... there was a noob on a purple Suzuki DR650 who saw a thread on riding adventures in the Kaokoland, and started dreaming. She knew there was no way she had the technical skills to join that tour (an assessment proven right) and decided instead to ride up the N7 to play in the Richtersveld a bit.
Things didn't go as planned but happily this plan came back on track.
She mentioned the Richtersveld tour to a friend or two, and the idea was received enthusiastically by one who had enough time and a big wanderlust, and it changed from an easy ride up the N7 to a slightly wider turn around the Northern Cape, incorporating less of Richtersveld as neither of us like sand riding.
Emails flowed and the dates were fixed at 1 June - 8 June 2019 - that's right - this weekend
The participants:
1. [member=18545]Ri[/member] the Impetuous (Suzuki DR650 - trailering up from Somerset West on Friday)
2. <a href=https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=22458>[member=22458]the ruffian[/member]</a> the Wise (Suzuki DR650 - riding through sleet and snow from Grahamstown)
3. Possibly Rex, a non-Dog friend of Ruffian, who might join us for the first few days, either on a BMW F800GS or a 500
The plan:
1. Cover at most 300km per day at a top speed of around 90kph
2. Two(2) unplanned days for playing, either along the Orange River or in the Richtersveld, or just to relax, hiking up mountains and soaking it all in.
3. Wild camping as often as possible. We're not planning to take tents
4. NO BACKUP. Not by choice but because we weren't able to scare up a back-up.
5. NO GPS - because we'reold school out of pocket :-[
The route (in general):
Meet up in Fraserburg. Over a period of 8 days (Saturday to Saturday), ride from Fraserburg to Pella via Verneukpan, from Pella to Vioolsdrift with some detours to the Orange river, from Vioolsdrift via Richtersveld National Park down to Namaqua National Park parallel to the N7, then head for Kamieskroon, down to Calvinia and back to Fraserburg.
Route overview (very flexible):
DAY 1:
Fraserburg - Verneukpan: 280km: https://goo.gl/maps/nM7r8F8C5Mn (camping on Verneukpan)
DAY 2:
Verneukpan - Kenhardt - Pella: 320 km: https://goo.gl/maps/MJ8DjQGdu9P2
DAY 3:
Rest day OR Namaqua Eco Trail: 45 km or Pella Loop: 65 km
OR
Pella - Vioolsdrift: 190 km: https://goo.gl/maps/7YsFKdFN3FB2
DAY 4:
Pella - Vioolsdrift: 190 km: https://goo.gl/maps/7YsFKdFN3FB2
OR
Namaqua Eco Trail/Loop + Pella - Vioolsdrift: 260 km : https://goo.gl/maps/E9v3VwTJKnv (route doesn't show proper Loop/eco trail)
DAY 5:
Rest day OR Short loop(s) around Richtersveld up to Orange River
DAY 6 :
Vioolsdrift - Namaqua Nat Park - Kamieskroon: 322 km : https://goo.gl/maps/7RRn7hkZx2p (can detour to Port Nolloth sea views)
DAY 7:
Kamieskroon - Calvinia: 300 km: https://goo.gl/maps/haodRC12wty
DAY 8:
Calvinia - Fraserburg: 200 km https://goo.gl/maps/XQE7TBnM4WG2
I've trawled through all the threads I could find with tracks for Richtersveld and the Orange River and have amassed a load of GPX tracks (thanks [member=4807]Losper[/member] and others) on my MapOut app. I also have Sygic, an app that depends only on satellite.
If anyone would like to join for the trip, or just ride along for a day or so, you are more than welcome. Please keep in mind though you'll have to pack light and carry lots of water every day, as there is no backup vehicle.
If you'd like to join as back-up - that would be super awesome and very much appreciated :imaposer: But this is super short notice so I have no expecations :
Things didn't go as planned but happily this plan came back on track.
She mentioned the Richtersveld tour to a friend or two, and the idea was received enthusiastically by one who had enough time and a big wanderlust, and it changed from an easy ride up the N7 to a slightly wider turn around the Northern Cape, incorporating less of Richtersveld as neither of us like sand riding.
Emails flowed and the dates were fixed at 1 June - 8 June 2019 - that's right - this weekend
The participants:
1. [member=18545]Ri[/member] the Impetuous (Suzuki DR650 - trailering up from Somerset West on Friday)
2. <a href=https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=22458>[member=22458]the ruffian[/member]</a> the Wise (Suzuki DR650 - riding through sleet and snow from Grahamstown)
3. Possibly Rex, a non-Dog friend of Ruffian, who might join us for the first few days, either on a BMW F800GS or a 500
The plan:
1. Cover at most 300km per day at a top speed of around 90kph
2. Two(2) unplanned days for playing, either along the Orange River or in the Richtersveld, or just to relax, hiking up mountains and soaking it all in.
3. Wild camping as often as possible. We're not planning to take tents
4. NO BACKUP. Not by choice but because we weren't able to scare up a back-up.
5. NO GPS - because we're
The route (in general):
Meet up in Fraserburg. Over a period of 8 days (Saturday to Saturday), ride from Fraserburg to Pella via Verneukpan, from Pella to Vioolsdrift with some detours to the Orange river, from Vioolsdrift via Richtersveld National Park down to Namaqua National Park parallel to the N7, then head for Kamieskroon, down to Calvinia and back to Fraserburg.
Route overview (very flexible):
DAY 1:
Fraserburg - Verneukpan: 280km: https://goo.gl/maps/nM7r8F8C5Mn (camping on Verneukpan)
DAY 2:
Verneukpan - Kenhardt - Pella: 320 km: https://goo.gl/maps/MJ8DjQGdu9P2
DAY 3:
Rest day OR Namaqua Eco Trail: 45 km or Pella Loop: 65 km
OR
Pella - Vioolsdrift: 190 km: https://goo.gl/maps/7YsFKdFN3FB2
DAY 4:
Pella - Vioolsdrift: 190 km: https://goo.gl/maps/7YsFKdFN3FB2
OR
Namaqua Eco Trail/Loop + Pella - Vioolsdrift: 260 km : https://goo.gl/maps/E9v3VwTJKnv (route doesn't show proper Loop/eco trail)
DAY 5:
Rest day OR Short loop(s) around Richtersveld up to Orange River
DAY 6 :
Vioolsdrift - Namaqua Nat Park - Kamieskroon: 322 km : https://goo.gl/maps/7RRn7hkZx2p (can detour to Port Nolloth sea views)
DAY 7:
Kamieskroon - Calvinia: 300 km: https://goo.gl/maps/haodRC12wty
DAY 8:
Calvinia - Fraserburg: 200 km https://goo.gl/maps/XQE7TBnM4WG2
I've trawled through all the threads I could find with tracks for Richtersveld and the Orange River and have amassed a load of GPX tracks (thanks [member=4807]Losper[/member] and others) on my MapOut app. I also have Sygic, an app that depends only on satellite.
If anyone would like to join for the trip, or just ride along for a day or so, you are more than welcome. Please keep in mind though you'll have to pack light and carry lots of water every day, as there is no backup vehicle.
If you'd like to join as back-up - that would be super awesome and very much appreciated :imaposer: But this is super short notice so I have no expecations :
