4 Corners - The Quest for Silver

Eventually we started on the long road to realize a dream - visit the four corners of South Africa. We decided not to go for gold due to work and family responsibilities, but what the heck, what an opportunity to see the country on our beloved steed!

Well, we decided to try camping. We have been caravaning for many years so it was not all brand new, but to fit what we needed on a motorbike, well that is a different issue altogether! Our children Ludwich and Desiree gave us a brite idea - vacuum pack! Well here we go:

BEFORE


AFTER


Then it was time to pack everything on the bike:
How do you get the following additional equipment on a K1200GT?
3 man tent (we hate small spaces)
Queen size inflatable matress (we tried a double bed inflatable at home one night and ended up in our real bed)
A sleeping bag
Cushions (the inflatables were just not right)
The matress pump
Sheets

Well, I made two special hanrnasses for the side panniers and fastened two K-Mart bags onto them like this:


Then it was time to go:


HOME to PONGOLA
The road between Piet Retief and Pongola can have up to 3 hours delays at road works according to the notice boards. We had 30 minutes of delays going there and 45 minutes delays coming back (6 - 8 stopping places) with the longest one just outside Pongola.


We had some delicious (and very creamy) coffee and pannekoek at the Green Cow in Bethal. This was really nice.


Arriving at the camp site in Pongola, it was time for some exercizes to get all the back muscles sorted out:


On the recommendation of the lady at the campground reception, we went to the Sugar Mill Club for dinner - and ended up going there two nights in a row for some very tasty (and cheap) chicken and fillet:


We wanted to go from Jozini to Sodwana because we thought that there would not be many places to fill the tank. We were wrong on both occations: You do not travel that road on a GT and there are many places to fill the tank with unleaded:

JOZINI to SODWANA
We wanted to go past Sodwana to get petrol and a halfway stop. This is what we found from Jozini to Sodwana:


PONGOLA to KOSI BAY
We then decided on this route and found petrol and eating place at Emanguzi



AT LAST!

[list][*]

Great stuff... one down and 3 to go?

Very nice - the Pongola campsite is a good place to stay - they even have chalets and if you are a reasonable group they will arrange a braai/potjie evening for you at their boma.

Ok so from there all along the coast to Cape Agulhas?

Ag lekker Johan!!!

way to go Johan

I know it is "just" an award but there are lots of pleasure on offer in achieving the 4 corners

With so much support, we just cannot stop here!

Yes Dave, we remembered you recommending the place to us last year so that is why we tried it. Thanks! The last night we stayed in the chalet in order for us to be able to leave very early back home the next morning. The road between Piet Retief and Pongola has many stops and although motorcycles can go right up to the front, it takes an additional hour to ride that 125 km.

Sias, you must have read our minds! The next step is now to go to Cape Augulhas in December and then to visit our children in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. We will also get to stay in Mossel Bay for a week or so. Alexander Bay will have to wait until September next year when the flowers are blooming. Like JR said: I know it is "just" an award but there are lots of pleasure on offer in achieving the 4 corners

We were a little disappointed when reaching the border because we were never able to even see the sea. O well, maybe next time after we bought our GS

Congrats!
But you could do Alexander Bay on your return leg in December. It's just up the road, and you're on a GT...

Mmmmmmm... Me thinks it is possible.....

Well done.
Cape Agulhus is great !
See our recent train trip report.
Try and go to Calitzdorp ! Wonderful place to stay there - Spekboom Cottages. So much to see and so many beautiful areas to ride through.

Enjoy !

The train trip reports and club nights is what got us into this thing!

Calitzdorp is great and we would love to stay there but our home in Mossel Bay is calling and it will give us the chance to do Outeniqua Pass going down and Botha's Pass coming back to the R66.

We will use the train reports to include as many passes as we can, but we want to be in Cape Town on 16 December for Elmarie and Sebastiaan's wedding.

Shawn & I managed to do some of the 29 mountain passes that JB Tours did on their day one. Still had the route from last year.

Calitzdorp is only 100 odd kms from Mosselbay.
The 2 doctors in our group, Willie & Jan and Louis ( LT) broke away from our group to ride to Mosselbay from Calitzdorp. They met up with us later in De Rust. Now I know the area a bit better, will go back and be a bit more adventurous. I believe Prince Albert (olive country) is also worth a visit.

Been a hard week getting back into the swing of things after a great week of biking !
This work thing just clashes with my biking !