West Coast Visit Take 2

DAY 1

My previous trip in January did not even reach Uppington so when Dave said they are going through Uppington to the Buff I decided to join them. Some of us had different reasons too for doing this trip like to see if the bike would reach uppington this time or to see how far your bike can go on a tank of petrol or to clear the confusion who stayed where in the Guesthouse in Uppington.

By the way, just to let those who are interested know, if your range indicator shows that you can go 0 km further you can still go at least another 3 km. I will not mention any names.....

Anyway we left Pretoria this morning early and the owner of the new 800GS in the picture was so kind to take our pre departure picture



We had breakfast in Ventersdorp and stopped in Vryburg for a break



We had Lunch in Kuruman at the Spur



Then stopped at Katu to admire the big things







After making it to Uppington with vapours of petrol we arrived at the Guesthouse



Relaxing next to the Orange River



The River is flowing strong and is full - we are going to look at Augrabies tomorrow I think the Falls will be quite impressive

To elaborate on the fuel story - if your adventure distance indicates you can still do 150km - fill up!!

We had 110km to Upington and my gauge said I could still do 150km - then suddenly the distance startrd dropping to 79km - less than the 104km we still had to do. Thought I had a fuel leak but was not so. Limped into Upington at 80km/h and put in 32.75l

If the Adventure is completely empty you will be able to fill it with exactly 35L. With the petrol left in your tank you could still go on a breakfast run.

[quote="ChristoEngelbrecht"]If the Adventure is completely empty you will be able to fill it with exactly 35L. With the petrol left in your tank you could still go on a breakfast run.[/quote

Quite so! But this you find out when you fill up I my 'distance left' was alreado on zero before we reached the garage.]

ah thank you Wahl.......I like this "on-the-move-reporting".

Great stuff, looking forward to the next few days

ps. you did not state who slept where ...........sorry I forgot, what happens on a trip................

Day 2 Take 2

After doing the complete trip report for day 2 I pushed the back button by mistake before I posted it .....Oh Darn

So we will start again

After a good nigts sleep and breakfast we left Upington for Augrabies. We stopped on the bridge accross the Orange river to look at the level of the river







Found these yellow flowers growing all over next to the road



Dave in a hurry to get to Augrabies



The Falls were full and very impressive







Then we decided for the interest of all club members and to have a complete picture of Fuel range indicators to test the fuel range indicator of the 1200GS after we tested the 1200GSA yesterday. Must say just as bad. At Kuruman with 120km to go to Pofadder the fuel range indicator showed 200km.
With 100 km to go to Pofadder it showed 90km. Serious slowing down then took place.

I was neve so happy to see this sign



This is wat my range was at the sign



When we refueled I had 2 litres left in my tank.

We had lunch in Pofadder and the rest of the journey to Sprinbok and Garies was uneventfull. VERY long straight roads.

At Garies we checked at the Hotel if they received the e-mail Dave sent them to book for us. Obviously did they not receive it and they did not have suitable rooms for us. We booked in at the Guest house accross the road from us. When we asked at the hotel if we could come for dinner they had no problem.





My room



Dave & Dorothy's room at the end



Dinner time came and we went to the hotel. All the doors were locked, after knocking and eventually someone came to open the door we were informed that we can't have dinner basically because we booked in at the guest house. The door was closed and locked in our faces again. Fortunately just down the road we found a place and had a good dinner there.

Tomorrow evening we at the sea.

thank you Wahl, very nice read.........and thank you for re-doing the day's report

Awesome trip so far. Great report.

Great read! I can honestly say I am very green with envy!

Day 3

Today was a day of ups and downs.

Before we left Garies this morning we had a lovely breakfast but the plain rudeness of the hotel last night still left a bad memory of Garies. We were apparently not the first to get this type of treatment from the Hotel and I just cringe with shame to think that International tourists visiting during flower season could get this type of treatment … wow!!!

Breakfast at Garies



We then took the road towards Piketberg.

At Van Rhynsdorp we stopped for a coffee



We started to see the beauty of the Cape and that is why I love to come back here



The Clanwilliam Dam





The Piekniekspoort pass or something similar – Correct me please Dave, just before Piketberg. Looks like a nice GS road below.



Stopped here for lunch in Piketberg – Note the Coffee



Then we turned west to the coast and another down, the wind was howling and it was drizzling and misty, so sorry not much photo’s here had to struggle more to keep the bike upright.

An up was when I drove into Paternoster even with the weather being so bad.
I was looking for a specific place but could not find it, ended on a gravel road and that turned to sand – another down…



After this I went back to the Paternoster hotel and booked in there for the night.

Piekenierskloof pass.
Just before Vredenburg Dorothy and I turned off to St :elena Bay whilst Wahl went on to Paternosterm Our trip from here on will only be told when we return - no laptop with us!

thanks guys

Neat!

Jealous.

Thanks guys!

Great report so far. Thank you Wahl. Can't wait for the rest! Enjoy it!

Day 4

Left Paternoster after breakfast at the hotel. The wind was still very strong and I had to work hard to keep the bike on the road. At one stage I drove into a tumbleweed and my toe got hit by it. Darn it was sore……

I promise when I took this photo it was my first sighting of Table Mountain



Stopped at Bloubergstrand to take a picture of the bike and Table Mountain





Could not resist taking a picture of this container ship ….. long ago a dream



Even the poor seagull had a problem with the wind



From there I carried on to Hout bay and found Chapmans Peak dive to be closed.



It is amazing that when you (well at least me) is having to struggle with the riding condition the other thoughts of taking photo’s etc goes out of my mind.

Had a terrible wind and cold (at one stage 18 degrees) to Struisbaai.

Got here at the Augullas backpackers at 17h30. Can really recommend it. Very basic but nice. Got an en suite room.



Club member doing the extreme ride really can consider staying here.

The reception and bar area.





Tomorrow night I am hoping to look at the stars in Sutherland

Very nice, now I just want to ride!

Respect to my brother-in-law: Yesterday morning he left Pretoria with his yellow 650GS (over 90,000k on the clock) to return to George where he's training to be a pilot. He wanted to sleep over somewhere, you know how it goes, and he did the whole trip in one day - 1,300km plus! Also hit some serious head and sidewinds on the last few hundred kays.

But hats off, crazy!

Nice Wahl,

Nice read. I'm looking forward to the next installment in your adventure!

Drix, he may have made the trip in one day, but he will not walk normally for a couple!

WHAT!!! both GS'ers now "Turbocharged".......got to see that

thanks again Wahl for sharing your trip

Thanks Wahl!
You have a gift - Keep going!

Thank you Wahl. It really is nice reading ohter people's trip reports. Makes you long for a trip of your own (in my case... our own). Loving all the great pics, and being very envious of you being in Cape Town (even if it is rainy and cold) and me sitting at the office (also being rainy and cold)! Enjoy the rest of your trip and I really hope that the skies would be clear for you to do some star gazing!!!

Marnus wrote:Nice Wahl,

Nice read. I'm looking forward to the next installment in your adventure!

Drix, he may have made the trip in one day, but he will not walk normally for a couple!

Jip, I agree - and that is not the way to enjoy one's bike (rather like this RR)! But I guess we all have those days in our lives where we want to get to the other side and then you add those 'eelte' to your bag of stories...

Day 5

Left Augullas this morning and it was quite cold – 18 degrees according to the bike.

I went through the Robertson Valley and stopped in Bonnievale for Breakfast



Behind the coffee shop is a vineyard



For a long while the road was lined with colourful flowers



Then suddenly there was roses all along the road





After Bonnievale I got to Roberson. It has a big wine cellar and the town is geared up for tourists. It is a very pretty town. Then on to Worcester

My last view of the Robertson Valley



At Worcester I refuelled at the Ultra City and saw these Harleys on a trailer





I wonder if they are on their way to the Buff, they must hurry or they will be late.

I then continued on the N1 through the Hex River Valley

The view back over the valley.



I stopped of in Matjiesfontein for lunch.







I was taken on a quick tour through the Kings suite of the hotel. This trophy was apparently for the first cricket match between South Africa and England. The harp in the background is apparently 100 years old



The town was in a buzz as the Blue Train was coming through





I Carried on to Sutherland and tonight will be looking at the stars

Thanks for the update,Wahl. You will enjoy Sutherland, hope you have clear skies!
The pics are great, now also need to take a long trip!

Be safe, and enjoy the Buff.

Thanks Wahl for the trip report.
Very jealous !
Looks like you are having an awesome trip.
Glad the bike is behaving itself.

I would love to join you on your next LONG trip !
Look forward to more.

Ride carefully
Best Regards
Deon P