Dash to the Bash and mountaineering in Lesotho

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

NIMMO

Race Dog
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
3,265
Reaction score
334
Location
Colesberg
Bike
KTM 990 Adventure
I left Colesberg Friday morning

Heading north there were not many options plotting a gravel route to get to Springfontein, the Prior’s road would end up taking a lot of time with all the gates on the section. 

Plenty of neglected infrastructure across our country that had stories to tell


IMG_8951 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8954 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8956 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

These creatures always amaze me

IMG_8958 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

Less than 50km from home and already taking in never before seen landscapes.


IMG_8959 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8960 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8962 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8964 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


Springfontein a once triving railway town

IMG_8965 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

On a whim I decided to alter my route and track back in order to go past Breipaal and Helvetia – places I have often seen on the map but never been there. 


IMG_8966 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


Now try and read this:


IMG_8968 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8969 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


Whoever did the layout of “motorhekke” in the Freestate must come and look at how they are supposed to be built – almost a road width to the left or right with a tight bend in and out – impossible to do at speed.


IMG_8970 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8971 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr




Steve171 and I would meet up in Dewetsdorp and ride up together from there.  He was already waiting there by the time I made Breipaal.
The Freestate with its crisscrossing roads and long sweeping bends made for some nice fast sections. 


IMG_8974 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

Just before Helvetia I missed twee vlakvarke by a hair’s width.  They are everywhere these days. In Colesberg they have become quite a nuisance for the farmers.


I made Dewetsdorp, met up with Steve and we set off. 


IMG_8979 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8980 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


The route I plotted took me along sections HPFreak and myself did when we did the ECO in Clocolan some years back.  It was a nostalgic trip, I missed my pal. :'(
RIP Chomma

181020121285 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8983 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

Some sections were very sandy

IMG_8985 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8986 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


Interesting corner posts


IMG_8988 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_8990 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


Steve and I made Ladybrand and while filling up noticed his one pannier frame had broken off at one of the mountings.  After off loading our kit at Little Rock he set of to get it fixed.  I met up with the old gang in the meantime.

After the braai and social I got to bed early.  We had made plans to do a trip through “lesser known” Lesotho with Losper the next day.

Saturday came and after meeting everyone that made up our party we set off. 
Losper, Steve171, Henk, Andre, BigDom and myself
I often wondered how so many Toyota’s managed to pass the border post after being acquired in SA.  You need but visit the post as Maseru once to understand why.  Total contrast to going into Namibië or Botswana.  Traffic was chaotic to say the least, never mind keeping six bikers together through it.


IMG_9004 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

Not long after going through Maseru we turned onto “Losper’s interesting route” as I was told that morning.  I won’t elaborate on my exact thoughts after going down the first cliffhanger.


IMG_9006 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9005 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9007 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9009 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9011 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr


The route was a tester but the scenery was SPECTACULOR and well worth the sweat.

 
IMG_9014 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9015 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9017 (Medium) by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

IMG_9018 by Jean van der Walt, on Flickr

 
Top