Author Topic: DECEMBER HOLIDAY, THE VIS ARENDE, THEIR DAUGTER AND THE KARRETJIE (Read 13397 times)

Vis Arend · « **on:** January 04, 2015, 05:22:10 pm »

The time for our family holiday over the festive season finally arrived. We would leave on the 20th of December and had to be back home on 30 December. The plan was roughly to take the general directions towards Koedoeskloof. That would be our turn around point back to George where we had a planned outride on the 23rd December for a trip that was organized by Bus for Callie. See details here.
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=163108.0

No real plans were made after this date, we only had to be at our folks' place on the 24th and 25th of December.

Our daugter arrived from Kokstad at our place on the 19th December. All was packed and we were ready to leave on the Saturday.
The three of us.

Day 1 King William’s Town to Orange Elephant Backpackers (Addo)

This was a short stint for the day. We left King towards Commitees Drift, over the Fish River to Grahamstown, Then it was of to Alicedale, R400, N10 to Patterson and eventually to Addo.

Ready to leave

35Km outside king the 1st gravel toward Commitees

Father and daugter

Towards the iron bridge over the Fish River

Fish River

Towards Grahamstown

In Grahamstown we stopped at the Wimpy for a brekkie.

From there it was on the road to Alicedale

In Alicedale we took the gravel road to the R400 instead of the tar road to Patterson.

The 1st water crossing of many.
The karretjie took a bit of a float in this one.

Die Kuiken opening a gate on route.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:25:34 pm »

We stopped for a smoke break at Drazilville.

From there we slabbed the black stuff to Patterson for some fuel and then to Addo.

We booked a place at the Orange Elephant Backpackers. Our host, John (Casting from Turd) welcomed us with open arms.

The place where we had a great time, no need to say more.

Thanks John, to you and your children. We had an awesome kuier. Was good to see again and for sure, it will not be the last.

So the days ride came to an end. We were looking forward to the rest.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:32:07 pm »

Day 2 Orange Elephant Backpackers (Addo) to Koedoeskloof

Today’s ride will take us from Addo to Kirkwood. From Kirkwood to Glenconner, a left here on the gravel backroads toward Steytlerville. From here the tar / cement road to Willowmore and then the R407 gravel to Klaarstroom. Meiringspoort to De Rust, the Oude Muragie gravel road to the R328 to Huis se hoogte Pass and the Coetzee’s Poort pass to the R62 which will take us to Ladismith and eventually Koedoeskloof.

4Kays informed me that he arranged a couple of dogs for a short ride with us to Steytlerville, We would meet up with them in Kirkwood.

We left the Orange Elephant backpackers quite early after greeting our host, John.
In Kirkwood we met up with 4Kays, his wife, Huisdier, Lucas and Skaapkop.

We left on time to Glenconner and then on the back gravel road to Steytlerville.
What great scenery we had.

4Kays and Huisdier.

Lucas

Skaapkop

The group

We saw hundreds of small buck and some decent size kudus on this piece of road.

In Steytlerville we stopped for a well deserved brekkie at the Royal Hotel.

Lucas and 4Kays

After the lekker brekkie and awesome ride with some of the Kirkwood dogs, it was time to say our good byes.
Die Arende met hulle kuiken.

The cement road towards Willowmore

Wolzak · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:35:11 pm »

Vis Arend · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:38:21 pm »

In Willowmore we refuelled and took the R407 towards Klaarstroom / Meiringspoort.
Mev Vis Arend agter die stange en die Kuiken agterop terwyl ek ‘n blaaskansie vat.

The 1st puncture on the trip.

Plugged, fixed and ready to go.

Meiringspoort

The Oude Muragie road

Raubenheimer dam

Road towards Huis se Hoogte Pass

Redstone Hills

Huisrivier pass towards Ladismith

And then Koedoeskloof, home of Veldbrand and Veldblom.

The Wilddog burger

En natuurlik die baas.

Our hosts, Eugene and Debbie were as per usual great. We also had the opportunity to meet White Rhino and his family. We all had a great time. It was nice meeting you guys. Hope to see soon again.

Skollie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:47:25 pm »

subscribed

Vis Arend · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:51:50 pm »

Day 3 Koedoeskloof na George

Ons het soos altyd lekker gekuier, geëet en geslaap by Veltie en Veldblom. Dankie julle twee, dit was great om weer te sien.

Ons roete vir die dag was van Koedoeskloof na Van Wyksdorp, aan met die R327 oor die Gourits rivier, Cloetes pas, links net voor Herbertsdale tot by Haelkraal, dan met so paar kronkel paaie deur woude tot by Groot Brak en dan George waar ons sal kamp by die George Country Resort.

Dis altyd moeilik om hier te groet, maar na ‘n lekker beker koffie was dit good bye en ons was weer op die pad.
Cheers Veltie en Veldblom.

Rhino en familie het vroegoggend gegaan vir ‘n outride na Seweweekspoort. Hier is hy oppad terug na Koedoeskloof.
Be safe my friend, hope so see again.

Oppad na Van Wyksdorp

Die Suid Kaap se paaie is darem maar lekker.

Word die fotograaf so in die aksie uitgevang deur die Kuiken.

Oppad na Gourits river

Gourits Rivier doer onder.

Die pad af na die rivier.

Hier klim ons weer die berg uit na die rivier oppad na Herbertsdale en Cloetes pas.

Oppad na Haelklraal.

Net anderkant Haelkraal stop ons vir ‘n lekker brunch by Eight Bells.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2015, 05:54:17 pm »

Van hier ry ons so paar kronkel paaie wat Veltie aan my verduidelik het. Ek weet nie so lekker waar ek is nie, maar dis mooi paaie en mooi scenery. Ek weet wel ek is oppad na Groot Brak.

Ons kry tot ‘n slang oppad.

Ons stop in Groot Brak “Child Welfare”. John sê die Kuiken kort hulp, hulle sê sy is A vir OK.

Van Groot Brak ry ons tot by George karavaan park waar ons twee aande sal kamp.
Ons nes vir die volgende twee aande.

Ons buurmense van Duitsland trek in langs ons vir die aand met die gawe tjor.

Aand ete se vleis word geprep.

Ons 5 ster slaapplek.

BLK · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2015, 06:08:22 pm »

Thks for sharing your great experience

Vis Arend · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2015, 06:29:19 pm »

Day 4 Callie’s outride

Bus arranged an outride for his friend at work, Callie. Callie is 27 year old and is in a wheelchair. He was involved in a freak accident in 2010 while working as a Caterpillar mechanic.
He is also a keen bike enthusiast, and had his own XT600 before.

Bus and Callie looked at the Cape Sidecar Association, and their guided tours around CT, but it’s a bit expensive, and mostly geared towards foreigners and tourists. So he posted in the Sidecar section on WD and we replied that we are in the area around the 22nd and 23rd of December and would kindly help were we can.
Bus started the planning and this is why we are here today.

The route for the day is from George via the Seven Passes to Knysna, then on Kom se Pad to Prince Alfred pass down to De Vlugt, left here to the R62 en then down Montagu pass back to George.

The departure time was Eight, but at seven there were hordes of bikers already. The turnout for the day surprised everyone.

We stood around, met new friends and chatted to old ones, drank some Wimpy coffee and generally just waited for departure time.
I don’t know whose helmet and gloves these are, but I am sure they have some good stories to tell.

Callie inspecting his ride for the day.

The final k@k praat before we hit the road.

Callie ready to roll. Check that smile.

On the road to the Seven passes.

Spoedvark and his pillion

jupiter was so kind to pillion our Kuiken for the day. Thanks jup.

Pics on the Seven passes road.

And that smile did not stop once that day.

Our 1st stop.

Callie and Die Kuiken

Some more pics of the Seven Passes to Knysna.

In Knysna we stopped and had a brekkie at The Chaplins Bistro.

Vis Arend · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2015, 06:34:27 pm »

After the brekkie we left for Kom se Pad. Here we waited for all to arrive.
Sir Skolla

XRRX. The Kuiken and myself both fell in love with this bike.

On our way to Kom se Pad.

What did I say about that smile.

Kom se Pad

A break at the end of Kom se Pad.

Ai tog…………

Prince Alfred Pass

Dropping down toward De Vlugt

At De Vlugt

At De Vlugt we decided to take the road on the left instead of straight to Avontuur. It is the first time for me on this road.

Montagu pass down towards George.

Taking a break on the pass.

The old tol house

Die Vis Arende, Die Kuiken en Callie.

Helping Callie out, the last time for the day.

What a wonderful, great, awesome day we had. We met great people. From our side we would like to thank each and every one that made this trip possible, for each and every one who came along on the ride and for those that met us at the beginning of the ride. I take my hat off to all of you.
Callie, I hope you enjoyed this trip as much as we did, it was great meeting you, your dad and boet. Be safe my friend and hope your dreams come true.
The message from the Kuiken was: “GIVING UP MY SEAT FOR YOU IS THE BEST THING YOU COULD HAVE DONE FOR ME…”
Hope to see soon.

A fitting way in ending a great day.

Knucklhead · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2015, 06:57:44 pm »

Baie mooi julle, Sal moet my fiets afstof

Mev Vis Arend · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:05:09 pm »

Bundu · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:11:28 pm »

baie nice, soos altyd! Love die Yamaha hemp oppie BMW bike

Skollie · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:17:50 pm »

My radiator het nou sommer gebars en daar was net trane toe ek dié RR begin lees.

Oom en tannie Vis, Wat julle vir Callie gedoen het is wonderlik!

Ek ken hom van voor sy ongeluk af en dis great om te sien hoe hy glimlag en dit geniet het!

P.S.....Callie, ou mater, sien jyt n klein weber ingesluk vandat ek jou laas gesien het

BMWPE · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:23:23 pm »

Great report and pics

Thanks for sharing you trip with us

Topie · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2015, 07:23:57 pm »

Fantastiese RR soos altyd Arende,julle hou n groot bedreiging vir my kinders se erfporsie in met sulke inspereerinde verslae.

Mev Vis Arend · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2015, 08:09:13 pm »

Quote from: Bundu on January 04, 2015, 07:11:28 pm

baie nice, soos altyd! Love die Yamaha hemp oppie BMW bike

Dis nog niks! My Suzuki scooter het 'n KTM topbox.......

Mev Vis Arend · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2015, 08:17:35 pm »

Quote from: Martina on January 04, 2015, 07:17:50 pm

My radiator het nou sommer gebars en daar was net trane toe ek dié RR begin lees.

Oom en tannie Vis, Wat julle vir Callie gedoen het is wonderlik!

Ek ken hom van voor sy ongeluk af en dis great om te sien hoe hy glimlag en dit geniet het!

P.S.....Callie, ou mater, sien jyt n klein weber ingesluk vandat ek jou laas gesien het

Martina, ons het maar net die Karretjie op die regte plek op die regte tyd gehad. Dit was vir ons 'n voorreg om deel te wees van die outride.

My hart het egter geswel van trots toe ek sien hoeveel mense opgedaag het en gehelp het om die dag 'n groot sukses te maak.

Ten spyte van 'n hiccup hier en daar is dit lekker om 'n Wild Dog te wees.

Mev Vis Arend · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2015, 08:20:20 pm »

Dankie vir die mooi komplimente.

Ons het dit geweldig geniet.