Klein Torkar
Race Dog
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
- Messages
- 583
- Reaction score
- 0
- Bike
- BMW R1150GS
13 Days on the road, a short report on a quick visit down South.
The family had an opportunity to do a bit of road tripping at the end of March. It took me a while to work up the steam to write this RR. The why of the road trip is not that important. Unfortunately not much dirt ridding was done so hope fully the RR is still allowed.
Photos courtesy of my daughter, so there will be gaps here and there. I will try and keep the report short because dwelling on the memories make it difficult the get back in to the normal world. We tried to fit in as many of the usual tourist roads, places and picture opportunities, thus I will endeavour not to bore you with too much of those.
As the daughter had to pillion with the missus, the decision was made to do “slack biking” (Lazy bones, still need to do the licences thing.)
So Day minus one.
As it has now become tradition with our excursions, we do frantic last minute packing. The night before getting the trailer loaded.
The youngster in the picture would be feeding the cat while we were away, and “somer” offered to assist with loading the bikes. The agreement in the house is when packing and loading for a trip all hand on deck to help so even the missus had to do her bit.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/p75x225/10292463_564809373637395_8830800731430155333_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(For the sharp eyes, the third bike was a paying passenger. The lift was arranged for a friend of friend’s we met on last year’s tour. Needless to say after sharing a 2000+km 7 day tour the owner is now also a friend.)
Day One.
Left late afternoon the following day to my Parent ‘s place in the “Vuil Vaal Drie Hoek”. So as far as I am concerned it should not really count as day one , but we were on the road for 13. We do travel the N4 now and again so no reason to take photos.
Day Two.
We were invited to stay over at De Aar on our way down, so off we went keeping to the shortest route. On arrival we were treated to real Karroo hospitality. Thanks Willem and family. We only needed to be in De Aar in the late afternoon, so it turned into a leisurely affair. We were also joined by friends from last years tour.
At our first diesel stop met this young bike fan, so could not resist giving the youngster some seat time.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10325150_564809436970722_2048537981784452928_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(Luckily he is way too young to recognize the BMW badges, so he picked the yellow one.)
Typical scenery on the road to Bloem .
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10314746_564809496970716_2186814404873885515_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
And some camera games to shorten the road.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/10174938_564809466970719_3352413282599356766_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
As were going past Gariep Dam, we recon it would be a good lunch spot, and what a glorious sight and the evidence of a blessed year.
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1557570_564809550304044_3185881133570271164_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(And as far as I am concerned a romantic lunch)
Day Three
De Aar to Calvinia
A lazy start too day two, we were now in holiday mode, took the missus’s bike of the trailer and she got to ride the Karroo roads. Unfortunately once we reached Williston, she came down with a sinus attack, so on the trailer the bike went again. And heavy dose of anti-histamines for her had me doing the driving.
This resulted in me not getting a chance to ride those roads. On the upside I now have a signed chitty to go back there and ride those roads. (Just as soon as I can pilfer enough funds of the grocery money). I have the leave days due to me.
Leaving De Aar. Willem leading then the Missus and oom Kallie the sweeper.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10246737_564809566970709_8668257121326153779_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Some more camera games.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/10294391_564809580304041_4383985137355555640_n.jpg?oh=8b9a371e36d424046888a448a1840b77&oe=53C434F7" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Had early tea in Vosburg with Bar One cake on special.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10308246_564810030303996_8326896854863653153_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10255131_564810416970624_3550006206819162506_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
At least my bike had some company on the trailer.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10177255_564810340303965_5040647511790972642_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Having grown up in the lushness of the Lowveld, the daughter was not impressed with the barren vistas of the Karoo. “Hier is dan nie bome nie” (Not a tree to be seen.)
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10246765_564810703637262_4493099469072110617_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
With no rush to get to the next town there was even time to get an artsy pic of the missus’s bike. <img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10343026_564810793637253_4274962707127713944_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(the daughter spotted the photo opportunity all by herself.)
Arriving at Williston Mall for lunch, and their special brand of hospitality. The town and “Mall” is really worth a visit.
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10252120_564810806970585_3372698572768712683_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
. <img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10277108_564810853637247_7743810106268660682_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(And if you wondered we did get our discount)
Arrived in Calvinia in the late afternoon spend the night at Dawn Africa BB come Nursery, can really recommend it.
Not many photos taken of the occasion. But this should give one a feel for the place.
https://www.safarinow.com/db/id/1348037/g2_365391.jpg
Think the batteries were dead or I had not checked up on the daughter to ensure more photos happened. But such is life. The Lamb pies are delicious and die kuier even better. Thanks Oom Bertie.
The family had an opportunity to do a bit of road tripping at the end of March. It took me a while to work up the steam to write this RR. The why of the road trip is not that important. Unfortunately not much dirt ridding was done so hope fully the RR is still allowed.
Photos courtesy of my daughter, so there will be gaps here and there. I will try and keep the report short because dwelling on the memories make it difficult the get back in to the normal world. We tried to fit in as many of the usual tourist roads, places and picture opportunities, thus I will endeavour not to bore you with too much of those.
As the daughter had to pillion with the missus, the decision was made to do “slack biking” (Lazy bones, still need to do the licences thing.)
So Day minus one.
As it has now become tradition with our excursions, we do frantic last minute packing. The night before getting the trailer loaded.
The youngster in the picture would be feeding the cat while we were away, and “somer” offered to assist with loading the bikes. The agreement in the house is when packing and loading for a trip all hand on deck to help so even the missus had to do her bit.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/p75x225/10292463_564809373637395_8830800731430155333_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(For the sharp eyes, the third bike was a paying passenger. The lift was arranged for a friend of friend’s we met on last year’s tour. Needless to say after sharing a 2000+km 7 day tour the owner is now also a friend.)
Day One.
Left late afternoon the following day to my Parent ‘s place in the “Vuil Vaal Drie Hoek”. So as far as I am concerned it should not really count as day one , but we were on the road for 13. We do travel the N4 now and again so no reason to take photos.
Day Two.
We were invited to stay over at De Aar on our way down, so off we went keeping to the shortest route. On arrival we were treated to real Karroo hospitality. Thanks Willem and family. We only needed to be in De Aar in the late afternoon, so it turned into a leisurely affair. We were also joined by friends from last years tour.
At our first diesel stop met this young bike fan, so could not resist giving the youngster some seat time.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10325150_564809436970722_2048537981784452928_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(Luckily he is way too young to recognize the BMW badges, so he picked the yellow one.)
Typical scenery on the road to Bloem .
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10314746_564809496970716_2186814404873885515_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
And some camera games to shorten the road.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/10174938_564809466970719_3352413282599356766_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
As were going past Gariep Dam, we recon it would be a good lunch spot, and what a glorious sight and the evidence of a blessed year.
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1557570_564809550304044_3185881133570271164_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(And as far as I am concerned a romantic lunch)
Day Three
De Aar to Calvinia
A lazy start too day two, we were now in holiday mode, took the missus’s bike of the trailer and she got to ride the Karroo roads. Unfortunately once we reached Williston, she came down with a sinus attack, so on the trailer the bike went again. And heavy dose of anti-histamines for her had me doing the driving.
This resulted in me not getting a chance to ride those roads. On the upside I now have a signed chitty to go back there and ride those roads. (Just as soon as I can pilfer enough funds of the grocery money). I have the leave days due to me.
Leaving De Aar. Willem leading then the Missus and oom Kallie the sweeper.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10246737_564809566970709_8668257121326153779_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Some more camera games.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/10294391_564809580304041_4383985137355555640_n.jpg?oh=8b9a371e36d424046888a448a1840b77&oe=53C434F7" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Had early tea in Vosburg with Bar One cake on special.
<img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10308246_564810030303996_8326896854863653153_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10255131_564810416970624_3550006206819162506_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
At least my bike had some company on the trailer.
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10177255_564810340303965_5040647511790972642_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
Having grown up in the lushness of the Lowveld, the daughter was not impressed with the barren vistas of the Karoo. “Hier is dan nie bome nie” (Not a tree to be seen.)
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10246765_564810703637262_4493099469072110617_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
With no rush to get to the next town there was even time to get an artsy pic of the missus’s bike. <img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10343026_564810793637253_4274962707127713944_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(the daughter spotted the photo opportunity all by herself.)
Arriving at Williston Mall for lunch, and their special brand of hospitality. The town and “Mall” is really worth a visit.
<img src="https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10252120_564810806970585_3372698572768712683_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
. <img src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10277108_564810853637247_7743810106268660682_n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" border="0">
(And if you wondered we did get our discount)
Arrived in Calvinia in the late afternoon spend the night at Dawn Africa BB come Nursery, can really recommend it.
Not many photos taken of the occasion. But this should give one a feel for the place.
https://www.safarinow.com/db/id/1348037/g2_365391.jpg
Think the batteries were dead or I had not checked up on the daughter to ensure more photos happened. But such is life. The Lamb pies are delicious and die kuier even better. Thanks Oom Bertie.
