I get a phonecall on Saturday night to tell me that he will not be able to make the ride to meet up with the mx guys (apologies to shark, leo and ufodo!). Also, I see on the site that no one has responded to Fun?s earlier request for confirmation of the ride.
So, Sunday morning off I go, with no particular route in mind heading for the Magaliesburg area. Just past Pinehaven Sasol a bmw ?superbike? rumbles past me. I?m doing 140 and the bm sounds as if it is still idling. What a sound!
Onto the N4 to Ventersburg and at the 4 way stop, I notice a gravel road about 50m further on. So instead of turning to M?burg, I hop onto the gravel.
And thus the tone for the ride the rest of the day is set ? doing various gravel roads with intermittent connecting tar roads. Isn?t it great to ride a ds?
Overall the gravel roads in the area are in pretty good nick, with the odd mini sandpit thrown in to keep you focused.
All brown and dry during winter:





Watch out for giant sperm:


Eventually I came to a sign that says ?Nooitgedacht?. I recalled riding past this turnoff previously, so it was time to explore. Although this piece of road was the most challenging of the day, it also provided the best scenery, leading into a valley and then winding along it and eventually out again. The first stretch of the road is commonly closed during floods and one can see why ? guess where we?ll be riding come the summer!

After riding pretty much in open veld, a more scenic stop was welcomed.

Just before Olifantsnek dam I again hit tar.

After filling up, I took the road leading to Koster. It starts off as tar, but soon turns into hard packed gravel.



It was one of those days where the bike just wanted to be ridden, always comfortable, asking a little more throttle and instilling trust. About 30k?s before Koster I again hit tar,

and went through Koster on the way to M?burg. But, en route I saw a sign ?Waterval? and got onto the gravel road. Well, I did not see any waterval, but the ride was nevertheless enjoyable. Had a few rosebud moments here due to the stretches of sand.



After I hit tar again, I aimed for home, feeling satisfied...for the time being!