- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 11,508
- Reaction score
- 5,158
- Location
- Cape Town, deep in the lentils
- Bike
- KTM 990 Adventure
Ahh, the joys of being on Holiday.
Dawid of Brakenjan fame was also on holiday in Onrus and Pm’d me to say that he was keen to be shown around and preferably a bit of sand. Well, I have been coming to this part of the world for many years and have found a few lekker places to ride and as I have always been on my own here was an opportunity to spread the fun.
We met at the Sandbaai Engen, But I’d already had a fall as I had stalled on the front lawn on full lock and down she went. So the score was Andrew 1 Dawid 0 before we had even met.
The normal, “hello, nice day for a ride” conversation and the eerie experience of a virgin meatspace meeting but we’ve-met-before-per-forum experience.
And we’re off. The plan was to go to Stanford and do some of the tracks in that part of the world. His legend 650R is not a tar mile muncher, 120 is about it.
But tar was something that was not much on the menu so before too long we were into some of the better trails and soon at the end of one... I’d like to say that I did a neat dismount but it was a proper fall right over the front for me Andrew 2 Dawid 0.
Fortunately he clawed one back obviously thinking it was the done thing, 2 -1
Pretty hey?
We stayed off the beach.
That track you see is what we came in on, a stunning little sandy thing with just the right amount of sand to start the day.
This part of the world does strange things to people.
But places to go... so doubling back we did a quick loop of a favourite little stretch before heading through the fynbos towards Gansbaai. We stopped a few times to chew the fat at opportune times. This track is one that I had not done before but knew where it must come out, it was a sweaty little thing at times.
It takes one back to the beach. I had not been past this point and had always turned back here. The track is hard to find so we rode making our own path trying to get to the 4x4 route from Gansbaai. We’d find the track then lose it often and did most of this stretch off piste so to speak. Just aim and go.
It is tough work over dosing on the fun-o-meter
Finally we found the main 4x4 route where the sand was very thick in places, it was very tough to get up onto the plane. But a magic little track.
Dawid evened up the score and boiled his radiator.
KTM taking in the view.
We wondered why the few people that we met weren’t so friendly. They knew something we didn't.... At the gate it would have been a R2000.00 fine or 6 months jail if this chap had not been feeling so generous. We’d come through national park where bikes were not permitted.
What a waste as it is a really stunning little stretch. so No, you guys can’t go there and we’ve buggered it up for you as all the excuses we used to get us out of jail won’t work a second time around. Fortunately Dawid is in the legal world back home and those silky negotiational skills came in handy. I’ve always wanted to say, “speak to my lawyer”!
A cool drink and something to snack was needed so off into Ganbaai village, but something didn’t seem right with the chain/gearbox. My first thoughts were that either it was the big stump I’d hit the gear selector with at one point or the 4x4 track has very heavy sand with some patches of sandstone that the spinning rear hits putting immense strain on the system breaking something.
Off came the sprocket cover, but nothing seemed loose or crunchy?
On trying to replace the sprocket cover I found the problem the stump had pushed the bottom bolt up and was making the sprocket cover hit the chain. Bonus! Nothing big and easily fixed... just leave the cover off.
But, rather than having the snack and beer in Gansbaai (a place for some reason that I detest, for me it has a bad vibe) we headed back at the Honda’s top hand numbing speed to Hermanus for a burger and a chat.
We looked a little out of place at the waterfront place, but bugger them.
And so it was. Final score was 2 all, I think.
Dawid of Brakenjan fame was also on holiday in Onrus and Pm’d me to say that he was keen to be shown around and preferably a bit of sand. Well, I have been coming to this part of the world for many years and have found a few lekker places to ride and as I have always been on my own here was an opportunity to spread the fun.
We met at the Sandbaai Engen, But I’d already had a fall as I had stalled on the front lawn on full lock and down she went. So the score was Andrew 1 Dawid 0 before we had even met.
The normal, “hello, nice day for a ride” conversation and the eerie experience of a virgin meatspace meeting but we’ve-met-before-per-forum experience.
And we’re off. The plan was to go to Stanford and do some of the tracks in that part of the world. His legend 650R is not a tar mile muncher, 120 is about it.
But tar was something that was not much on the menu so before too long we were into some of the better trails and soon at the end of one... I’d like to say that I did a neat dismount but it was a proper fall right over the front for me Andrew 2 Dawid 0.
Fortunately he clawed one back obviously thinking it was the done thing, 2 -1
Pretty hey?
We stayed off the beach.
That track you see is what we came in on, a stunning little sandy thing with just the right amount of sand to start the day.
This part of the world does strange things to people.
But places to go... so doubling back we did a quick loop of a favourite little stretch before heading through the fynbos towards Gansbaai. We stopped a few times to chew the fat at opportune times. This track is one that I had not done before but knew where it must come out, it was a sweaty little thing at times.
It takes one back to the beach. I had not been past this point and had always turned back here. The track is hard to find so we rode making our own path trying to get to the 4x4 route from Gansbaai. We’d find the track then lose it often and did most of this stretch off piste so to speak. Just aim and go.
It is tough work over dosing on the fun-o-meter
Finally we found the main 4x4 route where the sand was very thick in places, it was very tough to get up onto the plane. But a magic little track.
Dawid evened up the score and boiled his radiator.
KTM taking in the view.
We wondered why the few people that we met weren’t so friendly. They knew something we didn't.... At the gate it would have been a R2000.00 fine or 6 months jail if this chap had not been feeling so generous. We’d come through national park where bikes were not permitted.
What a waste as it is a really stunning little stretch. so No, you guys can’t go there and we’ve buggered it up for you as all the excuses we used to get us out of jail won’t work a second time around. Fortunately Dawid is in the legal world back home and those silky negotiational skills came in handy. I’ve always wanted to say, “speak to my lawyer”!
A cool drink and something to snack was needed so off into Ganbaai village, but something didn’t seem right with the chain/gearbox. My first thoughts were that either it was the big stump I’d hit the gear selector with at one point or the 4x4 track has very heavy sand with some patches of sandstone that the spinning rear hits putting immense strain on the system breaking something.
Off came the sprocket cover, but nothing seemed loose or crunchy?
On trying to replace the sprocket cover I found the problem the stump had pushed the bottom bolt up and was making the sprocket cover hit the chain. Bonus! Nothing big and easily fixed... just leave the cover off.
But, rather than having the snack and beer in Gansbaai (a place for some reason that I detest, for me it has a bad vibe) we headed back at the Honda’s top hand numbing speed to Hermanus for a burger and a chat.
We looked a little out of place at the waterfront place, but bugger them.
And so it was. Final score was 2 all, I think.
