SANI over EASTER

Sani over Easter

The GS riders will be happy to know that we will be doing a SANI PASS GS trip over the Easter weekend while the roadies will be doing the trip around Lesotho.
I have worked out the route and the trip will run from Friday 10 April to Monday 13 April 2009. Monday 13 April is a public holiday.

I am not going to go into too much detail as far as the exact route is concerned, but the trip info is as follows:

Day 1 – Friday 10 April 2009 (Day 1 distance = 626 km)
We will leave from Pretoria nice and early, have brunch in Clarens, then onto Sterkfontein Dam, down the escarpment, NOT via Oliviershoek Pass, and then ending up in Nottingham Road.

Day 2 – Saturday 11 April 2009 (Day 2 distance = 305 km)
We will leave Nottingham Road and head to Sani Pass, here we will climb 905m vertical in the 7.4km from the SA Border post to Sani Top. That is a gradient of 12.2%!! At the top we will have lunch and something cold. Then it is all the way down again and back to Nottingham Road for the night. Luckily we will not have to do Sani with loaded bikes!!

Day 3 – Sunday 12 April 2009 (Day 3 distance = 430 km)
We will leave Nottingham Road and travel to Newcastle for the night, via all the back-roads and dirt roads. Today will include five mountain passes and some awesome dirt roads.

Day 4 – Monday 13 April 2009 (Day 4 distance = 423 km)
We will head from Newcastle up Normandien Pass to Memel, then Vrede and then mostly dirt roads all the way back to Pretoria.

These will be some of the highlights and the passes of this trip:
Golden Gate
Lichen’s Pass
Sterkfontein Dam
Bezuidenhoudt’s Pass
Sani Pass
Soutar’s Hill Pass
Kamberg Nature Reserve
Draycott Plantation Road
Middledale / Tintwa Pass
Van Reenen’s Pass (Railway Service Road)
Colling’s Pass
Normandien Pass

Just a few notes with regards to this trip:
1. I am currently busy working on the accommodation arrangements, as soon as I have this completed I will post details.

2. Remember you will need a valid passport to enter Lesotho. For safety make sure that you have copies of the bikes Registration Papers and proof of insurance. I have never heard of anyone being asked for these at Sani, but hey, you never know.

3. This trip is unfortunately not for very new or very inexperienced GS riders, it is also not only for the advanced guys either. I would say that it is the same as the orange route on the GS Challenge. If you did the GS Challenge and completed the orange route, you will have no problems at all. If you did the green route and found some places tough, you will struggle on this trip. Sani Pass and Bezuidenhoudt’s pass is not too difficult, but if we have any rain, it suddenly becomes a nightmare. So be prepared. If there is rain forecasted for the Easter weekend, I would recommend knobbly tires.

4. I would like to limit the number of bikes on this trip to 10 bikes. This is due to long distances, rough terrain, and very twisty dirt roads with lots of “stop and wait for the guy behind you” moments.

5. If there is someone that could help me with a back-up 4x4 for this trip please let me know.

Should you need any additional information, or if you would like to join, please let me know via PM so that I can get the list together.

Here are some link swith some photos and info on Sani / Bez / Normandien Passes.

Sani Pass:
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=8253.0

Bezuidenhoudt’s Pass
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=11507.0

Normandien Pass:
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=20755.0


Dani / Dave / Pieter – could we please bring this up at the January Club Evening as well, so that non-forum club-members can also get all the info.

Thanks!!!!

[b]
this is a must 4 me!
count me in and hope 4 the best!
the swiss boy is climbing up african mountens and passes!
55 european passes done with my beemer (r 1100rt) and now with a gs in africa!
this is a mile stone in my life to come! and long stories to tell in the future!

Shangali .... Peace & Joy ....

Sounds like an awesome trip, pity I still a very inexperienced off road rider.

Bring back pictures for the rest of us unable to ride this trip.

Happy-go-lucky wrote:...pity I still a very inexperienced off road rider...

Come to think of it, so am I. Nonetheless, I'm seriously thinking about going along. If it rains, I'll have a sherry / wine in a bar somewhere, if not, I'll have something cold up top.

Keep us updated please.

Happy-go-lucky wrote:Sounds like an awesome trip, pity I still a very inexperienced off road rider.

Bring back pictures for the rest of us unable to ride this trip.

Hi Friendly Night!
this is the trip to GAIN Experiences! come along and you will be a different Man for the future!
would be nice to have you along the gang!

Shangali .... Fun & Life is only on while you are alive ....

I think now is a good time to get this thread going again.

I did confirm all the accommodation for three nights of our SANI over EASTER trip.

Please book directly with the relevant Inn-Keepers. Please quote “BMW Motorcycle Club” when doing your booking.
All bookings need to be made by Wednesday 18 February 2008.


Friday 10 April 2008 AND Saturday 11 April 2008
Nottingham Road Hotel @ R390.00pp sharing including breakfast.
Tel: 033 266 6151 – Kate Hart

Sunday 12 April 2008
Hilldrop Bed & Breakfast Newcastle @ R400.00pp sharing including an evening braai and breakfast on Monday morning.
034 312 4263 – Julie Welsh

Please quote “BMW Motorcycle Club” when doing your booking.



PLEASE NOTE THAT DAVE SWART’S ROAD GROUP WILL BE STAYING AT THE SAME HOTEL IN NOTTINGHAM ROAD ON THE 9TH OF APRIL. THE GS-GROUP WILL BE STAYING TWO NIGHTS (10 & 11 APRIL) PLEASE BOOK THE CORRECT DATES WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION.
ROAD (Around Lesotho) – 9TH APRIL
GS (SANI over EASTER) – 10 & 11TH APRIL



So come on guys, get you bookings in before the 18th for a great GS Trip to some of the most beautiful parts of our country. (wink wink GSlady)

I will soon post some pics of some of the passes we will be doing!!!




[u]

Shangali did made the booking just now! all i have to find now is someone to share! ..... who is volonteering ?????
please conntact me in here or shangali1@hotmail.com
or phone me 072 867-2450 or meet me at the next meeting in PTA.
salut
Shangali .... Peace & Happynes ....

Nice one Shangali !!!!

It is gonna be a great trip !!!!

Sharkie wrote: ... So come on guys, get you bookings in before the 18th for a great GS Trip to some of the most beautiful parts of our country. (wink wink GSlady)

GSlady is worrried about the nightmare scenario . .

GSlady wrote:

Sharkie wrote: ... So come on guys, get you bookings in before the 18th for a great GS Trip to some of the most beautiful parts of our country. (wink wink GSlady)

GSlady is worrried about the nightmare scenario . .

We will cross that bridge when we come to it..... excuse the pun

You are a very capable GS-rider, and this trip will only improve your skills. One only learns and gets better when outside your comfort-zone.

So, have you booked then ??

.

Confirmations for the SANI over EASTER trip:

Remember the trip is limited to 10 bikes, first come first served.

1. Sharkie
2. Shangali

3 & 4. Marius & Dani - still to book though

Ok, I've booked and my payment is in transito! And I think I'll be sharing with Shangali peace and happiness!

So count me in

I can't wait...

#edit#

Ettienne, please post your telephone number so we can phone you.

#/edit#

Sharkie wrote:
So, have you booked then ?? .

Yesss!
I'll join Marnus with the wine /sherry in case of the nightmare scenario ...

bring a deck of cards, so we can play some poker or so! in case of worse case cenario ......

Hi Guys,

Thanks for booking !!! I reckon this is gonna be a great trip, I cannot wait.

If you wish to call me here is my no:

082 808 4363

wine, sherry, deck of cards... heck, we'll be lucky if we make it out of Pretoria! So we have space for about 4 more?

Sharkie wrote:

Sharkie wrote:Confirmations for the SANI over EASTER trip:

Remember the trip is limited to 10 bikes, first come first served.

1. Sharkie
2. Shangali
3. Dani
4. Marius
5. Marnus
6. Bruno

Come on guys, there are still some spots available for this great trip !!!

Please get your bookings in ASAP, and if you have ANY questions or concerns, please give me call or drop me PM !!!!

Well well...


View Larger Map

Lekker !!!!

And, dont forget Bezuidenhoudt's Pass !!!

HAHAHAHA That does not even look like a road! I LIKE, I LIKE

Can't wait...

Hi all Sani people

I will be doing a trip from Pretoria, Bloem, Mosselbay, Storms river, Coffee bay, Underburg over the previous week and the Easter w/e. It looks like it will work out that i can join your crowd on the Saturday at least for the trip up Sani.

It might work out to that i can join the rest of your trip home ward as well.

Will finalize plans today

Just booked my accomodation for the trip

Sharkie wrote:Confirmations for the SANI over EASTER trip:

Remember the trip is limited to 10 bikes, first come first served.

1. Sharkie
2. Shangali
3. Dani
4. Marius
5. Marnus
6. Bruno
7. Pieter