A short Sani surprise

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TVB

Grumpy Mutt
Joined
May 27, 2009
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Location
Brits - North West
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Honda XL650V Transalp
It has been years since my last Sani pass visit with 'baas Kobus' (Woody1)

We were on big bikes; he was still riding 'Snow white no 1 and I was on the 1200 Explorer. That was still happy days; I was working for ARDAN risk and support services in Kenya and the Explorer was my first ever 'proper' bike.
There was many bikes throughout the years and I had a special bond with every one of them. The Z750 was my favourite, and I lived on a farm back in the day on 'Zandfontein' renting a caravan.
Now the name 'Zandfontein should give you a hint; yes lots of sandy '2 spoor' tracks and I did not even know anything about dual purpose bikes....in fact, the only ones I can recall was the TT600, XT600 Tenere with the huge tank, the KLX600 (I Think) and the XR500'S which was the Army's favourite bike.

Only after 'Marion Island' did the dual sport (dual purpose) bikes caught my attention and I started small with a DR200 first, then a Klr and later the Explorer.
Unfortunately my contract in Africa was short lived due to the declining oil prises and a halt on seismic activity and I had to sell her.

When Kobus took me on the Sani trip it was lank fun. We were in no rush and we stopped at a dairy farm and bought some 'blue cheese' and later some steaks. The first night in Himville he taught me the beautiful taste of a 'blue cheese steak', and we had a trip I will never forget. The pass was rather easy although I did had one spill and once I got 'stuck' because I did not know the fine art of 'switch of the traction control' on loos surface especially when you have to climb steep hills....or mountains!  :lol8:

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of that trip because of a computer crash and photo lost as result, but this time I did take a few pics.

:)

So how did it come about?

I recently went with a small group of Meerkatte to Breedsneck and did not realise how brave we were  :deal: . Only after reading here on the forum that only a selected few were ever brave enough to have 'concurred Breeds neck' did I realise that I may have some luck on my side and do Sani as well  :pot:
:imaposer: :imaposer:

So Tusday Morning I left Brits at 4H30 and set the gps for Underberg. The plan was to sleep at the same place Kobus and I slept a couple of years back although I was afraid that the tannie will knock me with a broom over the head because of the smell of 'blue cheese steak' that must have made an lasting impression on her  :patch:

However; when I reached Escort I decided to have breakfast and bought a cafe pie which was rather good! Steak and kidney nogal, and it was only past 10 am.
I thought; maybe I can do Sani today and it was decided.

Continued to Underberg but fark.....I drove right through the town and after about 15 minutes realised that I was lost. Stopped and asked a outjie next to the road; 'hey buddy, where is Sani pass? ... :biggrin: 'You got to turn back and the go to Himville and youll find the turn at the junction... :3some: pok yeah!

Well I am glad that the timeing worked out the way it did, because just as I took out the camera to take the first snappy a bakkie with a beautiful KTM500 stopped next to me and a voice said; 'hey Tom'  :peepwall: Shit why do I not recognise this guy....and he knows me!! Then he says; 'I am Xpat'...and immediately I knew. Fark of all places I finally got to meet Martin on the start of Sani pass just past the old trading post. We have been trying to meet, but since this man is always on the move we keep on postponing and here we finally meet!! What a pleasant surprise and knowing that he will be following with his 4x4 bakkie so should anything go wrong and I need some assistance I got backup.

So I continued and here I need to already appologise to the readers: This is about it....the ride report that is! Yes; I did enjoy this ride so much that I did not stop often to take pictures and when I stopped I just repeated the same scene....thought later; fark Tom you could have done better man!! What counts is that I had fun, and that is why we ride.

Now unfortunately I never got a picture of Martin out of respect, I know he does rarely future in pictures and I am not sure if he has a photo phobia but I respect people for their views and did not want to sound pushy to get a pic.

Anyway; here was the fists stop for a quick pick and it is certain; Sani will be tarred but it is going to take some time for those who still want to do this trip.
 

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