Author Topic: 3 Bikes, 4 Provinces, 9 days, 4249km and countless curious encounters (Read 10969 times)

V-TORR · « **Reply #80 on:** June 10, 2016, 12:43:26 pm »

Ouberg pass has an average gradient of 1:13, and in some places as steep as 1:5.
That means for every 5 meters you drive, you drop one!
Total drop is 820m into the Tankwa.

V-TORR · « **Reply #81 on:** June 10, 2016, 12:57:21 pm »

Once we descend into the Tankwa Karoo the landscape change. Its a bit drier, more bushes and less grass.
We see some friendly people, waving enthusiastically as we go by and even run into this flock of sheep:

V-TORR · « **Reply #82 on:** June 10, 2016, 01:10:57 pm »

The road surface is superb and the bikes run well.
The small ups and downs and long curves makes it any biker's dream dirt road. By now my dirt-confidence is boosted way up and myself and 0012 get so carried away that we leave Theotherguy waaaaaay behind.
We stop at the intersection that indicates "Middelpos" and wait for him to arrive. All smiles and very cockey.

V-TORR · « **Reply #83 on:** June 10, 2016, 01:23:44 pm »

The Tankwa is truly beautiful.
We see a few Zebra's and Springbok and birds. Life is good!

We are as always running behind schedule and since it is "Karoo-highways" 0012 picks up speed.
He is by far the most experienced rider between us and since we are having such a good ride, I don't mind keeping his pace. My confidence is running high!

windswept · « **Reply #84 on:** June 10, 2016, 01:25:59 pm »

Lekker report. Just some info, for every 5 metres, you drop 1 metre.

V-TORR · « **Reply #85 on:** June 10, 2016, 01:44:57 pm »

Did I mention Springbok?
They seem to graze in small herds and is easily frightened.
When these very fast and nimble bucks are frightened they don't run straight away from whatever scare them, they seem to run wherever the one running in front is going, and that seems to always be across the closest road..

And that is exactly how I got the fright of my life:
So as we were speeding along, these small herds of Springbok, were crossing the road jumping and running and looking pretty. It was amazing until a small herd started running as I came up and tried to cross the same piece of road at the same time than me. Most of them made it across but I grazed one of the last ones' on the hind quarter as it jumped past.
I could feel the slight hit through the handlebars and in shock I froze up, almost run off the road, snaked left and right and almost lost it.
When I get the bike under control my heart is pumping and my hands are shaking.

Now all cocky-ness and confidence was gone.
When I finally continued it was at about half the pace.

V-TORR · « **Reply #86 on:** June 10, 2016, 01:46:43 pm »

Quote from: windswept on June 10, 2016, 01:25:59 pm

Lekker report. Just some info, for every 5 metres, you drop 1 metre.

:biggrin:Oeps... You are right! fixed..

V-TORR · « **Reply #87 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:00:11 pm »

We continued through the Tankwa to Gannaga pass where we ascended back to the plateau.
From the top of the pass we admire the view, 0012 takes a smoke and Theotherguy explains to me how his next shot will be set up to capture all of it.

0012 · « **Reply #88 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:11:42 pm »

awesome, awesome, awesome

V-TORR · « **Reply #89 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:14:40 pm »

From Gannaga pass we drive towards Middelpos.
The area had a lot of rain and the roads were mud at some point.
Someone with a big 4x4 then made some deep impressions in the mud which hardened into a treacherous series of canals.
Once you drove into "canal" there is no driving out of it.

V-TORR · « **Reply #90 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:28:03 pm »

Middelpos.
At first glance Middelpos has got three buildings. A shop called "Die winkel" (the shop), a post office and a hotel.

We walk up and down through the shop but there is no-one in sight.
They sell Middelpos-rooibos tee, Middelpos-goatsmilk-cheese and all kinds of local produce.
I like it.

V-TORR · « **Reply #91 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:35:30 pm »

From Middelpos we take the last stretch of dirt road to Calvinia.
When we pull up in Calvinia I notice that my chain is not hanging straight anymore, but thinks its just because of all the dust.
You can also see the ductape on the handguards.

V-TORR · « **Reply #92 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:40:28 pm »

The sun is getting low and we are tired.
We take a quick pic at the massive post-box and continue West towards Nieuwoudtville.

V-TORR · « **Reply #93 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:50:41 pm »

Although we planned to stop in Niewoudtville the sun is setting and we rush to get to Van Rhyns pass and arrive with the last light of Monday.

V-TORR · « **Reply #94 on:** June 10, 2016, 02:58:15 pm »

Around 8PM, we were about 40km from our accommodation for the night.

0012 was riding in front because he is the most time-conscious and me directly behind.
As we came around a right-hand corner, doing +-80km/h, 0012 got shot.

Or so I thought for a second.

He suddenly got swept to the right and then were swaying from side to side until he came to a stop in the grass beside the road.
Blown out tire. No warning, nothing. And there we sat in the dark.

V-TORR · « **Reply #95 on:** June 10, 2016, 03:07:54 pm »

We had all the tools to fix the tyre but we were "poegaai" , and right by the side of a busy road was not the ideal place to do it.

So we chickened out and called the insurance.

It is finally 9:30 when we all arrive in Doringbaai.
The guy that runs the place is very considerate and fires up the kitchen for our 10pm dinner.

We are knackered. It is 16 hours ago that we left Fraserburg.

Tomorrow we see flowers!

0012 · « **Reply #96 on:** June 10, 2016, 03:56:35 pm »

Quote from: V-TORR on June 10, 2016, 02:58:15 pm

0012 was riding in front because he is the most time-conscious and me directly behind.
As we came around a right-hand corner, doing +-80km/h, 0012 got shot.

Or so I thought for a second.

He suddenly got swept to the right and then were swaying from side to side until he came to a stop in the grass beside the road.
Blown out tire. No warning, nothing. And there we sat in the dark.

Ja nee swaer, ek moet se my boude het lekker gekou aan daai Alpie se sitplek

(hehehehe "time-conscious" elke keer wat the other guy wil stop en kiekies neem wil ek net die throttle oopdraai, nou is ek so dankbaar want ons het kiekies wat vir n leeftyd hierdie trip sal herdenk!)

Beagle Boy · « **Reply #97 on:** June 11, 2016, 08:25:12 pm »

Nice report,

The Transalp has nice luggage system, what brand are those panniers?

m0lt3n · « **Reply #98 on:** June 12, 2016, 03:46:33 am »

Quote from: V-TORR on June 10, 2016, 12:37:00 pm

The dirt road continues until you come around a corner and the earth falls away:
It is a spectacular view from the top of the plateau.

This is an awesome spot. You explain it perfectly!

Lekker report.

Oh, the 1000 Vstrom also loses against a 1200GS in a race, until then I thought it would be the other way round (I owned both for a short while). still awesome bikes.

0012 · « **Reply #99 on:** June 13, 2016, 05:15:09 am »

Quote from: Beagle Boy on June 11, 2016, 08:25:12 pm

Nice report,

The Transalp has nice luggage system, what brand are those panniers?

They are Honda panniers that came with the bike