The Free State Bash, Meiringskloof 2009 report

[GundaGunda]

Route profile of the Lesotho group.

Up and down a bit !

Now I know why my KLE felt a bit tired.

 

[LeonDude]

Route profile of the Lesotho group.

Up and down a bit !

Now I know why my KLE felt a bit tired.

Thanks GG, that graph tells an interresting story. Up and down and up and down. No wonder a couple of dogs went to bed so early last night and slept so well.  :biggrin:

 

[DeonDj]

Yes LeonDude I could see you could not keep your eyes open, I'll hold back a little on the prize giving pics and the bike show afterwards in the lapa, all the best DS bikes were on exhibit and all the farkels could be inspected as well as the sound of the sorces.. >
All that I can say is that the orange brand was e.., how can I say e...., well I cannot say anything now >

 

[Tonteldoos]

Me & blondie went via Golden gate to Kestell using the dirt route over the top, quite nice road. However from Reitz I took the wrong road & ended up back in Bethlehem.  :  :
Needless to say Blondie was NOT impressed that I took her for a detour..

Thanx to all the organisers for a nice bash!!

 

[iwasJohnST]

Dankie ouens was moerse lekker!!  :thumleft:

 

[iwasJohnST]

Eks reg gemaak. So waar gaan kry ons 6 punctures en doen burnouts in die bar volgende naweek?

Kan ons na 'n plek gaan sonder trappe? Want ek kan nie daar opry of af loop nie! 

 

[Welsh]

Eks reg gemaak. So waar gaan kry ons 6 punctures en doen burnouts in die bar volgende naweek?

Kan ons na 'n plek gaan sonder trappe? Want ek kan nie daar opry of af loop nie! 

Cross stitch or ... SIR?

 

[GundaGunda]

Sent this off - Still p****d off
-------------------------------------
'[email protected]'
'[email protected]'

22 March 2009

Department of Tourism, Environment and Culture – Kingdom of Lesotho
Cc Department of Home Affairs – Kingdom of Lesotho

Dear Sir/Madam,

Conduct of Immigration Officials – Caledonspoort SA/Lesotho Border

I wish to lodge a formal complaint as to the unacceptable behavior of the Lesotho immigration personnel at the above border post.

I joined about 65 motorcyclist for a weekend of socializing and dual-sport motorcycling on the 20th of March 2009 in Fouriesburg.

One of our members organized a day motorcycle ride on Saturday, March 22, from Fouriesburg, through the Golden Gate National Park, into Lesotho, and back to South Africa via the Caledonspoort border post.

We all had valid passports and had no problems exiting South Africa at Monontsa, however we found no Lesotho border post, office or boom indicating that we had entered Lesotho. It was only when we stopped at a store, and asked the storekeeper in what country we were that we realized that we were in fact in Lesotho.

We rode along the Caledon river enjoying the magnificent scenery and hospitality of your people towards the Caledonspoort border post where we arrived at exactly 3:14pm and handed over our passports to the Lesotho immigration officials.

The personnel at the office, in the most officious and unpleasant manner, informed us that we had entered the Kingdom illegally, and that as our passports had not been stamped in Lesotho, we could not return to South Africa at that border, but had to return via Monontsa.

It would have been impossible for us to return the way we had come as we would not have made the border closure, and would have been forced to spend the night on the roadside, for which we were totally unprepared and would have caused great anxiety to friends and family waiting at Fouriesburg.

We explained that we had no intention of entering the Kingdom illegally, and had all the necessary passports, but they would hear none of it and even threatened to confiscate out passports and have us arrested.

After considerable aggression and threats from both sides, the officials relented and let us leave the Kingdom.

This departure incident soured what was a most pleasant day in your country, and I would not like to suffer this indignity again. I have visited your country some fifteen to twenty times in my life and have never had to endure this type of conduct, and I trust I never shall in the future.

I would be pleased if you would solicit an apology from the border officials concerned, as well as provide assurance that this will not happen again.

Should this apology not be forthcoming I will escalate this complaint via our diplomatic channels. 

I will be publishing this complaint on out internet web-site, and will be happy to publish the apology along side it when it is received.

Kind Regards


Peter Charter
Centurion
Gauteng

 

[rubiblue]

GG - the road between Monotsha and caledonspoort in leostho, I understand it is gravel, what was it like? Doing it in roughly 1 month, just doing some prep work. THanks.

 

[Rone]

wow - looks like an awsome campsite and great ride  :thumleft:

 

[GundaGunda]

GG - the road between Monotsha and caledonspoort in leostho, I understand it is gravel, what was it like? Doing it in roughly 1 month, just doing some prep work. THanks.

Couple of stony descents where I got a bit tense, and a few rocky stream-crossings where the bike jumped about a bit, but in general quite easy.

I found it slow going as the road is twisty in places so give yourself lots of time

 

[Adventurer]

What a jol, a big thanks to all concerned, Deondj, you did WD proud.
One oke had 7 punctures though, 6 on his bike and one on his head...... :biggrin: :biggrin:
The weekend's events will feature in a future edition of Biker Lifestyle, including the hooligan antics of one or two BMW riders..... :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: Can't take them anywhere... ot:As usual the 'orange' brand was well behaved..... ot: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[iwasJohnST]

including the hooligan antics of one or two BMW riders..... :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: Can't take them anywhere... ot:As usual the 'orange' brand was well behaved..... ot: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[GundaGunda]

Some Pics:-

She has some growing to do to fit dad's tracksuit.

Clarens for brekkie.

GundaGunda on a GundaGunda

Golden Gate National Park

Smithy Took a dretour and picked up some smelly stuff

Bit of a rocky descent

Jules the Gentleman brought Cave Girl's TA down the hill

Pistol

JustBiking bringing TravelGravel's bike down

Caledon Valley - Cosmos was amazing

Caledon Roads

Watery Fun !

 

[BMWPE]

Great pics :thumleft:
pity about quality

 

[Smithey]

Checking in safe and sound. Mal and D will post the pics tomorrow  :thumleft:

Im off to bed  :deal:

 

[Ou Ryperd]

Thanks Deondj and others for a lekker weekend. We arrived Saturday @ 10'ish after a relaxing ride. I was a little sad that we were going to be too late to join Leondude's "easy" Lesotho ride, but nevertheless, we did our own exploring. What beautiful country side!

This was our first WD bash BUT NOT our last!!  :thumleft:

 

[milkybar]

HabaHaba and Milkybar and brood safely home - had a great 430km ride today....
Sleep tight everybody!

 

[Ou Ryperd]

A pic from our trip.

 

[Brink]

Thanks to DeonDJ, Hentie and Malibu for a great weekend (and all the others that contributed by organizing and just for being there)  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

Brink, Petra and Mieke safe and sound :thumleft:
JustJustus, Zelda and Ciarah as well :thumleft:
Delivered the patient  ??? ??? ??? to his house with the orange in tow (thanks JustJustus for the trailer)
Tried to get the Hansa Barrels of breakfast beer (only one empty ) to Pistol and Debbie without luck.