Monday, May 19, 2008

19 May 2008

Hi. Just up in Springbok now. Good thunderstorm last night, must have been real close lightning i could hear it sizzle and my hair was standing up straight this morning.

Lesson #2 in Africa fill up gas often! I missed a refuel in Ladysmith as i had fuel to get to Barrydale before hitting reserve - wrong. I hit reserve 30 km to soon so used reserve and ran out completely 14 km before Barrydale. I drained the cooker fuel into the bike, sat on 50 kph and coasted downhills. I ran out just before Barrydale at the top of a hill and coasted down to 3km short of the servo, easy walk. I tipped the bike over to the fuel pickup side and it started so at a 45 degree angle limped to the gas station and it coughed and stalled just before it.

Must of used the extra fuel cruising at 90 kph and windy. Real windy ride down to 40 kph to stay on the road. Then into Durbanville to stay with Bart and Geodele who i met at the red hills. Thanks for putting up with me, thanks for your hospitality it was "lekker" and nice to have a real bed and food. Great to meet Hans, nice ribs man, thanks for the food & info as well going north.

Full of food and clean i went through Wellington and Bainskloof (nice) to Ceres and into Cederberg. Great rock formations and drier now. Then on to Wuppertal on a 4x4 trail even a Vuka could do. (Hans i thought i would see the vuka loaded with all my gear on it). Over Pakhuis banana pass heavy rain to dry out at Clanwilliam. They should call it cats and dogs pass. The rain was that heavy, but you dry out and it's only water.

Then over to the west coast and north through Kotzesrus (pretty remote), cool roads to Garies and Springbok for a rest. Funny looking cats in cpt they look like spotted eagle owls. Well off to the border now and have a shave for the nice customs man and get to Namibia tomorrow seen some quiver trees already.

A few songs come up when you take off Willy Nelsons' on the road again, it's to late to turn back now and Bon Jovi wanted dead or alive; on a steel horse i ride.

That's it for now.
Ron.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ron
great to read you're doing ok. Hope you enjoyed the Banana pass.
If you stick around in Namibie long enoegh, might c u there.
Cheers
Bart