Author Topic: Yet another Old Postal: 12/09/2015 (Read 3856 times)

Marvin · « **on:** September 23, 2015, 10:15:47 am »

I wish I could write amazing ride reports, like some dogs can. However, since I do not have the time I'd rather have the pictures do most of the talking. We left Stellenbosch around 14:00 Friday evening, heading to Ceres. Two XR650Ls, one 800GS, and one XT660Z. After a quick stop over in Rawsonville for amazing and cheap biltong we reached Ceres for fuel, and to wait for the 2nd XT660Z. From here it was over Theronsberg pas, and through Karoopoort, for a quick drink at the padstal.

It started getting dark, and the last bit to the tented camp was done in the semi-dark.

More to come...first do a bit of work.

Marvin · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:01:20 pm »

After a great night around the fire, filled with Whiskey, Southern Comfort, beer, meat, pap en sous, good wine, and cigars, we packed up the tents. While paying our bills Hein (have I spelled this right?) told us he thought the rivers would be too high. He was the third person to tell us the rivers will be impassible. Luckily we didn't listen, because when we got there the rivers were not actually all that deep, and we managed to cross them easily. Before heading off we rode to the Africa Burn site.

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Even the flowers were still out, just for us!

Marvin · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:07:52 pm »

Coming into the Biedouw valley was also incredibly pretty. The Postal Route has been on my bucket-list for quite some time, and it did not disappoint. It really has a bit of everything, motorcycling heaven!

From here we took the road to Wupperthal, an on to Oasis for the night. Here I didn't take a lot of photos, because I've been there quite a few times.

Marvin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:37:56 pm »

Sunday was a bit of a screwup, in retrospect. We rode to Clanwilliam for petrol, and from there we hit the tar to Elandsbaai for lunch.

The idea was to take the railroad service roads from Elandsbaai to Velddrift, and to make our way from there back to Stellenbosch. However, a few kms into the first section out of Elandsbaai one XTZ hit a rock, and got a snakebite puncture. I normally carry a bicycle pump, two spare tubes, and a patch kit. But, because the XTZ rider promised to bring a compressor I left the pump at home. So, here we are, stuck between niks en nerens, without a pump. It's fine, they say. They have foam tube filler. First can on, spray into the tube, just to have it come out the holes.
Off comes the wheel, and in goes the spare. Meanwhile, two 4X4s stopped, and we borrowed a compressor from them. After a few minutes inflating the wheel we realised we punctured the new tube while putting it in. Another screwup.
The 4X4ers decided that they couldn't help us anymore, so off they go. Out comes my patch kit to patch the original snakebite. From here we used the rest of the foam can to inflate the tire to 1.5bar, and off we go. Doing +/-90km/h on a semi flat tire was apparently too fast, and the patch came off 10kms down the road. Once again we were stuck.

It was at this point we realised that someone did not pack the glue after they used it...and it was gone.

One of us rode 3kms back to a farm stall, and luckily they could help us with glue. The first bit of good luck all day! Once again we patched the tube, waited 30mins for it to completely set, and inflated it with the last can of foam. If something went wrong again we were screwed. But this time it was 15:30, and we had been in the sun for more than three hours. We reached Velddrift, and decided to just take the fastest possible route home. From here we had some good luck, in the form of nothing going wrong.
Rolling into Stellenbosch just after dark the one XRL just died, and did not want to start again. Rather than struggle more, we just took a tiedown cable and I towed him the last few kms home.

All in all, and apart from the last day, it was a great ride. The Postal route is definitely a must do!

shanti · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:40:40 pm »

Great RR - loved the little dwarf in the river crossing

Marvin · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:48:28 pm »

Quote from: shanti on September 23, 2015, 02:40:40 pm

Great RR - loved the little dwarf in the river crossing

shanti · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:58:35 pm »

I didn't t know they made DS bikes that fitted the little people , the one legged Basotho is also very funny at the other end of the river

Marvin · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2015, 03:01:20 pm »

I really cant stop laughing!

I showed your response to the little dwarf (a non WD). He did not enjoy it, his exact response was this:

raphaeltube · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2015, 03:53:08 pm »

Thanks for doing the RR Marvin.
-I'll post some of my pics too when I get a chance.
And thanks for a great time there. -what a ride!

-R

adv · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2015, 05:14:17 pm »

I definitely think the way you did it was slightly harder as you need to climb tra-tra pass(I think) and that can get a little technical. If you do it from Biedouw, you can nearly free all the way to stonehenge

I really want to do this again and then sommer sleep on the postal route. Somewhere around here.

Marvin · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2015, 05:58:24 pm »

Quote from: adv on September 23, 2015, 05:14:17 pm

I definitely think the way you did it was slightly harder as you need to climb tra-tra pass(I think) and that can get a little technical. If you do it from Biedouw, you can nearly free all the way to stonehenge

I really want to do this again and then sommer sleep on the postal route. Somewhere around here.

Strangely we didn't have any problems going up the Tra-tra pass. The two yammis had some hardship, but it was a result of their riders stopping halfway up, and then struggling to get going. It would be quite cool to camp there. Back in the day before off road riding (4X4 and biking) was as big as it was (about 12 years ago), me, my father, and two brothers camped close to the river, in the bush (with the farmer's permission). It is still, to this day, one of my fondest memories.

adv · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2015, 06:57:20 pm »

Quote from: Marvin on September 24, 2015, 05:58:24 pm

Quote from: adv on September 23, 2015, 05:14:17 pm
I definitely think the way you did it was slightly harder as you need to climb tra-tra pass(I think) and that can get a little technical. If you do it from Biedouw, you can nearly free all the way to stonehenge

I really want to do this again and then sommer sleep on the postal route. Somewhere around here.

Strangely we didn't have any problems going up the Tra-tra pass. The two yammis had some hardship, but it was a result of their riders stopping halfway up, and then struggling to get going. It would be quite cool to camp there. Back in the day before off road riding (4X4 and biking) was as big as it was (about 12 years ago), me, my father, and two brothers camped close to the river, in the bush (with the farmer's permission). It is still, to this day, one of my fondest memories.

Donnerse Teneres kan ook nerens uit nie