the winos to the bav

[wino]

Ok, late but nevertheless. I?ll try and keep it economical, like the capies decided to do with their jokes!

DAY 1

First trip with the wife. She only had the bike a couple of weeks and was on the gravel only once before, so I wasn?t quite sure what to excpect. Should have known better!

The pics tell the story of traveling down from Jhb to Ladybrand via Marquard, then via Aliwal North to Middelburg:

Ok, had to slip in the pics of the churches

Sitting on the grass chatting about the day?s ride:

No probs with the wife, she was actually contemplating how to get me to open the throttle even more!

 

[wino]

DAY 2

The day was scheduled to be our scenic ride, not that it hasn?t been up to now. The planned ride for the day was to Willowmore, via Nieu-Bethesda and Valley of Desolation just outside of Graaff Reinet. Those that read our trip report to Bav last year, will recall many of the scenes.

Lootsberg:

Getting onto the gravel to NB, took it a little slow at 80, but was soon told to move it along.

On route we came across this stream. Man, something like this in the middle of this dry country needs to be cherished. At this point in time I recall remarking that we are truly blessed to be able to experience not just this, but to be able to do a trip like this and enjoy what is there.

Parental guidance 18 ? I?ve been ?forced? to post it:

Then we hit NB,

And of course the Owl House. Strange that a person who was thought of as completely tati while alive is now the mainstay of the village. Some pics from the Owl House:

Getting out of NB,

And then onto the Valley of Desolation, where we spent about an hour at the top just admiring

Someone else has commented on the road from Aberdeen to Willowmore, yes, it is straight for 90k?s with nothing in between. This road was opening its jaws for the 650?s:

While idling, a group of hd?s passed us, and yes, they had a back up vehicle. The driver of the vehicle thought that we were having some kind of trouble and wanted to turn in to help, but I indicated that all was well. What a GREAT gesture from these guys!

In Willowmore we were told that the whole town was booked out as a result of some gathering. So, onto a farm called San Adventures, which is about 7k?s into the Bav area. This is where serendipity kicked in ? if we stayed in Willowmore there would have been no way that we would have been able to experience the magnificent atmosphere on the farm.

 

[wino]

DAY 3

Onto the camping spot!

Not so virgin ride through the water:

We were the first to arrive at the camp and thought that everyone would camp underneath the trees. Sorely mistaken, but we did end up having our own honeymoon tent far from the maddening crowd:

 

[wino]

DAY 4
The next day we decided to take a slow cruise further into the kloof and I was mightily impressed with her accomplishments. Well done!

Along the route we also encountered some hooligans:

 

[wino]

DAY 5

Time to break camp and onto the Karroo Hotel in Steytlerville:

Sump fixed

Where we were treated to an impromptu ?cabaret? by the owners:

Now how the hell did this pic slip in here

 

[wino]

DAY 6 & 7

We were up early and rode through some early morning karroo drizzle, which didn?t last long.

However, once we hit Zastron we were in the middle of a heavy downpour. We just missed the hailstorm ? the hail was lying at least 5 cm thick on parts of the road and next to it. We decided that Ladybrand would be our spot for the night.

The next day was a silent run home, knowing that it is all over, but the start of more adventures!

 

[funacide]

Wino

Some really geart pics there!!!

How did the lowere 650 handle the dirt??

Well done to Mrs Wino for completing the trip, a long trip for a first one!!

8) :rr:

 

[Lito]

Absolutely huge effort there Wino........... with all the fotos, damn!! :shock: :shock:

Is this your house? if so, damn fine place. But I think thats the spot in LadyBrand right?

 

[Welsh]

Excellent as usual Wino,

Congrats to the Winess, very well done, do we now wait 9 months after the Honeymoon?

I did see that sand river bed, strategicly placed, just to make the Shark Drool, but I do recomend you have that black spot on your bum checked.

Welsh

 

[GIDEON]

Bevange rerig bevange EN GROOT

 

[Kev]

:notworthy: Very nice photos... Question: Did Mrs Wino also jump around kaalgat? And if so, where is the evidence? 8)

 

[Welsh]

:notworthy: Very nice photos... Question: Did Mrs Wino also jump around kaalgat? And if so, where is the evidence? 8)

Maybe it is not posted cos she has the dreaded black spot on he bum, or maybe the black stars that all white South african Women had in the 80,s
it was a terrible problem rife everywhere.

Welsh

 

[chrisB]

WOW awesome stuff Wino, I like that new FL 650!

 

[Leo]

Nice one Wino.

Congrats to Winess - her riding skills seems to be progressing in leaps & bounds :wink:

.........eeeeeeeerm about that "black hole"...no lets rather not go there

Thnaks for sharing. Excellent pics!!

 

[Welsh]

Nice one Wino.

Congrats to Winess - her riding skills seems to be progressing in leaps & bounds :wink:

.........eeeeeeeerm about that "black hole"...no lets rather not go there

Thnaks for sharing. Excellent pics!!

Careful, or the Whitney discussion may re-surface.

Welsh :twisted: :twisted:

 

[macduff]

lekker pics wino/wina
strange about this welschman.... checking the pics of your bum so closely 8) 8) 8)

 

[Kev]

or maybe the black stars that all white South african Women had in the 80,s it was a terrible problem rife everywhere.

Eish! I can remember them spoiling a perfectly good magazine like "Scope"! :lol: :lol: Did I just admit I used to read Scope?

 

[wino]

How did the lowere 650 handle the dirt??

most of the gravel roads were quite easy, so no probs there. going through some river crossings where the stones are posed the highest risk and the bashplate took a few minor knocks, but nothing serious. first upgrade = handprotectors (waiting from tt) and then a decent bashplate.

 

[Doringboom]

Fantastiese foto's Wino! 'n Mens kan sien jy is 'n meester met daai grend kamera van jou. Volpunte :!:

 

[Ama ride ride]

Lekker lekker Wino en DirtAngel.

Beautiful nature pics.