Kevin_ZA
Pack Dog
My trip to Sani via Bethlehem, Venterstad, Steynsberg, Takarastad, Katberg Pass, Hogsback, Dordrecht, Barkley East, Rhodes, Naudes Nek and finally to Sani
I love Planet Bike and “ on the spur decisions” – I was reading Chrissies planned solo trip to Cape Town on the WD forum and decided to link up with her until Venterstad. Quick packing on Sunday, took one look at my overpacked bike and decided that the credit card was much lighter than the tent, mattress and sleeping bag… and the adventure was ready to start.
Had to explain to my dog why he could not come with !!
Tuesday was a crazy day at work trying to justify my “galavanting” but eventually at 1.30pm I headed out on my adventure. Back dirt roads from Cullinan to Villiers and then onto R26. The only thing that kept my KTM happy on the tar was pining it all the way.
Woke up to some serious thunderstorms and rain but the excitement was still there so I was not in the least perturbed by the weather.
Bike lightened, met up with Chrissie and rode mostly tar roads to Ladybrand. (My KTM was not
impressed and sulked most of the way)
We intended to ride the dirt roads skirting the border from Ladybrand to Hobhouse but the roads had become rivers. My responsible side decided to follow Chrissie (after all this was her trip) and at long last we found a dirt highway to Venterstad.
At this stage my KTM was coughing and spluttering, every now and then throwing out flames in anger, and screaming at me to get off the tar !!
Had a very good night’s rest near Venterstad on a horse breeding farm and had an early night after pacifying my KTM by promising more dirt roads the next day.
I think the horse was laughing at my KTM
The following morning we said our goodbyes in Steynsburg (thanks Chrissie for hijacking your trip for 2 days) and immediately rode the dirt on the R390 / 401 and R61 to Tarkastad. Quick coffee and then onto R344 to the control boom of the Winterberg Conservancy.
Little did I know that the “Groot K*k” was too start…the 2 track road slowly disappeared, the mist came in and it started to rain. My KTM was in heaven, my hooligan side agreeing with my KTM but my responsible side was saying … what the hell are you doing !!!! It was obvious that this route had not been used very often and if my trusty KTM was going to let me down, my bones would have fed the ground
