ZEN and the WILDDOG SOCIAL TOUR -With XT JOE in BAVIAANS (page 7)

[DirtyHarry]

Jupiter you got me worried for a brief moment when I did read your edgy feeling on the way to Agulhas.
I think you have packed too much into the days of yours during your trip. You were on a mission  :mwink:
I hope the ZEN was not all lost in the end.

 

[firecoast]

Nice om jou weer te sien Juppie!

 

[Gerard]

                                                                Day 5 - Thursday - 12 Jan 2012

You may wonder that I've said nothing about my family back home. They're OK. Lyn understands I have to do these trips. As I go along I SMS her during the day and we speak a bit in the evenings. She interferes very little. She has asked when I'll be home though. The way I worked it out it looks like I'll get home Saturday morning, but we'll see.

I pack, have a cup of coffee with the Krauses and Vermeulen and set off.



For some reason I get a real Zing out of this...



...and this



This is the last day of my visits, final destination the George Dogs. Have not heard much from them, except Trail Rider early on in te planning and Jakkals while on the ride. Also stil need a place to sleep.

I stop for breakfast in Swellendam and when I want to leave, press the button and... no magic moment. Flatspot on the starter motor ? I don't ZEN though and push start the bike. Easy ! Not very bright  ??? It has a kickstart  :imaposer: but it does not trouble me again.

I take the turn-off to Stilbaai en pull over just past the 20km to go board to get directions from Chris. Now we all know the man is a walking roadmap that puts a GPS to shame.

"You drive 2km and you'll go up a hill with a slight downhill. 5.4 km later you go up another hill and on the down side to the left there are two shops. After 600m you climb a hill that swings left which then goes steep down hill. There's a board to warn you etc... when you get to the board that says 'x' after a further 2.3km you turn right on the gravel road. My gate is 3km down that road. Where you are now you are 21.95km from my gate "

I implicitly trust his directions and set my tripmeter.(after all, coming from the National Bash he gave me directions to exactly where I would drop my bike in a snotterige driffie past Middelpos  :imaposer

I arrive as expected smack in front of the gate. Greetings are exchanged, I get my cup of coffee and we move to the back stoep. Amanda is in town and we'll see her later.

Chris is a good conversationist(lag julle nou. Hy praat 'n donkie se agterbeen af  :eek7:, maar dis lekker gesels) and talk flows from one topic to the other. When you've been around like him there's a lot to tell. Time flies and I'm enjoying myself in this peaceful surroundings. Amanda arrives and introductions are made. Now I get a proper cup of coffee and she puts up a light lunch, which was much needed.

I first met Chris at the CABC last year, where we camped next to each other, and again at the Bash. We discussed a ride together. He wants to do the Kouga Loop near Joubertina.(I'm going to have a busy year) All too soon again I have to get going, but not before we capture the memory.



The George Dogs await. I've seen those okes kuier and I'm a bit apprehensive.

 

[Gerard]

Jupiter you got me worried for a brief moment when I did read your edgy feeling on the way to Agulhas.
I think you have packed too much into the days of yours during your trip. You were on a mission  :mwink:
I hope the ZEN was not all lost in the end.

In the end it all fell nicely in place. Getting edgy was just a personal thing which got sorted once I had chilled at Agulhas. One has to learn to deal with such things as well. Good experience, and the ZEN worked.

 

[roxenz]

I've really enjoyed reading this RR so far, Jupiter! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

I've got Ted Simon's books as well, and although I feel him to be quite a different person to myself, the books are great to read. He has a sort of detached involvement which is quite zen...  Z & the Art of MC Maintenance I'm reading for the 3rd time, and have the same reaction as on the previous occasions: it seems as if I haven't read it at all yet! A bit of a chameleon book.

Then: I see Stoetie's papegaai must take after him, but his wife has managed to chain the papegaai at least!   :biggrin:

 

[Gerard]

I've really enjoyed reading this RR so far, Jupiter! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

I've got Ted Simon's books as well, and although I feel him to be quite a different person to myself, the books are great to read. He has a sort of detached involvement which is quite zen...  Z & the Art of MC Maintenance I'm reading for the 3rd time, and have the same reaction as on the previous occasions: it seems as if I haven't read it at all yet! A bit of a chameleon book.

Then: I see Stoetie's papegaai must take after him, but his wife has managed to chain the papegaai at least!   :biggrin:

:thumleft: When I read "LILA" I got a better understanding of ZEN, but its still deep shit and I did not make a lot of LILA. Time to read it again.

 

[Veldbrand]

I've really enjoyed reading this RR so far, Jupiter! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

I've got Ted Simon's books as well, and although I feel him to be quite a different person to myself, the books are great to read. He has a sort of detached involvement which is quite zen...  Z & the Art of MC Maintenance I'm reading for the 3rd time, and have the same reaction as on the previous occasions: it seems as if I haven't read it at all yet! A bit of a chameleon book.

Then: I see Stoetie's papegaai must take after him, but his wife has managed to chain the papegaai at least!  :biggrin:

What you don't see outside/below the photo is that the chain is attached to a.......you guessed it, a toy trailer!
Can you imagine how much k@k that Grey has learnt to talk with a dad like that.
Jupe, did the Grey's T-shirt say: “I are Stoeties voël”

 

[Tiger8]

Can you imagine how much k@k that Grey has learnt to talk with a dad like that.
Jupe, did the Grey's T-shirt say: “I are Stoeties voël”

[/quote]


:laughing4: :laughing4: :laughing4: :imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer:

 

[Gerard]

I had earlier arranged with TR that we would meet at McNasty's in grootbrak. When I get to the N2 I give him a call and we reckon I'll make it by1630. He's lined up a few more Dogs and I give Jakkals a call. Fat-b, to whom I owe the pleasure of owning and riding my R90, can unfortunately not make it.

When I arrive TR and Dirtcopper are there and Jakkals turns up shorly thereafter



Pad and Dusty arrives



A couple of cold ones go down with some light bike banter. I'm content to just sit and listen to their conversations. At a stage I drift away to figure what I'll do tonight. I still want to go see Kirsty and must find a place to sleep. This last pleasant get togther would be a good way to end the week. I'll make it to my cousin at Hooggekraal near Sedgefield and head slowly home tomorrow. TR mentions LetsGoFishing who lives there and I get his number. Here we go some more  :biggrin:

I stretch the timing to the limit, they see me off and I go to find Kirsty. I satisfy myself that she's got a nice little flat in the town centre and will be OK. Starting school was a bit hectic, but she's finding her way. I can't stay too long, its getting dark.

I arrive at Hooggekraal in the dark, after a rather hectic bit of riding on the old gravel pass. After greeting I get myself a cup of coffee and go sit on the stoep, staring into nowhere, reflecting on the past five days that have been.

 

[Gerard]

I've really enjoyed reading this RR so far, Jupiter! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

I've got Ted Simon's books as well, and although I feel him to be quite a different person to myself, the books are great to read. He has a sort of detached involvement which is quite zen...  Z & the Art of MC Maintenance I'm reading for the 3rd time, and have the same reaction as on the previous occasions: it seems as if I haven't read it at all yet! A bit of a chameleon book.

Then: I see Stoetie's papegaai must take after him, but his wife has managed to chain the papegaai at least!   :biggrin:

What you don't see outside/below the photo is that the chain is attached to a.......you guessed it, a toy trailer!
Can you imagine how much k@k that Grey has learnt to talk with a dad like that.
Jupe, did the Grey's T-shirt say: “I are Stoeties voël”

Gelukkig het hy my net sy voel gewys en nie weer daai aaklige vlermuis nie    :eek7:  :imaposer:

 

[hando]

I've really enjoyed reading this RR so far, Jupiter! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

I've got Ted Simon's books as well, and although I feel him to be quite a different person to myself, the books are great to read. He has a sort of detached involvement which is quite zen...  Z & the Art of MC Maintenance I'm reading for the 3rd time, and have the same reaction as on the previous occasions: it seems as if I haven't read it at all yet! A bit of a chameleon book.

Then: I see Stoetie's papegaai must take after him, but his wife has managed to chain the papegaai at least!   :biggrin:

What you don't see outside/below the photo is that the chain is attached to a.......you guessed it, a toy trailer!
Can you imagine how much k@k that Grey has learnt to talk with a dad like that.
Jupe, did the Grey's T-shirt say: “I are Stoeties voël”

I got that photo !!!!!

here you go

 

[Veldbrand]

Oi, sorrie Jupiter.
Ons doner nou jou great RR heelemal op met Tales of Trailer Trash and their T-shirted Tchickens.
Sallie weerie.

 

[Gerard]

Oi, sorrie Jupiter.
Ons doner nou jou great RR heelemal op met Tales of Trailer Trash and their T-shirted Tchickens.
Sallie weerie.

Nee man ! Ek het by Stoetie gekuier en dit raak als deel van die storie  :imaposer:

 

[Carrots]

Soos daar gese is......gelukkig het hy nie weer vir jou die "vlermuis" gewys nie.......Ruankie sal hom opfok!! 

 

[Chrisl]

Jupiter ek dink jy het meer koffie gedrink as wat jou bike petrol gebruik het op die trip.
Jy het 4 koppies alleen by my gedrink!! :deal:

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Nice one jupiter ... :thumleft:

 

[Gerard]

Jupiter ek dink jy het meer koffie gedrink as wat jou bike petrol gebruik het op die trip.
Jy het 4 koppies alleen by my gedrink!! :deal:

En daai was nou omtrent lekker koffie. sal weer al die pad soontoe ry vir nog 'n koppie.  :ricky:

 

[JACOVV]

Hoe lus vir 'n solo trippie raak ek nou  :thumleft:

lekker sover

 

[Chairman Meow]

Baie Lekker RR , Jupiter, great om jou weer te sien :thumleft:

 

[Gerard]

As I sit here on the stoep there is a contentment in me. Once over, I would have done just over 2000km on the road. Not all that much, but it was an emotionally long ride, brought about by meeting and engaging with so many people over such a short time. Was I on a mission that took the ZEN out of the trip ? I don’t think so. I had a goal. To ride my old bike, see pretty places, visit and meet some Dogs. Some visits I picked, and others choose me. Some of the Dogs I saw I knew and behind each was a reason for the call. I realised early on that, in the available time, I could not make all the calls I wanted to, and then focussed on those that contacted me.

Riding the old bike you can’t be in a hurry. I often needed a rest stop and usually picked a scenic spot. Unfortunately I’m not that focussed yet on taking photies, but it will come. Only now, for the first time in my life, do I have a camera.

I did not rush my visits. Each was unique and ran on its own time ( I waited every time at least until my 4th coffee’s cup had cooled down )

When I had a problem I allowed it to be resolved, choosing to take a bit of time out and be on my own, not risking to spoil the rest of the visits. What’s important is that you see the problem , not sweat, and recognize the solution. It  usually fixes itself . You just need peace of mind to get there. ZEN kept the trip on the rails.

There’s something about riding an old Airhead Boxer that is special. The first time I rode one some 23 years ago I was hooked. That smooth drone at cruising speed,  with the re-assuring tappet noise, moves the soul. In contrast, on our recent tour, Lyn commented how quiet the GSA is at cruising. To me its just a machine that gets you comfortably around. Not so the old bike. You have to ‘ride’ it.

To me the trip was a success and all I thought it might be. It had this whole vibe that just hung together.