gecco 162
Pack Dog
We did this ride in July 2013, The Riders: REVS, XR650R and his son Davin(15) on a XR400R, gecco 162 on my much faster than REVS, XR650R, my son Connor(14) ON WR450F and pastrana on his DRZ400E.
We trailered the bikes up to Zuurberg for two reasons, 1. We dont like tar, 2. Did not want the two lightys riding on public tar roads.
Our bikes, the night before, packed and ready to loaded.
Bottom of Zuurberg pass.
The Route Day1
E to Zuurberg, Anns Villa, Riebeek East, Grahamstown will pick up supplies for the night, Kwandwe Game Reserve, and down to the Fish River in the Double Drift Game Reserve where we would camp, Km's +- 200. We did not want to do to many km's as we had the two pups and pastrana, who have only done a PE to Steytlerville before.
Connor
Davin
REVS
gecco, on the rock
Grahamstown was a mad house, it was the start of the arts festival and "every man and his dog" was there!
Connor and I outside Checkers Grahamstown.
We reached the Fish River as dark was setting in, REVS quickly got the two pups/minions to gather firewood as pastana, REVS and I got to work on some cold beers.
Our tents were put up and Connor did the braaiing, mean while, we were still working on the beers.
REVS, gecco and pastrana aka Andile, "the log sawing machine"
Day 2. Fish River to Fort Beaufort, around and end up in Somerset East for the night. +- 250km's.
We woke up to a freezing cold morning but fortunately Connor had made fire early, he said he could not sleep because of pastrana/Andile's snoring habits.
pastrana checking out the crossing, he said the water was freezing! We cleaned up, packed up and got to the crossing. I said I would cross first so the pups could see my line and then follow.
I crossed and then Davin tried, he got about 8m in, started slipping and rode off the causeway. Both him and the bike dissapeared under the water and he eventually popped up, but the bike was nowhere to be seen!
X marks the spot!
REVS and pastrana ran in, Davin had to dive down to locate the handlebar, and the bike was retrieved, Davin, who now, is known as the SeaMonkey! The bike was walked across and the rest, crossed without any further incidences. Seamonkey was rattling from the cold but, first things first, we need to get the scooter going. We stripped of the headers, removed the plug, drained the carb and stood the bike on the front wheel. Turned the motor over
and water came out of everywhere!
After 2 hours the XR fired up and we were off to Fort Beaufort, where we drained the oil and washed the filter.
Finally back on the dirt, REVS hit a warthog at 100km/h and nearly looses it. I went in search of the hog and spotted it in the bush, dragging its rear quarters and a long gash down its side, F..K! This was a size hog and all We had was pocket knifes, kak plan.
REVS and I discussing the situation, we could not just leave this animal to suffer, it put a damper on things, but this sort of thing happens.
Out of nowhere this farmer,his son and daughter come cruising along and we stopped him, told him the story, REVS and Connor showed him where the hog was, and he shot it, loaded it and was on his way. We felt better, but kak!
We set off and it was getting late and cold. We got to a tar road, put on all our warmest clothing and had 70km to Somerset East.
We arrived in Somerset East in the dark and decided to find a B+B rather. After a hot shower and some cold beers, we turned in. what a day!
Connor, now nicknamed Dustmonkey, out!
Day3: Somerset to Zuurberg, 120km then trailer back to PE.
We left early and decided to grab a pie and Sterie stumpy for breakfast at the Spar.
Chowing a pie on the pavement, a police van pulls up and says the station commander wants to see us now, they will escort us to the police station! REVS went with them and it turns out there were 5 guys who pulled a gun on someone in town the previous night. They spot 5 bikers, and decide, suspects! After some explaining, they receive a message and say sorry, they have just caught the guilty 5 and let REVS go. WTF!
We had a quick cruise back to Anns Villa, regrouped and told the pups and pastrana to take it easy up the pass, 27km left and we all safe!
We got back to the Zuurberg hotel, REVS, Connor/Dustmonkey,Seamonkey and myself. I hear my phone ringing in my jacket, its pastrana! I just knew, here is the KAK! He said his wheel is bent and I should bring the van. I travelled 12km back down the pass and find the man, dazed and disoriented!
He lost it in a corner, hit a huge rock and bounced back into the road, bike and him, ploughing badly. Had it not been for that rock, there is a 100m dropoff and he would have.....!
We got back to the rest of the crew, loaded everything and went home. REVS and I have been riding together for 5 years and have done over 40000km dirt together. We have accepted the fact that Sh.T happens, and no matter what, we always make a plan!
It was priceless having our boys with us and now they can start their own log books, and create their own memories, chapter for chapter!
We trailered the bikes up to Zuurberg for two reasons, 1. We dont like tar, 2. Did not want the two lightys riding on public tar roads.
Our bikes, the night before, packed and ready to loaded.
Bottom of Zuurberg pass.
The Route Day1
E to Zuurberg, Anns Villa, Riebeek East, Grahamstown will pick up supplies for the night, Kwandwe Game Reserve, and down to the Fish River in the Double Drift Game Reserve where we would camp, Km's +- 200. We did not want to do to many km's as we had the two pups and pastrana, who have only done a PE to Steytlerville before.
Connor
Davin
REVS
gecco, on the rock
Grahamstown was a mad house, it was the start of the arts festival and "every man and his dog" was there!
Connor and I outside Checkers Grahamstown.
We reached the Fish River as dark was setting in, REVS quickly got the two pups/minions to gather firewood as pastana, REVS and I got to work on some cold beers.
Our tents were put up and Connor did the braaiing, mean while, we were still working on the beers.
REVS, gecco and pastrana aka Andile, "the log sawing machine"
Day 2. Fish River to Fort Beaufort, around and end up in Somerset East for the night. +- 250km's.
We woke up to a freezing cold morning but fortunately Connor had made fire early, he said he could not sleep because of pastrana/Andile's snoring habits.
pastrana checking out the crossing, he said the water was freezing! We cleaned up, packed up and got to the crossing. I said I would cross first so the pups could see my line and then follow.
I crossed and then Davin tried, he got about 8m in, started slipping and rode off the causeway. Both him and the bike dissapeared under the water and he eventually popped up, but the bike was nowhere to be seen!
X marks the spot!
REVS and pastrana ran in, Davin had to dive down to locate the handlebar, and the bike was retrieved, Davin, who now, is known as the SeaMonkey! The bike was walked across and the rest, crossed without any further incidences. Seamonkey was rattling from the cold but, first things first, we need to get the scooter going. We stripped of the headers, removed the plug, drained the carb and stood the bike on the front wheel. Turned the motor over
and water came out of everywhere!
After 2 hours the XR fired up and we were off to Fort Beaufort, where we drained the oil and washed the filter.
Finally back on the dirt, REVS hit a warthog at 100km/h and nearly looses it. I went in search of the hog and spotted it in the bush, dragging its rear quarters and a long gash down its side, F..K! This was a size hog and all We had was pocket knifes, kak plan.
REVS and I discussing the situation, we could not just leave this animal to suffer, it put a damper on things, but this sort of thing happens.
Out of nowhere this farmer,his son and daughter come cruising along and we stopped him, told him the story, REVS and Connor showed him where the hog was, and he shot it, loaded it and was on his way. We felt better, but kak!
We set off and it was getting late and cold. We got to a tar road, put on all our warmest clothing and had 70km to Somerset East.
We arrived in Somerset East in the dark and decided to find a B+B rather. After a hot shower and some cold beers, we turned in. what a day!
Connor, now nicknamed Dustmonkey, out!
Day3: Somerset to Zuurberg, 120km then trailer back to PE.
We left early and decided to grab a pie and Sterie stumpy for breakfast at the Spar.
Chowing a pie on the pavement, a police van pulls up and says the station commander wants to see us now, they will escort us to the police station! REVS went with them and it turns out there were 5 guys who pulled a gun on someone in town the previous night. They spot 5 bikers, and decide, suspects! After some explaining, they receive a message and say sorry, they have just caught the guilty 5 and let REVS go. WTF!
We had a quick cruise back to Anns Villa, regrouped and told the pups and pastrana to take it easy up the pass, 27km left and we all safe!
We got back to the Zuurberg hotel, REVS, Connor/Dustmonkey,Seamonkey and myself. I hear my phone ringing in my jacket, its pastrana! I just knew, here is the KAK! He said his wheel is bent and I should bring the van. I travelled 12km back down the pass and find the man, dazed and disoriented!
He lost it in a corner, hit a huge rock and bounced back into the road, bike and him, ploughing badly. Had it not been for that rock, there is a 100m dropoff and he would have.....!
We got back to the rest of the crew, loaded everything and went home. REVS and I have been riding together for 5 years and have done over 40000km dirt together. We have accepted the fact that Sh.T happens, and no matter what, we always make a plan!
It was priceless having our boys with us and now they can start their own log books, and create their own memories, chapter for chapter!
