JR's Off-road trip to Wuppertal

Yet again another fantastically planned off-road trip. Andy & I were unexpectedly privileged to join the wonderful group of people Johann and Tanya Rossouw have brought together. As usual, there were a few new people, as some of the usuals could not join us - understandably, in this hectic time galloping on towards Christmas. Our group of 13 bikes & 18 people: 1200GSA - Johann & Tanya Rossouw (JR) 1200GS - HD Rossouw (HD) 1200GS - Ernst Bester 1150GS - Johan & Linda Burger 1150GS - Brendan Buurman 1150GS - Danie Malan (GeelKameel) 1150GSA - Ian Steyn 1150GSA - Andy Connell (Andyman) R80GS - Ralph Teuling 750AfricaTwin- Wouter DakarF650GS - Andries Zietsman 650 Dakar - Pieter Pretorius (Pietpetoors) (from Langebaan) F650GS - Anne Connell (Annie) Backup Bakkie - Nico (Grondpad) and Elzaan & Luan Rossouw The first group left the Winelands Engen just after 7.30am and met up with the 2nd group from Somerset West on the N1 just outside Paarl. We traversed the old DuToitskloof Pass, joining up with the N1 again just outside the other end of the Huguenot Tunnel. The weather was looking good with some dark clouds swirling around the peaks. We turned right towards Rawsonville and then hung a left through Slanghoek valley which joins up for a short while with the R43, and then T-junctions onto the R301, where we turned right. We followed this and T-junctioned right onto the R46, winding our way up Mitchell’s Pass into Ceres. Andries was our 1st casualty, collecting a large nail in his back tyre up the pass. We stopped in Ceres for a relaxed Wimpy breakfast while Andries, GK and a few others helped to get the bike back into operation. Pieter joined us here from Langebaan. After breakfast, some of us topped up with fuel in Ceres, while others did so in Prince Alfred Hamlet. We were already cooking in over 33°C heat and it was only 10.30am. In good spirits & high heat - Linda Burger, Andy & Johan Burger Friends Ernst & Johan at Prince Alfred Hamlet Ready for dust and miggies We followed the R303 up the Gydo Pass, we saw lots of tyre-mark skids – the stamp of the King of the Mountain Rally, held 2 weekends ago. The mountains, valleys and weather were out of a picture book. We turned right at Op die Berg into the Cederburg, the roads becoming narrower, with lots of weird rock formations all around. Eventually we hit dirt and stopped for a final briefing from JR and to let down tyres (mostly to 1.5bar back and front). Geelkameel does an expert job Pieter & Andries with HD on the far right and Ernst bending down Brendan, Andries, JR with Tanya & Grondpad in the background And off we went into the blistering heat and stunning mountains. Quite a few stopped to take photos, while we passed and traveled through places like Luiperdskloof and Nuwerus. Winding dirt and beautiful mountains Hot riders Endless valleys We stopped at Oasis for a rest and a colddrink. It was after 1pm and we were cooking. Bakkie bearing Icecold Colddrinks A few kms later we turned right at Matjiesrivier onto the 4x4 jeep track – in our case the 4x2 track. The road immediately became tweespoor and more technical – and then suddenly very technical uphill. Start of jeep track I stood up the whole way out of sheer fright and made it to the top of this difficult section. I don’t think anyone was separated from their bikes here. The 2 pillions elected to sit in the bakkie at the start of this track. Both hands on handlebars - not much time for picture-taking. Andy what were you doing here? Brendan gets his tyre pressure right Brendan stopped to repump his knobblies as he was battling. Eventually he got the knobbly-pressure ratio right and we moved on through many beautiful steep passes and loose rocky gravel and sand, passing through some heavier sand and rivers on the way. Most stood up through the water, while I nervously paddled my way through it. At this point, my nerves were screaming. Wouter checks his photos with a knowing grin O gats! The correct way of managing puddles The roads according to JR had been washed out in quite a few places, and it was far more “difficult” than it had been… A few had taken some falls along the way. We stopped at Eselbank for lunch at about 2.30 for over an hour, swimming in the pools and calming our shattered nerves. Strip down at Eselbank mmm splash down into icy river water Little Luan found a bumslide into a pool On top of Eselbank Valleys After lunch GK disappeared and arrived about 20mins later bearing 2 hot loaves of bread, which he’d bought in Eselbank. GK found a place to do some shopping Then the road/pass to Wuppertal became very technical. We dropped steeply into Wuppertal. I was almost too scared to glance down at the breathtaking drop as I was too busy negotiating the difficult track. The good side just always happened to be on the drop side… Down the steep pass Stand up, look up, not down: Does this make any sense while you're going down? The beautiful pass In Wuppertal very few of us had cold water, and I sipped my boiling sparkling water. Wuppertal stop We headed out of Wuppertal through the Tra-traberge in the “general” direction of Clanwilliam on good dirt, where we turned left on the R364 for a short while, before turning right onto worse dirt towards OudeMuur. JR’s GPS told us to follow this for 6.6kms, which turned into 16.6kms. There were lots of sand patches and loose gravel, harder to see in the setting sun. Less light, more challenging dirt and tired riders And finally we reached our destination, having an icecold beer with Erik & Melinda de Milander, our hosts, while some splashed into the swimming pool there. Their dog Nonna tried to steal some of our smelly socks. We set up camp across the way, which had one last heavy sand crossing. The sunset was beautiful while the miggies and misqitos zoomed in on us. Set up camp Have a swim, a beer: COOL DOWN!! We had a lovely braai supper prepared for us by our hosts. We were exhausted. Many stayed to kuier around the fire till late, while others crashed into their beds. Most of us woke long before 6am sunrise, having some coffee and chatting about “die leeukamp” – our famous snorers of the night. We packed in a relaxed fashion and ambled over the sandbank to a delicious breakfast. Ian, packed & ready for breakfast Andy shows the children geo-caching Full to the brim and bursting! Danie gets his 2nd batch of eggs Once again we were cooking in the heat and even our sunblock was melting off. Erik showed us his stunning Bushman’s Cave and Andy laid a geo-cache somewhere there. Wow! Bushman's Cave Andy helps the children lay a geocache The Bushman View from the cave Then onto Clanwilliam through more stunning passes and valleys, with lots of sandpatches (not deep, but catching some unawares), where we refueled and had a colddrink. We took one last group photo and bade Pieter, Ernst and Brendan farewell. We then followed the Clanwilliam dam along the Olifantsrivier through bends, turns and breathtaking little passes on relatively good dirt until we eventually crossed the river. The group had elected not to do Algeria and the Pakhuis Pass due to general exhaustion, mostly from the heat and the technical route the day before. Some of us stopped here and Andy and JR both splashed in full riding gear into the river, while Ralph elected to strip down a bit. Andy splashes in and submerges Ralph prefers a little less swimming gear Aah! Now this is the life! We rode on tar to Citrusdal, stopping to pump up again. JR was almost hypothermic in his wet gear! Kardoessie was closed, so the group continued through a very strong wind stopped at Piketberg Spur for lunch and goodbyes. Ralph had to ducttape his visor closed as the wind kept blowing it open. We all split up and battled home in the strong winds on our separate ways. What a lovely trip! I don’t think a trip has ever made Andy & I as exhausted. I think the heat played a large part in this. The spirit and behaviour of the group was exceptional. Thanks JR & Tanya for organizing another fantastic trip! '''THE END''' Oh, sorry - just one more pic!: ''I couldn't resist''