Haveing shared a room with two paraplegics and one quadriplegic for six weeks taught me
two things.
I am one very lucky dog for not being in a wheelchair permanently.
No matter how difficult do not give up. Do it over and over until you get it right.
I would watch these guys getting dressed and feeding themselves and it was a battle but
they kept at it because they did not want to be dependant on other people or less. A year later the
quadriplegic died at age 56.
With this in mind I went and started the Tenere every day kicking it with the leftleg. Took a while
to get the hang of it and it got better. Started takeing short trips. Not far because my back would not let me.
The starting procedure would be. Stand on rightside of bike with right hand on throttle and left gripping the
carrier. Lock rightknee as the ligaments do not work well and still does not. Then kick with left leg. Walk around
to the left lift right leg and throw it over the saddle. The bad part is if you stall the bike. Then I had to get off and
do the whole thing over!!!!
Selling the bike for one with a happy botton was no option at that stage because I had no money and centiment. :deal
My girlfriend (then)bought herself a Christmas present that year in the form of a royal blue Yamaha XT600E. I
knew nothing of it but she had phoned friend Michael to find out if it was a good bike and buy. She had never ridden
a bike before and the learning started that holiday of December 2001.
Yes I was drooling a bit
Over the next couple of months every weekend when Amanda visited the farm we would at least ride one
day of the weekend.
The store in Vermaaklikheid.
Amanda's first watercrossing and I had to go and show her that it would be OK.
In Tradouwspass. If only I could leave this darn back at home when I get on the bike
The trips started getting further and further away from home. At the bridge over the Gouritsriver on the
way to Herbertsdale.
Picnic at the Malgas pontoon.
And we had to turn around as it was pulled out for repears.
Those days I was like a hostelkid. I only lived for weekends when Amanda would be on the farm. My
elderly mother was liveing with me and as I was getting better my mom was not and me driveing down
to CT over weekends was getting difficult.
Easter weekend of 2002 I decided we are going away for the weekend on the bikes. Gamkaskloof it
would be. We rode over Rooibergpass to Calitzdorp and then Groenfontein to Cango Bergoord to camp.
The place was full of people that attended the KKNK.
Yes I was not awake when this was taken
Breakfast at Wilgewandel and then she wanted to ride the camel's.
Methinks she is more at ease on the bike
And then into the Swartbergmountains.
The road in was busy. A lot of cars. This was the farm of the van der Westhuizen's. They were the
last people to leave the kloof as farmer's. 1982 I think just after the Laingsburg flood.
We camped in Tannie Annatjie's campsite. Have not seen her in a while and they have done a lot
to the place since the last time I was there. We had a good braai and slept like logs.
The next day we were up and on the road early before the whole KKNK lot comes down the kloof in their 4x4's
First time that Amanda have been here and she enjoyed it. Yes and the ATTGATT included jeans!!
At the turnoff to Gamkaskloof.
We both enjoyed this weekend away on the bikes and it showed me I can stil do the distance and the
camping. Yes I chewed about a mm of my teeth but that was normal by now for me.
Will continue.
Topic: Some oldies. (Read 14751 times)
