Die Rooi Baron
Pack Dog
So I left on Friday 4 May to the Kawasaki Explore weekend in Newcastle. I was looking forward to some long distance riding and to see the town where I started my schooling...
About 30km outside Pretoria following the M30 the trip actually begins.
Unfortunately I could not travel on gravel exclusively, so I was confronted with this :?
Saturday morning the group left Newcastle and encountered the first pass - check the dust from those bringing up the rear
First smoke break of the day. It wasn't an exclusive Kawa affair...
Some stood up
Some sat down
Some even tried to take off... maybe if it wasn't for the pillion
On top of another mountain for a rest...
An then to another hill to descend
Some looked like fighter pilots (this one with an Airoh Tyger)
At one stage I took a detour looking for someone who got separated from the group...it was worth it!!
A small obstacle to contend with. Just after a bend I missed this HOLE at 100km/h with ten centimetres.
Another rider taking a corner nice and easy...
Close to the end...spot the front runners
Lunch in Ladysmith. Gentlemen, start your magnifying glasses and spot the different types of bikes!
Sunday morning I left Newcastle via the Memel/Vrede road. Took the skelm turn off to the Schuinshoogte battlefield, went through Ingogo to Wakkerstroom, onto Amersfoort - all on gravel:
This was some of the surface of the "highway".
In Amersfoort a pothole - IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN :!: :evil: and subsequent bottoming out - demanded half my number plate. I now know why they teach you stand on your pegs in the Amersfoort district :wink: :twisted:
From here on it was tar up to Delmas, then onto the R42 to Bronkhorstspruit. On this road you turn left onto a gravel road which eventually leads you back to Pretoria east.
35 km from home:
I travelled 1048km in total, of which approx half was on tar.
No serious accidents took place...
There was a BMW (Dakar), a Honda (Transalp) and a Triumph (new Tiger) and some older models KLE's and KLR's. Fun was had by all.
About 30km outside Pretoria following the M30 the trip actually begins.
Unfortunately I could not travel on gravel exclusively, so I was confronted with this :?
Saturday morning the group left Newcastle and encountered the first pass - check the dust from those bringing up the rear
First smoke break of the day. It wasn't an exclusive Kawa affair...
Some stood up
Some sat down
Some even tried to take off... maybe if it wasn't for the pillion
On top of another mountain for a rest...
An then to another hill to descend
Some looked like fighter pilots (this one with an Airoh Tyger)
At one stage I took a detour looking for someone who got separated from the group...it was worth it!!
A small obstacle to contend with. Just after a bend I missed this HOLE at 100km/h with ten centimetres.
Another rider taking a corner nice and easy...
Close to the end...spot the front runners
Lunch in Ladysmith. Gentlemen, start your magnifying glasses and spot the different types of bikes!
Sunday morning I left Newcastle via the Memel/Vrede road. Took the skelm turn off to the Schuinshoogte battlefield, went through Ingogo to Wakkerstroom, onto Amersfoort - all on gravel:
This was some of the surface of the "highway".
In Amersfoort a pothole - IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN :!: :evil: and subsequent bottoming out - demanded half my number plate. I now know why they teach you stand on your pegs in the Amersfoort district :wink: :twisted:
From here on it was tar up to Delmas, then onto the R42 to Bronkhorstspruit. On this road you turn left onto a gravel road which eventually leads you back to Pretoria east.
35 km from home:
I travelled 1048km in total, of which approx half was on tar.
No serious accidents took place...
There was a BMW (Dakar), a Honda (Transalp) and a Triumph (new Tiger) and some older models KLE's and KLR's. Fun was had by all.
