Author Topic: RR of our weekend of R&R on two RRs and a R...... and some rain & rivers.. (Read 1156 times)

Noneking · « **on:** February 07, 2021, 01:59:04 pm »

I recently made contact with @BuRP to ask his advice about a KTM 790/890 R Rally. Bart was very helpful and before we ended the call, we made plans to ride together in the Lowveld. This was before all the doomsday weather we've been experiencing in the Lowveld of late and for some time the ride was at risk of being cancelled. When weather reports started looking more favourable, Bart confirmed his accommodation and arrived in Nelspruit on Friday while nature was dumping 90mm of rain on us in less than 2 hours.

I wasn't sure whether we would be able to ride the next day......I was actually not even sure I would be able to get out of our estate.

This was the only way out of our estate and at 9pm things weren't looking good

Noneking · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:09:12 pm »

We made arrangements to meet at Bart's guest house at 7am. Things looked rosy when I woke up on Saturday and I immediately let Bart know that the ride was on! @chopper pilot was keen to join our ride on his new boney, but unfortunately the bike was not ready in time and the poor oke had to join us on his 990R

The first drops of the morning started falling as I was waiting for Bart outside the guest house.

Noneking · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:17:28 pm »

We rode in light rain via Uitkyk pass on some very slippery surfaces and as we entered Crocodile Gorge, it started pelting down. The Croc river was raging below.

We stopped foe a break as we turned off on the canal road running above the N4

Noneking · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:18:30 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:28:02 pm »

The damage caused by massive amounts of rain over the last couple of weeks was clear. Every single road we travelled on showed the effects of the downpours. Rock and mudslides also caused major damage to roads and the irrigation canal showed in the pic

Noneking · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:36:09 pm »

The rain stops again as we ride into Matsulu

We decide to ride over the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Croc river to look at the water coming down. It’s an awesome sight and something I’ve not witnessed in my 20 years in the Lowveld

Noneking · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:15:54 pm »

Even before we got to the Kruger fence, there was a stream crossing the road and then going underneath the train tracks through a culvert. It looked quite ominous and I stopped to check it out first. Water wasn’t that deep, just above my knees, but it was turbulent and I was struggling to keep my footing in the middle of the stream.

I was still debating whether it was doable when Henk blasted into the torrent on his 990R. The water got hold of the bike and almost immediately changed Henk’s course downstream. It all happened so quickly and the next moment the 990 was upside down on the embankment next to the tunnel, having nearly been dragged down into the Kruger park with the raging water.

Bart and I decided to play it safe and ride up onto the train tracks.

Noneking · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:38:49 pm »

Another first was seeing the Nsikazi river in flood.

The second photo is what it usually looks like when we pass it on this route

Noneking · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:41:19 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:42:33 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:48:09 pm »

We continue along the Kruger fence and have a lot of fun riding over the endless jumps and through countless pools of water.

At a favourite resting place, the flooding stops us dead in our tracks. I post some old pics for reference

Apologies for posting a pic of @2StrokeDan on an open forum. Hope it doesn’t offend anyone or lead to a lengthy ban for me...

Noneking · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2021, 03:58:34 pm »

A short video

Noneking · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:05:36 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:09:37 pm »

We have no other option but to turn around and ride back the way we came. Crossed the stream via train tracks and back to Matsulu where we shared a pizza for breakfast in a very busy parking lot.

We had to adjust our plans for the day and decided to ride to Siyalongubu dam near Swazi border. It’s a nice scenic loop and because it’s a bit higher, hopefully less flooding

Noneking · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:15:08 pm »

Another favourite stop is a rocky outcrop that looks down into the valley below with spectacular landscape all round. We arrive to find a few 4x4s already parked there and the guys are having a serious party. They are all Nelspruit locals and I know a few of them. They offer us Brandy and Coke which I decline, but in the end the three of us end up sharing a ridiculously strong dop before we say our goodbyes and carry on with our ride

Bart

Henk

Noneking · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:17:33 pm »

The road up the mountain is in a terrible state after the rains and it makes for some great riding. We ride past the dam where the mud has us moving around like figure skaters

Noneking · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:28:43 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:30:26 pm »

There was standing water everywhere.

@chopper pilot styling it

Noneking · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:31:47 pm »

Noneking · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2021, 04:34:23 pm »

We made our way down to Barberton where we had a few coffees and a sandwich