Honda Quest True Adventure 2018

[PhantomCupcake]

Jodan

Not for one second did I think we chose the wrong contestant. - Not once

I guarantee you that most riding gods would have given up after the fall you had. You went down that cliff a boy, and came back a man.
Your perseverance, guts, and your strong head made me more proud than anything I have ever experienced on Quest.
I thank you for being part of Quest, and I promise that I will never forget you. 

Hardy

Thank you, Hardy. That really means an immense amount to me.

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[Dux]

I heard of this incident , and from the description it was a hard fall , and yes as Hardy stated , anyone that comes back after a hard fall is a hero , just as everyone that does things over and above the norm is also a hero .
It reminds me of a friend who was doing circuit racing a few years ago ,she came to me after the one race complaining that she was always finishing near the back and felt unworthy , I had to remind her that she was still faster than any spectator at the side of the track . A few weeks later we had a track day , one of the entrants was on a ZX7R , not a slow bike by any means and a new release at that time , he had asked me why the people bringing up the rear of the race even bothered racing because they were so slow . Out on the track , even with his fancy bike he couldn't keep up with my friend who was on a 15 year old standard Moto Guzzi 850 , he had the guts/decency to apologise to her , and for him it was certainly an eye opener .
I suspect it is just so with the Quest , sitting on the sidelines it so often looks so much easier than it does when you are actually out there doing the actual riding .

[Oubones]

Jodan

Not for one second did I think we chose the wrong contestant. - Not once

I guarantee you that most riding gods would have given up after the fall you had. You went down that cliff a boy, and came back a man.
Your perseverance, guts, and your strong head made me more proud than anything I have ever experienced on Quest.
I thank you for being part of Quest, and I promise that I will never forget you. 

Hardy

Thank you, Hardy. That really means an immense amount to me.

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I will comment in Afrikaans as I do not have the right words in English.
Ek is 'n kneukel loper, some off the guys might know what that means.
I would be proud to to ride with you as it is not the fall that determines a mans quality, but his getting up and carrying on.
You did well! Respect.

[Losper]

Day 4  Springbok to Garies   221km

Video by https://www.kalonfilms.com/

[Kamanya]

Day 4

The routine is becoming the norm; many are from city backgrounds where the challenge of Quest has taken some getting used to. Added to this, the last 3 days have left more of a mark on some than others. Very few, if any, can still claim a clean score sheet regarding trips to Mother Earth. Fortunately, the Africa Twin is made of sterner stuff as only two hand guards are a little worse for wear.

Another terrific unseasonal storm blew into the overnight camp, just outside Springbok, leaving many with precious little sleep. This was a worry for Hardy and his team as safety is a primary concern.

The route started east down Spektakel Pass whilst thunder clouds and lightning threatened. Hardy from Specialised Adventures had threaded together a tricky but scenic route through many private properties that the local farmers had graciously opened their gates for. Fortunately, the stormy cloudy weather was a blessing as just the week before, the recce team had experienced 45 degrees in the same stretch.

It was apparent that the contestants were well and truly bonded with their steeds as there was little trouble now to be had from tricky off camber rock climbs or deep sand tracks.

Just past Tweerivier the group entered the little known Kheis trail; a stunning path that winds its way through the mountains between Kamieskroon and Garies. The whole route prompted one very experienced Adventure Riding contestant to quip once into the camp, “That’s the best day of Adventure Riding I have ever done!”

With another long satisfying day in the saddle and two evenings of sleep deprivation from stormy weather, the teams were given the night off from the planned presentations and tests.

Tomorrow marks only the midway point of the contest. There’s still a long way to go and much to see!

[Hollywood]

Day 4… more or less

Thank goodness it was day 4! I have a bit of a bygeloof… day 3 is bad news. Almost all of my trips have some kind of hair-raising event on day 3. Someone makes a prang, some KTM starts leaking oil (mostly through the air filter) or a couple of the okes start with skouerstampery. Just measuring each other. Checking who is going to moer who, first. There’s always something eventful on day 3, and in this year’s Quest we had at least one of the above mentioned on day 3… that I know of… Don’t know why, but that’s how I remember it.

So, day 4 starts with a couple km’s of tar down Spektakel pass on our way to Buffelsrivier. We get off the tar and head through the settlement to the hills in the distance. When we arrived there, there’s a nice little climb to get on top of the mountain and a lovely view of a Namakwaland thunderstorm in the distance. We stop to meet the farmer who graciously allowed us passage over his property. All of us get off our bikes and walk over to go and shake his hand. This was yet another great example of best practice when it comes to adventure riding in open terrain.

The playgrounds we use to serve our addiction for adventure are always inhabited by locals. Yes, some areas may be very sparsely populated, but all of them belong to someone. Its special to someone, and carries great value.

We’re all familiar with the old bikers saying:” It’s easier to apologise than to ask for permission.” Well, I don’t subscribe to this opinion. It usually leads to riders being chased off property or being shot at. In the short term, only harmful to those trespassing riders, but in the long term, bad news to us all. In my riding experience, I’ve come across some very angry people. They go totally berserk when they see bikers approaching. You’ve also met them, I’m sure. That guy in the oncoming Hilux, aiming directly at you around a gravel turn. Trying to clip you with his mirror. The old madala waving his knobkierie at you when you pass his hut, and off course the youngsters picking up stones when they see you approaching.

I also get mad as hell when I see this, but…
Its not something that just happens by chance. It’s because of bikers trespassing on property, damaging fences and gates, absent-mindedly roosting or dusting old people walking on the side of the road, chasing cattle down the road for long distances, racing past homes,huts or rondawels at speed, only a few meters from homes where toddlers play freely in the open.

Then, I can almost understand why that bliksem picks up a rock and mock-stones my passing bike. Almost.
 
It was a great little track through the farm, out the other side, and on to the picturesque Messelklippas and Wildeperdhoekpas. A quick midday stop and refuel in Kammieskroon. Then we took a little loop through the Keis trail. Some sand (I took another dive, as per usual, right at the start where everyone sees me) Then a little dry river crossing with steep rocky banks, where we all helped each other in, and out. Quest teamwork at work for Willie’s camera …wink… All of this interspersed with some lovely 2 spoor and close side-by-side riding. The kind of riding that keeps your helmet filled with a smile.

Arriving in Gharies that afternoon via a lekker dusty loop, I bought my first can of Monster energy drink… interesting … I’m not use to that concoction of unhealthy caffeine and devils root, but found it to be the perfect soother for my weary bones. Sugary satan's piss. A new addiction is born.

When we set off on the gravel highway out of Garies to our nearby overnight spot, I read a hand-made sign next to the side of the road. In Afrikaans it referred to the proud residence of Garies as “Gariesiete” … nê?!

Reminds me of that dirty primary school rhyme: …
”en Moses sê vir die Israeliete,
val plat tussen die riete
en bedek julle tiete,
want hier kom moerse muskiete.” …of Gariesiete…

Our overnight spot was indeed something special. We were treated to a spectacular sunset, to delicious food prepped by the two wizards of the KitchenCruizer, and then @Hardy de Kock  allowed us to rest the rest of the evening. It was great.

@JesseH  renamed our wooden spoon to THE THOMAS BAIN LEGENDS AWARD that evening, If I’m not mistaken. ( @JesseH  , you’ll correct me if I’m wrong) Awarded to a new worthy owner every night. For the life of me, I can’t remember who it was handed to that night. There are already a couple of pics on the page where you can spot the spoon cable-tied to the bike of the lucky holder for the day. Stephan van der Merwe and @JesseH  turned it into something very special. Like only the two of them could. True Adventure Gentlemen.

@Rickus  and I slept as far away from the rest as we possible. We had some friendly complaints regarding our snoring.
“I’m not snoring”, my team mate replied, “I’m dreaming I’m riding my bike. ”

We did dream of riding that night, but It wasn't as good as the real riding we had for the day. Not by a long shot.

[Hollywood]

[Hollywood]

On top of the hill, getting of the bikes to thank the farmer. How lovely is that Namakwaland thunderstorm on the other side of Buffelsrivier?!

[Hollywood]

The best sunset view from any stretcher, anywhere, ever!

[teebag]

Day 4:

A stunning days riding with one or two short technical sections to keep us on our toes.  This is more like the style of adventure riding I enjoy.  It's a real privilege to be allowed to cross private land and be shown new and unknown parts of the country - if I was in awe of the landscapes, I can't imagine what the guys from upcountry thought. 

There was a section after lunch where we were told we could just ride, no scoring, no teams, just enjoy the motorcycle - the track was perfect, a fast winding ribbon of dirt meandering across the landscape - it was perfect!

I think this was the night we had lamb for dinner, wow - I even made a point to thank Gary for braaing it to perfection - my only regret is there was not more

 

[Losper]

Check this video of Stephan and Denzil having fun:

https://www.facebook.com/stephan.vandermerwe.50/videos/10156368204266998/?t=5

[Sandban(g)k]

Dag 4

Soos genoem was dag 3 een van die rofste dae van my en ook seker my spanmaat se lewens.  Die slaap was ook min as gevolg hiervan en ek was baie dankbaar vir die slaappil wat my spanmaat by @Losper  kon kry.  Die nag se wind was weer genadeloos en Team Rumbux het op ‘n tent besluit...  Elke nou en dan met ‘n rukwind het dit gevoel of iemand ‘n emmer sand bo by die tent ingooi – gelukkig weet @PhantomCupcake  nie veel hiervan nie

@Rickus  het ook kraakvars gelyk, en @Hollywood  het dubbel seker gemaak sy maat oorleef en het hom ‘n inspuiting gegee.  Of dit Terramycin of Vit. B was is ek nie seker nie, maar dit was Hollywood se eerste ervaring aan die beter kant van ‘n spuitnaald...ek sal die video probeer laai...

Dag 4 was sekerlik een van die mooiste dae wat ry aanbetref – met mooi bedoel ek die roete was ongelooflik, met net genoeg moeilike stukkies tussen in om my wakker te hou, maar die omgewing was asemrowend – die enigste bult in Bultfontein is waar die Welkom pad bo-oor die Wesselsbron pad loop met ‘n brug.  Hierdie wêreld het ek nog nooit gesien nie en dis verseker ‘n plek wat ek nog vir die huismense wil gaan wys.

Ons het weggetrek met ‘n stukkie teerpad met ‘n donderbui in die agtergrond.  In die pas (Spektakelpas) het ek besef gister se dinge sit nog in Team Rumbux se tande vas.  Of is dit in ons speke?  Ek en Jodan was beide oorversigtig en skrikkerig en het die ritme van die konvooi (wat nou geloop het soos ‘n muis met slippers) bietjie deurmekaargekrap – ek omdat ek moeg was en nie ‘n glips wou hê nie, en hy omdat hy, soos ek, aan vertraagde reaksies ly en deur die nag iewers eers besef het hoe lelik sy abseil storie kon uitdraai. 

Nou altwee van ons is ROOI.  Dit beteken kortliks ons is nie noodwendig van die lekkerste mense nie, en dit het ons huwelik bietjie getoets.  Ek noem dit huwelik, want die dag se gesprekke het omtrent so iets geloop:

Ek:  “Tjomma, is jy okay?”
Jodan:  “Ja”
Ek (in my kop):  “Kak man, as jy okay is, is my naam Chuck Norris” en dan hardop: “great! Hoe voel jou been?”
Jodan: “Hy is seer maar eks reg”
Ek: “Hoe is die ryery?”
Jodan: “Dit gaan oraait”
Ek: (weer in my kop): “jy is nie by die huis nie, ontspan, gee die ou sy ruimte” en dan weer hardop:  “nou kap hom flou maat, lekker ry!”

Nou op die Quest is almal onder druk – dalk meer druk as wat baie mense kan hanteer, maar die verskil is hier is nie ‘n keuse nie – almal is saam hier in en almal moet saam hier uit.  En tyd in die helmet is baie waardevol – jy het genoeg tyd om te kan introspeksie doen en agter te kom dat almal nie soos jy is nie, en ook genoeg tyd om te besef watter seëning dit vir die wêreld is  . Ons het ook tyd gemaak om krapperighede uit te gesels, soms met die hulp van die amptelike Quest huweliksberader, @Kamanya .  Sy Lumina profiele het vir my baie beteken – ek kon in die tyd van min slaap bietjie loer na my en my spanmaat se verskille en bietjie mooi nadink hoe ek hom kan help eerder as frustreer as ek dink hy trek swaar.  En vice versa.

Die roete het min tegniese dele gehad en Team Rumbux het, ahoewel nie op ons snykant nie, ‘n redelike goeie dag gehad en nie te veel crashbar toetse gedoen nie.  Die eerste deel deur die privaat grond was van die mooiste en lekkerste ry wat ek nog gedoen het.  Eintlik die heel dag – ek wonder gewoonlik of die mense wat daar bly dit ook nog so kan waardeer?

Vandag was my rusdag – ek was moeg en sou verseker foute gemaak het op tegniese terrein – ek was selfs dankbaar toe ons mekaar moes deur die rivierloop help – ‘n stukkie wat op enige ander dag nie noodwendig eers ‘n fotograaf sou gehad het nie 

Vandag was ‘n goeie dag – die wêreld was beeldskoon, my kop was amper skoon en ek het van iewers af die wysheid gekry dat dit okay is as iemand sy dinge op sy eie manier uitwerk.  En hy het – ek het aan die einde van dag 4 gesien dat hierdie jong spanmaat van my ‘n baie groter yster is as meeste ouens van dubbel sy ouderdom.  Die man se kop was sterk.  Baie sterk. (En redelik gepak met inligting soos Encyclopedia Brittanica – hy sal nie weet wat dit is nie, so in sy taal: Wikipedia).  En hy kon daai Africa Twin ry.  Bike 11 het sy naam op gehad... 

[PhantomCupcake]

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[Kamanya]

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That is kak funny!

I also got one from Okkie that day, for some reason, it also hurt like hell! I don't think I squealed that bad though.

[Hollywood]

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🤣 Ek het hom vóór die tyd gewaarsku: ek steek 'n naald soos 'n dronk veearts! Sonder gevoel of 'n gewete!

[weskus]

 

[Hollywood]

Check this video of Stephan and Denzil having fun:

https://www.facebook.com/stephan.vandermerwe.50/videos/10156368204266998/?t=5

LEKKER!!!!!

[Casting from Turd]

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Did you hit him in the ball or the bum.
I cant imagine a squeaky voice coming out of a human that size 

[JesseH]

Quest Day 5:

By now we were really settled and in a groovy little groove with our spanmaats, camp, cleaning and eating routines, lack of sleep, stretcher beds under the Million-Star hotels and the camaraderie and commonality between us (the love of adventure and the love of bikes). The only thing we needed to get done was riding properly in a convoy safely.

The DCT had become an extended part of our bodies. All the bonding that we could have wanted and needed with the bikes had been done and my #10 bike was the best of them all! It was red - just like the others. It had the same blue and white sticker kit - just like the others. The same Rumbux crash bars. The same red and black saddle. Black rims. Metzeler Karoo 3 tyres. Even the number plates were all very similar - HP 19 ## GP. But mine had the only number 10 on the front. And it was mine! And because it was mine, mine is better than yours!

At least it felt like MY bike. It took me until Day 5 to stop feeling for the gear lever under my left foot. Not that I was constantly missing it or that it affected my riding. It was just the habit of positioning your foot in the right spot while standing and then moving it again when you sit down so you know exactly where it is for when the time comes to click up or down through the gearbox. My #10 felt like home. It went so well! I knew how it would react in certain situations or terrain. I was used to the suspension settings that I had fiddled with on the evening of day 1. I knew that I was running 2.0 Bar on the rear and 2.2 up front. I like not tugging on Murphy's beard with snake-bite punctures. This bike was such a joy to ride! So smooth and so well designed. I noticed every little sound and feeling I got from it through the varying terrains and surfaces we rode. I was enjoying the machine as much as I was enjoying the adventure!

Isn't that what it's about though? This is why we ride our bikes. Whether you smaak riding your DRZ400 on a single track on a farm somewhere or whether you have a 1200GSA and like to spank it from Joburg to Cape Town using as much or as little tar as your heart wants. It's about the adventure and it's about the bike!
Being on a trip like this, every single place we went to was a new one for me (I had never had the opportunity to travel the NC before) and I was soaking up every aspect of it and relishing it for as long as possible! The bike, the buddies, the food and the scenery. This was what was most important to me from day 0.

Day 5 was the longest day on Quest in terms of the mileage we needed to do. A little over 400km of mostly open gravel roads and with the windy conditions prevailing it made for some interesting riding. The dust was quite bad, or so we were told. Hannes and I were in front today! Lekker day to be up front too! The wind helped a lot though, especially when it was perpendicular to the direction of the road and the first 130km were tough for me. I was fighting fatigue from 4 days in the saddle and not enough shut-eye each night to keep this young gun strong. The long straights seemed to be never ending and each time you crested a small hill you could see the road carrying on to the next horizon, in the same direction. It was a stark contrast to the riding that we had done the previous 4 days. I often had to open my visor, stand up and focus to keep my weary eyes open.

We were headed for the Tankwa Karoo. We headed down the Gannaga Pass into the Tankwa. And WOW! What spectacular vistas and landscape. Because of my recent Thomas Bain study for my presentation a couple nights previously, I looked in awe of the pass, wondered how the pass builders had gotten this one right and thought how amazing the history of such a place is. Absolutely astonishing! Imagine building a road without a single machine... Horses and oxen. Hand tools and convict labour. It is a foreign concept for me to try fathom what those okes went through to build roads more than 100 years ago.
More on the pass if you're unfamiliar - It is a must-do!
http://www.samountainpasses.co.za/Home/WesternCape/Passes/KAROO/GannagaPass/tabid/548/Default.aspx

I was still craving a pizza!

[Losper]

Day 5 video by https://www.kalonfilms.com

Garies to Tankwa Karoo 400km