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

[1ougat]

So dit was aand end dit was more en die 31 Desember het aangebreek ..... :thumleft:

Vorige aand weer gereel dat ons die Maandag in die hotel sal bly .... maar moet skuif na die kamer langs die honeymoon kamer ... ok het nog see uitsig .
So na al die pak is ons to teen 5:30 in die pad met die Jimny , Op springbok vir ontbyt bet ons nou bekinde Wimpy . Toe stoot ons die Jinny se neus suid en ry en ry en ry . Op n stadium het Fender Bender ook begin ry uit Robertson .... en na nog ry het ons uiteindelik mekaar ontmoet in Clan William .

Op daai stadium was dit naby aan 500 km wat ons gedoen het  

Kry toe die persent end draai om end ry en ry en ry al die pad terug

Aangekom in Port Nolloth is die spanners gou gegryp en die HP2 se nuwe pogostick ingesit .... reg vir more  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

Weereens dankie aan almal wat gehelp het en veral Fender Bender vir sy hulp  :wav:

Toe skenk ons aandag aan die oujaar met n oujaars ete en drinks op die balkon .... ons was moeg en reg vir bed maar die locals was reg vir die paardie ....... :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

 

[Carrots]

Hmmmm....so dis nie net Katoom's wat moeilikheid gee nie...... eepwall: ot:

Lekker man.....en goeie werk vir die res van die honne wat gehelp het.

Gooi nog!  :thumleft:

 

[EATMYKTM.]

Thanks 1OuGat.
Sounds like a proper trip so far.

 

[rossb]

Keep it coming

 

[1ougat]

So survived the newyear and all was well and in sinq ..... :thumleftor so I thought).

Because of the 2 day effectively delay,  and our place in Capetown being available from the 2 Jan , something had to give. The Cederberge was still on the agenda so the plans for Soebatsfontein, Koiingnaas etc had to be scrapped. ( Well that could be a plan for another trip  :thumleft: :thumleft

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

So the plan was to make a beeline to the Cederberge and pick up the plan from there on . Boring to do the same road for the third time - but at least it was on the fixed HP - so progress in the right direction .

After packing we hit the road , the wind was again pumping and riding in the wind was not that pleasent. At Springbok we was in time for the Wimpy opening and started to feel like regulars . After the obigatory Megacoffee and Breakfast we were on our way .... Kamieskroon, Klawer , Clanwilliam

Even with riding like this with a target to get to it is easy to ride past nameboards that you heard of , sounded familiar but you never have visited . So made a point of turning of the N7 and riding into some of the towns .... and yes people are living there. The point of such a trip is in the end to get to where you are and not to get to the end . So you are there already so take the time to explore these places with the evocative names like  Soebatsfontein even though they will probably disappoint your vision that the name called up in your mindseye , but somehow you will find these gems that will bring you back to the lore of traveling on unknown roads still to be ridden and discovered . And the amasing thisng is these are in your own backyard ..... :thumleft:

Kamieskroon was one of these places - obviously a place that has seen better days but still trying to keep its grip in the hard and bitter landscape .

The lanscape also have it own beauty - open and wide and unrelentingly hard - void of any people and animals .

 

[1ougat]

Vanrynsdorp next for Lunch and fuel and as being there in the middle of the day pretty hot .

Wife parked the Jimny next to a similar endowed Jimny - so a few words about the car. I always liked the Suzuki's having owned a SJ10 and Vitara. In preparation for the trip we took out the passenger seat as the normal mode of transport would have been one up and placed our Engel 35litre fridge in its place . So water and cool drinks that we were consuming at quite a rate could be kept cool as well as our food that we carried . The extra fuel was carried on top . Practical range is in the region of 400km's but we found that in the past two days this has dropped to just over 300 km's - we attributed it later to the heat and the wind . Right through the trip it ran like a Swiss chronograph . We seen quite a number of these on the road during our trip and could see that people was using it for what it was intended for. In our configuration it was ideal as I did not need to cary anything extra on the bike . For us two up the Jimny is an ideal little car that is cheap to run. I remember with my Vitara - granted it had more space - we and friends in a Pajero 3.5 would have the same range on a tank the major difference being that I then would put in 40 l whereas he would put in 80l .\
But back to the present- suffice to say that we are enjoying the Mighty little Mite .

It also is also a revelation to see at these places some amazing buildings that was build in the past with intention an purpose and now left in a state that cry out for attention and repurpose . One of these is a church site opposite the turnoff to Vanrynsdorp . ALso take the time to eat at other places than the wimpy or the steers at the ultra city type garages - go for some local fair and though most times you will be disappointed , you will also find a gem with absolutely the best food.

 

[1ougat]

After vanRynsdorp the aim was to get to Calnwiliam and decide there what our plan would be for the night . Took some photos at the Sishen line crossing , and also Ratelgat .
The amasing thing when you travel past Klaver is the sudden oasis opening up of water and green  crops  after the hard barren landscape of the northern Cape . Clan William is a popular holiday destination for the capies as the number of Discoveries and ML's were witness to .

As I was waiting for the Jimny to arrive i notice it .... FD leak ... trouble nr 2  

Booked ourselves into the Lodge - it was a hostel in its past life and reallty tastfully redone - recoomend a visit .... we give it 3 stars *** on our own scale  :biggrin: :biggrin:

So while sitting with a sundowner got onto the fellow HP WD's for advise .

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114513.0

SO decided in the end not to worry too much about it as it was not a roadside fix , and get it attended to in Capetown .... so to dinner and sleep after a tough , hot 500 km's.

 

[Brakenjan]

Lekker ougat!! (En dankie vir die publisiteit vir my besigheid.  :thumleft:  :biggrin:  )

 

[1ougat]

So woke up on the 2 Jan and our aim was to get to Groenpunt at sometime during the day - I also had a few point on the agenda to get to . Wupertall , Eselsbank and some of the passes . This day was also expected to be a good dirt ride as the word was out about the track - I really did not know what to expect but was ready for it . So after breakfast we packed and got onto the road - it was a glorious day and expected it to be hot .

So into the Cederberge , past Louis Leipold's grave and the wondrous rock formations and Pakhuis  pass .

This road we did also earlier last year when we did the Train Blommetoer and knew what to expect as some of the roads was also travelled - it was amazing to see the places and feel familiar in the environment .

Past Engelsman se graf we turned onto the dirt road , stopped to adjust the tyres and ready ourselves for the road ahead .......

 

[1ougat]

So on to Wuperthal - the roads were OK with the occasional sinkplaat but we made good progress and arrive at Wupertall . Stopped to walk around the place bought a cream-soda . While we was there some other people arrived and it was clear that the Capies in the ML's and Disco's was also frequenting this spot but I doubt if it was to come and buy some of the Vellies made here . While standing there my wife pointed out to the road that could be seen going out of town up the towering berg - I said that I think that that is not the road. So after more sightseeing I punched the next point in the GPS and we started out not really knowing what lies ahead .......

 

[spoedvark]

Nice!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[1ougat]

Not really knowing the road I followed the GPS lead and it led us out of the dirt road and we came to a T-junction with a board saying Eselsbank to the right and the ominous sign saying Only recommended for 4X4's . This was the road that we saw from Wupertall leading up the berg . As it was obviously the right  road I started out and realised that this is no newby road - probably will be a yellow route at the Eco . You have to focus and choose your lines and commit and control the loud pedal -- Hee Haa this is going to be fun . Stared out immediately and nearly forgot about the Jimny . The first part had some loose rocks and rutting and at the turn there was some sement road . I realised that if my wife was not up to this this was the point of no return as seeing further the road was narrow with not option of turning around . So stopped and waited . She arrive promptly with a smile - The Jimny was already in lowrange and she was ready - Good Girl !!!  :thumleft:  (sounded like the Toyota advert) ... So realised that I have to worry about myself rather ... after a water break got back on and took the challenge on . We had the right tools at our disposal and both the HP and the Jimny was in their element. The road did ask it questions about your biking skills that you have to answer - steep rutted with loos rocks , then on to the flats and then for good measure some sand sections . Luckely it was not raining as that could have added to additional enjoyment that I did not need ... Along the route another biker came from the front - stopped for a chat - found out about the road ahead . He was camping in the Cederberge and was on his way for a coffee in Wupethall ... He was on a Africa Twin and enquired about the state of the road as he had done this 4 years earlier .... so after greeting we carried on and arrive at Eselsbank. Must say that  I can understand the attraction of the vistas that you see to the Capies ... went to visit the Falls and got ready for the rest of the road ...... :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

Because of the FD leak I made a point to check the bike at every point that we stopped . She was performing as expected BUT it was here that I realised another issue ... the left front fork was leaking ..... bummer ... trouble nr 3 . O well something must have gone wrong with my service the week before the trip. As it was not terminal we carried on through Eselsbank on to the N7 . The roads were in a better condition than earlier but still quite corrugated and with the front for gone not improving - but we carried on and after a number of stops for photos eventually crossed on to the  bridge  over the Olifantsriver just before the N7 . We stopped for a photo as earlier the year during September the bridge was then covered knee-deep with water but now was now bone dry .

 

[1ougat]

In Citrusdall we stopped at the Spur for fuel and a late lunch. The days riding was wonderful and again showed me that the Cedrberge is an excellent DS bike destination with so many options to ride ... definitely again on my list of re-do's . While we were there a howling wind came up and it made our progress difficult . We eventually arrived after 5 in Cape town and as it was too late to get to BMW I  left it for the next day. Thursday the next morning early the bike was delivered to its maker ....

 

[1ougat]

So the request was to attend to the Final Drive leak , see what is wrong with the front forks and do a oil change on the engine. I also wanted to replace the rear tyre as it had now done close to 15 000 km about half of that on my 1200 GS . These Mitas E07's are the biz  :thumleft:

Hopefully this could be done over the next two days but being the first week of the new year and the Cape thing tend to go slow.

The idea was to send the forks out to Martin Petzhold but he was only opening the next week - so they done a strip and after some consultation with Superfoxy we concluded that the progressive springs in there was about 50 mm shorter that stock without any spacers fitted .

I became aware of the problem when we replaced the front tyre earlier and thought that it was maybe the oil so serviced it and made sure that the oil was OK. So some time in her  past life someone did some experimentation in the setup that did not work out too well . So as new springs were not available they then had some spacers turned and the fitted it with new seals . So that got sorted . I the scrouged around for a Mitas E07 and eventually got one from the Yammy dealer in Paardeneiland . So this ended up being concluded on the Friday afternoon with all the known issues sorted . The New rear tyre, forks and FD sorted and the oil change done .

While this was going on we did the Gauteng thing and hang arround the waterfront , visited the Body Worlds exhibition (Ausome :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft, watch a movie  and took pictures like this ...... :thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

After reviewing the remainder of our holiday plans I went on a drive of discovery arround Cape Point picking up harbours and lighthouses on our list . The day was a perfect day no real wind slightly overcast and the beaches was packed . So drove from Milnerton , Houtbay , Kommetjie, Cape Point , Simonstown and back to our place in Greenpoint . Was a glorious day and liked being on the bike as the roads was packed and everyone was crawling allong at a snailspace - bike commuting do make a lot of sense on days like these .... :laughing4:

The bike was running without issues for now and it was a good trip in absolutely perfect conditions  :thumleft:

 

[alwyn_gs]

Lekker Mnr...

Gooi nog!!!  :thumleft:

 

[1ougat]

Sondag die 6de Januarie het ek in gedagte aan my kollegas wat die volgende dag weer gaan begin werk, n rit Gordensbaai langs die kus tot in Hermanus en terug Kaapstad toe onderneem . Die weer was soos die vorige dag - vir die Kaap was dit nogal verbasend om twee goeie dae in n ry te kry . ( En nee ek het nie een keer aan hulle gedink nie ... :imaposer

Gedagte daar aan dat ek geen backup het nie het ek by die garage op die N2 gestop vir n brekfast en ook toe sommer van die bande gom gekoop vir ingeval een van die bande pap word. Het die minimum gereedskap by my gehad . Daar was skuim en dan van die goo in n bottel - aangesien die skuim n groot blik was het ek gesettle op die goo en veral na ek ek gerus gestel was deur die aanwysings  dat daar ook n tool is om die valve te verwyder ... maar oor daai een sal ons later verslag doen .

So deur Gordensbaai en gestop by die hawe en toe die pad gevat langs die see om buy Hangklip Vuur toring uit te kom  . Kon sien dat daar seiljagte uit was aangesien die dag n ideale seild dag was met n rustige wind .

 

[1ougat]

Het die GPS gevolg uit Gordensbaai verby Rooiels en afgedraai Hanklip toe - die pad so langs die see is mooi en veral op so n dag kan jy tot oorkant die baai sien . Regtig indrukwekkend . Wat nogal opvallend is is die 80km/h spoed beperking wat basies oral geld selfs stukke op die N2 is 100km/h .

By Hanklip die grondpad gevolg tot by die boot launch plek . Die hek vir die pad na die vuurtoring was toe maar die vriendelike Parkeraad Piet lig my toe in dat as ek die fiets op die voetpat ry verby die toilette dan kan ek op die pad kom ... COOL  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

so gese en so gedaan en word toe beloon met n besondere uitsig by die vuurtoring .

 

[1ougat]

Hierna was Hermanus op die agenda - ek was seker 15 jaar laas hierlangs gewees ... dit was verbasend hoe Hermanus uitgebrei het ... daar na terug via HouwHoek en Sir Louries terug Kaap toe . Na die twee dae het die HP hom gedra en sonder enige probleme in die Kaap aangekom - reg vir die res van die Suid Kaap die volgende paar dae. Plekke soos Baardskeerders Bos , Vermaaklikheid ens het gewag en ek kon ook nie wag nie ... :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: