TS Junky
Puppy
Baviaanskloof – April 2010
“The Wrong Way Round”
So we decided to do Baviaanskloof. Captain Cook, MX Junky, myself (2Smoker) and my bud Adrian from Midrand.
The bikes: KLE500, XR650, KTM200 and CRM250AR.
The Plan:
Day 1: Tow bikes from CT/JHB to Willowmore. Leave cars at Willowmore camp site (Finchley) and ride 45km’s to Doringkloof. This is an easy ride.
Day 2: Have breakfast. Organise to ride the 4x4 trail to Kareewdouw (cost R80 per bike). Have lunch in Kareewdouw. Ride back to Doringkloof and camp for the night.
Day 3: Breakfast at Doringkloof. Ride to Patensie (lunch). Ride to Steytlerville. Camp at Steylerville (to be finalised)
Day 4: Ride T2 circular route back to Steytlerville. Have lunch. Ride T3 route to Willowmore. Camp at Willowmore (Finchley) where the cars are parked.
Day 5: Drive home
The Result: ;D ;D ;D ;D
Day 1: Nice drive from CT to Willowmore. Fantastic ride to Doringkloof. A wonderful campsite and our hostess Adele was absolutely great.
Day 2:
This is where it all went wrong! We were told the 4x4 route is not difficult for smaller bikes hence we were keen to do this ride and get back to camp the same day. First mistake; we took the wrong route and spend a good two hours riding another short 4x4 route that was circular.
Finally we found the correct route, but by that time it was 10am and getting hot!
But we thought no problem, we can do this. The first 30k’s were not too difficult and the riding was great; so was the scenery.
Motivation levels were still high. But all of a sudden we faced another challenge – Captain Cook off the path and the KLE front wheel punctured.
We destroyed our spare tube in the process of trying to fix the puncture but luckily we had a second spare tube and after two hours we were back on the road. By now it was around 2pm and very hot. Our water was running out at a quick rate.
The roads were getting progressively worse and progress was very slow indeed.
MX Junky decided he could not go on and it was time to call Helivac! However with no cell phone reception this was not to be. We had only covered about half the distance and time was ticking…
And so we kept going. Tempers were starting to flare up and thirst was creeping in.
We found a rest place with a dam. So we thought we could purify some water but Adrian discovered he forgot to bring the purification tablets.
Eventually we got through and started searching for water at the deserted farms – no luck.
By the time we reached Kareedouw, it was 6pm. We had planned to return to Dooringkloof via the same route but that would be impossible.
And so we decided to attempt the tar stretch back to Willowmore via Uniondale – about 200km’s. We realized the KTM200 was not tuned for such road riding but felt we had no choice.
Lo and behold, after about 80km’s, the KTM seizes its bottom end bearing!! The disappointment very evident in my demeanor, since I thought this would be the end of the trip and felt terrible for my good bud Adrian.
We decided to put the KTM on tow, Captain Cook with the KLE having the honors’.
After another 50k’s or so, a classic Karoo storm was brewing. Pitch black clouds and we were expecting the worst. Also darkness was almost upon us and to make things worse MX Junky’s front light would not work. Fuel was running very low. We did not even stop to take a pic of the storm as every second was now important. Eventually we made it to Uniondale; wet, tired, stressed and starving. By now it was around 9pm.
With no place to stay, we managed to organize lodging at the local Backpackers. The owner was kind enough to make us something to eat, very basic but the best meal ever…
We all slept together in one room as this was the only space available.
The next day we could hardly believe the sequence of events and comedy of errors the day before. We decided that we will tow Adrian’s KTM back to Willowmore and then return to Dooringkloof campsite with Adrian as pillion on Captain Cook’s bike.
On the way to Doringkloof I went on ahead to take some pics. Captain Cook did not see me trying to slow him down and he plus pillion hit the water crossing at quite a speed…
We camped for two more nights at Doringkloof and went for outrides; sharing the bikes. The following two days turned out to be great and we still managed to see some of the beautiful Baviaanskloof, albeit we never got passed the day 2 agenda.
And so after a good few laughs we realize what could have been a disaster has turned out to be an adventure of a lifetime. We named it “The Wrong Way Round”
Dinner at the Royal Hotel in Willowmore before going home the next day
“The Wrong Way Round”
So we decided to do Baviaanskloof. Captain Cook, MX Junky, myself (2Smoker) and my bud Adrian from Midrand.
The bikes: KLE500, XR650, KTM200 and CRM250AR.
The Plan:
Day 1: Tow bikes from CT/JHB to Willowmore. Leave cars at Willowmore camp site (Finchley) and ride 45km’s to Doringkloof. This is an easy ride.
Day 2: Have breakfast. Organise to ride the 4x4 trail to Kareewdouw (cost R80 per bike). Have lunch in Kareewdouw. Ride back to Doringkloof and camp for the night.
Day 3: Breakfast at Doringkloof. Ride to Patensie (lunch). Ride to Steytlerville. Camp at Steylerville (to be finalised)
Day 4: Ride T2 circular route back to Steytlerville. Have lunch. Ride T3 route to Willowmore. Camp at Willowmore (Finchley) where the cars are parked.
Day 5: Drive home
The Result: ;D ;D ;D ;D
Day 1: Nice drive from CT to Willowmore. Fantastic ride to Doringkloof. A wonderful campsite and our hostess Adele was absolutely great.
Day 2:
This is where it all went wrong! We were told the 4x4 route is not difficult for smaller bikes hence we were keen to do this ride and get back to camp the same day. First mistake; we took the wrong route and spend a good two hours riding another short 4x4 route that was circular.
Finally we found the correct route, but by that time it was 10am and getting hot!
But we thought no problem, we can do this. The first 30k’s were not too difficult and the riding was great; so was the scenery.
Motivation levels were still high. But all of a sudden we faced another challenge – Captain Cook off the path and the KLE front wheel punctured.
We destroyed our spare tube in the process of trying to fix the puncture but luckily we had a second spare tube and after two hours we were back on the road. By now it was around 2pm and very hot. Our water was running out at a quick rate.
The roads were getting progressively worse and progress was very slow indeed.
MX Junky decided he could not go on and it was time to call Helivac! However with no cell phone reception this was not to be. We had only covered about half the distance and time was ticking…
And so we kept going. Tempers were starting to flare up and thirst was creeping in.
We found a rest place with a dam. So we thought we could purify some water but Adrian discovered he forgot to bring the purification tablets.
Eventually we got through and started searching for water at the deserted farms – no luck.
By the time we reached Kareedouw, it was 6pm. We had planned to return to Dooringkloof via the same route but that would be impossible.
And so we decided to attempt the tar stretch back to Willowmore via Uniondale – about 200km’s. We realized the KTM200 was not tuned for such road riding but felt we had no choice.
Lo and behold, after about 80km’s, the KTM seizes its bottom end bearing!! The disappointment very evident in my demeanor, since I thought this would be the end of the trip and felt terrible for my good bud Adrian.
We decided to put the KTM on tow, Captain Cook with the KLE having the honors’.
After another 50k’s or so, a classic Karoo storm was brewing. Pitch black clouds and we were expecting the worst. Also darkness was almost upon us and to make things worse MX Junky’s front light would not work. Fuel was running very low. We did not even stop to take a pic of the storm as every second was now important. Eventually we made it to Uniondale; wet, tired, stressed and starving. By now it was around 9pm.
With no place to stay, we managed to organize lodging at the local Backpackers. The owner was kind enough to make us something to eat, very basic but the best meal ever…
We all slept together in one room as this was the only space available.
The next day we could hardly believe the sequence of events and comedy of errors the day before. We decided that we will tow Adrian’s KTM back to Willowmore and then return to Dooringkloof campsite with Adrian as pillion on Captain Cook’s bike.
On the way to Doringkloof I went on ahead to take some pics. Captain Cook did not see me trying to slow him down and he plus pillion hit the water crossing at quite a speed…
We camped for two more nights at Doringkloof and went for outrides; sharing the bikes. The following two days turned out to be great and we still managed to see some of the beautiful Baviaanskloof, albeit we never got passed the day 2 agenda.
And so after a good few laughs we realize what could have been a disaster has turned out to be an adventure of a lifetime. We named it “The Wrong Way Round”
Dinner at the Royal Hotel in Willowmore before going home the next day
