The final frontier and unfinished business - WestCoast, Groenrivier and beyond
- Thread starter Eisbein
- Start date
MellowJo
Race Dog
hee, hee, nice Eish ......
I can't believe how similar our experiences were on this coastal road .... :imaposer:
for those who did not see our report ... https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=56406.0
..... now for the finale ..... :deal:
I can't believe how similar our experiences were on this coastal road .... :imaposer:
for those who did not see our report ... https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=56406.0
..... now for the finale ..... :deal:
CAR6850
Race Dog
Lekr RR - respek vir julle :thumleft:
Rough Rider
Grey Hound
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2009
- Messages
- 5,340
- Reaction score
- 107
- Location
- Cape Town
- Bike
- Husqvarna (all models)
Its a lekker ride, I can't wait to do it again.
Only this time we will do Lutzville - Hondeklip Baai - Lutzville in one day.
Anyone want to join us?
Only this time we will do Lutzville - Hondeklip Baai - Lutzville in one day.
Anyone want to join us?
Eisbein
Bachelor Dog
Rough Rider said:
I think a good way of doing those routes would be to do it like you said - be based somewhere.
I think Springbok is a lekker location for that.
Go there for a couple of days and then do circle routes to Groenrivier and the Namaqua Eco trail on daily trips while leaving all the luggage safely at the stayover 'base'
Rough Rider
Grey Hound
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2009
- Messages
- 5,340
- Reaction score
- 107
- Location
- Cape Town
- Bike
- Husqvarna (all models)
The only problem is the fuel. Would be best to send a backup Vehicle ahead (day before) with fuel.
**Hi Jack Off**
**Hi Jack Off**
CAR6850
Race Dog
Rough Rider said:
I would love to join you, it is on my backdoor and I have only done parts of it with a car :ricky:, but, I wouldn't like to rush it, I would prefer a multi day option rather :3some:
Really great report and pics so far Eisbein :thumleft:
It's the kind of experiences you had that put the 'Adventure" part onto the "Riding" part!
Well done and looking forward to the rest.
It's the kind of experiences you had that put the 'Adventure" part onto the "Riding" part!
Well done and looking forward to the rest.
Brakenjan
Race Dog
Great stuff Eisbein!!!!! :biggrin:
I have difficulty riding my Zaar through sand like that - big up to you for wrestling the 12 through there. Respect! :thumleft:
I have difficulty riding my Zaar through sand like that - big up to you for wrestling the 12 through there. Respect! :thumleft:
V
Vetkoek
Guest
Lekker man :thumleft:
Sien uit na die volgende aflewering 8)
Sien uit na die volgende aflewering 8)
nreyneke
Race Dog
Lekker! :thumleft:
Eisbein said:
...and...? ;D
Eisbein
Bachelor Dog
ooops
Vonkie
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2007
- Messages
- 277
- Reaction score
- 0
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
I have done a third of this route (the easy part), just past brand se baai........ unfortunately it wasn't that easy for my limited sand experience. 
. Sound awesome would like to go back and see if I can get better.
. Sound awesome would like to go back and see if I can get better.GlenInk (R.I.P)
Race Dog
letsgofishing said:
Ditto :thumleft:
Eisbein
Bachelor Dog
Day 3:
Springbok to 'Willem se Plaas'
After a good night's rest we got up and started packing.
As the pressure for the day was a little relieved we decided that we were going to treat ourselves to a good and healthy, filled with your daily quota of CX3 breakfast at the local Wimpy.
It really is amazing how quickly you can be packed and ready if you don't have to pack up camp
;D
I think we were still on a high from the previous day's events, so needless to say the breakfast was filled with lots of general silliness and jokes.
The route for the day would be Springbok via Gamoep to Pofadder, then from there on some awesome gravel highways to Ektonkbike's friend's farm.
This was just outside Springbok.
The cloud cover was low and at one point it was spitting a little on us.
Not enough to take care of the dust, but just enough to make it cling to your visor and wind shield
;D ;D
On this road a very weird thing started happening with Biesie's Dakar.
I'm not sure how it worked, but it seemed like his Dakar had sympathy ailments it developed in answer to my bike's issues ;D ;D
Two days before on the sand stretch I snapped one of my mirrors off.
I had Biesie in my rear-view (the one that was left) and all of a sudden he disappeared, so we waited a little while. Just before we decided to have a look he arrived - his left mirror just rattled off.
This might not have seemed like anything, but for the rest of the trip I had a flat rear, the next day his Dakar got a flat rear.
Then the 2nd to last day my 'dim' headlight blew and the day after his Dakar's 'dim' blew as well...
Maybe the bikes were like those trees that's connected in some weird way where what happens to the one echos in the other.
Maybe it was our similar riding styles.
Maybe we entered the twilight zone.
Maybe I should just continue with the ride report.
;D ;D
Regrouping with Biesie arriving at the back
Although there was something in me that was still disappointed about the eco trail these gravel highways (almost) made up for it.
Before we went on the trip I knew that the 12 would tick over to 100 000km on the road somewhere.
This was about 8 k's from Gamoep:
I celebrated in the only way I knew:
By breaking my previous gravel land speed record on this road:
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
In every trip (if possible) there's a day where I stretch the legs a little.
These roads were just so perfect for that - flat, smooth, straight with no vegetation on the side that can hide anything. You can see for kilometres ahead. It was really cool to be able to do some low level flying.
We had a couple of stops and a couple of places where I pulled off just to make sure that everyone was still coming.
We encountered bruised and battered signs like this everywhere.
On some of them you can only see what it says by looking at the faded shadows on it - the writing long gone.
You get the feeling that not many people use these roads
Me, Biesie and Operator had one place where we almost had our hands full - a little dried out riverbed/driffie that didn't look intimidating from afar was way more rutted than what we expected.
My bike was doing the boogie as I tried to fight target fixation and almost hitting the concrete barrier going out. Lucky presence of mind prevailed and I took my eyes off the 'where I didn't want to go' and onto the exit point.
Operator and Biesie were also pushing the envelope a little so they had similar experiences.
;D ;D ;D
Before long we saw Pofadder's houses ahead.
We ended up in the same spot as the previous year (where the girl who works there complained that we cleared her stock of chocolate Steri Stumpies ;D ;D ).
It wasn't long before the same silliness started:
They were also out of chocolate steri stumpies this time.
Maybe after last year's great 'Steri Stumpie stampede' they were on 'adventure bikers watch', got wind of the fact that we were on our way and had hidden their stash. No one will know for sure.
;D ;D
There was a flower tour bus with elderly people from Rustenburg who arrived just after we did - all dressed up fêncy ;D
It was actually funny to see it - they had to go past the heavily loaded (and thanks to the bit of rain very much dust covered) bikes to get to the rest rooms and shop.
I stopped counting how many purple tinted floral dress clad prim and proper 'ou tannies' paused next to the bikes for a photo.
We had some very cool discussions with them about the "where have you been's and 'where are you going's"
It is interesting to see how people of any walk of life and background look differently upon a couple of loaded dirty bikes.
Especially if they are encountered in 'off the beaten track' locations.
;D
As we went to the local butchery to sort out supplies for the evening we noticed the DRZ's number plate sitting a little off centre.
Discovered that one of the bolts that keeps the tail light assembly in broke off.
A thumper is a thumper and even a high tech one like this will not guarantee that nothing will rattle loose or break off.
Operator had two random bolts in his tool kit. One of them just happened to be the right fit, so we were quickly sorted and on our way again.
I was in Kimberley in the army, so excuse me if I have slightly tainted memories of the Northern Cape.
;D ;D
Nowadays the roads and the solitude have a cleansing effect on my soul, but even back then there were two things that was undeniably special about the area: The sunsets and the smell of fresh rain.
It is difficult to explain the experience of witnessing the 1st rain coming down on the thirsty and grateful earth.
For a moment you can almost believe that the earth, unable to use any other form of communication or gesture, releases its thankful praises in the form of this beautiful aroma that sings to the heavens from where the blessing came.
Like I said - you can't describe this to someone. Even for someone who isn't from around here or make any form of living from the land directly, it is hard to ignore how needed the rain is in these parts.
It is said that of all the senses the human memory banks have their strongest links to the sense of smell, so amongst all of the inexplicable emotion I unexpectedly felt I was also transferred back to my days in 10 Anti Aircraft, where the rain had the same impact on me while managing to soften even Staf Burger a little.
It is the weirdest thing thinking back on it now. Of all the things that we've done and of all the things that we experienced and seen, this moment was probably the one that had the strongest connection with the very deep parts of my soul.
We all do the trips for a lot of reasons - having fun, getting out, broadening our horizons, enjoying the time with friends, seeing new and wonderful places etc, but for me there is also a very important part that fills a need - to re attach the body, mind and soul and to just get a little bit of perspective and clarity.
The karoo did it for me 3 years ago on the 2nd last day, the stretch along the Orange river in Nam last year and without a doubt this was the day on this trip where it happened.
I wished my wife was with at that moment to share all of this.
If I had the time I would probably (to the dismay and/or horror of my travelling companions) have gotten rid of my clothes and met the rain in my natural state.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I think lucky for them we didn't have the time.
;D ;D ;D
I tried to make the moment last, but the rain subsided and I needed to catch up with the others.
This was shot over the handle bars:
At some point the two GPS' had a difference of opinion - mine wanted to take us through a farm gate towards an adjacent road and CJ's one wanted us to continue straight on to a railway line and then break away to the other road.
While we were discussing it the rain started falling again and as everyone pulled off I saw this:
Rain shadows of the bikes on the ground
;D ;D
We decided that the railway line would probably mean a service road and would therefore be better than going across some farmer's land with lots of gates to be opened and closed, so we went ahead.
The rain started coming down a little harder - we were worried at some point if the pan would be accessible, but as before the Northern Cape reminded that there really is an 'elders' (somewhere else in Afrikaans) where it isn't raining.
Over the farm they didn't even have proper clouds.
This was the last photo I took before I put the camera away:
The last bit of road for the day had these sharp stone 'shards' and as I pulled into Willem's farm 'opstal' I discovered I had a flat rear tyre.
Quickly fixed that and then we were off to the pan.
It was a couple of k's from the farmhouse to the pan and we were unexpectedly treated to another stretch of tweespoor sand.
It was more difficult than expected as we were tired and no one thought about going too fast.
;D
We made it to the pan's camp site and had enough time to decide on the camping arrangements before we were off (and onto) the pan.
I must say - this was the 1st time for me and I didn't know what to expect.
I was like a little child and to be honest I was probably irritating the rest with my charging around like a mad man.
;D ;D
At the time I didn't care.
;D ;D
It was power slides and high speed runs, drag races and trying out each others' bikes for about 45 minutes.
It is the weirdest thing to just pick a direction and just go.
There was also some under the surface mud at the one edge of the pan and it was fun to have full counter locked 'power slides' at 20km/h ;D ;D ;D
Operator with Drifter in the background
Drifter speeding away - I took his 800 for a spin and I must say it has got a very satisfying engine ;D
Me going a little sideways
Biesie trying out the DRZ for size - there's that grin again ;D
In the background you can see the marks of my previous fly by
At this stage all were smiling.
From where we were parked for this photo we had to go back to camp, so needless to say it ended up in a final drag race
;D ;D ;D
Willem assured us that it wouldn't rain the evening, so we decided to sleep under the stars.
This was the camp-site for the night.
The pan is just across that sand in the distance.
Lots to smile and talk about:
Happy Biesie
At about 10 we decided that a night ride might just be the perfect ending for this day, so me and Biesie decided that we would go for it.
The other guys didn't go overboard, but they weren't totally convinced that they had little enough 'liquid refreshment' in their systems to not cloud judgements and slow down reaction times, so they decided to rather look from a distance.
I tell you it was weird to be riding into the dark at 160km/h and not being able to see too far ahead.
;D ;D ;D
Biesie and I were making biiiiig figure of 8's, having drag races (again) and just enjoying the pan.
The moon wasn't out, so at one point we decided to stop and cut the engines.
It was totally dark.
And totally quiet.
For a moment we wondered if we shouln't bring our sleeping bags to the pan and spend the night there
;D ;D ;D
But sense prevailed.
In the army they told us that you could see a fire in the dark for a couple of kilometres.
At one point the GPS said that we were 5 kilometres from the camp site and we could still see the camp fire.
It was also weird how quickly you got disoriented - we would be riding around a little and then I would think that the camp site is at my 3 o'clock - when I start looking around it would end up to be at my 7 o clock.
That was a little freaky.
We obviously couldn't stay the night so we went back to join the others at the fire.
As I got back I decided that it was too much effort to find a rock to help my side stand not dig in, so I just dug the rear wheel in there right next to where I slept.
;D ;D
Not long after it was the usual 'goeie nag john Boy, Goeie nag Mary Ellen' and a couple of pre sleep chirps and we were off to la la land.
;D
Another good day riding and another couple of new things and stories to tell.
We were blessed.
Springbok to 'Willem se Plaas'
After a good night's rest we got up and started packing.
As the pressure for the day was a little relieved we decided that we were going to treat ourselves to a good and healthy, filled with your daily quota of CX3 breakfast at the local Wimpy.
It really is amazing how quickly you can be packed and ready if you don't have to pack up camp
;D
I think we were still on a high from the previous day's events, so needless to say the breakfast was filled with lots of general silliness and jokes.
The route for the day would be Springbok via Gamoep to Pofadder, then from there on some awesome gravel highways to Ektonkbike's friend's farm.
This was just outside Springbok.
The cloud cover was low and at one point it was spitting a little on us.
Not enough to take care of the dust, but just enough to make it cling to your visor and wind shield
;D ;D
On this road a very weird thing started happening with Biesie's Dakar.
I'm not sure how it worked, but it seemed like his Dakar had sympathy ailments it developed in answer to my bike's issues ;D ;D
Two days before on the sand stretch I snapped one of my mirrors off.
I had Biesie in my rear-view (the one that was left) and all of a sudden he disappeared, so we waited a little while. Just before we decided to have a look he arrived - his left mirror just rattled off.
This might not have seemed like anything, but for the rest of the trip I had a flat rear, the next day his Dakar got a flat rear.
Then the 2nd to last day my 'dim' headlight blew and the day after his Dakar's 'dim' blew as well...
Maybe the bikes were like those trees that's connected in some weird way where what happens to the one echos in the other.
Maybe it was our similar riding styles.
Maybe we entered the twilight zone.
Maybe I should just continue with the ride report.
;D ;D
Regrouping with Biesie arriving at the back
Although there was something in me that was still disappointed about the eco trail these gravel highways (almost) made up for it.
Before we went on the trip I knew that the 12 would tick over to 100 000km on the road somewhere.
This was about 8 k's from Gamoep:
I celebrated in the only way I knew:
By breaking my previous gravel land speed record on this road:
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
In every trip (if possible) there's a day where I stretch the legs a little.
These roads were just so perfect for that - flat, smooth, straight with no vegetation on the side that can hide anything. You can see for kilometres ahead. It was really cool to be able to do some low level flying.
We had a couple of stops and a couple of places where I pulled off just to make sure that everyone was still coming.
We encountered bruised and battered signs like this everywhere.
On some of them you can only see what it says by looking at the faded shadows on it - the writing long gone.
You get the feeling that not many people use these roads
Me, Biesie and Operator had one place where we almost had our hands full - a little dried out riverbed/driffie that didn't look intimidating from afar was way more rutted than what we expected.
My bike was doing the boogie as I tried to fight target fixation and almost hitting the concrete barrier going out. Lucky presence of mind prevailed and I took my eyes off the 'where I didn't want to go' and onto the exit point.
Operator and Biesie were also pushing the envelope a little so they had similar experiences.
;D ;D ;D
Before long we saw Pofadder's houses ahead.
We ended up in the same spot as the previous year (where the girl who works there complained that we cleared her stock of chocolate Steri Stumpies ;D ;D ).
It wasn't long before the same silliness started:
They were also out of chocolate steri stumpies this time.
Maybe after last year's great 'Steri Stumpie stampede' they were on 'adventure bikers watch', got wind of the fact that we were on our way and had hidden their stash. No one will know for sure.
;D ;D
There was a flower tour bus with elderly people from Rustenburg who arrived just after we did - all dressed up fêncy ;D
It was actually funny to see it - they had to go past the heavily loaded (and thanks to the bit of rain very much dust covered) bikes to get to the rest rooms and shop.
I stopped counting how many purple tinted floral dress clad prim and proper 'ou tannies' paused next to the bikes for a photo.
We had some very cool discussions with them about the "where have you been's and 'where are you going's"
It is interesting to see how people of any walk of life and background look differently upon a couple of loaded dirty bikes.
Especially if they are encountered in 'off the beaten track' locations.
;D
As we went to the local butchery to sort out supplies for the evening we noticed the DRZ's number plate sitting a little off centre.
Discovered that one of the bolts that keeps the tail light assembly in broke off.
A thumper is a thumper and even a high tech one like this will not guarantee that nothing will rattle loose or break off.
Operator had two random bolts in his tool kit. One of them just happened to be the right fit, so we were quickly sorted and on our way again.
I was in Kimberley in the army, so excuse me if I have slightly tainted memories of the Northern Cape.
;D ;D
Nowadays the roads and the solitude have a cleansing effect on my soul, but even back then there were two things that was undeniably special about the area: The sunsets and the smell of fresh rain.
It is difficult to explain the experience of witnessing the 1st rain coming down on the thirsty and grateful earth.
For a moment you can almost believe that the earth, unable to use any other form of communication or gesture, releases its thankful praises in the form of this beautiful aroma that sings to the heavens from where the blessing came.
Like I said - you can't describe this to someone. Even for someone who isn't from around here or make any form of living from the land directly, it is hard to ignore how needed the rain is in these parts.
It is said that of all the senses the human memory banks have their strongest links to the sense of smell, so amongst all of the inexplicable emotion I unexpectedly felt I was also transferred back to my days in 10 Anti Aircraft, where the rain had the same impact on me while managing to soften even Staf Burger a little.
It is the weirdest thing thinking back on it now. Of all the things that we've done and of all the things that we experienced and seen, this moment was probably the one that had the strongest connection with the very deep parts of my soul.
We all do the trips for a lot of reasons - having fun, getting out, broadening our horizons, enjoying the time with friends, seeing new and wonderful places etc, but for me there is also a very important part that fills a need - to re attach the body, mind and soul and to just get a little bit of perspective and clarity.
The karoo did it for me 3 years ago on the 2nd last day, the stretch along the Orange river in Nam last year and without a doubt this was the day on this trip where it happened.
I wished my wife was with at that moment to share all of this.
If I had the time I would probably (to the dismay and/or horror of my travelling companions) have gotten rid of my clothes and met the rain in my natural state.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I think lucky for them we didn't have the time.
;D ;D ;D
I tried to make the moment last, but the rain subsided and I needed to catch up with the others.
This was shot over the handle bars:
At some point the two GPS' had a difference of opinion - mine wanted to take us through a farm gate towards an adjacent road and CJ's one wanted us to continue straight on to a railway line and then break away to the other road.
While we were discussing it the rain started falling again and as everyone pulled off I saw this:
Rain shadows of the bikes on the ground
;D ;D
We decided that the railway line would probably mean a service road and would therefore be better than going across some farmer's land with lots of gates to be opened and closed, so we went ahead.
The rain started coming down a little harder - we were worried at some point if the pan would be accessible, but as before the Northern Cape reminded that there really is an 'elders' (somewhere else in Afrikaans) where it isn't raining.
Over the farm they didn't even have proper clouds.
This was the last photo I took before I put the camera away:
The last bit of road for the day had these sharp stone 'shards' and as I pulled into Willem's farm 'opstal' I discovered I had a flat rear tyre.
Quickly fixed that and then we were off to the pan.
It was a couple of k's from the farmhouse to the pan and we were unexpectedly treated to another stretch of tweespoor sand.
It was more difficult than expected as we were tired and no one thought about going too fast.
;D
We made it to the pan's camp site and had enough time to decide on the camping arrangements before we were off (and onto) the pan.
I must say - this was the 1st time for me and I didn't know what to expect.
I was like a little child and to be honest I was probably irritating the rest with my charging around like a mad man.
;D ;D
At the time I didn't care.
;D ;D
It was power slides and high speed runs, drag races and trying out each others' bikes for about 45 minutes.
It is the weirdest thing to just pick a direction and just go.
There was also some under the surface mud at the one edge of the pan and it was fun to have full counter locked 'power slides' at 20km/h ;D ;D ;D
Operator with Drifter in the background
Drifter speeding away - I took his 800 for a spin and I must say it has got a very satisfying engine ;D
Me going a little sideways
Biesie trying out the DRZ for size - there's that grin again ;D
In the background you can see the marks of my previous fly by
At this stage all were smiling.
From where we were parked for this photo we had to go back to camp, so needless to say it ended up in a final drag race
;D ;D ;D
Willem assured us that it wouldn't rain the evening, so we decided to sleep under the stars.
This was the camp-site for the night.
The pan is just across that sand in the distance.
Lots to smile and talk about:
Happy Biesie
At about 10 we decided that a night ride might just be the perfect ending for this day, so me and Biesie decided that we would go for it.
The other guys didn't go overboard, but they weren't totally convinced that they had little enough 'liquid refreshment' in their systems to not cloud judgements and slow down reaction times, so they decided to rather look from a distance.
I tell you it was weird to be riding into the dark at 160km/h and not being able to see too far ahead.
;D ;D ;D
Biesie and I were making biiiiig figure of 8's, having drag races (again) and just enjoying the pan.
The moon wasn't out, so at one point we decided to stop and cut the engines.
It was totally dark.
And totally quiet.
For a moment we wondered if we shouln't bring our sleeping bags to the pan and spend the night there
;D ;D ;D
But sense prevailed.
In the army they told us that you could see a fire in the dark for a couple of kilometres.
At one point the GPS said that we were 5 kilometres from the camp site and we could still see the camp fire.
It was also weird how quickly you got disoriented - we would be riding around a little and then I would think that the camp site is at my 3 o'clock - when I start looking around it would end up to be at my 7 o clock.
That was a little freaky.
We obviously couldn't stay the night so we went back to join the others at the fire.
As I got back I decided that it was too much effort to find a rock to help my side stand not dig in, so I just dug the rear wheel in there right next to where I slept.
;D ;D
Not long after it was the usual 'goeie nag john Boy, Goeie nag Mary Ellen' and a couple of pre sleep chirps and we were off to la la land.
;D
Another good day riding and another couple of new things and stories to tell.
We were blessed.
Rogue
Puppy
Dude.. as jy 'n boek skryf sal ek dit nie net koop nie, dit sal wraggies een van my favourites wees!
Fantastic report and pics Eis! :thumleft:
You capture your feelings about the landscape you're riding through really well!
Thanks for the effort :thumleft:
You capture your feelings about the landscape you're riding through really well!
Thanks for the effort :thumleft:
