DirtyTeNeReLess
Grey Hound
having never done these routes I jumped at the chance to join Crab and a few others. nothing heroic nothing dramatic just a good day out. met some new people learned some new tricks and saw some great places. :ricky:
Crab, Myself and Duks met up at Uncle Freddies, seems as though my new riding buddies were a family effort. Dad (Blacky), Son (214) and Daughter in law (Tyger). bikes were 2 KLR's, XT660Z, 510 Husky TS, suzuki 250.
fetching Duks .
the final group.
heading through Elands River, finding sandriver dam (i think)... spotted a few rather large fish stuck in pools of water the other side showing how quickly water declines around here. hehe Crab shows his best pose...
some of the scenery coming up to GrootRivier
started to get pretty loose with an unhealthy combination or loose rock and thick sand... went out specially to buy myself a set of rokstraps after many incidents of tool bags bouncing loose on previous trips. well for not the first time in my life Crab brought me my tool bag again after i left it for him on the path. seems as if the clips were not engage properly. last time that happened after re attaching.
after some proper rocky inclines the started the decent into GrootRivier, at this point 214 and I chatted about my upcoming Baviaans rear entry attempt for the EC bash. nerves are going as this is apparently a RED ROUTE. only as far as I know attempted by Wolweseun and Gotcharater last year. in my head I'm thinking, will it be too much for me? will I enjoy it? will I make it? Should I do it? anyway Ive already said I was going to so cant back out now... 214 is keen too. (he strikes me as one of those freak natural riders that can bounce around on front wheel at will. up a hill...) So its Me, Jules, MURPHY and 214... hope I'm not the twatwaffle. :deal:
lets hope its not dramatic as they say and like most rides it turns out to be easier then in its been built up in my head. nerves are good. stops me from getting too cocky.
here is his ride report : https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=98362.0
gnarly stuff.
don't want to make a big deal out of it running the risk of diminishing her, but Tyger, 214's better half was issue free and fantastic. much respect and the last it will be mentioned.
that is a serious drop.
didn't have the time to take some pictures but there were some proper loose rock inclines and descents here that was some hard work. enjoy climbing impossible angles much more than declining ones...
Crab chugging along.
can see the road down were heading to.
quick chill out. after crossing the rather low river in the valley.
gravel highways after that. check the cold front rolling in!
stopped at the royal hotel in steytlerville to enjoy a decent burger and a beer, some interesting conversations around the going ons in this area. seems to be as not as dull as it appears. theatres, street rally's, concerts and all sort of small to things to keep it ticking.
214 seems to know the area pretty well and suggests we nip up there for a looksy... WTF? after my beer and food i was getting lazy and felt like another 45 beers... but when in Rome, very glad we did though. some properly steep climbs here. note to self. do not follow up a Husky up a rocky climb too closely... started a little too soon after Tyger and 214 , needed more momentum and kept catching up to them and have to stop. lets say the angle was such if you stop and lock you wheels you immediately start your descent again arse first...
the reverse view from the top. weedle red circle indicate the royal hotel.
some pics at the top
caught Crab in mid whinge at something to do with me. possibly that he stopped and picked up my wallet for me on the way up... :imaposer:
rather large animal performing a road crossing slowly... almost missed him
after that, our tour guide 214 insisted we go look at a Onion formation in Doc Cravens Farm... :eek7: sounded interesting so we humored him...
lo and behold.
you have never seen a happier man in front of his beloved onion, pointing with his stick in case we cant see it. on a more factual note they apparently used a cave up there to reflect light into the sky and turned it into a powerful telescope. we just taking the piss out of 214 as was promised.
gravel highway time, did some impressive speeds to relieve the boredom.
all in all a good day out. 255 ks of dirt. some gnarly rocky sections. hmmm training ground for the rear-entry...
chucked it home on tar with beer in my immediate future..
Crab, Myself and Duks met up at Uncle Freddies, seems as though my new riding buddies were a family effort. Dad (Blacky), Son (214) and Daughter in law (Tyger). bikes were 2 KLR's, XT660Z, 510 Husky TS, suzuki 250.
fetching Duks .
the final group.
heading through Elands River, finding sandriver dam (i think)... spotted a few rather large fish stuck in pools of water the other side showing how quickly water declines around here. hehe Crab shows his best pose...
some of the scenery coming up to GrootRivier
started to get pretty loose with an unhealthy combination or loose rock and thick sand... went out specially to buy myself a set of rokstraps after many incidents of tool bags bouncing loose on previous trips. well for not the first time in my life Crab brought me my tool bag again after i left it for him on the path. seems as if the clips were not engage properly. last time that happened after re attaching.
after some proper rocky inclines the started the decent into GrootRivier, at this point 214 and I chatted about my upcoming Baviaans rear entry attempt for the EC bash. nerves are going as this is apparently a RED ROUTE. only as far as I know attempted by Wolweseun and Gotcharater last year. in my head I'm thinking, will it be too much for me? will I enjoy it? will I make it? Should I do it? anyway Ive already said I was going to so cant back out now... 214 is keen too. (he strikes me as one of those freak natural riders that can bounce around on front wheel at will. up a hill...) So its Me, Jules, MURPHY and 214... hope I'm not the twatwaffle. :deal:
lets hope its not dramatic as they say and like most rides it turns out to be easier then in its been built up in my head. nerves are good. stops me from getting too cocky.
here is his ride report : https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=98362.0
gnarly stuff.
don't want to make a big deal out of it running the risk of diminishing her, but Tyger, 214's better half was issue free and fantastic. much respect and the last it will be mentioned.
that is a serious drop.
didn't have the time to take some pictures but there were some proper loose rock inclines and descents here that was some hard work. enjoy climbing impossible angles much more than declining ones...
Crab chugging along.
can see the road down were heading to.
quick chill out. after crossing the rather low river in the valley.
gravel highways after that. check the cold front rolling in!
stopped at the royal hotel in steytlerville to enjoy a decent burger and a beer, some interesting conversations around the going ons in this area. seems to be as not as dull as it appears. theatres, street rally's, concerts and all sort of small to things to keep it ticking.
214 seems to know the area pretty well and suggests we nip up there for a looksy... WTF? after my beer and food i was getting lazy and felt like another 45 beers... but when in Rome, very glad we did though. some properly steep climbs here. note to self. do not follow up a Husky up a rocky climb too closely... started a little too soon after Tyger and 214 , needed more momentum and kept catching up to them and have to stop. lets say the angle was such if you stop and lock you wheels you immediately start your descent again arse first...
the reverse view from the top. weedle red circle indicate the royal hotel.
some pics at the top
caught Crab in mid whinge at something to do with me. possibly that he stopped and picked up my wallet for me on the way up... :imaposer:
rather large animal performing a road crossing slowly... almost missed him
after that, our tour guide 214 insisted we go look at a Onion formation in Doc Cravens Farm... :eek7: sounded interesting so we humored him...
lo and behold.
you have never seen a happier man in front of his beloved onion, pointing with his stick in case we cant see it. on a more factual note they apparently used a cave up there to reflect light into the sky and turned it into a powerful telescope. we just taking the piss out of 214 as was promised.
gravel highway time, did some impressive speeds to relieve the boredom.
all in all a good day out. 255 ks of dirt. some gnarly rocky sections. hmmm training ground for the rear-entry...
chucked it home on tar with beer in my immediate future..
