MRK Miller
Pack Dog
So the past week, not weekend, my Good buddy and i decided its time to put his newly revamped ktm to the test, and see if it will keep up with the klr. We would do the trip, the family and i did a few weekends ago, but will stick to the gravel as much as possible. Wednesday was our last of day, so we decided the day before on that day, since the route was already there, but for a few changes here and there. Through Nigel we got our first taste of gravel, which was a gravel highway
For some or other reason the gps did not want to do the guide thing. I would select the route, it would show it to me, but when i press go, it does not give the route. It shows where i am, but no route. I had a idea of where to go, but this scenario would rob us of a piece of road. Somewhere on the route the road turned into a stone infested two track, which made for interesting riding. The scenery was great, rolling hills of grass lands, filled with grazing cattle, and sheep. The pace was easy. Hennie was patient with all the stops to check the route. There were these wonderful stone houses everywhere.
Just after that, on the one uphill i saw to my left, one of my favorite animals. A Jackal standing in the veld watching us. I slammed on the brakes, in the hope of a picture but the phone battery had gone flat. It was a beauty. We stood and watched as it disappeared into the grass over the hill. My day was officially made. From there we headed on ward to a T-juction, where the gps said left then right to Val. But this was tar, Which on bacecamp is still gravel. Will have to inform them. Did look like a new tar road, hopefully not for very long. We did pass a turn of unto gravel, and we hesitated if we should, but the gps said straight on the tar til the next turn off to the right, also tar, R547. This is when we realized we should have taken the gravel, but that was now a few km back, and Hennie having only a 6.5 lt fuel tank was worried about his fuel, which would catch us later anyway. So onward to the right on the tar still. Doubt started to fill my mind as to weather we were on the wright rode. So we stopped ad had a chat to some fence builders on the road. They confirmed, straight on. Shortly after this we reached the gravel road from which we would have excited had we taken the earlier gravel. We reached Val, only to find everything closed and being painted in the dining area. So we look around some, when the oak who served us the last time, suddenly showed up, and asked if we wanted serves. We wanted breakfast,was our reply. He invited us in to the bar where we placed our order. About 30 min he said. This gave us time to explore the hotel and the mad of the area, to find the old bridge where the whiskey train derailed. The rooms in the hotel were open this time around, and i found one that would fit Monica and myself honeymoon number 20 very well, and it was not even that far to ride. I think they go at R900 a night. Returning back, our breakfast was ready, and so the coffee. We enjoyed a peace full breakfast,while chatting to our Congolese friend, who served us with a smile, even though we were the only once there
From there we proceeded to hunt down the old bridge, to see if maybe some had missed a whiskey bottle that was lying under a grass bush or something. We found the bridge, and if there is still a old bottle of the good stuff lying there somewhere, it will stay till someone else finds it. We left with only clean coke to drink.
We made our way into Greylingstad, where Hennie suggested we first find a fuel station then get back to the lost city, which we did. It is a funny place, and since being there previously i always wandered what happened here, how long ago. This time there was a old man looking after cattle, so i asked him if he knew of the history of the place. In broken English he tried to explain, with any real sense. Then Hennie came and asked him in Afrikaans, and in better Afrikaans than my own he proceeded to explain. Apparently some of his people live there till 1994. Because they could not really afford cars those days, it was not a problem to walk up to where the houses were.
After 1994, most of them got access to motor cars which now was a problem because no one could ride up to there houses. So they all moved down into the now town and informal settlement Nthorwane Where they had streets to there houses. I must say i was a bit disappointed as i though these were old ruins from much much more way back.
For some or other reason the gps did not want to do the guide thing. I would select the route, it would show it to me, but when i press go, it does not give the route. It shows where i am, but no route. I had a idea of where to go, but this scenario would rob us of a piece of road. Somewhere on the route the road turned into a stone infested two track, which made for interesting riding. The scenery was great, rolling hills of grass lands, filled with grazing cattle, and sheep. The pace was easy. Hennie was patient with all the stops to check the route. There were these wonderful stone houses everywhere.
Just after that, on the one uphill i saw to my left, one of my favorite animals. A Jackal standing in the veld watching us. I slammed on the brakes, in the hope of a picture but the phone battery had gone flat. It was a beauty. We stood and watched as it disappeared into the grass over the hill. My day was officially made. From there we headed on ward to a T-juction, where the gps said left then right to Val. But this was tar, Which on bacecamp is still gravel. Will have to inform them. Did look like a new tar road, hopefully not for very long. We did pass a turn of unto gravel, and we hesitated if we should, but the gps said straight on the tar til the next turn off to the right, also tar, R547. This is when we realized we should have taken the gravel, but that was now a few km back, and Hennie having only a 6.5 lt fuel tank was worried about his fuel, which would catch us later anyway. So onward to the right on the tar still. Doubt started to fill my mind as to weather we were on the wright rode. So we stopped ad had a chat to some fence builders on the road. They confirmed, straight on. Shortly after this we reached the gravel road from which we would have excited had we taken the earlier gravel. We reached Val, only to find everything closed and being painted in the dining area. So we look around some, when the oak who served us the last time, suddenly showed up, and asked if we wanted serves. We wanted breakfast,was our reply. He invited us in to the bar where we placed our order. About 30 min he said. This gave us time to explore the hotel and the mad of the area, to find the old bridge where the whiskey train derailed. The rooms in the hotel were open this time around, and i found one that would fit Monica and myself honeymoon number 20 very well, and it was not even that far to ride. I think they go at R900 a night. Returning back, our breakfast was ready, and so the coffee. We enjoyed a peace full breakfast,while chatting to our Congolese friend, who served us with a smile, even though we were the only once there
From there we proceeded to hunt down the old bridge, to see if maybe some had missed a whiskey bottle that was lying under a grass bush or something. We found the bridge, and if there is still a old bottle of the good stuff lying there somewhere, it will stay till someone else finds it. We left with only clean coke to drink.
We made our way into Greylingstad, where Hennie suggested we first find a fuel station then get back to the lost city, which we did. It is a funny place, and since being there previously i always wandered what happened here, how long ago. This time there was a old man looking after cattle, so i asked him if he knew of the history of the place. In broken English he tried to explain, with any real sense. Then Hennie came and asked him in Afrikaans, and in better Afrikaans than my own he proceeded to explain. Apparently some of his people live there till 1994. Because they could not really afford cars those days, it was not a problem to walk up to where the houses were.
After 1994, most of them got access to motor cars which now was a problem because no one could ride up to there houses. So they all moved down into the now town and informal settlement Nthorwane Where they had streets to there houses. I must say i was a bit disappointed as i though these were old ruins from much much more way back.
