Author Topic: Traveling to South Africa for World Cup 2010 (Read 4867 times)

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #80 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:22:17 pm »

Quote from: must be... on May 29, 2010, 10:14:32 am

I really think the overseas media blows everything out of the water... if it were the way they said, we'd be in the middle of a civil war.

Thanks for replying and letting us know more about the situation in SA. Sometime's my replies and questions to WD members makes me feel like an idiot. At least I know not to believe the media 100%. Thanks for being patient with my questions and concerns.

Quote from: must be... on May 29, 2010, 10:14:32 am

Hope to spot you on the road! I'll actually be in the Drakensberg region on the 28th June, I'm sleeping over in Fouriesburg on the 27th... it's one of the most beautiful parts of the country, be sure to plan your route that it passes through the Golden Gate National park... breathtaking!

Thanks for the heads up about Golden Gate National park and Fouriesburg. I found it in our atlas. We will look it up on the internet. This is near bethlehem and Lesotho border, right?

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #81 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:25:27 pm »

Quote from: CaptainCrash on May 31, 2010, 02:29:11 pm

No problem there are quite a few sites dedicated to tourism in the Berg area which will give you places to stay and things to do. Here are links to a few:
http://www.drakensberg.org.za/
http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/
www.drakensberg-accommodation.com/

One of the earlier posts mentioned Golden Gate, if you are staying in the Northern Berg it is definitely worth riding through here to Clarens there is some great scenery.

Thanks for the websites. I'm checking them out right now. You don't know how helpfull they are for us! For some reason when we internet search we never find the good SA sites. I think it has to do with our IP address in USA that google wants to give us other types of sites.

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #82 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:28:58 pm »

Quote from: Wild Hearted Son on May 31, 2010, 08:50:58 pm

2 places to stay in the Drakensberg area, I have stayed at both & loved them :
cheap , clean, with good food

Fouriesburg Country Inn
http://www.fouriesburgcountryinn.co.za/

Bingelela
http://www.bingelela.co.za/

both extremely biker friendly

WOW!

Excellent websites. Very informative. Thanks! Need to show the wife.

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #83 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:30:01 pm »

Quote from: Jakes1 on June 01, 2010, 10:36:29 am

Hi There

You must be excited by now. Well if you decide to come down to cape towm you are more than welcome to stay a night or two at my place. My wife and i live in a town called Paarl and is about 60 km from cape town. You can rent a bike from ktm cape towm. email - jakesdebeer@yahoo.cm

Cheers

Thanks for the offer Jakes1. Unfortunately we can't make it to Cape town. Thanks for other invitation!

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #84 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:32:04 pm »

Quote from: Roux on June 01, 2010, 03:04:58 pm

Agree with your concern. My wife and I don't travel at night either, especially between towns. The risk and stress associated is in my opinion not worth it.

I'm glad to see your trip is coming together nicely. Hope we can meet at the Big Braai.

Thanks for confirming previous advice. It now looks like we will take a match day bus from Joburg to Rustenburg round trip. Looking forward to meeting!

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #85 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:35:58 pm »

Quote from: Casting from Turd on June 02, 2010, 08:37:52 am

Well if any of you are down in the Addo area, we have the Orange Elephant. FREE camping to Wild dog members and tourists on bikes. Pull in and join the fun!!!!!!!

Addo is near Port Elizibeth? If so we won't be making it near there. Thanks for the invitation!

WD members continue to impress with the never ending invitations and warm welcome! Becky and I wish we had more time in SA!

Wild Hearted Son · « **Reply #86 on:** June 04, 2010, 07:41:29 pm »

Just had a thought .........
With all this talk of riding round the Drakensberg / Fouriesburg etc - you are aware that it is winter here ?

http://www.southafrica.co.za/weather/
http://www.southafrica.co.za/what-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-south-africa/

I had a mental picture of you both riding through Golden Gate in shorts & a t shirt in the freezing cold

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #87 on:** June 04, 2010, 09:03:10 pm »

Quote from: Wild Hearted Son on June 04, 2010, 07:41:29 pm

Just had a thought .........
With all this talk of riding round the Drakensberg / Fouriesburg etc - you are aware that it is winter here ?

Yes, we're aware that it is winter. We're bringing our winter gear, which in short consist of the following for riding:

1. sock liners
2. wool socks
3. BMW Santiago pants, jackets with liners
4. Wool sweater
5. Long underwear, tops and bottoms
6. Leather gloves & liners.
7. helmet liner.

Sticking to mostly tarmac and not planning on riding any of the high / major passes.

Thanks for thinking of us!!

Welsh · « **Reply #88 on:** June 05, 2010, 07:03:32 am »

Quote from: NMEXPAT on June 04, 2010, 09:03:10 pm

Quote from: Wild Hearted Son on June 04, 2010, 07:41:29 pm
Just had a thought .........
With all this talk of riding round the Drakensberg / Fouriesburg etc - you are aware that it is winter here ?

Yes, we're aware that it is winter. We're bringing our winter gear, which in short consist of the following for riding:

1. sock liners
2. wool socks
3. BMW Santiago pants, jackets with liners
4. Wool sweater
5. Long underwear, tops and bottoms
6. Leather gloves & liners.
7. helmet liner.

Sticking to mostly tarmac and not planning on riding any of the high / major passes.

Thanks for thinking of us!!

yep at dawn each day this week it has been sub zero, but a pleastn 18 to 20 C in the afternoon...see you soon

Minora · « **Reply #89 on:** June 14, 2010, 12:27:38 pm »

Man I can't wait for your ride report NMEXPAT. . .

Please share your experience with us when you return home.

Enjoy every single moment of your stay!!!

IceCreamMan · « **Reply #90 on:** June 14, 2010, 12:50:46 pm »

i am going ot be at the usa game on froday afternoon , so if you wanna hook up and have a bud or 2 pm me yr mobile number and i will call u

Pistol · « **Reply #91 on:** June 14, 2010, 12:58:54 pm »

Quote from: Minora on June 14, 2010, 12:27:38 pm

Man I can't wait for your ride report NMEXPAT. . . Please share your experience with us when you return home.

Enjoy every single moment of your stay!!!

Diego and Becky are staying with me while in JHB, and went to the opening concert - got home at 2am, then went to Eng/USA game in Rustenburg, and got home close to 3am - on a bike!!! Respect!! Say the park and ride is not up to scratch. Currently off to visit another dog in Empangeni till Friday, but sure they will update sometime

must be... · « **Reply #92 on:** June 14, 2010, 06:33:05 pm »

Quote from: Pistol on June 14, 2010, 12:58:54 pm

Quote from: Minora on June 14, 2010, 12:27:38 pm
Man I can't wait for your ride report NMEXPAT. . . Please share your experience with us when you return home.

Enjoy every single moment of your stay!!!

Diego and Becky are staying with me while in JHB, and went to the opening concert - got home at 2am, then went to Eng/USA game in Rustenburg, and got home close to 3am - on a bike!!! Respect!! Say the park and ride is not up to scratch. Currently off to visit another dog in Empangeni till Friday, but sure they will update sometime

Cool stuff Pistol... would dig to meet you Diego and Becky - I live in the area... we leave on Saturday for our 2010 World Cup Bike Tour.

Brink · « **Reply #93 on:** June 14, 2010, 06:48:48 pm »

Would like to have a drink with them Pistol - maybe we can organize get-together at Cesco's???

Pistol · « **Reply #94 on:** June 15, 2010, 08:41:25 am »

Trying to get the drinks thing together when they return on Friday - Would I has offered his house as a potential BBQ!!! venue.

must be... · « **Reply #95 on:** June 15, 2010, 09:43:39 am »

Quote from: must be... on June 14, 2010, 06:33:05 pm

Quote from: Pistol on June 14, 2010, 12:58:54 pm
Quote from: Minora on June 14, 2010, 12:27:38 pm
Man I can't wait for your ride report NMEXPAT. . . Please share your experience with us when you return home.

Enjoy every single moment of your stay!!!

Diego and Becky are staying with me while in JHB, and went to the opening concert - got home at 2am, then went to Eng/USA game in Rustenburg, and got home close to 3am - on a bike!!! Respect!! Say the park and ride is not up to scratch. Currently off to visit another dog in Empangeni till Friday, but sure they will update sometime

Cool stuff Pistol... would dig to meet you Diego and Becky - I live in the area... we leave on Saturday for our 2010 World Cup Bike Tour.

Plans have changed, we leaving on Friday... maybe we'll see you guys in the Berg round the 28th June... please PM your mobile number if you keen... thanks

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #96 on:** June 27, 2010, 06:52:08 pm »

Diego here, at just blip it's house. we haven't checked WD while we've been here in SA, we've been going every where having a good time.

Becky and I are having a great time in SA. We've been here nearly three weeks now and it has been fantastic. We've met quite a few Wild dogs, and everyone is so nice. The only thing that has upset us, is the quality of the play by team USA.

Becky and I will be posting as ride report when we return to the USA.

RobC · « **Reply #97 on:** June 27, 2010, 09:15:49 pm »

Pity the USA did not make it to Bloem... would have been a blast meeting you guys.

Minora · « **Reply #98 on:** July 07, 2010, 01:38:30 pm »

Come on Diego, the suspense is killing - we want a report

NMEXPAT · « **Reply #99 on:** July 09, 2010, 04:18:18 pm »

Quote from: Minora on July 07, 2010, 01:38:30 pm

Come on Diego, the suspense is killing - we want a report

You know the symptoms of an excellent trip? Upon returning and facing the real world at home gives you one huge headache. It hasn't been easy coming to terms that our trip is over. The worst part of the trip, was not riding in below freezing weather but realizing that our new found "Africa disease" will not get a fix soon enough...

Becky and I have made it home safely. In short we had an outstanding trip to South Africa. This was a trip of a lifetime for so many reasons!

We will be posting a ride report at Wild Dogs. We are still sorting through the 2900 photos we took. We're also trying to find time together to put our words down from both perspectives.

Wild Dogs should not only be proud of their members but their entire country.

A ride report is coming please be patient.