Virgin Sand In Kaokoland (a post lockdown adventure)

[OomD]

Boskak Bruce, this rates among the best ride reports on here.

Yes, I vote for him changing his forum name

And thanks to you two, BoskakBruce is now my official forum name!

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It rolls so easily off the tongue. The name, that is.

[the ruffian]

Well what a pleasure, ‘bru, to come across this, albeit late. Your candid advice on how best to prepare the ingredients for a solid boskak suggested that you might give further direction on the kinaesthetics of the act itself. I was disappointed , since you clearly were’nt anal ...🥴...

And in that respect, what is most obvious is your relish in the essence of adventure itself: being in the moment, looking for the best in your comrades and in the people you meet along the way ( all of us will seek out Ben now). In Yiddish there is word to describe people like you: you are a “mensch”...

Your skill in conveying that honors us as readers and motorcycle adventurers, armchair or otherwise. Thank you for that.

[BoskakBruce]

Well what a pleasure, ‘bru, to come across this, albeit late. Your candid advice on how best to prepare the ingredients for a solid boskak suggested that you might give further direction on the kinaesthetics of the act itself. I was disappointed , since you clearly were’nt anal ......

And in that respect, what is most obvious is your relish in the essence of adventure itself: being in the moment, looking for the best in your comrades and in the people you meet along the way ( all of us will seek out Ben now). In Yiddish there is word to describe people like you: you are a “mensch”...

Your skill in conveying that honors us as readers and motorcycle adventurers, armchair or otherwise. Thank you for that.

Just reading this now. Thanks for the high praise. Next time I'll try to be more anal about making a kak in the bush. :-)

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[Baches]

Thanks Bruce !! Brilliant RR. We did more or less the same route beginning of November 2020. We went up from Marble Camp turning left at Rooi Drom and at the orange drum we turned North and stayed over at Sera Cafema. That dunes was a bliss. I think it was in the same area where you rode. Kaokoland is definitely a yes if you love  adv. riding. I went with my 690 but will not mind taking the 500 instead.(maybe next time)

[BoskakBruce]

Thanks Bruce !! Brilliant RR. We did more or less the same route beginning of November 2020. We went up from Marble Camp turning left at Rooi Drom and at the orange drum we turned North and stayed over at Sera Cafema. That dunes was a bliss. I think it was in the same area where you rode. Kaokoland is definitely a yes if you love  adv. riding. I went with my 690 but will not mind taking the 500 instead.(maybe next time)

I'm glad that you enjoyed the report, @Baches ! We are so fortunate to have Namibia as a neighbour. I am already planning a return trip, this time with my wife.

[BoskakBruce]

Wow, guys. This ride report has just been moved to the "Roll of Honor" section! Thank you @JonW  for putting it forward to the moderators.

So far, only 27 ride reports have ever made it to the "Roll of Honor" section. I feel honored that so many people have read and enjoyed mine. :-)

Thanks guys (and gals).

[Noneking]

Wow, guys. This ride report has just been moved to the "Roll of Honor" section! Thank you @JonW  for putting it forward to the moderators.

So far, only 27 ride reports have ever made it to the "Roll of Honor" section. I feel honored that so many people have read and enjoyed mine. :-)

Thanks guys (and gals).

Well done!!

[mtr89]

Just read this ride report over the last 2 evenings, what a freaking jol!
A proper good time>
Well done bru!

[BoskakBruce]

Just read this ride report over the last 2 evenings, what a freaking jol!
A proper good time>
Well done bru!

Thanks man. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I'm dreaming up another Kaokoland trip as I can't seem to get it out of my system. :-)

[Brakenjan]

Bruce, thanks a mill for a truly exceptional report. Kaokoland was my first ever adventure bike trip back in 2007, thanks to the ride reports of Metaljockey et al. You have now again inspired me to return to that magical place. 

[BoskakBruce]

Bruce, thanks a mill for a truly exceptional report. Kaokoland was my first ever adventure bike trip back in 2007, thanks to the ride reports of Metaljockey et al. You have now again inspired me to return to that magical place. 

Glad you enjoyed it, @Brakenjan. I also was inspired by MetalJockey's exploits.

[Grunder]

Try it! It will transform your boskaks. I digress…

So this prompted the name change??

This RR blew my mind!!! Thx for taking the time to write it.

[onspecial]

It all started a year ago when my wife and I were touring South America on our dirt bikes. I had been reading ride reports about Kaokoland by @Xpat, @Minxy, @michnus, @Damaraland and they all had two things in common - amazing pictures and wild adventures. I had to go.

So, one morning while sipping coffee in Ecuador, I opened up my Gumtree app and bought a KTM 500 from a guy in Nelspruit and had it shipped to my brother's place in Cape Town. That story is outlined in my bike build report here: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=252547.0

I figured I'd be in a Cape Town a few months later and ride the 500 to Kaokoland. Then COVID hit and my wife and I were quarantined for 7 months in a 2-bed apartment in Chile. Somehow, we survived without killing each other and when we finally managed to get flights out of Chile, I immediately booked a ticket to Cape Town to see my family, my new 500, and head to Kaokoland. "Thank God!" she said. "I've had enough of you for 7 months..."

The problem was, I didn't really want to go alone.  After loneliness set in during a 15-country solo motorcycle trip in 2015, I promised myself that I'd never ride alone again. Not becasue I don't like being alone, but becasue without someone to share my experiences with, it's never quite as fun. Normally, my wife would ride with me. She's pretty badass. But this trip she couldn't make.

So, first things first, I had to find people to join in on the fun with me. None of my friends could take 3 weeks off (and none of them had bikes capable of going where I wanted to go). I couldn't just ride with anyone. I wanted a capable rider, on a small bike, who loved sand, and was good company. A tall order, right?

So, I started a bike build report that I figured only other 500 riders would be interested in. I'd bought a bunch of accessories to VARKle my bike with, and I figured that maybe someone reading it would own a 500 and would want to join me.

Awe inspiring stuff - thank you for posting. Gona have a beer to continue after Day 1 later.

just a question on those panniers you are using? What brand are they? assume they to be found in S. America?

[BoskakBruce]

Awe inspiring stuff - thank you for posting. Gona have a beer to continue after Day 1 later.

just a question on those panniers you are using? What brand are they? assume they to be found in S. America?

Thanks man. The panniers in the first pics were one's from South America. Awful. They lasted 2 days before falling apart.

The later one is a Giant Loop Cayote. It's the most stable rackless system I've found so far.