jburger
Race Dog
Once again thanks DeonDJ Henti BM, Malibu, MilkyBar and all else that helped as well as all the WD's. What a great weekend.
Here's the first part of my story
Part 1 - Maringskloof to Monantsa Border post
Travel Gravel and myself got soaked within the first 30km from home in what felt like a mini-cloudburst despite all our rain-gear so we headed for the closest garage and waited it out at the Wimpy while enjoying breakfast. We must've been quite a sight - water dripping from our gear...
Check the water on the floor....
Just as we stopped in Villiers, JohnST rocked up.
Around 10kms from Reitz TravelGravel slowed down and was indicating something was wrong. It turn's out she lost her gear-lever. We decided to head to Bethlem and see if Hentie BM can help. This is not the kind of spares a small dealership keeps stock of but Hentie had a plan and in no time he loaned us a lever. Hentie BM - thanks again. :thumleft: TG you really need to fire that mechanic that last worked on the gear-lever...ot: eepwall:
We made it to Meiringskloof without any further incident.
Saturday Lesotho ride
I really wanted to do the Lesotho ride LeonDude organised, especially the Heuweltop route. TG was a little apprehensive as we knew it would be technical but JohnST convinced her to join us.
Making our way towards Clarens.
and through Golden Gate
The Eastern Free State scenery is simply spectacular.
Turning of onto the Heuweltop track. The 3 trusty steeds
and the the three of us....
The first remnants of the mudmonster....
the sun have certainly put her to a slumber today
As we started climbing the route got more interesting, rocky, uphill, rutted, some loose stuff too.... This was really fun. TG needed a little guidance through some of the more technical bits. The sun was scorching down at the same time so there's not too many pics. This is the point where I should say "a photo doe not not do justice to the gradient" but you know it so I won't :biggrin:
This was a more level rest stop
Eventually the bigger group caught up with us after their breakfast in Clarens.
Another rest stop
Once at the top it was easy twin tracks with the occasional mud puddle. Time to play and have some fun.
TG made it to the top and through the most technical part keeping the rubber side down - well done.
A little further we found a farmhouse and two rows of pine probably planted a a wind-break. An great spot for a break and a snack. My trusty steed also found the perfect rest spot.
After some more great tracks we got to the border. While waiting for everybody's passports to be stamped I took pictures of everybody and everything. Just before we left the SAPS Inspector tell one of the group - "no pictures of the buildings - only the scenery" - Monansta Border post must very VERY strategic :biggrin:
The view from Monansta
Pistol making himself comfortable and testing their "wheels"
Here's the first part of my story
Part 1 - Maringskloof to Monantsa Border post
Travel Gravel and myself got soaked within the first 30km from home in what felt like a mini-cloudburst despite all our rain-gear so we headed for the closest garage and waited it out at the Wimpy while enjoying breakfast. We must've been quite a sight - water dripping from our gear...
Check the water on the floor....
Just as we stopped in Villiers, JohnST rocked up.
Around 10kms from Reitz TravelGravel slowed down and was indicating something was wrong. It turn's out she lost her gear-lever. We decided to head to Bethlem and see if Hentie BM can help. This is not the kind of spares a small dealership keeps stock of but Hentie had a plan and in no time he loaned us a lever. Hentie BM - thanks again. :thumleft: TG you really need to fire that mechanic that last worked on the gear-lever...
ot: eepwall: We made it to Meiringskloof without any further incident.
Saturday Lesotho ride
I really wanted to do the Lesotho ride LeonDude organised, especially the Heuweltop route. TG was a little apprehensive as we knew it would be technical but JohnST convinced her to join us.
Making our way towards Clarens.
and through Golden Gate
The Eastern Free State scenery is simply spectacular.
Turning of onto the Heuweltop track. The 3 trusty steeds
and the the three of us....
The first remnants of the mudmonster....
the sun have certainly put her to a slumber today
As we started climbing the route got more interesting, rocky, uphill, rutted, some loose stuff too.... This was really fun. TG needed a little guidance through some of the more technical bits. The sun was scorching down at the same time so there's not too many pics. This is the point where I should say "a photo doe not not do justice to the gradient" but you know it so I won't :biggrin:
This was a more level rest stop
Eventually the bigger group caught up with us after their breakfast in Clarens.
Another rest stop
Once at the top it was easy twin tracks with the occasional mud puddle. Time to play and have some fun.
TG made it to the top and through the most technical part keeping the rubber side down - well done.
A little further we found a farmhouse and two rows of pine probably planted a a wind-break. An great spot for a break and a snack. My trusty steed also found the perfect rest spot.
After some more great tracks we got to the border. While waiting for everybody's passports to be stamped I took pictures of everybody and everything. Just before we left the SAPS Inspector tell one of the group - "no pictures of the buildings - only the scenery" - Monansta Border post must very VERY strategic :biggrin:
The view from Monansta
Pistol making himself comfortable and testing their "wheels"
