Donkey-kar shopping trip De Rust Friday 16th December 2011
Life is full of amazing surprises.
Nothing more so than meeting Valentyn and Springveld once again in De Rust.
I was on the home leg of my long road trip to Gauteng,
Riding West on the R341 to De Rust.
As I was approaching the N12 on the East side of De Rust I saw a donkey cart loaded with fresh cut Lucern approaching the turn onto the N12.
The pinkish faded paint of the donkey kar immediately made me take note.
I was already slowing to a crawl, because as all know, I love engaging the locals and donkey kar ryers make the most interesting conversation, because their story is always so real, basic and down-to-earth- uncomplicated.
So I pull up abreast with a freindly wave and ask the four kids on the kar.
"Is dit nou Valentyn en Springveld"
I tell you.
Cost of a good helmut = R 4500.oo
Cost of a good riding jacket and pants = R 5000.oo
Cost of the look sof sheer surprise from these kids = PRICELESS!!
You cannot buy such surpise with Mastercard.
'Ja Menner, hulle's isss....'
And I say
'Valentyn is links en Springveld hys regs.'
'Meneer. Hoe weet menner dit?'
Well it was the same kar I met back on 24th April during a BIKEFEST outride, on a lonely farm lane some 10 km South of De Rust.
See this link to that story
http://www.bmwmccc.org.za/donkey-kar-shopping-trip-de-rust-sat-25th-april-2011
So we rode past a police check point and pulled off.
They told me their mom Eli had moved to town and they lived in De Rust.
The oldest is 14 yrs old
They had gone to cut lucern for feed and to sell on in town to those too lazy to go buy and cut from the local farms.
The donkey kar passes through a police check-point: I took some photos and luckily still had some sweets and pens with me, which I've learned from GK and Rusty to keep close to hand for such occasions.Today I'll develop them and post them to their rudimentary address in De Rust.
It is one of the things that make SA so unique.
Here are four kids, totally unrestrained in a vehicle of very dubious road compliance with a 14 year old driver driving non the N12, any time of day.
Here it is peak holiday season with SUV's towing all kinds of holiday clap-trap and heavy rigs hauling God-knosw-what cross country.
And it's fine for the cops manning the check point.
the traffic control point
Pass on through boys, look after them donkeys well.
It makes this country so priceless. Such a treasure.
How can you not marvel.
a 14 yr old has just passed muster at a traffic police control point. in a donkey kar
So true Andy, the interaction with the locals wherever they may be makes life a pleasure. We are so fortunate to get to so many special places and interact. I also have learnt of the pleasures derived from chatting to the locals and just listening to there stories. Memories of such interactions are many , from locals in Pofadder at the Elvis "memorial" at a cafe there, diamond divers in Port Nolleth, A man called Agrob manning a stop/go on some road in the karroo.... the list goes on.
It's a privilage to be able to do what we do!
What a lovely story.
I often wonder about the quality of life of country kids like those sitting on the lucerne in a donkey kar compared to city kids many of whom exist in malls and in front of comuter screens.
I would like to think that the country life is more fullfilling as long as they are not caught up in the abuse of alcohol and other snares that lie in wait for them.
Yeah, its trips on the bike into the nether regions that bring me back to earth.
I love the drifting nowhere style of riding and interacting with the locals.
We have met many good people, made many new friends in small towns and on farms throughout SA.
You're right Ater, it is a real privilege to be able to do this.
So waar.
Florrie at De Rust poskantoor has just confirmed to me that they delivered the envelope with photos to a delighted Elly.
Nice ending to a good story.
or does it continue......... next time I ride through that neck of the woods.
So waar! We came upon them once again on Tuesday 30th, same place, loaded with lucerne.
Same donkie kar, same boys,
Same boys, just older, streetwise and ruined by life, they just wanted money.
Such a change from back when we last met.
Springveld has been sold and now Valentyn pulls with Victor.
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