THE STUFF OF LEGENDS MIDDELPOS DASH 27TH DECEMBER 2010

Andyman's picture

27th December 2010 = The Middelpos Dash  - 500km

Into the territories, ROUGH &  NOT FOR SISSIES. Not at this time of year.

Big bikes only. Riding Commando, all your baggage on your bike.

What an awesome idea and what an awesome ride with an awesome group.

So who were the brave idiots willing to pit their wits against the odds of the Sand Monster, the Rut monster and the full Doring River in 42ºC unrelenting heat under a cloudless, windless sky?

HINT:  IF YOU 'CLICK' YOUR CURSOR ON A PHOTO, IT OOPENS UP BIGGER.

Justice, Clayton, James Redlinghuys (originator of this ‘bright’ idea and route planner), Andyman &, Wayne (Dwayne’s twin-brother) : in same order: 1200GSA, 800GS,  HP2, 1150GSA- Rommell II & 1200GSAJustice, Clayton, James Redlinghuys (originator of this ‘bright’ idea and route planner), Andyman &, Wayne (Dwayne’s twin-brother) : in same order: 1200GSA, 800GS, HP2, 1150GSA- Rommell II & 1200GSA 

In fact, later, once we were over the Doring, with no more potable water between us, even the buzzards started to circle in an ominous way above us…..

 

Wayne had called my a few days earlier asking for Middelpos Hotel details & how to arrange fuel.

I gave the details as a trade- they take me with.

A pier-head jump so-to-speak.

There n then we phoned Koos & Helena and arranged fuel and lunch for Monday 27th.

Minutes before, some travellers had just logged a find of geocache “Ambush at Middelpos”  GC153EW  which I had placed in Nov 2007 on my first bike trip to Middelpos.  So I wanted to go and service the cache.  [www.geocaching.com]

 

You know there's a time when you get to that stage where your genie needs to be let out the bottle for a while-

we can’t always be just good boys and not horse around.

And riding with organised BMWMCCC trips means you have to set the right example and embue the correct decorum for being safe and responsible.

Well, when Wayne phoned me, my genie was fairly busting out!

And so it turned out, that each of us were in exactly the same ‘space’, for our own reasons, we needed to go off and let the genie out the bottle.

Monday Morning 27th December was cool and fresh at 06H00, when I rolled out of my pit, and set about packing so as to be off and at my RV in Ceres- Shell garage- by 07H30.

Coming out of our hut in Bainskloof gave me a slight advantage over James and the boys who rv’d at the Engen 1-stop in Winelands.

 

We all refueled in Ceres and adjusted tyres for gravel riding.: Darth Vader look from Wayne, enough to make you scaredWe all refueled in Ceres and adjusted tyres for gravel riding.:

Darth Vader look from Wayne, enough to make you scared

We took off on the R46 for 7 k’s outta Ceres to the Swaarmoed road and onto some good gravel to the R46/R355 junction.

 

We made good ground, turning off the R555 onto the R356.

We stopped every hour for a break.

The roads were gernelly good but lots of rutsThe roads were generally good but lots of ruts

49 k’s up the R356 we crossed the Ongeluks Rivier at Bizansgat plaas – the name is spelled out in white rocks.

Also known as Bassonsgat farm?!

Here we left the R356 taking the left fork for the Long way round Pienaarsfontein berge, and back to the R356.

Nice idea, beautiful road, made for the adventure bikes.

But it was not to be.

15k’s on this tweespoor and a locked gate barred our progress.

In hindsight we should have made our way through it, but what the hell, we took another track North towards the Brak rivier, crossing it just before it becomes the Gemsbok rivier.

Are you following me?

Keep focus.

 This road has Jo’s Ford Anglia parked  along it.This road has Jo’s Ford Anglia parked along it.

The signs of heavy rain and sheetwater were ever present all day but now the road was just full of dongas and this brought speed down dramatically.

By now all our genies were well out the bottle and helmet cam footage shows just how the boys were digging in the spurs and galloping along. My Gps receiver records that in the entrie trip my max speed was 127Kph. moving averages was 63.5 Kph.

41 k's of tweespoor and washed out road and we were back in known territory.

Another irritating, was that with no wind to disperse the dust raised by bikes, dust just hung there in suspension and this made vis poor, but increased following distance quite a bit.

Haste and a rash call by the current point rider (not saying who - what happens on tour, stays on tour) cost us the right turn off and at this stage the planned route was “history”.

Who cares, its about the journey, not the destination.

We just punched 'MIDDELPOS' into the thingy-m-jig and the lady took us over Gannagga Pass.

We had to moderate the pace to suite the multifarious hazards presented by the recent sheer sheetwater running off the escarpment into the Tankwa Nature Reserve. At this period, no padmakers are at work, so not even warning signs were evident.

Andy climbing GannaggaAndy climbing Gannagga

Tackling the rutted and pitted Gannagga pass.: This is a legacy of the Bains road-building years- wonderful dry stone walls well over 150yrs oldTackling the rutted

 

and pitted Gannagga pass.: This is a legacy of the Bains road-building years- wonderful dry stone walls well over 150yrs old

Still we kept together, made good speed and by 12H40 we were in Middelpos slaking our dry throats by rinsing them with beer, 278 kilometres were behind us and 238 were still to be done!

Hey ho Sliver!

You will not find cheaper beer than in Middelpos.You will not find cheaper beer than in Middelpos.

 

We had Helena’s Chicken pie, chatted to the locals and visited the geocache, updating the log and concealing it again.

We visited the mass grave of the fallen Imperial  infantry of Feb 1902.

Then Stephan refueled our bikes and we hared off …… back down Gannagga Pass on the real route once again, shortly afer 14H00.

Refuelling at MiddelposRefuelling at Middelpos

 Refuelled and raring to go.Refuelled and raring to go.

Coming off the pass onto the plains in the Tankwa, we veered off onto the Ratelsklip meander. 7 k’s of tweespoor.

5 off which were just SAND MONSTER!!!!! 

Not for sissies, you need to have sheer blind faith in your bike and you have to open up.

By this time, my hydrapak was being drained very quickly and the 42ºC  heat was sapping my reserves at a dangerous rate. At times I was hyper-ventilating and even removed by neck brace to stop the claustrophobia from causing panic.

At some point the sand monster was drowned by still water pooled in the valley.

New-cut road, flooded plain and Calytons mountNew-cut road, flooded plain and Calytons mount

Justice and James plonked out after lots of sand monster by the flooded plainsJustice and James plonked out after lots of sand monster by the flooded plains

Farmer Brown was up in his big 4x4 SAMI Tractor cutting a new road around the dam to meet the old road and this was just veld, made soft by rains and often mud.

Farmer Piet cut this road around the flodded plainFarmer Brown cut this road around the flodded plain

Would I do Ratelsklip again?

Not this year or the next. It’s sheer hard work right now and it never ends. 5 k’s can be very very long when it is just sheer hard work.

By the by, we connected to a better road which took us to the R355.

Left back towards Ceres for 13.5K’s down the R355 we hooked off right at Die bos plaas and took a heavily rutted tweespoor to Dassiesklip plaas.

Here I saw a troop of baboons on our track, I swear each one was walking with a kierrie. We skittered and rumbled ever on down, hooked left and to the infamous Doring river crossing in the Biedouw valley.

Here the river arrived just in time.

Hydrapaks were empty. We were overheating.

Andy simply collapsed into the muddy waters of the Doring river ignorant to the 4 KTM tour group crossing our way, bike by bike on Adventure’s pont. The new one La Grange Transport made for the hounds.

Called SAS Willehond.

It’s a blessing; ’cos now Farmer Piet cannot bother us ‘cos we use his pont.

The KTM team coming over towards oour side: We were bemused to see KTM, like some threesome a week earlier, laying bikes flat on a steel structure built to hold bikes upright.The KTM team coming over towards oour side: We were bemused to see KTM, like some threesome a week earlier, laying bikes flat on a steel structure built to hold bikes upright.

This was just ornary and contrary to any common sense, but we were passed caring and just watched.

My body temp had been red-lining, so lying in the muddy river was sheer bliss.

When the pont was free we rode a bike onto it, parked it amidships, lashed the forks, and floated the bike across.

Crossing the Doring took over 2 hours end to endCrossing the Doring took over 2 hours end to end

The crew of SAS Willehond make it look so easy: James HP2 was best suited for the days dash and he was the least tired...The crew of SAS Willehond make it look so easy: James HP2 was best suited for the days dash and he was the least tired...

Justice s 1200GS comes across, easy peasyJustice s 1200GS comes across, easy peasy

Rommell II s turn to crossRommell II s turn to cross

Wayne rides off on the other side: At the other side, we lowered the ramp and rode the bike off onto the road.Wayne rides off on the other side: At the other side, we lowered the ramp and rode the bike off onto the road.

Claytons 800 is ferried across: Every bike was driven onto the pont and driven off. Rider astride the bike.Claytons 800 is ferried across: Every bike was driven onto the pont and driven off. Rider astride the bike. Anyway. The water cooled us but we were still thirsty as hell. It was now passed 18H30.

We took some time to wash the pont properly, drag it up onto terra firma, stow the ramp and lash the pont to the anchor rope on the Biedouw side.

Riding up the Biedouw valley, we stopped at Bultfontein farm and a kind Oom filled our paks with ICE and water.

Magic.

Manner from heaven.

Careful not to gorge ourselves we sucked away and got moving.

Already 2 hours behind schedule transiting the river, Andy’s pre-load hydraulics burst spewing hydraulic fluid all over and the rear suspension dropped to lowest.

This meant a huge reduction in handling as I had to slow down to avoid bottoming out.

Stuff of Legends that these guys are, they made me ride point and dictate the pace.

Where do you get manne like this?

 Een vir almal en almal vir een.

Stuff of legends.

Up the Biedouw valley, up the Wuppertal range, over its back (19H30) and down down down into the Wuppertal valley to the town itself.

By now the riding West directly into the low, setting sun was making life extremely interesting. We were getting arc-eyes.

We were well into THE danger zone.

When energy is low, conditions are bad and your stamina is almost gone. Response times slower, judgment getting hazey. The accident risk rate was stacking the odds well out of our favour and –we were too exhausted to care.

The risk rate was very high and by rights we were candidates for a big mishap with perhaps some of the most challenging riding still to come.

There was no sense of humor left.

From the Neck of the Wuppertal: Yet still we stopped in the neck to admire and photograph the absolute stunning majestic beauty all around below us.From the Neck of the Wuppertal: Yet still we stopped in the neck to admire and photograph the absolute stunning majestic beauty all around below us.

 We kept the formation disciplined. This is where drill and training kick in and your fall back is well tried and tested training training and training.

Now we climbed up the steep, rocky, twisty, narrow 4x4  track onto loose sand to Esselsbank.

We simply passed the rock pools by without so much as a glance, the sun was setting, the horizon had no definition, we had to move on into the gathering dusk.

27 kilos to go of after-sunset riding on loose stones and loose sand we just plugged at it, each digging down deep.

That ice cold drink waiting for us the one thing keeping you going.

These bikes are simply amazing. They forgive your mistakes and just keep on tracking. They make us look good. I clearly remember looking around wishing I had the energy to stop and capture the moments on film.

We were all still riding very well, loose limbed, and in good formation.

At 20H27 we slid to a stop at Cederburg Oasis.

Smelly, sweaty, dry throated, sore eyed and utterly smashed.

I ran up a healthy bar bill inside 5 minutes before I felt human enough to look around and greet people.

Luckily, Gerhard and Chantal have seen bikers emerge from the territories smashed and wasted many a time and never took offence.

Claytons just found his sense of humourClaytons just found his sense of humour

Actually, seeing us arrive they cleared the decks, gave us room and let us humanise over drinks before kakking us out for being 30 minutes late.

 James n Clayton finding it hard to wake upJames n Clayton finding it hard to wake up

We pitched camp, swam and sat down to a hearty Steak and chips dinner feeling so much better and at peace with the world. Somewhere in all this lost homours were found, and life took a new dimension.

Chatting away busily, reliving the many exciting moments that made up the day.

Laughing and re-telling, amazed that we had ridden the territories and emerged so totally unscathed and well, just tired.

In fact it was after 23H30 that we settled the bill and crashed.

As my head hit the pillow I was already well into my 1st aria of Andy’s now famous Chainsaw concerto.

 

We awoke early at 05h00. There was that bloody rooster that seems to follow us!

 I’m surprised no other campers donnered the rooster.

Shit-shower-shave, and onto the bikes for a good pace on the last 47 kilos of gravel then tar for 60 kilos towards Ceres and fuel.

James and Clayton still had an appetite for more gravel and went off later on their own mission towards Algeria and the West Coast.

Justice, Wayne and I have to keep the country going and headed into our respective offices.

 

The Middelpos Dash will take place again next year and this time, no locked gate is going to stop us.

Spare Keys for the locks (tyre levers) we do have and will brook no obstacle.

Well done to the team who made this trip so awesome.  You guys Rock big time.

The genies are now safely bottled up and we are safe to be around again.

I would say, if you have done an advanced riding course, then do this route shortly after to entrench what you learned on course, you will use every skill taught on the course.

This not normally so tough a route, its the road conditions, un-tended roads after severe and unusual rains (dept. Public Works on holiday and nopt even there to erect danger signs). Coupled with NO wind and >35ºC heat under a cloudless sky that made this route so 'interesting' on this occasion.

As for the Doring crossing. It is as interesting when it is dry as it is when it is in spate.

Were we ever in danger?

NO

But the risks were increased by the heat sapping fatigue which does impair judgment calls and reaction times.

Comments

Geoff Russell's picture
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Joined: 2007/09/25

Great report, thanks Andy.

Maybe I crack the nod for the next one?

Committee: Ride Captain

Wayne Sheppard's picture
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Joined: 2007/11/07

GR8 Report thanks Andy, awesome ride thanks for coming with... @Geoff I've put your name on the list for the next one, be good to have you along...

 

 

Geoff Russell's picture
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Joined: 2007/09/25

Thanks Wayne. I always look forward to a good ride with the guys!

Committee: Ride Captain

Andyman's picture
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Joined: 2007/06/22

Here are some more photos that record the Middelpos Dash

 

The Andyman sucking his hydration pack dry on the break before climbing Ganaga pass: By now, Mr. Spikes, the SUN monster was not our friendThe Andyman sucking his hydration pack dry on the break before climbing Ganaga pass: By now, Mr. Spikes, the SUN monster was not our friend

 

 

The inevitable Oudtshoorn ostrich feather still decking out the war helmet.: Check the claen windscreen, not a scratch or fadeThe inevitable Oudtshoorn ostrich feather still decking out the war helmet.: Check the claen windscreen, not a scratch or fade

From the top of Gannagga pass,What breathtaking view.From the top of Gannagga pass,What breathtaking view.

 

James s HP2 was the right Stuff for the Dash, Rommel was alittle on the ehavy side.: Andy was dragging gear from his Christmas camping weekend, so was not light.James s HP2 was the right Stuff for the Dash, Rommel was alittle on the ehavy side.: Andy was dragging gear from his Christmas camping weekend, so was not light.

James the gatekeepr catches Andy with Wayne coming up fast..: we lost count of the gates.James the gatekeepr catches Andy with Wayne coming up fast..: we lost count of the gates.

Wayne zips thru, leapfrogging James, who will close the gate and give chase.: Ooohh Stop It, Stop it, I like it.. the chase is on again.Wayne zips thru, leapfrogging James, who will close the gate and give chase.: Ooohh Stop It, Stop it, I like it.. the chase is on again.

Thru yet one more gate and a mandatory break to poke fun at other and laugh a bit.: Sahadows, what Shadows, No there was no shade anywhere!!!!Thru yet one more gate and a mandatory break to poke fun at other and laugh a bit.: Sahadows, what Shadows, No there was no shade anywhere!!!!

 

Ahh, So Farmer Brown, you cut roads over Christmas do you!!!: Sorry, its a Fiat, not a SAMEAhh, So Farmer Brown, you cut roads over Christmas do you!!!: Sorry, its a Fiat, not a SAME

 

Theres the Doring down below in the distance. From here down Dassiesklip, even the baboons walk with kierries: James on the gate yet again, snaps the rough roadTheres the Doring down below in the distance. From here down Dassiesklip, even the baboons walk with kierries: James on the gate yet again, snaps the rough roadAahh, Hello Farmer Brown, so you cut roads for Christmas do you??Aahh, Hello Farmer Brown, so you cut roads for Christmas do you??

Eventually breasting the Wuppertal above the town Wuppertal, we stopped to admire the vistas: Andy n James share a silent few moments up on top of the passEventually breasting the Wuppertal above the town Wuppertal, we stopped to admire the vistas: Andy n James share a silent few moments up on top of the pass

All good things must end, we strike camp at 05H30 the next dayAll good things must end, we strike camp at 05H30 the next day

 

 

Thanks James for the great photos.

Andyman
Anyone can ride a bike fast....   But can you ride your bike real slow???