Author Topic: So we started at Onseepkans, do you know that place? (dialup beware) (Read 15258 times)

Watty · « **Reply #20 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:26:06 pm »

Nice report and

speed · « **Reply #21 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:26:55 pm »

Do you have any pictures of the harnass the girl is using on the bike?Where can you get such a harnass?

Metaljockey · « **Reply #22 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:37:40 pm »

Quote from: speed on May 07, 2008, 05:26:55 pm

Do you have any pictures of the harnass the girl is using on the bike?Where can you get such a harnass?

Got it from these guys: http://www.childridingbelt.com/engprod.htm

speed · « **Reply #23 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:44:31 pm »

Thanks

JourneyMan · « **Reply #24 on:** May 07, 2008, 06:51:09 pm »

I will not give you lip again re. ride reports.

I bow before your mastery and daring.

Awesome guys!

(Do not take my word on the first sentence. hehe)

GIDEON · « **Reply #25 on:** May 07, 2008, 09:00:51 pm »

GEE This is awesome got the whole family watching the picture , now our little girl wants to as well
THANKS

michnus · « **Reply #26 on:** May 07, 2008, 10:38:28 pm »

The beauty of the surrounding area was just mind blowing, if only I had the capacity to keep a mental video clip. The smells, the heat, the dust, all contributed making this a perfect memory. Just a pity my picture taking ability can'do justice to this incredibly beautiful place.

We took another break just outside the small settlement called Witbank on the banks of the Orange River. It's midday and it's close to 37 degrees. The puncture in the back tube on the DRZ was back ... This was becoming a mild irritation ... MJ and myself thought we knew how to fix punctures, but for some stupid reason we were unable to kick this ones ass.

The electric pump MJ brought with on the trip had a short swim in spilled petrol and the seals inside got damage. It was up to the tried and tested hand pump to stand in, exactly 100 strokes per bar, give or take some.
Just to mention, we figured we would be able to get petrol at Viools drift, so no need to carry extra petrol except for the DRZ, and again the trusty twatwaffle-wine-silver-plastic bags had to do. It was one of them that got a small leak and damaged the pump.

Close to our overnight-spot at the river the DRZ back wheel went flat again. Moer!!! It was around fourish in the afternoon and the sun was still trying to burn you into the soil. We had to get out of here, and fast. As long as you ride it cools the body, the moment you stop your heat gauge hit max and the sun sucks the moisture out of you.

For some reason I can't stop thinking about the book we had to read in Afrikaans class in st10. Die Son Struikel, Ek bloei die grond word rooi, eks 'n aartapel or some fucking sort of drivel. Maybe it was the very dry heat that was busy boiling my brain fluid.

Decided to fit a new tube and fix the other later that night, in haste I did not do what I was suppose to do ... inflate the tube slightly before fitting ... it happened, the tube got a snakebite!!! FOK MY!! Dis nou donners bliksems mooi!! $:-\$

In the end we left the bike there for the night and decided to come back early the next morning with the fixed tube. It was already close to six.

A beautiful morning, how would you like to own a property right here, and wake up every morning to this view? Just spectacular. We had some coffee, enjoyed the cool water and were off into the direction of Goodhouse.

Again a puncture, we haven't even travelled 40km and it's flat again! For some reason the patches do not stick, we tried new solution different patches, drying longer. Nothing worked. One thing I vowed to do when back home, was to find ways of fixing a flat when every thing else fails. Surely duct tape can also work!?

We have used most of the patches and we could not take a chance for the rest of the trip, somehow we had to fix it and get new tubes somewhere.

Goodness, the people from Goodhouse are all just the Goodest people you will meet in your life. We had a rest at this house serving as a tuckshop. We bought all her cold drinks and even got a guy to organise us some big Carlings.

MissMJ, as usual, quickly made some friends and a KLR badge oil leaking wire car took up all of her interest.

We left an hour later and as we rounded a corner outside Goodhouse the DRZ back wheel was flat again!!!!!
At this stage both of us were really gatvol of this stront, and we decided, I would ride to Springbok and go buy some new tubes. It was only a 160km round trip. In the meantime the rest could enjoy the hospitality of the river.

The road to Springbok is biking nirvana, fast, lots of fish tailing, turns, and slides. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Coming back I was met with this picture panorama of desolation and expanse. What a place!!

The sun was setting fast and we decided to camp at the nearest place we can find close to the river. As with all the locals a friendly young man at a home next to the river showed us a perfect camping spot right on the banks with our own lawn and splash pool.

The next morning the moment the sun broke the back of the mountain, we were up. It was going to be a difficult day, we just did not knew it yet.

We stopped at the house again to say thanks for the help and got offered water and a 5L frozen water bottle. What a pity none of us could carry it.

The locals beds are under the carport, everybody sleeps outside. I ask the man what they do for a living, he just replied. Nee maar niks ons bly maar net Does not sound to bad to me, I can get quite use to this laid back no nonsense life. Some people are truly rich!

More sand, great, but this is a different style, fast, sand grabbers and the middle mannetjies weaves into each other, gas it! gas it!! Because you open up the throttle all the time, you end up fish tailing going down the road at high speed. This is moer-hard-val-land die!! Why is it then so difficult to stop smiling I just loved it, it's addictive, crazy, man it's pure fun.

What are we waiting for dad? Let's go!

The three most important things on any trip........The third: Always carry new tubes.

The riding would get much more challenging..........

Malice · « **Reply #27 on:** May 08, 2008, 06:23:44 am »

Brilliant stuff! Amazing countryside. Africa is not for the feint-hearted!

Special kudo's to the ladies and young lady. Sand is a bitch.

funacide · « **Reply #28 on:** May 08, 2008, 06:50:41 am »

Amazing stuff, I am really enjoying the report. Keep it coming Michnus it is making my day.....

Highlander · « **Reply #29 on:** May 08, 2008, 06:55:53 am »

Wow, I smaak this pic, lekker trip

bushclown · « **Reply #30 on:** May 08, 2008, 07:14:16 am »

Great report and awesome pics

bmad · « **Reply #31 on:** May 08, 2008, 07:44:58 am »

Not sure how you guys manage to do this...

.. but all your ride reports make my heart swell

Whether is is from tension and excitement in Lesotho, Angola or Mozambique, or from heart warming stories like this, i just love it.

Well done to the ladies (all of them) and to you gents, thanks for sharing with us such awesome reports.
This is what life is all about, taking the time to enjoy it

MrBig · « **Reply #32 on:** May 08, 2008, 08:38:45 am »

Wonderful!
Now give us more!

LuckyStriker · « **Reply #33 on:** May 08, 2008, 09:27:41 am »

Beautiful

I love everything about this report

Ratel · « **Reply #34 on:** May 08, 2008, 10:59:29 am »

Nice fotos!!

Nice trip

et · « **Reply #35 on:** May 08, 2008, 11:02:29 am »

GR8 STUFF

Fidel · « **Reply #36 on:** May 08, 2008, 02:23:35 pm »

Good stuff M. Looks like you hada great time. Respec to da misus, riding sand most men i know wouldnt even dare. Also lekke to see little missie M enjoying it.

Must have missed you somewhere along the way. We rode Augrabies 28/04 - Blouputs - Klein Pella River Camp 29 - Aggenys then down to Kamies, grontpad natuurlik.

Will post a RR soon.

LuckyStriker · « **Reply #37 on:** May 08, 2008, 03:14:57 pm »

Quote from: Metaljockey on May 07, 2008, 05:37:40 pm

Quote from: speed on May 07, 2008, 05:26:55 pm
Do you have any pictures of the harnass the girl is using on the bike?Where can you get such a harnass?

Got it from these guys: http://www.childridingbelt.com/engprod.htm

Thanks for that.

Will you be selling yours soon?
If not I will probably order my own

speed · « **Reply #38 on:** May 08, 2008, 04:12:20 pm »

LS let me now if you going to order a child harnas.I am also in the market of getting one.

Metaljockey · « **Reply #39 on:** May 08, 2008, 04:50:35 pm »

Quote from: LuckyStriker on May 08, 2008, 03:14:57 pm

Will you be selling yours soon?
If not I will probably order my own

The harness is mainly needed for when she falls asleep. Hennie's daughter still fell asleep pretty quickly at 6 years of age, my daughter is only 4, so I reckon I'm going to still use it for a couple of years.