michnus
Bachelor Dog
There was no plan, no direction, every morning we would decide today's direction. Except for the first 2 days we met up
with Mr and Mrs Malice in Tsitsikamma.
The main thing was to stay of tar as much as possible and look for interesting roads, and because we don't know the Karoo
area that well we fitted knobbies for the trip, which in the
end was not necessary. We also did not want to take the
panniers in case we met up with a bit of technical riding.
In the end just finding something technical to ride seems to be difficult.
Unclear map but figure it out, it will still give an idea.
From East London to the other side of Port Elizabeth we had to ride tar, but it's a decent road and not to boring, the padstals
also bring interesting people.
If ever I have to pillion my wife like that she's staying home alone :lol:
One of my favourite passes is the Bloukrans pass near Tsitsikamma,
slow extremely beautiful and great fun to ride. Torque and
second gear is all you need. The TKC's can really take some leaning, even the Kendas on the Dakar got a good work out.
Prince Alfred pass, a must ride, solely because it's so beautiful.
The one thing I must mention to anybody riding that pass.
I have been through that pass a few times now and every
single time we had to get out of the way of oncoming traffic
cutting corners, you need to be wide awake.
Locals drive like hooligans there, and go into corners on the inside
of the road, we had a few near misses with them. The worst was
passing 4 or 5 other GS's and a few KTM's with obviously new
riders, way to fast into corners and as luck would have it, we had
to take evasive action not to connect them head on.
Tsitsikamma nature reserve, like all the other reserves have the
best settings and places to stay. It's well kept and 20m form the
sea, the sounds is incredible.
How about a view like this form your living room? :wink:
Friends the sea, and plenty to drink, always a good idea. The next
day we did some sight seeing, visit Plett, Monkey land and the big tree.
What a morning, the air smells terrific and everything's
alive, I must come stay here for a week, or a month.
Spot the tourist in this pic.
This restaurant is right on the beach at Plett. Good food and stunning views :shock:
This is what beaches looks like out of season for the people here with kids.
We decided to head up to Prince Albert via Oudshoorn and the
Swartberg, at least form Tsitsi to Prince Albert it's all dirt, some
good fun sections especially the Swartberg pass.
The next morning and the cold caught up with us, it's bloody cold
and we are heading to Sutherland. Prince Albert via Merweville to Sutherland.
As all things this road is really desolate, 200km of nothing
except for a dirt pass, incredible views and a dirt road that
the 1200 eat for breakfast.
Sliding into corners, spinning it out, aaaag hel just fun.
We got into Sutherland and if people tells you it is the coldest
place in SA.....they're not talking shit. You can't get to the
telescope, this is the closed you are allowed.
Even the venison was cold, this one waited next to the road for me. Goodness heavens, woman can sometimes get overly upset.
I wanted to take the pie and biltong with us but she mentioned
something about what people would say about me with a
wild bokkie on the back of my bike.
It was still damn cold, although great for riding and the jerrycan
with slangbyt really helped to warm things up a bit.
Near Loxton the veld on the mountain turns to this
beige green colour. Why my camera is not showing it the
way I've seen it, goodness :twisted:
This kind of dirt roads is bloody boring, and it looks like the whole
of the Karoo is like that. Well I am not going to let this get me
down, twist the right hand harder and easily the fun indicator
on the dash goes to warp.
.
The weirdest rock formation just before Beaufort west.
From Beaufort West it's dirt road all the way, raining and the
gravel is perfect for a loose rear end.
The nothingness is great, not a car or dog in sight, I don't know
where we are, all I know is we are heading for Graaf Reinet.
Lost? Never Doll, not me :?
Check the ABS skid marks in the background :lol:
The last part into Graaf Reinet we get this constant flow of BMW bikes passing us on their way to Victoria West.
One thing that pissed me of no end, was the 1200ADV
riders with all their bloody lights, FFS, it scream fat American, and
then it became clear to me, the ADV was build for the American
market ONLY! Every single American with a GS have aftermarket
lights, fitted to bars, on the forks, on the screen, on the fender, on his head, they look like truckers.
Use your high beam if you are scared people can't see you, why
de hell all of them?
In aaanycase, here's Graaff Reinet, beautiful little town with
expensive property and for some reason plenty of tourist.
All the way to Somerset East and it rains non stop, drops the size of grapes.
Hows this for a view, the local township in Somerset east with
a view like no other. By the way the house in the foreground
to the right is all yours for R72000-00. 3 Bedroom.
............................
with Mr and Mrs Malice in Tsitsikamma.
The main thing was to stay of tar as much as possible and look for interesting roads, and because we don't know the Karoo
area that well we fitted knobbies for the trip, which in the
end was not necessary. We also did not want to take the
panniers in case we met up with a bit of technical riding.
In the end just finding something technical to ride seems to be difficult.
Unclear map but figure it out, it will still give an idea.
From East London to the other side of Port Elizabeth we had to ride tar, but it's a decent road and not to boring, the padstals
also bring interesting people.
If ever I have to pillion my wife like that she's staying home alone :lol:
One of my favourite passes is the Bloukrans pass near Tsitsikamma,
slow extremely beautiful and great fun to ride. Torque and
second gear is all you need. The TKC's can really take some leaning, even the Kendas on the Dakar got a good work out.
Prince Alfred pass, a must ride, solely because it's so beautiful.
The one thing I must mention to anybody riding that pass.
I have been through that pass a few times now and every
single time we had to get out of the way of oncoming traffic
cutting corners, you need to be wide awake.
Locals drive like hooligans there, and go into corners on the inside
of the road, we had a few near misses with them. The worst was
passing 4 or 5 other GS's and a few KTM's with obviously new
riders, way to fast into corners and as luck would have it, we had
to take evasive action not to connect them head on.
Tsitsikamma nature reserve, like all the other reserves have the
best settings and places to stay. It's well kept and 20m form the
sea, the sounds is incredible.
How about a view like this form your living room? :wink:
Friends the sea, and plenty to drink, always a good idea. The next
day we did some sight seeing, visit Plett, Monkey land and the big tree.
What a morning, the air smells terrific and everything's
alive, I must come stay here for a week, or a month.
Spot the tourist in this pic.
This restaurant is right on the beach at Plett. Good food and stunning views :shock:
This is what beaches looks like out of season for the people here with kids.
We decided to head up to Prince Albert via Oudshoorn and the
Swartberg, at least form Tsitsi to Prince Albert it's all dirt, some
good fun sections especially the Swartberg pass.
The next morning and the cold caught up with us, it's bloody cold
and we are heading to Sutherland. Prince Albert via Merweville to Sutherland.
As all things this road is really desolate, 200km of nothing
except for a dirt pass, incredible views and a dirt road that
the 1200 eat for breakfast.
Sliding into corners, spinning it out, aaaag hel just fun.
We got into Sutherland and if people tells you it is the coldest
place in SA.....they're not talking shit. You can't get to the
telescope, this is the closed you are allowed.
Even the venison was cold, this one waited next to the road for me. Goodness heavens, woman can sometimes get overly upset.
I wanted to take the pie and biltong with us but she mentioned
something about what people would say about me with a
wild bokkie on the back of my bike.
It was still damn cold, although great for riding and the jerrycan
with slangbyt really helped to warm things up a bit.
Near Loxton the veld on the mountain turns to this
beige green colour. Why my camera is not showing it the
way I've seen it, goodness :twisted:
This kind of dirt roads is bloody boring, and it looks like the whole
of the Karoo is like that. Well I am not going to let this get me
down, twist the right hand harder and easily the fun indicator
on the dash goes to warp.
.
The weirdest rock formation just before Beaufort west.
From Beaufort West it's dirt road all the way, raining and the
gravel is perfect for a loose rear end.
The nothingness is great, not a car or dog in sight, I don't know
where we are, all I know is we are heading for Graaf Reinet.
Lost? Never Doll, not me :?
Check the ABS skid marks in the background :lol:
The last part into Graaf Reinet we get this constant flow of BMW bikes passing us on their way to Victoria West.
One thing that pissed me of no end, was the 1200ADV
riders with all their bloody lights, FFS, it scream fat American, and
then it became clear to me, the ADV was build for the American
market ONLY! Every single American with a GS have aftermarket
lights, fitted to bars, on the forks, on the screen, on the fender, on his head, they look like truckers.
Use your high beam if you are scared people can't see you, why
de hell all of them?
In aaanycase, here's Graaff Reinet, beautiful little town with
expensive property and for some reason plenty of tourist.
All the way to Somerset East and it rains non stop, drops the size of grapes.
Hows this for a view, the local township in Somerset east with
a view like no other. By the way the house in the foreground
to the right is all yours for R72000-00. 3 Bedroom.
............................