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Offline Maverick

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #40 on: November 03, 2009, 03:36:44 pm »
Cool report so far guys keep it coming. Broken clutch levers, fallen bikes - you know what they say it ain't an Adventure until shit starts to break  :biggrin:
Maverick Disclaimer: This thread is intended for the use of the individual(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humor or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this thread is not authorised (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social faux pas.
 

Offline Hondsekierie

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #41 on: November 03, 2009, 04:45:35 pm »
Love it :thumleft:
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more"
 

Offline tankgirl

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #42 on: November 03, 2009, 06:10:40 pm »
damn i'm jealous... :D great pics!
 

Offline JAmBer

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #43 on: November 04, 2009, 07:19:23 am »
Day 7: Somewhere in a canyon to Swakopmund



The next morning I got going first with the repaired clutch. And rode straight into a rock and stalled it. This was going to be harder than I thought. Fortunately, the clutch lever held for a second pull and I managed to get out the canyon without trouble. This track is hardly ever used (we hadn't seen a car in over 24 hours) and could count the number of vehicle tracks in the sand on one hand. An entire herd of gemsbok and two herds of springbok ran alongside me as I rode out. I saw some cat prints too, but didn't spot the leopard itself.



We made straight for Henties to see if we can source a replacement lever. But first I had to wait where the trail meets the gravel for the other guys. They were a long time coming and I started getting worried. The road to the coast was decent gravel, with large undulations that kept things entertaining. The wind was howling and I was being blown all over the road.


As we got to the coast to turn south, we stopped to put on some warm clothing. The sea air was freezing cold. And then Mark's KLR wouldn't start. But I was half expecting this and went straight to the sidestand cut-out switch. Problem solved. U-go had cleverly overridded his before we left Cape Town.


Ah, some real food at an actual restaurant. This made for a great change after our impromptu camp the previous night. Fresh seafood warmed us up after the freezing ride down the coast from ~Mile100 to Henties. Meanwhile, I made some calls.


The only BMW Motorrad dealer in Namibia that I could find was in Windhoek. No stock, 2 days to order, R900. A two day wait would've killed any chance of a push into northern Koakoland. We all had to be back in Cape Town for various reasons in a week. The roads to the south were mostly easy and I was willing to risk it without a clutch. So the decision was made to take a leisurely ride back to Cape Town.

In retrospect, we could've continued on our trip northwards at this point, but I was nervous that I'd be going along a cliff edge and the lever would snap while changing gears, sending me wheelie-ing off a cliff. But in fact, the lever held for the whole day, and the following, and the one after that... Two months later, and the repairjob is still holding!

So then on to the salt road down to Swakopmund.


Our plan was to spend the night at the "Municipal Chalets", but we had no idea where this was. After a lot of asking around, we got general directions that led to the south west corner of the town. From there it wasn't hard to spot what Garmin lists simply as Swakopmund Rest Camp. We got a chalet that sleeps four for R220. Good value. There was even a laundromat/bar/casino/games room/cafe/pool hall down the road...

« Last Edit: August 20, 2011, 05:00:10 pm by JAmBer »
 

Offline >Herman<

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #44 on: November 04, 2009, 07:48:36 am »
 :thumleft: Lekker manne  :thumleft:

Offline funacide

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #45 on: November 04, 2009, 09:38:03 am »
You guys must have camped out very close to where we had bike problems in 2008 as well.....

Very nice guys respect
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Offline u-go

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #46 on: November 05, 2009, 03:57:17 pm »
A day later than promised but here they are.

Our campsite just outside of Uis



heading down the canyon



Alex decided he wanted to pick his bike up himself. We found the biggest problem in sand to be the fact that the bike keeps sliding away as you lift it. Being an engineer he made a plan to stop this. Unfortunately the riding has taken its toll and only after expending most of his reserves in getting the rocks there did he find out the hard way that the initial pivot point has now been shifted to the tires instead of the crashbards. The tires being high also didnt help. this was the fall which claimed the clutch lever.



Also an appropriate time to mention that J was the only to not fall. He once performed a super flying off dive from standstill in order to help Mark, just to hear "ah, no worries, im ok"

Some random pics from my walk



interesting contrast where our canyon meets the Ugab




Turns out there was quite a bit of fun to be missed. I was quietly relieved, although it would have been a very interesting challenge. On another trip...







Just in case anyone forgot that it was cold on the west coast:



The face of a happy man. and why may you ask is he so happy.



Simple answer:



It was most likely the best plate of fish i have yet had. Mark was unable to finish off his calamri, so J and myself piled in.

That evening in our chalet: mmm, smelly boots!



More whenever JAmBer adds the next day
 

Offline PinkGoat

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #47 on: November 06, 2009, 03:33:52 pm »
Great RR guys!!  :thumleft: Fell in love with Nam at the beginning of the year! Seeing the pics of the place just awesome!!
In the end it's not the number of years in your life that counts, but the life in your years...
 

Offline u-go

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #48 on: November 06, 2009, 05:19:30 pm »
to be continued.... 

yes, even students need to work from time to time. Once either J or myself has some free time we will resume.
 

Offline melvman

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #49 on: November 11, 2009, 11:48:57 am »
Mark and Alex, we are waiting for your input here :pot:
Or will Mark be doing the Baviaans RR
 

Offline u-go

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #50 on: November 11, 2009, 12:28:00 pm »
No finger pointing Melville, I haven't seen you and Jason's Baviaans trip on here either!  :deal:  :pot: I hear it was a good trip - lots of bottoming out. What are you planning with the KLR suspension?

Hijack off

Life should be less insane by next week when I will take over the last bit of writing of the Nam trip. But then again if Mark can drag himself away from writing C or Alex away from encrypting data it would be jolly good. I do believe they have some personal input in into the next few days, especially day 9...
 

Offline melvman

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #51 on: November 14, 2009, 12:54:35 pm »
U and J, I'll meet you guys in Oudtshoorn and we do "Diehel".

melfromhel
 >:D
 

Offline Tubeless

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #52 on: November 18, 2009, 09:57:53 am »
 ??? ??? ??? ::) ::) ::) ::) >:( >:( >:( :xxbah: :deal:
Every man must die but not every man realy lives - WW
 

Offline melvman

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #53 on: November 23, 2009, 05:01:08 pm »
Hi Tubeless,
Diehel is another name for Gamkaskloof north of Oudtshoorn. I'm not sure if that was what you're questioning. I'm hoping to get U-go and jamber to join me on a ride there.  8)
 

Offline Tubeless

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #54 on: November 23, 2009, 11:12:52 pm »
NO not really  - what do these guys think this is TEASERS. Finish the @%^$^@^ report.  :dousing:   :thumleft:
Every man must die but not every man realy lives - WW
 

Offline Would I?

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #55 on: December 15, 2009, 05:03:36 pm »
Student time is over now....... finish this report!!!  :) :) :)

 :happy1: :happy1: :happy1:
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Offline OliveOil

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #56 on: December 16, 2009, 10:19:47 pm »
Sounds/looks like an awesome trip! Wow!
 

Offline u-go

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #57 on: January 22, 2010, 11:50:22 am »
This post is an attempt to save face, even if just a little bit. To start with I will just post all the pictures so that the site will not stop hosting them, and then either Jamber or myself will fill in some more details.

Day 8 was B2 south to Walvis bay. Then on to C14 eastwards.
that took us to solitaire
274KM for the day

I had quite a bit written for this day, but cannot find it. Highlights included, as can be seen, walking up Dune 7, and can not be seen, my rear tube letting rip, literally, and thus another puncture stop under the only tree in sight somewhere on the C14

































« Last Edit: October 29, 2010, 05:25:01 pm by u-go »
 

Offline wayneh

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #58 on: January 24, 2010, 09:20:28 pm »
Awesome pics & a great story.  :thumleft:
 

Offline BlueBull2007

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Re: Noobs in Nam
« Reply #59 on: January 25, 2010, 05:42:33 am »
Great story, even if its late, we want to read the rest. :hello2:

Come on Guys!

Your camera skills are exceptional! What camera were you using?

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