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.