Transkei. The really easy way.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

oo7

Race Dog
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
1,482
Reaction score
0
Location
Los Angeles, USA
Bike
BMW R1200GS Adventure
Brakenjan and I initially planned to do a trip up the West Coast and into the Richtersveld during April this year, but his work plans dictated otherwise and we had to put those plans forward. So when the HP2 Jamboree started to take shape, Brakenjan was very keen to attend (I think because he wanted to see what an HP2 looks like that have more than 1000km’s on the clock >:D ) and the call was made to go and ride Transkei afterwards. I travelled through Transkei earlier this year with the cage and then (again) realised that this place is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also seemed (to a foreigner like me) to offer heavenly riding. And boy was I right.

I’ll start with the ride to the Jamboree and the Jamboree itself, before we venture trans the Kei.

HP2 Jamboree

It panned out that I had the privilege to accompany the Jamboree Kaptein to the (his) event. We set off at 08h00 sharp (or an hour or so after that with a tummy full of omgeboggerde poepolvrugte) from the Engen One Stop and decided to call at his mate’s organic wine farm, Bon Cap, just outside Robertson.
DSC06564.jpg


Here the boss’ wife treated us to some coffee & cake, talked a lot and eventually send us off with a bottle of their organic port.

Jacko then showed me the “Marais pad” (?) that leads out of Montagu’s township and connects with the bottom of the Oubergpas on the Montagu side. That fine organic produce was burning a hole in his waterproof ATG backpack and also, what if he falls? It could break and all his stuff inside that port-tight bag will be drenched with fortified organic grape juice. So the cork was pulled and the contents savoured. Turned out organic stuff is not just extremely good for you but also makes you clever. Take for instance an ordinary bottle of Bon Cap Organic port.
DSC06565.jpg


Did you know one could use it just as well for the following, inter alia -

a Pennywhistle
DSC06566.jpg


a Dough roller
DSC06569.jpg


Tenpin bowling
DSC06567.jpg


a Vuvuzela
DSC06568.jpg


a Condom (obviously this is only a scale representation)
DSC06570.jpg


a Spyglass
DSC06572.jpg



a 120mm standard anti-russian tank mortar (of course)
DSC06571.jpg


an English tea cup
DSC06573.jpg



It also gives you wings - half an hour later it seems that Jacko has ridden the wheels off that Eish Pee two. Barely managed to catch this glimpse of him speeding by:
DSC06576.jpg


About 30km or so before Ladysmith on some godforsaken road (remember – the Captain was navigating at this stage),  that totally overpowered rotax proved to be too much in delivering all of its 53hp and resultant 60Nm of torque and ripped the valve clear off the heavy duty Continental inner back tube.

At approx 130km/h.

I nearly lost control of the bike as you can imagine it being a true blow-out as opposed to a slow puncture. I also had to contend with one of those cement driffies on the gravel road, which shoved me into the oncoming side  – fortunately no oncoming cars at that time otherwise I would have joined some muggies on the windscreen giving the driver the lazy eye. I’m still not sure how I managed to keep the back wheel from coming past me on the left, but all’s well that’s end well and I eventually ended pulling up in the ditch next to road in a civilized manner.

Anyhow – I had Jacko with me. Muh wha ha ha. You have to agree that the definition of ironic jumps to mind at this stage:
Ironydef.jpg

And we all know Dr Evil’s views on taking over the world, stolen nuclear weapons, free love, sharks with lazer beams, 120mm standard anti-russian tank mortars, having promiscuous sex with many anonymous partners without protection while at the same time experimenting with mind-expanding drugs in a consequence-free environment, parabat sticks and of course tyres with inner tubes.

PietPuncture1.jpg

PietPuncture2.jpg


Needless to say that Murphy was along for the ride as well and ‘someone’ pinched the replacement tube first time around. So we had to go through the motions all over again. And I was also starting to feel really bad as a result of this situation – it was getting late and we still had about 150km-200km to go. It was after all the event that Jaco had been organizing down to a tee (or is that a rum?) and here he was stuck, out in the middle of nowhere, watching rubber cement dry, and having to make polite small talk without any fortified organic juice to lift the mood. The situation seemed really dire.

Fortunately we took our time, let the patch sit properly and, VERY CAREFULLY fitted the tube again -  eventually we were off with a back inner tube having a sustainable pressure difference of exactly 2,5 times with the air immediately outside it. The whole episode cost us an hour plus whatever we lost in riding like girls to Ladismith to ensure the patch was fine.

On a more serious note - I told Jacko on numerous occasions to gooi for Angie’s as I really felt bad that he would be missing his own doo as I could just join later. But the top man that he is would have none of that and escorted me all the way. Thanks matey – your patience is duly noted and appreciated.

In addition to your superior tyre changing and supervisory skills.

And thanks for the ride. I had great fun!  :thumleft:

Having arrived fairly late at Angie’s G-Spot for the Jamboree, I was only able to check out the place the following day during daylight – magical setting at the bottom of the Prince Alfred’s Pass. Enough has been said here and here already, so I’ll just share a couple of pics:

Yours truly’s camping spot. Yes, that is Trailrider’s Honda branded tent in the background.
DSC06577.jpg


It took me a long and hard time to find, but eventually I managed to track him down among us mere mortals in this public camp site. Can you spot our famous stealth camper?
DSC06578.jpg


The dishing out of the toertop and the captain displaying his “blue” vellies
DSC06580.jpg


DSC06585.jpg



Angie’s – its all about the food
DSC06587.jpg


DSC06589.jpg


DSC06590.jpg


And the reason d’être for the very first BMW HP2 Enduro Jamboree.

DSC06609.jpg


DSC06614.jpg


DSC06615.jpg


Thanks Jaco for the initiative. Even for me as a non HP2 owner (but with an appreciation for the already cult bike) this was an enjoyable weekend.

Dustdevil could spot the yearning in my eye all weekend long so he was kind enough to let me have a go on da beeg brother. Which made me realise what I already knew - the HPN is a MUST have for this airhead lover’s garage one day. Sooner rather than later. Thanks DD!

DD and Trailrider
DSC06582.jpg


This must be THE most blinged HP2 on earth. And it belongs to a good soutie ;D
DSC06599.jpg


The REAL international man of mystery. The name is Botha. CASSIE Botha.
DSC00003.jpg


DSC00008.jpg


Cutie pie worsie that was sleeping on the previous nights fireplace.
DSC00016.jpg


Blarrie Orange Agent
Note that this picture must have been taken only about 5 seconds before that STOP sign got a Paulsky sticker. WTF! :biggrin:
DSC06620.jpg


Brakenjan and I decided not to join anyone on a big outride the Saturday as we still had the week ahead of fun and games in the Transkei, so we only had a leisurely ride over to Knysna to join in on a lunch of oysters and tapas. Very suave.

(Transkei day 1 to follow hopefully shortly )
 
Top