The Recovery of La Poderosa- the Mighty One

[1ougat]

It is that Visa moment when you realise that the road you are on is such a good road not because of the good maintenance , but because no one is using it and if something happens you can be in a big heap of trouble ! Then you realise that watching Bear Grill was a good idea and you may be asked to start a fire without matches. That moment you realise that the phone a friend option is not an option as there is no sell phone reception. That moment that you realise that your own ingenuity , experience and the stuff you have with you will have to suffice to get you out of the twang.
I remembered one quote from my skipper training - no- one forced you to leave the Harbour You decided yourself .. so man up and take it on the chin and work a plan .

That first photo was just after I went through this discussion in my mind .
As my wife said that is not trouble just another story you add to your life. One day when we all sit on the stoep with our kieries I want to talk about what I have done not what I wanted to do .
Probably my worst trait is assuming that things will go right... but probably my best trait!!

I am planning to do the 2014 Cape to Rio race and one though that crossed my mind was that this was one of the introductions I needed to that feeling that you are on your own and you have to get yourself out. On the Ocean there is no hiding place . I must also say I do beleave in planning and prep - that is what saves your ASS.

 

[Pom17]

:happy1:

 

[1ougat]

YYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
I freakin' LOVE stories like this... Just wish that my 950SE-R was further than 6 km's away from my house when I bought him last week
Don't you just love that uneasy feeling of a big maiden voyage into the middle of nowhere on a bike you have no idea how it's going to react or treat you? Priceless :ricky: It really forces you to 'discover' your bike, from tie down points, to lever positions to all the new sounds you need to diagnose. Awesome bonding time. How many times did you look at your reflection in shop windows to see if you infact were as cool as you imagined you looked? Be honest.
Looking forward to the rest Sir.
Ah PS. details of the Mini next to your Jimny please :thumleft:

That is why I installed the second rear view mirror - to see my reflection !!!! :ricky:

As for the mini - it is my racing mini for historic racing

 

[EATMYKTM.]

Please Sir, may I have a drive?  eepwall:
I owned 4 of the little buggers in my yoof and I rate it's the reason I was able to learn what I know today about driving ( Audi instructor for 2.5 years).
First was a Mk3 (boot), second an '83 1275E, third a lovely 1275GTS with 10" minilites and 7.5" cooper discs and then a 1275E donor car for the crank.
Too much fun!
hijack off... sorry

 

[kdog]

:happy1:

 

[White Rhino]

1Ougat, the EishPee brings out the best in you - Lekker RR :thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

Please Sir, may I have a drive?  eepwall:
I owned 4 of the little buggers in my yoof and I rate it's the reason I was able to learn what I know today about driving ( Audi instructor for 2.5 years).
First was a Mk3 (boot), second an '83 1275E, third a lovely 1275GTS with 10" minilites and 7.5" cooper discs and then a 1275E donor car for the crank.
Too much fun!
hijack off... sorry

Mini racing is an art - it is not about the straights it is about the corners!!!!

Currently the engine need to be put back - a weekend's job and it should be ready

 

[1ougat]

So after the philosophical detours back to the story...

The plan was to drive from Melkbos on Friday up to some friends in Saldanha sleep over and start early next morning .So after strapping the pack on the rear carrier we said our goodbyes and I was on my way really not knowing what to expect ...no bark busters, no abs, no heated grips....

Stopped at petrol station in Melkbos to fill up the tank and walk around and admired the bike - she is a beauty - not perfect like in  super model more in the style of that special girl in your class at school. She obviously have been used in the past and was showing her wrinkles in a proud way - sort of try me - La Poderosa indeed  :ricky: :ricky:

Also experienced the first encounter of something that would become familiar on the way and that was the instant admirers of the bike coming for a chat . This guy was on his mountain bike and was asking what it was , where I am going and then his own comment something in the vain of he would like to be doing way I was doing . With the stare in the eyes speaking of far places ....

21 liters later and I was on my way . It was now getting dark and the Cape Town Friday evening traffic was gunning it along the West Coast road . I eased her into the traffic and was soon doing at some healthy margin above the national limit , scything through the cape traffic. I was also now more getting used to the bike and I could compare it to my GS. As it was also getting dark it immediately showed that we messed up the light adjustment when we installed the screen .. it was illuminating the front wheel and probably made me visible but from a seeing the road it was totally useless. Secondly I realized that I grew up behind a screen in my motorcycle life .. The K75 had a monster of a screen like in be livery bike, the 1150 had a smaller one but you could still hide behind it and the 1200 has as standard screen but this thing I now had on was puny .. you are really sitting in the jet stream and I also realized why I thought of my system 5 as a quiet helmet previously ... it was because of the screen . Now I was sitting in a howling storm in my helmet and realized I needed earplugs .

Stopped at the petro port a hour later , adjusted the light and was on my way arriving around 7:30 in Saldanha - all save and sound and nothing broken . The shakedown has gone well....

 

[1ougat]

Day 2 Plan was to go via Sederberge to Clan William , Calvinia , Carnavon and sleep in Prieska... wel that was the plan 8)

Started just after 8:00 after a good night's sleep and a quick brekkie . Left Saldana behind on the way to Velddrift over the Berg rivier and on towards the Cederberge. Was making good progress in the fresh morning air . Open her up and she was quick to react . The other thing I realised was that the seat was not all that bad and the suspension sucked up all the imperfections in a good way . The morning was becoming a peach . Stopped for some photos in the very endearing landscape and carried on . At the the Cederberge the options was to rough it via the berg or follow the tar to Clan William . As it was already approaching 10:00 a sudden realisation was that 800 km a day is not going to be easy as the road was presenting a lot of opportunities to stop and admire the landscape . So made the chicken decision to tar it to Clan William . Shortly after encountered the first of a number of Stop /Go's

I was sad that I could not do the Sederberg routes but realised that this area is rich with opportunities for exploration and I already was thinking about a December tour to this beautiful area of our country.

Arrived in Clan William about 11:00 and visited the Yellow Aloe for a muffin and coffee . Clan William is a quaint little town with historic buildings in good condition . A really beautiful place to visit with some vistas to fit.

 

[Pom17]

:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Carrots]

Bliksem.....ek lees lekker!!  :thumleft:

 

[Dwerg]

:happy1:

 

[Crossed-up]

That's a fine HP2. Enjoy!
Enjoying your report.  Look forward to more.

 

[stoetbul]

Ougat, ek hoop nie jy het by ETS oorgeslaap nie want dan sou jy nou nog daar gesit en K@K praat het en nie die RR klaargemaak het nie! Wa is die res swaer?

 

[Veldbrand]

Lekker RR, cool pix and hot boney, thanks!

 

[WP]

:spitcoffee: :ricky:

 

[1ougat]

Ougat, ek hoop nie jy het by ETS oorgeslaap nie want dan sou jy nou nog daar gesit en K@K praat het en nie die RR klaargemaak het nie! Wa is die res swaer?

Hoekom sal n mens al die pad Prieska to ry as dit nie is om ETS te ontmoet nie. Oorslaap was die plan maar laat ek nie nou die storie vooruit loop nie  :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[stoetbul]

Ougat, ek hoop nie jy het by ETS oorgeslaap nie want dan sou jy nou nog daar gesit en K@K praat het en nie die RR klaargemaak het nie! Wa is die res swaer?

Hoekom sal n mens al die pad Prieska to ry as dit nie is om ETS te ontmoet nie. Oorslaap was die plan maar laat ek nie nou die storie vooruit loop nie  :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Nee K@K man! Ok Ok Ok, vertel dan net die storie ten minste verder? ASB? eepwall: :biggrin:

 

[1ougat]

So waar was ons - o ja Clanwilliam- There I was having a muffin and a Late ... Thinking about the ride ahead . It was going on 11:30 and i was thinking about the ride past and the bike ...
Assesing it from a rider perspective that are used to GS's there is a familiarity of the family ... the buttons is at the right place , the indicators work the same way , the power delivery is similar but there is also differences - no abs , that is not negative- no need to disable the abs and have the irritating yellow triangle flashing  , screen - definitely need a bigger one , not heated grips - would have been nice but not necessary , the tele lever - from a road bike perspective definitely the a negative - significant dive on breaking , and then the  weight -  you really feel the difference

Its like your wife after  being a number of years married- you are familiar with her , how she feel , react , what get her going -  Same with the HP - the familiarity is there but it is your wife of  20 years ago and 10kg lighter without all the paraphernalia and with the perky bits before the kids... that is how the HP feels , and admit you would go back in an instant to your wife 20 years ago  :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[1ougat]

OK Yellow Alloe(Clanwilliam) - make time to visit if you have time.... but back to the adventure