What can I say. Another lekker BASH, organised by a super team. :thumleft:
My ride started from PE, on Thursday morn, at sparrows poep, with the 1150 “Donkeysaurus” I travelled down to Mosselbay then on to Somerset West, where I slept over. Early Friday I pulled into Donford BMW and acquired a real lekker riding pants before meeting up with Stoetbull at his pad in Paarl. We then chucked to meet the other guys outside Wellington, arriving on time with No-one in sight. So we went down the road, and brushed our teeth at a local water hole, where KLR joined us. Teeth freshly polished, we went back to the main road outside Wellington and joined JACKO, Hiemer, and a crowd of other, dirt starved honne.
These dawgs decided to route via Oppieberg, and braai other side Katbakkies Pass. Here we were treated to a PRELUDE of JACKO’s full bash suite. (Half suite - style)
Keep this pic for posterity
Arriving at the site late afternoon, the manne were “goed warm” in this lekker BEDAWIN tent.
MENSE , this bash site is far from no-where, and nog n bietjie verder. Primative is un understatement. But the hosts Henk & Faan really bend over backward for us. Clearly this site is not geared for the 150 souls that tormented the normal tranquility of this place. I suppose normally 40 would be a push. Now you must know.
Saturday, saw us start with the outride. That F@&k*$g Leftless lies through his teeth. “just a little sandy exercise he says. Jirre,owens, NEVER believe these organisers again. The very first patch of sand, n klipgooi from the site, was most demoralizing. 20m from the end I decided, that’s it, and went into the veld, cross-coutry style back to the site where AntonW convinced me that this was the worsed, and that the route is very spectacular. So me goes and challenges the sand monster again. We make it through this shit and eventually us back-marker stragglers get on our way. We stopped for a rest at this remnant of years gone by, at Oudebaaskraal.
Then came more of the SAND MONSTER. Now this was real deep stuff. Here is fact that it was serious K*K stuff. This actions was Not done intentionally at all.
Action shot with this couple “seconds from disaster”
Here is a pic of what the rear tyre does in these circumstances. It neatly digs a trench, going down & down, whilst closing the trench up immediately behind the tyre.
Here is Robin Brown. Growing old disgracefully in the dirt. Mooi man. Thanks for helping me out of this thick sand too.
Here is a dirt chick, taking a stroll, while hubby challenges the SAND MONSTER.
Here is the typical “klipveld”
Mense, you don’t want to be out here, and have hassles with a bike, or even yourself, for that matter. DESOLATE, is an understatement.
90% up the Ouberg Pass, was this view site.
Yours Truly.
.
Top of Ouberg Pass
Other straggers cresting Ouberg Pass
Our Fearless chaperone. AntonW ( 9.5 Months)
From here, it was a lekker ride down to Middlepos, Gas-Up , cool of in the pub and push on back to the site. This is the Gannaga Pass, inside the Tankwa Nat Reserve.
247km outride. The last 40km or so, inside the Tankwa National Reserve was done on tracks with average 50mm sand on the hard surface.
After an outride like this, you have are definitely more experienced in the sand for a while. (short while)
Sunday saw us leave at Sparrows for PE again, arriving home at 17h30 or so.
Thanks guys, that was great. Those mountain passes were well worth the battle with the Sand Monster.
Will I ever go back there. NO WAY . Been there, done it, got NO bash tee-shirt.
Next year another venue guys. Kambati is looking good. :thumleft: