The Unforgiven Trail - and the legends that tamed it

[Runner]

An attempt was made to dig the wheels free and pack some rocks underneath them. Everyone present helped with this operation – it is much appreciated. However it proved to a fruitless endeavour. Hardy was able to reach Hein, the manager at Purros Bush Lodge, on his satellite phone and make arrangements. This was incredibly fortunate and saved us at least 3 hours – the alternative was that I would have to ride to camp which was still 30km away.

Greg would make sure his recovery equipment is packed, get in his Unimog and drive in our direction. I would meet him on the way, with the rest of the riders making their way to camp. Once I met Greg I would stash my bike underneath a bush and hop in with him to take him where the bakkie was located.

Before the bakkie got stuck, Jean and Jaco N had swopped places on the WR450 so it was Jean that stayed behind with Hardy and Chantal while the rest of us moved ahead. We were about 8km away from the hard track that runs next to the river back to camp, so once we could get there, things would be a lot easier. However this last bit was also the most treacherous with numerous drop-offs, marshy areas, thick vegetation and rock piles that we needed to get through. The sun was now setting and it was a race against time to get the riders to camp before dark. When we eventually got to the exit, Pierre DV and Jaco N had disappeared - they were still somewhere in the canyon. I asked Martin to escort the present riders back to camp and I went back to look for Jaco and Pierre. About 3km or so back up the river I found them – they had missed the track and ended up in a dead end amongst the bushes. I was very glad when I found them because if they were still lost when it became dark it would have been a terrible situation. We started heading back to camp, while I stopped periodically on top of the koppies to try and reach Greg on the radio. Eventually I got hold of him – he had covered about 10km in 90min of driving. That’s how difficult it is to manoeuvre the Unimog over that terrain. And this was still the “easy” road!

When we met up with Greg he told me that the other riders passed him a short while ago. Pierre V was with him in the Unimog which was a welcome form of help as he could now take my bike and escort other Pierre and Jaco N back to camp. Thanks for your help Pierre!

Greg and I now continued onwards. Like I said the going was slow (impossible to go much faster than walking pace) and we still had about 13km to the entrance of the canyon and then about 7km in the canyon itself to where the bakkie was located. We passed a large group of giraffe on the way and with the sun setting behind them it was a special moment I could capture on video.

When we got to the entrance of the canyon it was just dark. Very dark. To me it seemed pitch black outside the beams of the headlights. Now we had to navigate up this canyon in the darkness. It had to try and remember the terrain from before. Following the bike tracks was not an option as they passed through areas where the Unimog could not fit. If we made a mistake here and got stuck in the sand or mud we would be properly fucked. At many points I got out and with only my cellphone torch had to walk up and down trying to find a place the Unimog could pass. I had to test the wet areas to see if they were soft and at times break branches to make a clearing. And Jean will agree with me that being in that canyon after dark is a very scary experience! It feels like a wild creature (of which many live there) could attack you at any moment.

So with a great effort we covered every meter towards the bakkie. Then, all of a sudden, we see an orange glow coming from ahead. The canyon was on fire! As we get closer we start seeing massive flames coming from where the bakkie was….

Ek het nie gehelp nie, net raad gegee, vra vir Hardy!!

 

[BuRP]

Day 7 was the shortest day I think, and well into my tank's range - so I intended to have some fun, was especially looking forward to the riverbed... sand with some rocks apparently, bring it!
We started off on a gravel road though, so dust galore - which I dislike riding in so I kept a generous distance from whoever was in front of me. This others didn't like so they overtook me, of course laying more dust so I progressed towards riding at the back more. No problem, there's equalizing sand ahead....

After a while, just after cresting a shallow hill I see Martin and his bike - well, what was left of it I mean - next to the road: "Hardy we have a problem".
Luckily Martin was fine, especially amazing when considering the dragmarks his bike left sliding all the way to where it was - when going down he was doing a more than fair clip, duidelik n haastige man die!
Anyway, by just a single glance it was overly clear his bike was done: parts scattered all over, bike stripped of his fairing parts, ignition key broken off and impossible to turn, a caliper hanging loose, and the spindle of the front wheel dislodged from the stanchions although still present - this all caused by having tightened nothing the previous day after having removed his front wheel!
That's shoddy Martin, and serves you right ogling at topless Himba maidens walking past instead of concentrating on the job at hand!

We gathered the loose parts and some started to look for the axle nut somewhere along the road, but a needle and a haystack refer here..... no luck.
At least Martin managed to get the spindle back in so the bike could roll on its front wheel, so loading it onto the bakkie (at some later time...) was now at least possible.

Hardy said the bike would have to be collected later so the ride continued - so all that had gathered left in in batches, separated by dust gaps only.
The road turned from flattish to undulating, and more rocky too.
It was here that I ran up to Johan and Pierre dV and Jaco, all going a bit slow so I overtook them - only to run very quickly up to Conrad going really slow, he was following Steve who also was going slow. No idea why they did so but I decided then I'll also stay there... until Conrad gestured me to pass them - oh well, OK, so I did.
Never saw that Steve had a flat front but heard this when I saw Andrew and some others parked under a single tree, there where the track veers off the road into a jeeptrack - but that tree had petty little shade so I decided to continue.

This track quickly led to a sandy riverbed, indeed with some stoney stuff here and there - but this was way more to my liking so the speed went up.
I found Kobus, Gerry and Robert lazing under a proper shade tree so joined them, for a drink, bitofalunch and chat.
I think Fanus joins us there too, and we all agree that this is outstandingly good riding: fast, and finding your own way just adds to the excitement!
We leave, again in small groups but I like to do this alone, so do.

Me being superbly ridefit on this trip (surprising myself actually) I also seem to ride a lot faster there then I normally do, and of course I'm loving it!
On the perfect bike for this type of riding I can live out my deep, dark and ugly fantasies right here, I mean who doesn't like a screamer eh?
Well, it turns out that even there, in that completely remote part of this stunning desert-like empty country, also there is a certain Murphy who, clearly so, abides by the inevitable law of 'what goes up must come down'!
The track, or rather the line indicating only the general direction, leads you mostly along but also in&out of the actual river-bed, and this bed changes too, from white sand to yellowish to brownish - and there where this brownish stuff appears there's also some level differences! Nothing hectic but say 20 cm's, and these are rather sharp in profile, proper edges.
Jumping in the riverbed somewhere I could not see a ridge I landed next to, no shade whatsoever, and when turning right the front wheel only rubbed alongside it instead of climbing onto.... so I had a rather hard fall lol. I remember a seriously hard impact on my helmet on the right side, and thanked my deity for wearing this thing!
I was fine, bike was fine.... so picked it up and just continued, just a little bit more wary of these ridges I'll admit.

I stopped under a shade tree on the side of the river after having checked the bank, not too densely overgrown there.... because I don't like prying eyes in my back.
Had a drink and snack, and next Fred comes along. He tells me he also had a fall thereish, so naturally this made me feel a LOT better
He left after which I also did so, and quite a bit further I saw a few giraffe a few times - see pics below.

A changing scenery of the riverbed lied ahead, more rocks rather than rocky patches, and here & there the going was very slow due to navigating inbetween large boulders - and the sandy bits became less, the riding was turning a 'lil technical here.
Here I caught up with some others, but this was close to the exit of the riverbed I saw, due to my GPS set to 'large' rather than zoomed-in.
They continued in the riverbed but I got out at the right place.... and found myself on a ruler-straight sandy flat track, just begging for topspeed!
I later heard that they, turning around in the river, heard my screaming through the gears there... another reason to loooove this stroker!

Anyway, I recognized where I was, and Puros was not too far away anymore. Nice flowing riding, and I was following the tracks of only Pierre & Fred, and I could clearly see where they had overshot the various turns - so I did too lol.
Saw a few bokkies there but was too much in a hurry to stop for a photo.
Arrived at camp where I found the two having an icecold drink beer from Hein, Hardy's friend who had come from Walvisbay to Puros to bring us drinks & fuel - that's a great homecoming I reckon!

The rest dripped in over time, the last arriving in the dark after Greg in his Unimog had left already to recover Hardy's cruiser.
And only close to midnight the 'Mog & Cruiser arrived back.... that was a long stint!

 

[dirtWarp]

Unbelievable how strong those fork legs are!

 

[Hardy de Kock]

Ek het nie gehelp nie, net raad gegee, vra vir Hardy!!

Conrad het een klip (jaffel zize) langs die wiel gegooi en met ń inspirerende “ek het als op video” homself gemaklik gemaak in die dik sand, terwyl hy ń ogie gehou het om seker te maak die res help.

 

[hartebees]

While Hardy, Chantal and Jean had been waiting for the rescue party, they made a fire. About 70m away was a dead tree covered with driftwood so they set fire to it. You know, so that they could toast their marshmallows while being 50m away.

It was magnificent. It was glorious. The flames was more than 12m high, lighting up the whole canyon in an orange glow. It was one of the most epic things I have ever seen.

By the time we got there the fire had settled down but it still felt like we were in some sort of movie. The recovery took place with this massive fire still burning in the background. First Greg tried just his winch, but that was not enough so he reversed the truck and pulled out the Cruiser using the winch cable.

Our spirits were high having concluded the recovery and the ride back was a lot less stressful since we could follow our own tracks. We got going at around 20:30 and returned to camp probably somewhere around 23:00.

Tomorrow's rest day could not have come at a better time. Everyone needed some time off after a long day and it would also give us time to fetch Martin's bike which was 120km away.

 

[hartebees]

 

[hartebees]

 

[hartebees]

 

[Rooies]

Hectic okes! Properly eventful up until here -> keep it coming

 

[Roxtar]

EPIC is all I can say! I need to do this trip...... promise made to myself

 

[Puls0nic]

Now I am afraid if I join the trip my bike will automatically just break.

 

[dirtWarp]

Now I am afraid if I join the trip my bike will automatically just break.

Ry KTM.
Enigste bikes wat nie breek nie, selfs al probeer ons

Of Yamaha

Of Honda

Bring whatever jy het, Hardy-hulle sort jou uit

 

[m0lt3n]

Now I am afraid if I join the trip my bike will automatically just break.

I always say any fall where you dont get hurt is a successful fall.
there was a lot of success in this trip.

 

[m0lt3n]

1- That's shoddy Martin, and serves you right ogling at topless Himba maidens walking past instead of concentrating on the job at hand!

2- We gathered the loose parts and some started to look for the axle nut somewhere along the road, but a needle and a haystack refer here..... no luck.

1. Runner made it very clear as only he could...I am supposed to sell all my tools as soon as I get home, not to even touch a leatherman again.

2. Uhm...I would not really be surprised if that nut was still at the campsite.


Bart you dont have a pic of your ductape helmet? that looked hardcore!

 

[hartebees]

oh and I found another limit this day! The limit to Hartebees's patience!
we were collecting rocks to stack under the cruiser wheels and I managed to splash some water in his face. I really felt bad, extra so when I realised everyone had a limit, even the ever helpful and calm Jaco, he really bit on his tongue not to cuss me out.
Would have been fine Jaco to give it to me!

Martin I knew for sure, after seeing the shock on your face, that it was an accident. I do also feel bad for giving you a death stare for about half a second. I guess the sun, punctures and dust frayed my senses a bit, and sitting in my underpants digging mud, realising the predicament we were in made me lose my sense of humour for a moment. In the end it was one of the must fun and challenging days I've ever had and I'm sure we will all remember it fondly for a long long time.

 

[m0lt3n]

Martin I knew for sure, after seeing the shock on your face, that it was an accident. I do also feel bad for giving you a death stare for about half a second. I guess the sun, punctures and dust frayed my senses a bit, and sitting in my underpants digging mud, realising the predicament we were in made me lose my sense of humour for a moment. In the end it was one of the must fun and challenging days I've ever had and I'm sure we will all remember it fondly for a long long time.

haha no hard feelings

 

[Hardy de Kock]

This section of the Hoarusib river will test any driver / rider and suck you in if you are not focused. I am not sure how many of you ever had the opportunity to get stuck with a Cruiser, but for those who have - that sinking feeling you get when the swamp sucks into and over your chassis made me nauseas. I remember a lot of people talking to me and I remember how everyone tried their best to dig the Cruiser out, but to be honest, I was swearing at myself in my head and paid little attention to anyone else at that stage.
I immediately fully understood what I did to myself and I think Martin felt more or less the same earlier that day when he flew past his bike mid air.

After Jaco and the group went ahead to get the riders safe we (Jean, Chantal and myself) started to work out how long it will take the Unimog to get to where we were.
I realised that we were in the middle of the Okondjomba Conservancy and unfortunately also remembered exactly why the community here abandoned this area. The lions of Okondjomba were famous for their attacks on the community and I had to come up with a plan soon, since the sun was setting and I had two other people with me.

It is said that you really get to know people when times are adverse and I can honestly say that I got to know Jean a lot better that afternoon. I knew Chantal would love the adventure and I was not so worried about her but Jean is a quiet person who seldom makes his thoughts public and I did not know how he (a paying client) was going to react to this. (Remember that he was still dealing with the fact that his DR was now officially in ICU).

My fears about Jean soon faded away because he immediately asked how he could be helpful and the three of us started to collect wood as if we were preparing for the winter back in Loxton.
The animal sounds coming through the canyon were suspicious to say the least and I soon realised that our little campfire was not going to be adequate in supplying us with enough visibility.
The decision to light up the dead tree was made and it turned out to be a huge success. It lit up that canyon and soon we had very close to daylight. Jean, Chantal and I sat around our smaller fire and ate what was left of our lunchpacks and life was good. I realised there that Jean is someone I would like to spend more time with. These two brothers kept showing their grit and I would love for them to come on more tours with us.
Jean ran out of cigarettes earlier that day and I had extras so I could help him out. Something he really appreciated judging from the look on his face.

I also remember thinking that @hartebees would have loved to be there at that moment while our fire lit up the canyon - he lives for epic moments like that so we decided to make a video for him (see above).

Thanks Jaco, Greg and @dirtWarp for the roles you played in assisting us - We appreciate it very much.

 

[Puls0nic]

It's not adventure until you start having the unexpected like this happen.

 

[Roxtar]

Daai 990 is well and truly fubar, party ouens moet eerder nie aan hulle eie bikes werk..... Hoop Conrad het ORC besigheids kaartjies uitgedeel...

Net bly niemand het erg seergekry! Die tipe dinge is juis wat mense eintlik onthou van die tipe trips en waaroor mens lag lank na die seer en skade vergeet is....

 

[BuRP]

The decision to light up the dead tree was made and it turned out to be a huge success. It lit up that canyon and soon we had very close to daylight

Don't be too modest Hardy, we at camp Puros suddenly had difficulty to see the stars!