The revenge of La Poderosa- the Mighty One - or "Trouble comes in fours " tour

[1ougat]

If you have read Motorcycle diaries you would know that La Pederosa was a Norton 500 that Che Guevara took on a EPIC 4and a half month trip around South America - As the HP2 is also a mighty bike I named it in honour of that trip on its maiden trip earlier 2012 - see the separate threat about this trip.

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=100432.0

In Motorcycle diaries they had to abandon the "Mighty One " as its frequent breakdowns kept holding them back ... so this trip is very appropriately named as first it was EPIC and an abandon bike is also one of the main protagonists .....

So lets start at the beginning as they say in the movies a EPIC journey starts with a few small steps ......

So what was the plan ? We are members of one of the most Lekker BMW bike clubs .. the one in Pretoria . To encourage the members to explore they have these challenges -- EXtreme Challenge Gold - to get to the four compass points ind RSA in 21 Days . There are also some other challenges like the Alphabet challenge both on road and off road - the intention to get to some towns not in Gauteng from A to Z, The Lighthouse and Harbour challenge - "The coasting Allong " etc

Our plan was to attempt this challenge in the December break. Originally the intention was to pillion or to let us both use the bikes . As I wanted to do this on the HP2 some serious additions would have been needed ... then we came up with the plan ... We have at our disposal 1Ougat GP a 2011 Jimny with all the necessary additions .... this worked well as with my wife in the "quad" I would not need any luggage or tools on the HP , she felt also much more confortable with the idea , she would also  experience what I experience and it would be a great relationship  builder .. so that was the plan ... to get to Alexanderbaai and Cape Aghulas and visit some of the offroad Alphabet challenge point on the way ....

Our intention also was to not have a detail plan but a general direction with a few points in the GPS and to follow the roads and sleep where ever we found ourselfs at 18:00 on a given day . We had a tent and matrass sleeping bags etc if camping was the only way . We set off on the 27 of Dec ... pointed the bike in the Potch direction and hit the road . The intention of the first day was to sleep on my Uncle's farm in Boshoff . They both in their 80's and my aunt had a stroke about a year ago so we wanted to meet up with them .... so here we go ... :thumleft:

 

[BMWPE]

:thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

What I also experienced with my previous trip was that it is not all about the riding ... it is also about things you drive past , to stop and explore and to sort of stop and smell the roses . So frequently with a funny sign or a interesting place .. take the time to stop and see as you probably will not go down that road again . As we dit not have specific places to be at a certain time that worked out well as we could stop when ever we saw something and take a picture ... This one is in Hoopstad the home of the Afrikaner Bees (I thought it was Loftus) :ricky: :ricky:

 

[Mikie]

Sub

 

[Circlip]

:sip:

 

[lj111]

:happy1:

 

[1ougat]

It is amazing how little the farm and house has changed over the years - still remember how as a boy we visited holidays and played - boy with a pellet gun on his own in the veld - absolutely wonderful to remember and revisit . As they say in twenty years you will regret not what you have done but what you did not do and I really is glad we did this visit to my uncle and aunt both now in their 80's .

 

[1ougat]

The plan for the day was to go from Boshoff via Christiana , Vryburg to Launa - why you must ask ? as it is one of the alphabet challenge names on the list - really for no other reason . It was also a nostalgic day not just for me but also my wife who grew up in ~Christiana - we went and saw some of the houses they lived in in the 70's and 80's  as well as the school where she was the head girl . 

 

[1ougat]

After Christiana one scary moment - when a car overtaking a truck nearly took me out. Suffice to say that if I was in a car I would be involved in an accident but luckely the HP,Corrolla and Truck could fit in next to each other . Bring on the dirt roads please - this dont happen there  :-[

So in Vryburg first issue was to ensure that the air suspention on the HP was at 8 Bar - luckely found the tireplace could get my shock to 8 bar . Then on to the Spur . We left then towards Launa and after  a while hit the dirt .

Now the one thing I not too comfy with is sand - as my two major falls involved sand . All I can say is in the 100 km's or so that I ride I did not fall and understood at the end about throttle control in sand. Part of this was also the understanding that there was not other way out - you push or you ride - a very good incentive in the 30+ degrees. Must confess that ins some cases I must say that I did not play any part in the fact that we stayed upright --  I think the Mighty One did not want to fall and carried us both trough . The state of the roads was a lot of loose sand and a good way of improving your sand riding . Arrived in Launa and must confess not a lot to write home about .....even Telkom dont fix stuff there  :ricky:

 

[1ougat]

The original plan was to get ASAP to Alexanderbaai as the real riding would start after that - new places , new roads -offroad dreams come true ... so back on the tar after Louna and point in the direction of KURUMAN . It was fairly hot and the roads was in reasonable condition ,jus had to keep eyes open for our fellow roadusers as end of year was approaching they also seemed to get into a reasonable condition . At Olifanstshoek we decided to call it a day , started to chat with one of the loacals and he suggested a B&B and a visit to the local pub and grub. turned out that the kitchen was closed , went to the steers take away and had a burger and then back to the B&B. Must say that Olifantshoek seemed a town that was surviving the new RSA and growing . Must be all the mining activities in the area that keeps these town operating ...

Also saw why we could not get any wilddog paws anymore --- seems like Kilroy is now in the shampoo business.... :imaposer:

Shower and went to sleep knowing that the second day ended good , all was in tack and it was a good day riding , from Boshoff to Olifantshoek with a bit of  a dirt excursion  :thumleft: Bring on the rest  :thumleft:

 

[Arno Roux]

kom ougat. Jy moet vinnig skryf. Dit klink na n interissante trippie

 

[Carrots]

As hierdie enigsens...soos jou man cave projek gaan wees...gaan ons bleddie lank wag vir die res.  eepwall: ot:

Lekker sover......gooi nog!!  :thumleft:

PS: Nie geweet Eeish-Pee 2's het backup voertuie nodig nie...... ot:

 

[1ougat]

Jy klink nou soos my vrou .... ot: mens moet ook nou en dan vakansie hou  :laughing4:

 

[Onetime]

:thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

Dag 3 begin vroeg die oggend in Olifantshoek - vroeg geroer en gestort met Kilroy se seep en HP se neus in rigting Upington gedruk . Daar aangeland is ons dadelik na die Wimpy vir die normale Megakoffie en breakfast . Daar toe begin besef dat ons geen spaar brandstof houers het nie - na brekkie die local 4x4 shop aangedoen vir twee 10l jerrie kanne en n pyp . Dit lyk my hier is dubbeldoel winkels maar die manier om te oorleef.  Die het van quads, ketting sae , normale 4x4 goed en ook Suzuki's te koop . Daar die bargain raakgeloop - R22 000 vir n nuwe 125 - as jy vergelyk dat n TW200 nou al R40 000 nuut is moet hierdie die bargain wees .

PS:  het ek maar geweet wat voorle het ek dalk die HP2 ingeruil ........ :imaposer:   Sporty end stylieech ok - Klink soos my DKW skoene (DANS,KERK,WERK)  :imaposer:

 

[madmike999]

:sip:

 

[1ougat]

So die eerste mikpunt vir die dag was Cillie - nou dit is anderkant Keimoes , n klein Kleurling gemeenskap iewers tussen  Doer en Gone , jy kry hom nie eers op die kaart nie . Dit was een van die punte vir die ALfabet Challenge . Nou aangekom in Cillie was dit moeilik om te bepaal of dit wel Cillie is want hier is geen Welkom in Cillie of Cillie Rotariers , Cillie Rappoprtreyers ens bordjies nie . Toe ons so rondstaan kom daar een van die nuuskieriges nader en vra nou wat maak ons hier. Het ons dalk verdwaal - Nee se ons , ons soek vir Cillie . Bevestig hy verbaas dat dit die plek is - Duidelik nie baie wat Cillie kom besoek uit Gauteng nie . Hulle is ook bly dat hulle nou n teerpad gekry het maar duidelik is die verwelkomings borde maar laag op die agenda. Neem toe maar n foto van die transformer wat bevesting dit is wel Cillie .

 

[1ougat]

Na Cillie is ons weer oppad Springbok toe  deur Kakemas . Daar aangekom het ons lavenis vir middag ete gesoek in die plaaslike Wimpie . Oppad na  Sprinbok sien ek toe die bord vir Aggeneys . Besluit on daar n draai te maak - daar is mos nie haas nie . Nou ja wat kan n mens oor Aggeneys se . Jy tree nie daar af nie , jy bly daar omdat jy vir die myn werk . Dit is warm , dink as jy aftree pak jy jou bakkie voor jy jou pensioen tjek gaan haal - jy gaan haal hom so oppad uit .

Kan my nogal die dag voorstel in 1989 toe die groot meneer met sy slap motor die boom kom plant het , die koor in hulle skool klere ....

 

[1ougat]

Na Springbok se Wimpie het die middag verloop deur die deurflits van Okiep , Steinkopf  en Port Nolloth.

Steinkopf se fotos se alles , na die Steinkopf is ons oor die Anenous pas - toe ons daar neerdaal toe vang die wind ons - n lafenis op die fiets maar ook n geneukery on die HP op die pad te hou . Aand ingeklok in die hotel vir ons eerste aand van vele wat ons nie toe van geweet het nie .

Die hotel is onlangs opgeknap en is in uitstekende toestand en billik geprys . Het selfs n redelike restaurant en die bier is koud. Kan die plek aanbeveel.

Onthou net Saterdag  aand is Disko aand in die saal langsaan - Toe ek 2 uur Sodag oggend wakker word toe is hulle nog volstoom besig.... 

 

[1ougat]

So that Sunday 30 Dec 2012  woke up early with the intention that this day would be the day of days - Honneklipbaai, Koingnaas mostly on dirt ... how did it turn out ? yes certainly a day of days but not as intended .

Earlier enquired about the best routes and some feedback received on what is best .

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114372.0

Dressed and packed and on our way to Alexander bay with the intention on the way back to eat a brekkie at the hotel and then hit the dirt.

At 9:00 we were back had a brekkie , fueled and ready to go - on the way out suddenly the bike was handling very weird  :eek7: :eek7:

It was like riding a pogo-stick - just spring no damping !!!!

Stopped - saw the extended rear shock , back to the hotel and out with the tools ..... 20 minutes later the worst outcome was confirmed . So enquired about space in the hotel for the night , booked in and the pleasant surprise was that after the previous evening Disco they gave us the honeymoon suite .

Now back to the issue at hand - we were effectively stranded on a Sunday at the end of the year in Port Nolloth - probably a worst case scenario .... so reached out to the forum and it came through again with suggestions .

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114422.0

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114424.0

Various things were suggested but as Operator said :"Fokkit.............dis nou 'n k#k een by 'n k#k adres.  "

ChrisL suggested that I try getting hold of Koos Smit a local who had a local engineering works - after enquires went and knock at the door but to no avail - he did not have the necessary welding rods so that was a dead end .

Then tried to source a shock and must say that I had 2 offers on in the Easten Cape from BIG Dom and the other from Robetson - Fender Bender .

Went to dinner and to sleep that night in the honeymoon suite knowing that we had a plan ..... would ride down to Robetson and fetch the rear shock from Fender Bender .  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

Also Brakkenjan was also keeping watch over us ...... :ricky: :ricky: :ricky: