Dullstroom GS ride

Happy-go-lucky wrote:If they are mine ore carriers they be operating also on weekends as the refineries do not shutdown over weekends.

Most were just normal trucks, not sure what they are doing there. But I'm cutting most of the initial parts where they also happened to be.

So, we (Mario, Marnus and Drix) started our recce later than planned (what's new?), but what a great ride.

The usual 'Why so early?' face...




Didn't expect water today, but this was one of the first obstacles. Mario wading through...




...on to the train tracks. Where Marnus had a quick rest, but too quick to get a fotie!




Then we hit the dust, but still enjoyed it. After Bronkies we went through the lovely Trichardtspoort and Kranspoort, crossing the Wilge river. We made a quick detour to find the Makwasi geocache. It was Marnus and Mario's first geocache find - quite a tricky hide, but Marnus got it eventually!




The Groot Trek cache was not too far, and where the Graverobbers emerged. Can't explain, but it was funny. We couldn't find this cache though. Apparantly under a rock...?



We also discovered they don't make them this way anymore... "Sy het haar plig gedoen!"



The awesome GS roads just got better...




The last cache, Nearly Hi & Dry was grabbed and some pancakes fell in Dullstroom.

Marnus was getting very confused about why his BMW jacket back protector fell out... then discovered it was part of the chair! That was probably the funniest moment of the trip!!




Tx guys, had a few good laughs and a great ride!

Nice pics thanks for posting

Very nice !!!

Looks like a great ride !!!

Nice photos as well !!

Thanks for the write-up Drix!

And this was only the recce!!!!! Imagine what the real deal would be like Although I cannot join on the 10th, I hope a lot of people can check out 'em nice gravel roads up there.

Thanks Drix and Marnus! It was a great trip and my first introduction to geocaching! Drix said the pace was steady... I was trying to keep up and it was 80 to 100km/h for me most of the time... Marnus could not figure out why he was not going more than 60 on his GPS and then discovered it was mph!

Some pics:

Makwassie cache





Pretorius at a Pretorius grave...


and Marnus as witness...

The breakfast run at Dunkeld has been changed to a special Mothersday Brunch by management at Dunkeld, starting at 12:00 - makes life easier for all, especially the stof-donkies, with the cut-off time at 14:00.

Dunkeld is doing this especially for the group - please make sure that all going on the trip does the brunch at the venue as we need at least 40 to make it worth their while and to ensure that we can again use this venue in the future.

Below the preliminary menu - it might change a bit.



I have made a provisional booking for 20 people - will need more exact figures by Friday evening and again by Sunday Morning. More detail with regards to the Roadies on the other thread. Few pics not posted here.

Tx for all the trouble LeRoy, 12 sounds great! I have sent the final (proposed) routes to Dani. The GS group then needs to get together at 6am for 6:30.

If we have a smooth ride we should be there around 11am, which gives us that extra buffer needed. Also depends on the slowest riders of course, I don't want to push anyone for speed although we can't have too many smoke breaks. (At the moment I assume and prepare as if I am leading, to be confirmed.)

We will basically shoot through straight to Rayton, stop at the Total garage (not Engen) and do the tyre pressure thing where air pressure gauges should be available. People could also fill up there, although all should make it from Atterbury - a total of 256km. It will now be a level 1 route with lots of level 2. If it rains before Sunday (as I see is a possibility), it might be a level 2 with quite a bit of level 3, as one should always expect. We meet up with tar quite a few times - so if things get tough there is always an escape route available.

Road bikes are welcome, at own risk...

Ok - just remember to sms me with the final figures before leaving - or better yet leave the attendance register with the attendants as Dani did last time.

Looks great! Can't wait!

The route is on the web site now - tx Dani! Dullstroom (small gdb)

PM me (or drix at drix dot coza) if you want the bigger gdb and/or gpx files (that can also be opened in Google Earth)

So who's on the ride?

1) Drix
2) Mario (?)
3) Alun (?)
4) Corlia
5) Sias
6) ?

Don't forget me, please!!!!!!!!!
Bruno

1) Drix
2) Mario (?)
3) Alun (?)
4) Corlia
5) Sias
6) Bruno
7) ?

Not crucial, just to get an idea of how close we can get to 20 before the time (to support the 40 needed for Dunkeld)

Ek sal nie saamgaan nie hoor................

Aww Sharkie ... is jou fiets of jou skouer die probleem??

Drix, you can add Marius & Dani to the list.

Sharkie wrote:Ek sal nie saamgaan nie hoor................

What's that word... pillow... pillion...

1-Drix
2-Mario (?)
3-Alun (?)
4-Corlia
5-Sias
6-Bruno
7-Marius
8-Dani
9-Sharkie

Add me to the ride. Did a little standing on my previous weekend with my right foot not hurting. Though I may be riding my F650GS or my new TTR250 that I hope I will be receiving on Friday this week.

1-Drix
2-Mario (?)
3-Alun
4-Corlia
5-Sias
6-Bruno
7-Marius
8-Dani
9-?

Mmm, with the TTR you'll have to start at 6am then and refill at Loskop... will be great on the gravel (BTW, not much sand) but they only do about 100kph? Will it survive a round trip?

dakardrix wrote:Mmm, with the TTR you'll have to start at 6am then and refill at Loskop... will be great on the gravel (BTW, not much sand) but they only do about 100kph? Will it survive a round trip?

Thats OK for HGL - said either on this thread or another one recently that he likes to stick to 100 - 130km/h

The rest of you will have to stop for a breakfast and a brunch to allow him to catch up to you.

TTR250 theoretical top speed is 140 kph.

With all the talk of starting at 06:30 and arriving at 11:00 for brunch/lunch, it gives the dusties 4.5 hours to do the trip, that an average speed of around 50 kph to arrive in time. So I am lucky that this is going to be a slow ride, not a 100+ kph ride.

Of course coming back on tar may be slow for me as I won't be able to rev high until the bike as run in for a bit.

Happy-go-lucky wrote:TTR250 theoretical top speed is 140 kph.


Of course coming back on tar may be slow for me as I won't be able to rev high until the bike as run in for a bit.

What is max rev's for this bike for running in? With the GS's it is 4000 revs if I remember correctly giving a speed of about 110 - 120km/h.

The F650GS (2007) the run in revs limit was 5000 which gave between 110 - 120 kph. Basing on this I would think the run in speed limit for the TTR250 would be about 80 to 90 kph in 6th gear.

I visiting the dealer today with the needed paperwork. It is already one of my questions to be asked. Along with 1st service km. Also fuel range (Yamaha websites gives 2 different fuel tank sizes, either 9 or 12 liter without really mentioning which is the road worthy version).

Happy-go-lucky wrote:Also fuel range (Yamaha websites gives 2 different fuel tank sizes, either 9 or 12 liter without really mentioning which is the road worthy version).

Drix - hope you got your fuel stops planned!!

If RichardH is going with on the GS ride he can put his new petrol reserves cannisters to the test!

Drix,
I couldn't open the file with the route for my GPS.
Can you check if it is Ok?
Or maybe I have a problem with my computer (or with the operator )
Tks

BON wrote:Drix,
I couldn't open the file with the route for my GPS.
Can you check if it is Ok?
Or maybe I have a problem with my computer (or with the operator )
Tks

Is this perhaps the classic ID 10 T problem???