Fuel Shortage, wet roads and Lesotho in the middle

DAY 1, 2 & 3

Fuel crisis what fuel crisis, this will not get us under we will go around Lesotho come what may.

I thought my little 5 litre jerry can is a good idea until Dave arrived ….



We set off from Atterbury Shell trying our best to dodge the traffic from a cement truck accident Thursday morning. Lots of traffic police on the road up to Standerton.

Got to Ladysmith for lunch at the Royal Hotel after Chris also had his knobly rear tyre peel off.

The Bike shop in Ladysmith already closed for the long weekend but they specially opened for Chris to fit a new tyre. You must see how a GS goes with a knobbly in front and a suberbike tyre in the rear

Lunch in Ladysmith





After seeing lightning in the horizon and getting a few drops of rain we arrived in Nottingham Road for the Night





We had a braai and an enjoyable evening.

Nottingham Road Hotel the next morning before we left



From Nottingham Road we went towards Pietermaritzburg then Richmond towards Port St Johns

Midmar Dam





Taking a break near Richmond



After Richmond we got some damp to seriously wet weather the closer we got to Port St Johns.

Some lovely scenery after Kokstad



Near Port St Johns – specially for you Mike



First view of the sea



We had a lovely braai at our guesthouse and this was our backdrop during our meal







After a good sleep we left this morning for Barkley East

The views today was spectacular





Our backup vehicle



The last 40 km between Eliot and Barclay East was just unbelievable scenery – I want to retire here









Just after Umtata we were over halfway distance, so we are on our way home now

Thanks Wahl for the feedback and trip report.
Looks like a wonderful trip.
Ride carefully & Happy Easter to you all.

DP

Thanks for the photo of the 'bends' board, we were going to fast to get a decent picture! We hope to be joining you on the next trip around Lesotho, the scenery is magnificent!!!
Ride home safely,
Mike and Dilla

Nice new Avatar Mike !

A little bird told me that K1300s can be fitted with knobbly tyres for GS-style river crossings and GS's go very well with superbike rear tyres...?

after had a repeat episode of this:



...same make, I believe...same bad batch?

Richard H wrote:A little bird told me that K1300s can be fitted with knobbly tyres for GS-style river crossings...........

my, my......what have we here????........all the GS's went through (without a moment's hesitation ) and is the "mighty" 1300 going to back out now?



.......without knobblies - AGAINST BETTER JUDGEMENT - the (successful and scary) attempt was made



I would love to add the stream was invested with crocodiles with huge submerged rocks ................but if there ever was a water crossing for road bikes.......this was it

Guys and girls, this was a superb trip. The company, the ride, accommodation, food… etc. AND THE WEATHER.
Thanks to all and Dave you did a great job with the organization.
Where to this weekend?
NS. I’m changing my knobblies to superbike knobblies.

Clearly a 4x4 1300 if one looks at the bow wave in front of the bike. Very correctly done by the way. Well done. Looks like an awesome trip. Perhaps the Triumph will be fixed this week and then I can ride again.

A really memorable trip and one which I was privileged to be part of.

BIG thank you to Dave and Dorothy for superb organisation and arrangements.


To all other participants………..I enjoyed your (good) company very much…..we must do it again……..soon


Wahl is so good in “constructing” a post, so I’ll just continue with the photo essay – from a different camera angle

PART I


The group (excl the photographer)



with their bikes



at the Royal Hotel in Ladysmith where we also had to replace delaminated rear on one of the GS's



arriving in Nottingham Rd



where we stayed at



the Mermaid doing her thing and boy is she getting good at it



Midmar dam



Mr H in full flight



just another (beautiful ) road



on the way to Port St Johns the clouds were threatening



soon we had to put on rain gear



it was not so easy to reach the "Glass House" in the rain......not with semi-slicks anyway



but all arrived safely



and the stunning view made up for it



the morning after



a sight that makes me proud to be associated with biking (read PTA BMW Motorcycle club)



God given beauty complimented by man made excellence



arriving at





we had to find a place for the thursty throats and empty stomachs first



after which we met up with two new club members (I think) Kurt & Renee



where we stayed at

a sight that makes me proud to be associated with biking (read BMW Motorcycle club PTA, South Africa - fixed

Looks like a freat trip! Thank you guys for sharing! Great photos...

Eish, that Notties Pub is a lekker plek !!!!!!

Glad you guys had a good trip, beautiful pics and some stunning roads and scenery.

Looking forward to the rest!!!

Corlia wrote:.......(read BMW Motorcycle club PTA, South Africa - fixed

ok, ok but this badge will become a collectors item.....soon

Who would have thought the K1300S would do some swimming! I think it has been having an affair with some pretty yellow 800GS in the garage!

Well done you guys - looks like you also had some major fun!

Marnus wrote:......looks like you also had some major fun!

that is an understatement........time to call the thing by it’s name:


the overall trip – fabulous and one we shall remember for some time. Some organisation of note with nothing left to chance.

the riding – ecstatic. Some of the best roads a road bike could wish for. Obviously some bad ones as well but that’s real life.

the bikes – no reliability issues from the BM brand. We had to change a tire en route. THE BIKE……..well it’s safe to say I’m more impressed than Nick with his F800GS…..and that’s a lot.

the company – GREAT. One of the “best” groups overall I have ever ridden with. Very prompt, very polite, very courteous and with above average riding ability.

the back-up – although never needed (glad for that) BIG thank you Lauren

complaints – NONE

regrets – the trip is over

INDEED........SHARED RIDING PLEASURE !!!

Hi Dave & Dorothy,

Thanks for an awsum trip. Special thanks for the enormous organisation that went into it!

Nick Sendall

Ps, Did I ever tell you how amazingly the F800GS goes ... ?

PART II.....from my camera


the lead man is coming....or is he going



an altercation with the law when a few of us had to execute quick number plate adjustments. Some were in such a hurry that they had troubles with their side stands



if you are ever in the area, don't miss a stop at the 3 Fountains View



where we had an excellent lunch



if a man is tired, a man needs to lay down



the famous Fouriesburg "koppie"



our overnight stop for the day, the very nice



even with it's own cellar



unfortunately the flash wasn't powerful enough to get to everyone but nonetheless a happy bunch at the dinner table



eagerly awaiting the start of the Quatar Moto GP.........which was eventually postponed due to rain......in the dessert



the road took us North-East



to a very commercialized Clarens where we left the ladies to do some shopping



while the rest of us ventured off



into the very beautiful Golden Gate



last regrouping in Randfontein



for our final goodbyes on the N14



and from all of us, we enjoyed sharing our journey with you

Dave & Dorothy.................................Jamie & Stienie...................................Chris & Golda

Nick & Bridget..................................Wahl & Lauren..................................Laurent & Ezette

Kurt & Renee................................... Richard


being the only single rider in the group, the kind lady offered to make the photos all couples

Wow, what more can I say about this fabulous trip other to a big thank you to Dave.

Who says you need a GS to do water crossings etc, you can just use a KS.

Golden Gate is really beautiful and you could make a weekend out of staying there and going for rides from there.



Dave going through the water



Me going through with the KS in the background

Nick Sendall wrote:
Ps, Did I ever tell you how amazingly the F800GS goes ... ?

You really need to tell us sometime!!

Thanks to everyone for a great feedback & fantastic pics !
Looks like we missed a really great one !
I can only speak from experience as far as Dave & Dorothy's organisational skills - always a pleasure going on their trips.
Very impressed with the K - Jamie !(and the rider !)
Golden Gate pics my best - gotta go back there again.
Thanks guys !

Thanks to all who came with on this trip. As Jamie mentioned earlier it was amazing how prompt the group was and at the riding ability of the group.

There was barely enough time for lead rider/s to get far enough ahead to take pictures of the group.

Here some more pics..

I'm telling you, they were this big...


On Saturday, while everyone was still in bed I decided to do a quick 266 bends along the Lusiksiki road before breakfast.

The view on the river




Above the mist




Stopping at the 'halfway mark'. We had ridden this road into Port St Johns the day before, now I had done it the other way and it was time for the remaining 133 bends before breakfast - this is over a 16km distance.


Some of the view from Elliiot to Barkly East




After lunch in Barkly East, Richard and Nick decided on a dirt road ride to Rhodes while the others relaxed. I decided on a shorter 70km dirt ride of my own.

The start of the road going towards New England






The road winds up on the right - you can see the dust from the cars that came down the road earlier.


Decisions, decisions




The light started fading and it was time to head back to Barkly East


Chatting after dinner


The view from Three Fountains View Restaurant in Ladybrand


At play in Golden Gate while the girls shopped in Clarens...
Wahl


Nick - ask him to tell you about his 800GS some time...


Richard


Kurt


Chris


Laurent


.....and last but not least - that K1300S......

That's the CORRECT way to wash a GS...no 'lappies' required!

Now for my own treat - why I started riding GS's:

We set off for Rhodes (Nic surveying the road ahead)


Beautiful country, no? (What the sleepyheads missed!)


A crossroad signposted shows the way...


A bridge to cross...(Nic follows behind me)


FINALLY...how green is my valley...? (The sleepy town of Rhodes, Eastern Cape)


(Fullsized copies on request) ENJOY !

NICE !!!!!!

Some awesome dirt roads there !!!!

As at now 217 views with 22 replies and of those replies only 7 people did not go on the trip

……….it even escaped Admin’s attention


Question to myself……is it worth it to take the time and effort to prepare, upload and post?……….


seems it would be much easier to arrange a trip reunion and share photos




ROOFKYKERS???

Definitely worth it to do the pics and effort! People definitely enjoy looking and reading, means nothing if they don't comment. I know lots of people outside of the club look as well.

And some of us are just slower or busier to respond. The most important is to build up the club's history and memory, I constantly stumble upon old stuff that I really enjoy. It also plants a seed - a lot of my trips start by pondering on the areas visited by other people and then the plot thickens over time.

So don't be fooled by the statistics, there is much more behind it. As Pieter Buffles and others said before, some watch, some do, some don't have a clue, but most enjoy and some do all!

Don't worry, it will get better soon. As someone said once, a long few days ago...