Rhino Park SAND - 12 July 2009

I know Corlia and Dani took many pictures, but let's start the "trip report" from the back this time (seeing that I only took two photos this time!)

So after the sand and before Sambok, we (Ettienne, Sias&Corlia, Alun and I) decided to do the out ride. It's been a while since it has rained, so how muddy can it be??? Let me tell you - that place is really a flooded wetland! We all got stuck now and again, but helped each other through the tough parts.

At some point, Ettienne thought he was Drix and picked an absolute shocker of a line (in the last mud pool close to the exit) Ok, the line was not THAT bad, but it was impossible to see how deep that puddle was... Needless to say even the X-Challenge has its limits The entire front wheel was under water and so were the foot pegs, brake and gear levers. Getting a stuck bike out of the mud with only some slippery islands to stand on is no easy task, but we managed to drag the bike out on its side.

These pictures were taken just after we've managed to get the front wheel out.




It was a great day and I learned a lot. And all that sand makes you so tired and hungry, so the Sambok Burger and Windhoek's were just the best!!!

Thanks for the pics Marnus

Eish, that mud was THICK and DEEP, but a great deal of fun!!

The outride was a mess, even more muddy than the last time we were there, and that time thought it was bad, THIS was bad!!!

Like Marnus said, I was in front, and picked the wrong line, there weren't many options I might add. I went along fine until that moerse hole, front wheel gone, the WHOLE wheel under water and stuck. Marnus and I managed to get the front wheel out then turned the bike on its side to lift the rear wheel out, then dragged it sideways a bit, only then could we pick it up, it was bloody hard work - Thanks for the help Marnus!!!!

The sand was awesome and I think everybody had a jol on the beach. Confidence grew the more we rode the sand and by the end, everybody felt a bit better and more confident in the loose stuff.

After our burgers at Sambok Bar, Marnus, Sias and myself did a few laps on the skills course without any incidents. We still cannot nail that sharp bend, but we will get there.

It was a great day and thanks to all who made the effort to come out and have some fun in the sand!!!

Drought! What drought! The wetlands is truly a marsh wetland this winter, holding the water level to that of a typical dry day in summer.

We even did not escape the paparazzi on the enduro ride

Lets say the rest of us abandoned this last section in trying to cross over this very muddy slippery wet patch. I decided to go through the grass on the left but got bogged down before the pole (right side in photo). Corlia had her work cut out on this enduro ride, helping bikes get unstuck in these muddy patches. Corlia was sure paranoid about bikes being switch off while helping us to escape the mud traps.

Knowing the marsh land extremely well, where the holes, and large pointy rocks are in the marsh, I took detours through the long grass in water around some of the worst mud patches (more worse than in the above photos). Happily the rest followed me till we got to dry ground again.

On the 2nd BIG muddy crossing, Sias and myself got ourselves well planted. Etienne and Marnus just parked at dry land just past a little narrow river crossing (front wheel wide) while they watch the 3 of us getting our bikes unstuck. Newbie training once more, this time get your self unstuck and help each other. I sure they had plenty comments watching us suffering to move.

This was the first time I encountered mud! Normal mud by MX track, then clay mud on enduro ride. One thing I learnt about mud, it is the most slippery surface to be on. Clay mud is the worst type, that stuff is slippery. Myself wiping out on the first major mud water crossing, the second half. So bad is the marsh mud, I got stuck standing while lifting my bike. With the help of others to get my bike out, only for my bike to fall again 1 meter later again, at least on the drier stuff, only due to that I could not walk as my left foot was solidly stuck in the mud. I fell next to my bike, with left foot still stuck, spraining my left wrist on this fall (myself). Pulled my leg free to get out of the mud to hop onto my bike once more.

I was really glad when we came to the river that the bridge (red sand with pipes under it) that a friend and myself had built last year actually existed. Owner provided the material for us to built the bridge. For many times before then I saw quads, bikes, 4x4 bakkies, TLB and tractor getting stuck crossing that river before the bridge was built. Roughly a quarter would make it over without wiping out.

Those who left before the enduro ride. You really missed out on this learning lesson, along with the laughter, jokes, peanut gallery comments and just great merry mood of the group.

Now lets go back a little before the enduro ride. After the beach I thought I encounter the toughest terrain, beach sand. I was so wrong. Beach sand is far easier than marsh clay mud. Now don't be fooled that beach sand is easy. Oh no! It is NOT! I wiped out also on the beach sand. I did the 100m stretch 6 times, getting better with each attempt. Though I have plenty still to learn on how to control the bike through the sand. This was also my first time on beach sand. Thanx to the more experienced riders on giving us newbies advice on getting unstuck on sand without aid. Put bike into second, rev up and drop the clutch! Hop, hop and TRY to stand up on foot pegs once you going again. I was all over the place on my bike. I still got to practice this some more.

The trip to the beach was a real intro to what was to come for the day even though the enduro ride was not planned for at the start of the day. Road of deep loose sand of plenty for a few good hundred meters on the top side of MX track. Man those guys are crazy on the MX tracks, the speeds they go at. The water crossings was sure interesting. I made it through these.

I skipped the skills track as I was already rather tired and my left wrist was already talking to me. I went on foot to the skills track. That hairpin turn is unreal. Incredibly tight!

This experience I won't forget. Now I truly understand when KnopKop says "It only get better.". It is not the route surface getting better, it is the fun factor getting better. I really pushed myself right out of my comfort zone on this short trip. Even with all the falling and getting solidly stuck, this has been one of my most enjoyable trips so far with the guys and gals. Well done to all those who decided to endure the torture, especially the other newbies not giving up and trying again and again.

Thanks all for a lovely day! I made a new friend yesterday by the name of Sand (previously an enemy of mine). It didn’t take long, though, to replace my old enemy Sand with a new enemy. He goes by the name of Mud (you bastard!). We just can’t get along….

Sorry for the delay (you guys set high standards with your fast postings), I will post the photos tomorrow. Forgot everything at home this morning and my home internet is way to slow to upload pics.

Again thanks to everyone. It was great fun!

Oh yes! I must give a BIG high five to Corlia! She was running around in the mud and helping everybody get unstuck. See, she got off at each mud crossing to walk through. And the bikes starting dropping and getting stuk, she got right in there helping to pick up bikes, pushing and dragging them out of the mud! Very proud of you!

Yip I got stuck in that exact spot, as Hammerkophaai did, last weekend with the Yammie. My bike was stuck in the mud up to just under the seat. I will rather do 100km of sand before I do 1km of mud.

Best thing to do when stuck is get the bike out of the most severe stuff and then get a mate or some enthusiastic helper (Like Corlia ) to roll the front wheel. Rolling the front wheel is much more effective than pushing pulling etc. You try to emulate a 2x2 drive by actually driving the front wheel by hand.

Now to get the clay off the bike. What is the best way to clean the gentle lady?

Happy-go-lucky wrote:Now to get the clay off the bike. What is the best way to clean the gentle lady?

As soon as possible !!!

Mine is sort of clean already. As I got home, even before I took off my boots, I sprayed the bike down and removed all the stuck pieces of mud that I could see and reach, by hand. Then I sprayed the bike with Clean Green, let it stand for a few minutes and then sprayed it off again. This way I get all the mud off so before it hardens. I also made sure that the chain is properly clean.

During the week I will remove all the panels, clean them, remove the air filter, clean that as well. I will also check all the fuses, and make sure I have spare fuses, as this almost caught me out on Sunday (Thanks Sias for a spare fuse ). Then I will put it all together, nice and clean, then I will have a beer while looking at how pretty my bike is

See, it is not "work" it is spending some quality time with your bike

Ours were washed down as well as soon as we got home..
while I was watching F1..

Oh dear.. I missed out on the mud part... But I won’t say I feel too sad about it –
Just imagine how many ‘unstucking’ Corlia would have done if I was there too!

So here are some clean images of the first part of the day:

Dave


Marius


Daleen


Martin


High spirits and High 5’s when Sias realised he has a new friend


The happy group – some having more training than others . . .


Back on with the mirrors


Etienne’s smile after being saved by a friend’s fuse . . .



I used to say a GS is not made for soft sand riding –
but when you watch these guys, even on their 1200’s,
it looks as if it is made for just that! They make it look so easy!

Well done!

Can’t wait for Corlia’s action pictures!

Take note. The photo of the happy gang. Bruno with his back to the camera by his bike. Realizing he was not going to stop before reaching us and our bikes, he attempted a turn onto fall over at that spot.

Oh my! Cleaning is going to be fun. Right hand with a skin and piece of muscle gone (ensuring no water get in to cause infection), the left hand's wrist sprained from falling next to my lady. Time to clean my mistress.

Sal seker maak Sias laai vandag die foto'tjies af!

Thanks for a very fun-filled day...even playing around in the mud (slipping and sliding)! It felt as though I was 10 again without a worry in the world!

Happy-go-lucky wrote:...falling next to my lady. Time to clean my mistress...

From my perspective she looked more like a Dominatrix making you grovel, beg and moan in the mud and the sand

Marnus, you quite correct. How could I e so blind all this time. She also cruel dominatrix too! What she going to do to me next?

OK, so here are some of the photos Corlia took (she took about 80 so I'm not posting all of them).

THE SAND:
Etienne showing us how it's done


And the rest giving it their best:
Alun


Dani


Don't know this bloke, but he can ride!


Bruno


Martin


Daleen


Dave


Marnus


Marius (with marnus in the background on Etennie's bike)


Everybody made it through


Bruno did his famous dive! Paparazi JUST missed the action.


Even the pro's go down sometimes, hey Marnus?


I saw on another thread that this is how you park in sand



If anyone wants full size photos, or more photos just PM me your details and I can email them to you.

Review afterwards, over a cold one...




After that some of us took on the out ride...




Unfortunately (read fortunately) Corlia was to busy helping in the mud to take photos! I sure had my hands full!

After that lunch at Sambok and then Marnus, Etienne and I took on the skills track. Very intimidating to look at, but really not that bad to ride. Great practice!






Quite an eventful day but LOADS of fun! Again thank you to everyone joining in, Etienne for organizing it and Corlia for the photos!

Thanks for the pictures!
Pity none of Corlia playing (read working) in the mud??

(and no, I dont want a full size print.. )

Sias, your signature at the end of your post states:
"I'd rather get stuck in mud than stuck in traffic"

Are you still sure about that????????????

Jawat! I'd still rather get stuck in mud. Although sh!te, but still better than traffic

Wow... nice pictures!!! (pm'ed you Sias!)

It really was a great outing! The absolute WORST part of that skills track is that after doing a couple of laps, your hands hurt like hell from all the clutch & brake work

O
U
C
H

Hi,
Please tell me you'll be organising another one of these days shortly? Would love to come along, but had to work all weekend
Thx

Marnus wrote:Wow... nice pictures!!! (pm'ed you Sias!)

It really was a great outing! The absolute WORST part of that skills track is that after doing a couple of laps, your hands hurt like hell from all the clutch & brake work

O
U
C
H

Glad I did not take part on the skills track. My injured wrist would have killed me.