Trip: Nelspruit - Eastern Free State - Eastern Cape - Southern Cape.

[SierraWhisky]

I wonder how many of my trips trips started by staring at a road map, some while occupying a toilet seat?

Part 1

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Mule packed, leaving Nelspruit - Wed 16 Sept 2009.
Bad road, lots of coal trucks and roadworks between Ermelo and Newcastle via Volksrust. About 8 or 9 20min stops.
Got late at Memel, my stopover for the night. Should have taken Standerton-Vrede road instead.

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Lamp, some whisky, enamel mug - my companions for the night at Flintstones, near Memel.

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Next morning - Thu 17 Sept 2009. Beautiful stone cottage - Flintstones - belongs to Jeanne & Mel Botes (singer, guitarist, songwriter).
https://www.wheretostay.co.za/flintstones

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The view from Flintstones Cottage. I did not want to leave, will surely come back.
S27.72575_E29.61696

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Flintstones signboard at turn-off. About 7km from Memel. Oom Jannie Botes has the keys, and checks on the place.
S27.72986 E29.61113

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Vaaltyn heading for a storm.
(google vaaltyn = common name for a donkey, however this pack mule runs like a thoroughbred horse)

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Memel Hotel, excellent country hotel kept in good nick by Chris.

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I took the dirt road to Verkykerskop, then an excellent tar road to Harrismith.

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Winding road in the Golden Gate National Park.

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I always thought of a cliff bungy jump venture when passing here.

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Finally another dirt road - between Cathcart and Hogsback.
From Golden Gate I passed some prospering towns like Clarens, but also some dilapidated shitholes like Hobhouse.

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Roadside scene near Hogsback.

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Hogsback.
At this point I realised Vaaltyn had a front wheel running flat. The filling station only had basic stuff, and was about to close.
I put some tyre fix muti I brought with me, in the front wheel. Seemed to work.
Could not find any nail or thorn though causing the puncture.

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18 Sept 2009 - The next morning at Away With The Fairies Backpackers where I booked in the previous night. Excellent views! Great hospitality.

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Radiator cowl attachment pin broke off on dirt road. Fixed with Pratley glue and cable ties.
Note stick to hold cowl in position while glue sets.

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Away With The Fairies Backbackers main dorm.
Charlotte, my sister-in-law from George, still had her F650GS in the BMW repair shop after radiator damage on a recent Baviaans trip,
so she sat out doing the Baviaanskloof with me. I then called Wouter Brand from Tracks-4-Africa to join me.

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Arc view.

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Probably the bath with the best view.

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Till recently this was a dirt road. Fortunately the canopy was preserved.

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Bungy jumping - the "no strings attached" bridge.
One should rather practice first from the old Van Stadens bridge in the foreground.

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Sand covered the road at Gamtoos River Mouth.

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Dunes at Gamtoos River Mouth.

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Got some clobber for myself & the kids. Not special prices though.

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The Greek Restaurant = excellent food and hospitality.
Jeffreys Bay - S34.05211_E24.92316
Here I met Wouter Brand who came from George to do the Baviaans with me.

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Cristal Cove Backpackers, Jeffreys Bay
S34.03282_E24.93186
Wouter Brand checks his kit - Sat, 19 Sept 2009.

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Note GPS mapping equipment and front suspension adjustment kit.

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Wouter Brand's BMW F800GS.

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The purpose of Tracks-4-Africa = constantly updating road travel data.
A traveler armed with the latest T4A GPS map must be informed about dead ends like this.

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Some old transport memorabilia at the Padlangs road stall near Patensie.
S33.72874_E24.76466

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Waitress, Wouter, SW.

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Can you see her? Queen Victoria?
When the first boere-kryger fell a few hundred metres from here, she looked away - today she's still looking the other side.
S33.75669_E24.68788

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Gamtoos River

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SW on Baviaanskloof road.

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Wouter on Baviaanskloof road.

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Hey, Jafta, wat maak jy daar?

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Control gate entrance to Baviaanskloof Wilderness area.

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One of many scenic views.

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The baboon skull - the ultimate symbol of evil in Africa - looking into the Baviaans (baboons) Kloof.

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Wouter coming down Doodsklip.
S33.65787_E24.43310

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Wouters claims that BMW makes good engines, but lacks on suspension building,
so Wouter fitted KTM suspension.

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BMW stock suspension replaced with more sophisticated front and rear suspension.

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At a picnic site we met a father-&-son team from Prieska - Con and Andries on their KTM's.

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Neck brace - apparently a must have.

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Neckbrace fitted.
Why smiling? I told him:"...en ek gaan die foto vir my dogter stuur."
En toe pak hy tande uit.

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Another stop to admire the view.

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Breathtaking views in all directions.

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More breathtaking views.
Places like Baviaanskloof might be the Creator's way to give us a glimpse of Heaven.

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A paw-by-paw challenging some rough terrain.

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One of those old world police stations when the buildings & gardens were still the pride of the station commander.

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Looking for "iets vir die dors".
At some stage, without me noticing, Wouter turned off on a secondary road looking for a shop. As I could not see his dust anymore,
I opened throttle to catch up with him. Wouter enquired at a donkey cart driver and confirmed that I have passed him.
So I was "chasing" Wouter and Wouter was chasing me. Eventually I stopped to take some pictures, so Wouter caught up with me.

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Uitspan at Uitspan Camping & Accommodation.
S33.51585_E23.70521

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The restaurant at Uitspan.

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This harvester is old, really old.
Manufactured by Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd, Lincoln. Date unknown.

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The chalets and campsites in the kloof at Uitspan. I assume the rock was there first.

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Near the N9 between Willowmore and Uniondale,
waiting for the cyclists in their cars to pass and dust to settle.

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Approaching a bridge on the Prince Alfred Pass between Avontuur and Knysna.

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One of those places where you quickly want to stop for cold refreshments,
but it's such a nice place, nice people, exceeding expectations, so you end up spending the night.
S33.81354_E23.17497

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Angie, SW & Harold in the pub. Harold and Angie are the owners of this lovely place.

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Chef Cha-Cha preparing our meal in the neat kitchen.

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The pub at Angie's. I like the black wattle chairs.
More alien trees should be cut and converted into furniture and other uses.

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Basil, the resident sheep "dog".

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Harold is still a serious biker, he has owned 61 bikes in his life.
His current bikes are a Cagiva 1000, this Suzuki 1100 SlingShot and a Honda CRF450 off-road.

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Carl's KTM 950, SW's KLR650, Bernies' 1988 Honda Africa Twin, Wouter's BMW F800GS.

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[mountainboy]

800 GS with KTM suspension  :thumleft:

more pls.........

 

[BMWPE]

Great pics and Ride Report  :thumleft:
Thanks for posting

 

[SierraWhisky]

Part 2.

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Carl, Harold, Angie, Bernie in pub.
Carl & Bernie Jeppe came from Plettenberg Bay to spend the night at Angie's.

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Old music - modern menu prices.

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Wouter & I had a lamb curry & rice feast, served in the soweto microwaves.

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Late night fire kuier.

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Next morning after coffee & shower. Wouter's coffees eliminates the risk of alzheimers.

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The simplicity makes this place marvelous.

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Frazer feeding Basil.

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Frazer and Cha-Cha, the hands at Angie's.

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Carl & Bernie Jeppe, SW Burger, Wouter Brand, Harold Beaumont.

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Angie's G-Spot in the distance next to the riverbed.
When Angie first saw this place, she said: "It's a great spot", hence the name Angie's G-Spot.

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Near Buffelsnek Forestry Station Wouter got a rear flat wheel.
Tom, the local forester assisted us with pump, cold drinks and general hospitality.
We were in a hurry to leave before the first Karoo-to-Coast cyclists arive.
S33.91215_E23.15649

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Kom-se-pad, Knysna forest.

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Wouter checks gps.

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Forest road.

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Knysna.

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Breakfast! The Knysna Waterfront was crowded and also the venue for the Karoo-to-Coast cycle race to end.
We decided to give it a miss and found this spot in Knysna where the street was closed off for a bikers' breakfast run end.

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Some scooters in Knysna. Two good looking Truimphs. The red one has a lady rider.

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Scenes like this on the Seven Passes road between Knysna and George.

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Every river crossing justifies a stop.

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One of many river scenes.

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Wouter lit his pipe for the last time on this trip.

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At Wouter's home he showed off his custom made nguni skin biker jacket.

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Our home near Groot-Brakrivier.
A 23ha farm on the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains overlooking the coast between George and Mossel Bay.

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Swellendam. I visited one of my old Bloemfontein biker friends, riding together since 1979.

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Just in time to watch the Bulls-Cheetahs Currie Cup game.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBK6uR2xAI/AAAAAAAAAJE/wsPOnWP70D4/200909261452.jpg">

Me on Frik Mentz's Ducati M900 - lightweight - small and feels like a 125cc,
enormous power to weight ratio.

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<img src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBZQQoIlkI/AAAAAAAAAUM/V4KXbepxIqU/HPIM4301.JPG">

It's unofficially for sale...

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<img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKA78YdFI/AAAAAAAAAGs/h2gxqoqpqj0/HPIM4302.JPG">

...have to make a plan.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBY15jnvjI/AAAAAAAAATQ/YrWjZG5dlVo/HPIM4303.JPG">

Lots of carbon fibre - wheels, silencers, body panels.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StCOEeRhktI/AAAAAAAAAfU/oNb7cF5EJ10/HPIM4309.JPG">

Those pipes produce incredible sound.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBK0lCMTiI/AAAAAAAAAJA/zK6BNrSm1rY/HPIM4313.JPG">

Malgas Ferry, Breede River - I think it's one of three operating ferrys in SA,
and the only one operated by hand.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKMbsRzQI/AAAAAAAAAHs/fTKKNW9u_Hw/HPIM4316.JPG">

Nice restaurant in Barrydale is a bikers pit stop.

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<img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKAP67JhI/AAAAAAAAAGo/8B7d-R4sSXU/HPIM4317.JPG">

A compulsory roadside stop near Ladismith.

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<img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKV19UiRI/AAAAAAAAAIE/7Zw_yPk6hRM/200910041506.jpg">

Cottage built myself, shower nearly finished after a few days spent on the farm.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBZitk80ZI/AAAAAAAAAV4/ZX5T-od2Qhs/200910061510.jpg">

Odometer reading when I stopped at my parents grave in Oudtshoorn.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKEk2mowI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/HpZVcVHF5H8/200910061516.jpg">

Shop in De Rust.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKRr02yxI/AAAAAAAAAH8/nZLGfsFkWNo/200910061517.jpg">

Meiringspoort. What amazed me was the neat ablution facilities.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBKABBYLVI/AAAAAAAAAGk/3Hw7P3dEVQk/200910061526.jpg">

From 3-Sisters I took the N12 via Victoria West, but from Hopetown I took a dirt road to Luckhoff, Koffiefontein, Petrusburg,
and overnight in Bloemfontein at Ertjies Luyt, a mutual biking friend of me and Frik.
Wind was terrible through Karoo and Free State.

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<img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBZrCDnG8I/AAAAAAAAAWM/Z7JcfSNbO6w/200910071529.jpg">

7 October 2009.
A typical Free State farm scene near Bultfontein.
Again a mother of a north-western wind.

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<img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StBJ4GwShaI/AAAAAAAAAGM/RihBS2tiPsk/200910071530.jpg">

Die Blakermaker in Parys.
This guy knows how to do steelwork art.
Parys surprised me since I've been there about 18 years ago, now a prospering town.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StCD-FMI3LI/AAAAAAAAAdA/i8hvNZ0hZMM/200910071534.jpg">

Stopover in Pretoria.
Spent the night with my daughter Anneri, in the commune where she lives.
The next day I got via Delmas, Bethal, Carolina, Badplaas to Nelspruit.

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<img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_NIDPVSXBKWQ/StCWV_85inI/AAAAAAAAAf0/V2XAGEt-47w/200910091544.jpg">

In Nelspruit Vaaltyn had a wash. Great bike, great dual purpose go-anywhere bike.
I'll do this again, but next time my son Schalk has to come with.

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[LeonDude]

Very nice!  :thumleft:

 

[Trailrider]

Nice report. Wouter told me about this ride and you missed each other in Baviaans ;D

 

[Bessie]

thanks for the trouble SW...

it looks good.

 

[Chrisl]

Thanks SW. Enjoyed reading this.

 

[SierraWhisky]

Feedback - Got that Ducati and also changed the appearance of the KLR (because of accident). See attached link.

https://www.klrclan.co.za/klr-forum?func=view&catid=4&id=14498
Forum Topic = "Damaged KLR - parts needed", and also "KLR up & running again".

Cheers

SW

 

[LOTTA]

Very nice. Thanks

 

[Piston Pete]

Great stuff...thanks for sharing! :thumleft:

 

[nick-fish]

nice report - thanx :thumleft:

 

[spoedvark]

Great report. Well done and by all it seemed an excellent ride. I like the Mossel Bay number plate. Was that for the traffic cameras around Plett???????

 

[Just Blip It!]

Lekker!! :thumleft: Thanks for sharing!

 

[Gee eS]

Great RR, Thanks. :thumleft:

 

[SierraWhisky]

@spoedvark - the bike is registered in Mosselbay, my other vehicles as well. I had the choice of registering my vehicles in either Nelspruit(where I mostly work) or Mossel Bay(hometown), so I decided on the latter. I had a Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans that was changed into a McCormic tractor many years ago when the old yellow T (transvaal) number plates changed to MP. The keyboard operator must have entered the first M entry on her computer and for many years thereafter I battled to have it changed back to a Moto Guzzi motorcycle. I had a file built up with queries, etc., but it took the supervisor woman at Mossel Bay vehicle registration office ONE day to rectify it, without even looking at the file content, as she only needed the info on the original pink registration certificate, where those in the Nelspruit office failed to do so for many years.

 

[XXL]

Very nice RR. Thanks for sharing. :thumleft:

 

[Thump]

Very nice RR. Thanks for sharing. :thumleft:

 

[hondsekierie]

Even though a year later I thoroughly enjoyed your report :thumleft:

 

[SierraWhisky]

Well, in this year the bike was almost wrecked and rose up again within 6 weeks.