning and still have'nt found the levers that KTM Jedi had .
