The Blind Date in Lesotho

[Tuareg]

DD.....
As ever, your writing style is captivating
As is, I suspect, your persona

 

[Dustdevil]

Avert.....of Juanita soos ek haar later leer ken het se voorliefde vir bikery het reeds begin toe sy op 'n plaas in Volksrust omgewing grootgeword het. Daarmeer saam het sy ook 'n ander passie ontwikkel.
Sy besit haar eie Boerperd stoet en neem gereeld deel aan skoue om haar pragtige diere ten toon te stel. Een van haar perde Vastrap was in 2009 geplaas as die SA Boerperd kampioen tradisionele reunperd, 'n titel wat nie ligweg kom nie en baie harde werk en oefening vereis.


Hier vertoon Nita op haar perd Angelica by die Parys Nationals verlede jaar;

Angelica het met die titel as kampioen merie onder 5 jaar asook kampioen ryperd vir ruiter onder 7jr weggestap. ;D

 

[corcorlia]

Subscribed!  :ricky:

 

[Spore]

DD, hierdie RR is beter as n Heinz Konzalik in my skooldae - of a Wilbur Smith tydens dienspligtyd!! Ek hoop regtig hierdie storie eindig, " and they happily lived ever after", of raak ek nou heelemal te sentimenteel!! :imaposer:

 

[Frannarossi]

DD, hierdie RR is beter as n Heinz Konzalik in my skooldae - of a Wilbur Smith tydens dienspligtyd!! Ek hoop regtig hierdie storie eindig, " and they happily lived ever after", of raak ek nou heelemal te sentimenteel!! :imaposer:

Ja kom jong,gooi die res.Skryf maar in Afrikaans as dit vinniger gaan :deal: :biggrin:

 

[BiG DoM]

I am please you have changed her name to Juanita - I was a bit worried about 'Avert-ing' the danger of high hopes  8)

 

[White Rhino]

Altus, you didn't by any chance call yourself Ryperd on the dating site eepwall:

 

[1ougat]

Sub

 

[hondsekierie]

Altys, you didn't by any chance call yourself Ryperd on the dating site eepwall:

:imaposer:

Gooi nog Altus, dis n mooi storie

 

[ALLAWYN]

DD, hierdie RR is beter as n Heinz Konzalik in my skooldae - of a Wilbur Smith tydens dienspligtyd!! Ek hoop regtig hierdie storie eindig, " and they happily lived ever after", of raak ek nou heelemal te sentimenteel!! :imaposer:

Ek was nog opsoek na die regte woorde toe kom Spore vorendag hiermee :laughing4: :laughing4:

Wilddogs is net great, wat 'n verskeidenheid van ervaring, hierdie RR maak dit sooo interesant :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

DD ek hoop regtig : "and they lived happily ever after".......

Sterkte

 

[BlueBull2007]

Give this man a Bell's :thumbsup:

Great report so far DD, something with a difference, your writing skills are great!

 

[DirtyHarry]

Give this man a Bell's :thumbsup:
Great report so far DD, something with a difference, your writing skills are great!

+ 1
But now we would like to find out how good your dating skills are  :biggrin:

 

[Dustdevil]

Tuesday morning broke fresh and breezy. After our stay with the Durow's on their beautiful farm Mamoosa just outside of town, it was time to get our bikes loaded and find the closest border post into Lesotho. It just so happens there is one only 16km away on a gravel road. From the Peka Bridge border post it will be about 40km to Teyateyaneng or T.Y. as it is more commonly known. From here I have found some back roads that will bring us closer to the Maluti mountains and meander through some of the more rural areas. None of the maps show the road as a through road, although I managed to track a clear path on Google earth.
Road conditions in Lesotho can deteriorate so fast that I could not help being apprehensive about this section of the route on our first day.
I had no idea how Nita would handle any kind of road conditions and was not sure what level of confidence she would have when the going gets tough. I thought it wise to look at an escape route as alternative if things looks like it was going to get to rough.

We fitted one of the Coyote saddlebags from Giant Loop onto the little TW to carry most of Nita's belongings. It was working like a charm and with the weight nicely distributed closer to the rider and the center of the bike it makes handling in the rough almost effortless with all the extra weight. I added the Fandango tank dag as an after thought and again, the bag sit secure and out of the way not interfering with the rider while standing.

It was with little trepidation that I took the final turn off onto the questionable section of road and within a few short kilometers the road started deteriorating quite fast. It was still nice enough to ride but I was concerned that at this rate there might be no road left after a while as often is the case in Lesotho.
We started to descend into some valleys and it was here that Nita told me that she was not comfortable with the steep down hills.
I explained to her that you have to handle these loose downhills slightly different than when riding in a car. When the hill becomes very steep and rough it is best to stand on the pegs and to slowly crawl down in first gear but to hold the clutch in and to let the bike coast down on its own. It is important to mostly use the rear brake and to slightly shift your weight to control the slide once the rear wheel locks up. Add some front brake with a gentle two finger pull.

Mostly new riders will sit when they feel uncomfortable even though you tell them it's better to stand. I did not expect any different from my female riding partner but she was sure to surprise me, she bravely got on the pegs and slowly but with confidence started down the steep little pass ahead of us. I loved watching her small little frame barely poking over the luggage bag on the rear. I suddenly realize this woman is ready to follow me anywhere. She trusted me and that made me feel great and confidant that she will make it with ease.

The path meandered in between traditional Basotho villages with dogs and animals freely moving between the thatched roof houses, people by the roadside greet friendly and they wave a long stretched out "Ntaaaate" as we pass by. Small sun panels laying on the ground busy charging cellphones.

Nita on her little TW is scooting through potholes and over ruts as if they did not exist, it was clear she was having fun on these slower little tracks. Slowly I feel myself starting to warm up to this little lady and her quiet, almost somber character.

We stopped at a bridge after one of the steep descents for a snack and to take some photographs.

 

[Dustdevil]

Give this man a Bell's :thumbsup:
Great report so far DD, something with a difference, your writing skills are great!

+ 1
But now we would like to find out how good your dating skills are  :biggrin:

They are real crap, I can promise you that. Sometimes if it weren't for the good woman by our sides we would get nowhere 

 

[DirtRebell]

And so the plot thickens!

Things are looking up mate!

 

[Heimer]

Have you had happy ending yet?  >

 

[Dustdevil]

Have you had happy ending yet?  >

Jan........life is not about endings but rather about new beginnings and new journeys.
If you are asking about other things.......IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS :

 

[punisher]

Have you had happy ending yet?  >

Jan........life is not about endings but rather about new beginnings and new journeys.
If you are asking about other things.......IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS :

:laughing4: :laughing4: :laughing4:  :thumleft:

 

[Heimer]

Have you had happy ending yet?  >

Jan........life is not about endings but rather about new beginnings and new journeys.
If you are asking about other things.......IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS :

:laughing4: :laughing4: :laughing4:   :thumleft:

:mwink:

 

[Dusty Rusty]

Aaaaaw!  Dis baie sweet so ver!