Wild dogs bash 2009 there and back

[Rustyb]

We all met at the Caltex in Durbanville. Soon we were on our way to Wellington via Bainskloof pass. The road has fallen away in one place and there were plenty of branches on the road. It was raining and there were waterfalls on every turn. No in the ride photos.

Soon we arrived in Wellington, to meet up with more riders.  Then it was on to Ceres for a mandatory fuel stop.



From there it was on to Sutherland, via Theron’s pass.

With a few stops along the way.




Turn off to Tankwa Karoo National Park





At the next turn. This time to Ouberg Pass.




Further down the road







The long and winding road.


Just before the start of the pass I saw this interesting house.



On the way up. The photo does not really show the incline well. In places I crawled up in first gear with the diff-lock engaged

 
Looking back down the pass.





Just over the summit we hit a good few KM's of wet clay



To be continued……..

[Pistonpete]

Nice one...keep it coming

[Gee S]

It looks like you hadf a intersting ride up.

[tankgirl]

nice pics of a nice view

was cool to meet you - thanks for bringing, and not losing, my tire

[Etienne2T]

Did you make them your pickled chillie dish

[Rustyb]

No chilli in stock.

[bradleys]

Cool pics ,nice one Rusty, once again thank you, cant wait to see the rest of the pics,love to get those shots of me through the river on disc ,Iwant to print it in sequance.Waiting for the rest  

[cono]

Great photo's guys. looks like a lekker ride through long dirt roads.

[bradleys]

More pleaseRusty

[KTM BIGGER]

More pleaseRusty

Hold your horses, he is trying to shake off the rust  ...

[Rustyb]

Day 1 Cont….
 From the top of Ouberg pass to Sutherland was a long stretch of wet clay. 


It was fun in the bakkie, although at times I think the navigator was a bit concerned.


After a quick refueling stop in Sutherland it was on to our destination for the night, Williston




The bikes were parked across the way from the hotel.



Some running repairs. Leftless reconfiguring his seat.

Crossed Up offering advice


The local church







Day 2
Williston hotel lobby

The bar


The menu


Another menu

The dining room


Bric a brac.




Soon it was time to leave town towards Van Wyks Vlei.



Andy660 complete with helmet – Cam

 
The road







Some landscapes





Bradley’s stopped us and said there was a long water crossing ahead. We had to wait until they made sure it was drivable with the bakkie.



The road disappeared into the kloof


A bit hairy in places but a wonderful experience. Difflock on and keeping the revs up I sailed through. The last water crossing.


Bradley’s was still behind us. This is his trip through the water.






He is in there somewhere.





 Safely through.


After the water crossing we were tootling along when we reached a fork in the road. There was no noone waiting so we took the right fork. The GPS showed that we should have taken the left fork. We turned around and as I turned in the split I realized I had made a fatal mistake. As I tried to reverse the trailer it climbed the berm of the track. The trailer slipped down into the track again and all I heard was breaking glass. We climbed out and bounced the trailer to the left. I climbed back in, switched the diff lock on, and floored the accelerator. Just as I though we were stuck for good I felt the bakkie lurch forward.


 
N[]va surveying the scene.



We carried on down the track only to discover that we were still on the wrong road.
We tracked back to the original track and decided to follow it even though the GPS showed another way.
We hit this gravel highway and were soon belting along at a good pace. In the distance we saw a bike approaching. It was KTM BIGGER who had been sent to come look for us.




 
Ruin on the side of the road



We arrived in Van Wyksvlei where most of us topped off our tanks.




Kamanye


Soon we were on another great gravel road.




We turned off onto a twee-spoor. We had to drive through the outspan of the farm, Jasperkop. A well kept horse followed us down the fence.


The new road/track was overgrown in places and the going was slower. We approached another gate which opened easily.





The thorns from this tree caused a few punctures


The brown patch on the right hand side is an Aardvark hole.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark


Further down the road we crossed a field where they were growing towers, left to right as far as the eye could see in both directions. At the end of the road was another gate. It was locked so we made a plan and were soon on the other side.
EEK ! We had survived.


More gravel road






 The next town was Marydale, our last stop before Seekoeibaardsnek. Once again, tanks were topped off and lots of liquid refreshment stocked up.

.

Out of town and almost there.





In places we drove next to the Orange river,

then over it.



Just a few turns to go




We finally arrived at our destination.


Nowhere along the route or even close to the campsite were there indicators/ flags/ markers to show that we were arriving at the Wild Dog Bash.
 
The venue


 
Different sleeping arrangement



Some scenery




Sunset on the river

[Crossed-up]

Great shots, Rustyb.  They really capture the trip.  Thanks.

[Plothond]

It's actually amazing

Adventure riders from all corners of the country converge on a campsite and enjoy a great weekend. Many have never met each other and yet are friends instantly.

Also, just not nailing it on the tar to get there. The most amazing routes were chosen.

Every ride report to the bash is a winner  

[bradleys]

Reall great pics and report ,thanks Rusty

[Pistonpete]

Endless horizons

[DRAZIL]

great rides like this with any DS bike is what adventure rideing is about.Thanks for shareing
I still think that Ou Bergs pas is one of the best passes I have done.

[Rustyb]

Day 3
In  and  around  the  campsite.

The tyre that nearly did not make it.

[Rustyb]

Day 4.

All too soon it was time to leave for home. 


Sunrise on the Orange river.





First stop was Groblershoop to refuel.


 
Our first puncture of many for the day was fixed at the garage. A short way down the road we had our next one.




The compressor came in handy.


 Other travelers on the road.


Soon we were back on our way to Kenhardt.  In places, the road was like a gravel highway. In some places not so good. For the riders, it must have been absolute fun.







 Lots of derelict houses along the way.

.

After breakfast in Kenhardt, we proceeded to Verneukpan.


Tracks on the edges of the road showed evidence of the extreme conditions that would come about in case of rain. Deep gouges and drag marks made by double axle trucks were fairly common place making for interesting driving in the bakkie.



Out of nowhere the pan appeared before us, stretching as far as the eye could see.





We stopped at Campbells track. The heat was close to unbearable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verneukpan




The local wildlife.

Strike the pose.










Shortly after that yet another puncture. This time Andy660 got to change his own tyre and tube.

KTM Bigger and Bradleys stayed behind to help.


After this the road split yet again. And again we took the wrong fork. Had someone waited this would not have happened.
More gravel road.






 Some scenery.




A dust devil.





Brandvlei this way, on another gravel highway.




We arrived in Brandvlei and after a quick refueling stop we were back on the road.











We had stopped for another puncture. This time it was Nick’s turn.
I would definitely want Andy660 to ride with me. He is an absolute master tyre/tube changer.




The way forward.




Soon after this the group split. Most of the riders went straight. We turned off onto a track. The road was really bad and therefore no photos were taken.
A Quiver tree.



 Another derelict house.




Around a bend and quiver trees as far as the eye could see. Spectacular.





I was awed by the size of this river. Over the next few kilometers we crossed it numerous times. In the first photo note the height of the river bank in the bend.







The sun was starting to set.



Coming around a blind rise straight into the setting sun, we found Leftless had parted ways with his bike. Luckily there were no injuries.


 Recovering the bike.




We were now rushing to beat the sunset. There were quite a few sheep in the road and we were all very lucky not to hit any of them. We arrived in Nieuwoudtville where we stayed overnight> I was not a happy camper but after a good chat to Crossedup, I was feeling much better.

[Crossed-up]

Rusty, you were an absolute trooper.  Thank you.