Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Hello

Ek moet vir werk Orapa (Botswana) toe gaan. Marinda het toe met die briljante idee gekom dat ons met die fietse gaan in stede van vlieg tot in Johannesburg en dan motor huur vir die 800km Orapa toe.

Nou ja, klomp goed om te reel maar hier is die voorlopige roete wat ons wil volg. Dit gaan 99% teerpad wees aangesien Marinda nie te veel uitsien na grondpad nie. (ek is nog besig om haar te oortuig dat dit 'n goeie idee sal wees om so bietjie grondpad ook in te bring op pad terug.

Orapa toe en terug

Die skofte

Aangesien ons so min moontlik 'werks tyd' wil verloor gaan ons Vrydagmiddag vertrek om op Beaufort Wes te slaap.  Aangesien ek Maandag oggend op site moet wees gaan dit maar basies net ry wees tot tot daar. Ons behoort Dinsdag middag al te draai maar wil nie weer vir 'n grenspoos jaag of in die nag ry.

Ons beplan om meeste aande op pad in 'n tent te slaap.  (Behalwe in Upington as Pepe tuis is moet ek sy uitnodiging om daar te slaap oorweeg.)  Skof F van Vryburg tot Upington sluit ook 'n draai by die valle in.  Ons sal dan die laaste aand saam med die klub rit in Biedouw vallei slaap.

Enige voorstelle en raad sal baie wardeer word.

The trip starts here

Ok, ons het hepak, gery, gelag, baklei, natgereen, warm gekry terwyl ons die land sien en die omgewing geniet.

VOORBEREIDING/PREPERATION

I only need to take a small electronic controller, a few wires and small tools to do the work, the rest is just training and setup. Normally the actual 'work' is done in about 3 hours and the rest of the day spent training.  We set out two days on site but normally complete everything in one day. sometimes the customer and operator is not that 'fast' and we do stay for the next day. For this trip we also set out 2 days on site.  With that in mind we packed the tools and CLOTHES.  Me wife decided that a girl must be dressed in clean, neat clothes every day. We also decided to do rooms on the way up and tent down due to time constraints.  We will leave Durbanville not later than 11am.

Dit moet alles in

Gelukkig nie die mandjie met kos ;-)  Marinda se top box is net groot genoeg vir haar klere, die toiletries moet by my.

Dit is in - net net

The realities.  The bikes were prepped and checked during the week. Lo and behold Marinda's battery needed almost 200ml water.  Friday we got up early as we expected a normal day at work.  Alas that was not to be. We finally left home at 15:00 for the first leg.

A few info snippets.

We had bike2bike comms, we will not exceed the speed limit etc.

DAY ONE - Durbanville to Beaufort West - 439km

Net verby De Doorns

Ons het oor du Toits kloof gery om vir die Kaap koebaai te sê.  Daar was nie te veel voertuie en kort voor lank het ons die laaste groenigheid by De doorns agter gelaat.  

Moes bene rek op Matjiesfontein

Soos almal weet raak dit maar vaal as die Karoo binnegegaan word.  Ons het darem padwerke gehad om as afleiding te dien.

ROADWORKS

There was quite a long que of vehicles at the first roadworks stop. I told Marinda to follow me at 20kph on the left shoulder to the front of the que. What a scurrel of people. At least 3 were having a pee-stop as well.  The men could just turn away as w passed but the poor lady did not know what to do. She tried to cover the back then got trapped in the ever spiralling stream of questions, stop/turn/hide/get up. I think she was caught just at the point of 'no power' with jelly legs and just had to smile.  

Note to self. Make sure the 'road is clear' before proceeding to front.  We did first check ahead at the other stops to spare them the embarisment.

Boredom

Boredom can also set in and it can cause quite some amusement.  I tried a few times but could not get the effect without 'looking ahead'.

We refueled in Lainsburg and enjoyed a burger.  The sun is now slowly aiming for the horizon.  We eventually reached Jan se kamers (Young's rooms) in Beaufort just before 9 pm.  The night trip werent too bad but we will try to prevent any future night trips.

Our country with its spectacular sunsets 

A good nights sleep awaits us before the long trip tomorrow.

DAY TWO - Beaufort West to Mafikeng - 855km

Vandag gaan lank, droog en eentonig wees.  Ons het so 7:30 uit die dorp gery. 'n Mens moet by 3 susters indraai om na die weervoorpelling te kyk voor daar weggedraai word Kimberley toe.

3 Sisters Weather

Elke keer as daar 'n dorp(ie) is wonder ek wat om af te neem. Ons is effe gedruk vir tyd en kan dus nie werklik rondry en iets interessant soek nie. Die dorps ingang is nie noodwendig so dat 'n mens dit wil onthou nie.  Die meeste fotos is maar in die ry geneem en het Marinda van voor of van agter in.

Die karoo kan ook groen wees

Due to the relative short distances between towns we did not get too tired or bored and made good progress.  At this stage I constantly watched the distance and time to determine our true speed and estimated time of arival in Mafikeng. We did not book any accomodation but do have the contact details of two guest houses.  Will phone as we get closer.  We then stopped for our first 'road breckfast'.  We did test the stove and kettle at home but this was the first 'real' use.

Die ou maak koffie

On the road again. We passed a few trains but only after I gazed at it and the uniqueness of the moment does TAKE A PICTURE springs to mind. Too late, to get the camera out of the pouch, wait for the 3 odd seconds to get ready and still get a picture.  Most look like this, a train next to the road.

Spot the train

We were blessed with cloudy skies the whole trip up to Orapa and back to Vryburg.  Not to hot and no rain yet.

In Kimberley I said to Marinda "this is the wrong road, we are heading east (to Bloem) and not north to Warrenton.  No road numbers (R17 etc).  We turned around and asked directions. The whole trim is so easy I did not need the GPS. We decided not to refuel in Kimberley and pressed on only to realize that Warrenton is still 60km away when my fuel light came on.  Oops down to 100kph and a few nervous minutes later we refuel.  My Dakkie was slightly heavier on fuel due to the extra weight and smaller rear sprocket.

And then the clouds decided to gather for some conference and the outcome was a storm.  We found a bus stop just before we really got wet.  Marinda inserted the rain inners in her jacket and a light tracksuit top for the cold.  My jacket is waterproof so I did not bother. We decided not to use the waterproofs in the pants as the weather did not look too bad.

Light rains near Hartswater

The weather cleared and we rode on through Vryburg towards Mafikeng.  I phoned the lodge from Vryburg but either no answer or number not in use. fortunately I do have a customer in Mafikeng I know a few guesthouses.  My preferred gueast house was fully booked and we had to pay almost 30% more around the corner.  Due to my line of work I travel a fair amount and regularly look for accomodation.  It sometimes become such a mission to find more cost effective accomodation that you take the first available option.  the same happend here. The price DOES NOT always reflects the quality :-(

We made supper and went to bed early after we decided to take a bit of a detour tomorrow and travel via Zeerust to the border post right next to Gaberone. Some 70km longer than planned for tomorrow.

Dag 3 -Mafikeng na Orapa 717km

Ok, vandag is darem nie so ver soos gister nie.  Die rit oor Zeerust sou ons nog so bietjie langer in ons geliefde land laat ry voor ons die mooi maar entonige pad in Botswana aandurf.  Dit was opvallend hoe die omgewing nou meer subtropies word.  Die grond is vrugbaar en daar is kort kort 'n graan silo.

Grain country

Daarmee saam het die plaaslike tradisies ook verander. Die huise is meer en die diere langs die pad is in goeie kondisie. Ons het by die eerste begraafplaas verby gery en ge-wonder wat die groen hokkies is.  Die volgende keer moes ek stop en nader gaan. Daar was ongelikkug geen plaaslike inwoners om te vertel wat die rede vir die 'gazebo' oor die grafte is nie, sal maar met 'n volgende trip uitvind.

Graves in the shade

Some ventures never die.  This was the original sign for the padstal. the new one is just a few meters further but without any character.  Unfortunately it was Sunday morning and the shop was still closed. (we also had a schedule to follow ;-()

Old but not forgotten

The border crossing were smooth and quick.  We did all the research and had the right documents and monies available to enter Botswana.  The only issue was that there is NO VODACOM signal at the Botswana side of the border.  My whole plan to stop for a coffe break and update my voicemail etc 'just inside' turned into a fiasco.  We had to ask directions in Gaberone as I could not remember one of the turns.  A ring road enclose the city center.  It was now getting hot (11:30) and we decided to have breakfast at the Wimpy on the way out.  At last, I found a service provider (roaming was on) and changed the voice mail. Now I can relax and enjoy the country.

Beautiful road with animals

Sometimes a border crossing is nothing more than a 'change of province'. Here the change was dramatic.  From full production farms with cultivated fields to livestock farming only. The sides of the road is clean and well maintained although the fences seems to be in good condition there are quite a few animals in the road.  Although we could not fault the driving style of the motorists we did pass 3 accidents on the 260km strech from gaberone to Palapye where we turned left.

Botswana Power Corporation

A new coal fired power station is under construction only a few kilometers from the current one. Coal is supplied from an open pit mine and delivered with conveyor belt to the power station(s).  The interesting part is that the south western side of Botswana do not have any real water reserves or dams. A north south pipeline supply water from Francictown area to Gaberone (approx 450km) These power stations is about halfway between the two cities.

Tropic of Capricorn

Somewhere we also passed the tropic of capricorn.  We arrived at the customer in Orapa about 18h00 on Sunday afternoon.  Tomorrow will be a working day so our bums and legs can relax.

Day 4 - We work for a change.

Today is a working day for us. All this travelling to work for 5 hours (That is why I like my work :-)

A Karoo type ready mixed concrete plant that we automate.

We connect the scales and install a controller in the control panel, test and train the operator and owner. The system was developed over a 3 year period and now we only do installations and maintenance.

We had a relaxed afternoon on the farm and went to bed early.  The room is on the first floor and all walls are canvas. Quite nice and got us into the 'camping' mode for the trip back.

Australian Cattle dog or something

We had to constantly wahtced this one. It would sneak close enough and then took a swipe at your foot.  Thank you for thick boots. The picture does not show how 'odd' this specie actually is. It looks grey as if it is stok-oud but it is actually a young dog. The parents looks the same.

Took the son for a spin on Marinda's bike.

We walked through the Oranges and other trees on the farm (3ha) and back at the house I realized that my stokies are now covered with weed seeds.  It was almost impossible to clean them so they had to stay behind.

We then had supper and went to bed.

The Canvas room

We would like to thank our hosts Christo and Renske for their hospitality.  We will defenately pop in again if we are in that area.

The return leg - Tuesday

I normally plan to be on site for two days and leave when finish.  We could complete everything in one day and could now return one day earlier. The return trip will be much more leasurly due to the extra day to be back at Biedouw on Saturday. Pepe informed us that the bridge over the Orange River at Kakemas is closed due to flood damage and we do not want to do too much gravel on the alternative route. The planned visit to Augrabies will now be postponed for another trip. This will also cut our trip to Upington by 300km as well as the time at the falls.  No matter how we looked at the road there was no real alternative to our trip schedule.  We considered going to Port Nolloth and then down with the N7 to Clanwilliam to 'use' the extra day but that meant that we had to do the gravel section between Keimoes and Kakemas. We then decided to do an extra stopover between Upington and Biedouw.  Will decide where as we get closer.    

Day 5 - Orapa to Lephalale 462 km

We left the farm refreshed and refueled in Letlhakane about 7h30.  This was the first stop I did not ask the pump attendant if they accept cards. Did ask all other stations because I used a debit card. Here we would use the normal credit card. NO CARD FACILIES!! What a predicament, We do not have enough Puhla. They do accept ZA Rand at an exchange rate of 10ZAR for 80BP. (the current exchange rate is 1.03) What a ripoff. Marinda then went into town to draw money at the ATM. NO GO. All offline. We scraped together all visible ZAR and eventually left with not too big a loss as 'we did not have more cash'.

Leaving the farm

We then set off and enjoyed the scenery and animals next to the road.  We even stopped and turned around.  Unfortunately there was no miskruiers today.

Moerse Duisendpoot.

The hospital in Serowe

The goverment tried to balance the infrastructure over the provinces.  This hospital is huge and service the central area of Botswana. It also boast a trainig facility. The road is wide and beatiful up to Palapye where we turned left to the Groblers Bridge border post.

Beautiful road with green vegetation after the summer rains - and donkeys

As we turened off the A1 to Groblers bridge the road and even the landscape changed.  The road is more deteriorated than any other we rode on. It is probably because it is carrying most of the heavy trafic from the north to Gauteng.  We also saw more agricultural activity along this 100km section than anywhere else.  You constantly see people next to the road, even far from any towns or settlements, but not a single dwelling visible from the road. Again we saw more than 6 dwellings on this stretch.  No settlements right 'on' the road like in Mozambique. I opened my jacket zip about 150mm to let some fresh air in and to cool off.  ZAP, got stung by a bee just below the throat.  We stopped and Marinda decided to sommer pluck it out and push the remaining venom in me. Did button up from then on.

Farmlands and houses, a rarity along the roads.

The border crossing was quick and effiecient and we took a long rest on the South African side.  It is a short trek to Lephalale from here.

Crossing the river

It was quite noticable again how the farming change, pure comercial and intensive.

South African side farming

The road to Lephalale is flanked by game farms and we saw quite a few Warthog, Kudu etc.  We refueled and stocked up with provisions for our first night camping.  Due to the short distance we had to do we had enough time to check the bikes oil, water and battery levels.  The 650 single is notorious for overgharging and 'boiling off' the water.  

Our first night camping

We enjoyed the quiet evening and reflected on what we must change in our packing list to make camping life easier.  We went to bed around 10h30 and hoped for a good nights sleep.  We kept the tent closed and never took the light inside to keep the mozzies out.  It did seems to work.  We fold the cover back to alow more ventilation through the gauze on the crown. We will buy mozzie rings to burn n the future.

Day 6 - Lephalale to Vryburg - 587km

Vandag is nie so ver trek nie en ons het besluit om so bietjie ompad te ry en vir Marinda Sun City te wys. Ek self was daar nog voor die nuwe dele gebou was.  Ons eerste stop was Thabazimbi vir ontbyt.  Ons proviant is nog nie van so aart dat ons ontbyt eet voor on ry nie.  Die Wimpy was weer on redding.  Ek het ook sommer hier al my oproepe en eposse gedoen.

Thabazimbi berg myn

Dit is nie heeltemal sigbaar op die foto maar hier vat die myners nie nonsens om yster (of iets) uit te haal nie. Die berge word sommer van bo af weggewerk. (zoom in op foto en kyk na pieke in regter boonste hoek)  Dit is sommer lekker om so rustig the ry, ek moes kort kort vir Marinda herhinner dat ons nie vinniger as 110kpu moet ry.

Die manne vat regtig nie nonsens van groot goed nie. Die konfooi bring sommer net 'n myntrok aan. Ons het op die grond gery om verby te kom.

Moerse myntrok

Ons het deur Sin City gery om eers te sien waar en wat alles daar is.  Moet sê dit is wonderlik wat geld alles kan doen.

Begin van die geboue

Vir die rykes

Hier word mense arm gemaak

Hier kan jy in nagemaakte see swem

Ek sal weer 'n draai daar maak en bietjie meer tyd spandeer.  Daar is krokodil plaas, monorail tipe treintjie en 'n paar ander dinge wat die dag kort kan maak. Hier het ek en Marinda die eerste keer mekaar misverstaan wat toe 'n stille reis verder die dag tot gevolg gehad het. Die interkom was sommer net doodstil.

Dit was nou lekker warm en ons het die reenwolke in die suide sien saampak. Die ys in die camelpack het nou baie handig gewerk.

Waterstop teen die hitte

Daar was hier en daar padwerke met stoppe. Gelukkig kan ons tot voor ry en dan die klippe ens vermy.  Van die padwerke is so oud die onkruid het al op die opvulling begin groei.

Weeds on verge

Die wolke het nou dreigend begin saamdrom en reen was op pad.  Ons beplanning was net so dat ons agter 'n trok beland het reg in die middel van die 'storm'  Dit was 'n ligte hael wat ons begroet het.  Daar was nerens om te stop en so bitjie te skuil.  Ek het maar vir Marinda gesê ek gaan verby en sal haar dan laat weet as dit OK is.  Voor die trok was daar GEEN reen meer. Ons het natter agter in die trok se sproei geword as van die reen.

Die wolke begin voor ons inbeweeg 

Na ons die vragmotor verby is het die klere redelik gou droog gewaai in die warm luggie.

Getting late again.

Met al die stoppe en rustye het die son begin onder gaan.  Ons het net na hierdie foto by die kampterrein net buite Vryburg ingedraai. Ons het rustig tent opgeslaan en aandete gemaak.  Ek het tot laat langs die vuur gesit aan die lewe en ons ervaringe gedink.  Die ou motor by ontvangs het getuig van 'die goeie ou dae'.

Served his owner well to come and rest here.

Day 7 - Vryburg to Upington now only 403 km

Due to the closure of the bridge at Kakemas our trip today will be short.  As we packed up the three young animals came strolling past us.  Marinda followed them as I continued to strap up.

These two finally posed

The road today was quite un eventfull. Not that we did not enjoy it but it was nice and green, the roads ok but had nothing that caught my attention.

Nice and green

I've been in part of the country before (Must say there is not many areas I've never been) as I have customers in Hotazhel, Vryburg and Mafikeng as well as somewhere near Brandvlei. There was quite a few Stop and Go's on this road. We cruised along at 110 and just enjoyed the road.

Grapes under shade cloth to protect against the heat.

We arrived in Upington just after lunch and was welcomed by Pepe and Madie. We unpacked and checked the bikes before they returned from work. We enjoyed their hospitality that evening and slept in a bed again. 

A biker/cyclist garage

Day 8 - Upington to Brandvlei  259km

We decided to spend the morning in Upington and leave for Brandvlei just after lunch.  We can camp at the hotel or behind the guesthouse, so no booking were made. We will first check it out and then make the descision.  We left in the heat of the day but cooled off quite fast once on the road.

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go. 

Weereens dankie aan Pepe en Madie vir julle gasvryheid.

Ons het rustig gery tot by Keimoes en die Oranje oorgesteek.  Die brug(e) word herstel en dit lyk of hulle die keer hoër gaan wees om die vloede te trotseer.

Brug oor Oranje in aanbou

Dit was nogal interessant dat die paaie hier eintlik baie meer entonig is as die in Botswana, dit is ook vir kilometers net een reguit lyn. Ons het egter die paaie meer geniet as die in Botswana, die lang reguit stukke het ons nie eers gepla. Dit was eerder meer 'n uitdaging om iets te kry om na te kyk, dit het 'n mens meer oplettend gemaak en die omgewing kon werklik geniet word. (teen 110 kpu) Ons het later geweet dat die pad wel sal draai as daar 'n heuwel is.

Een reguit lyn

The mirage of this pan as we approached fooled us in thinking it must have rained a few days ago. From this side it is just a dry pan.

Sandpan

We stopped in Kenhardt to fill up and decided we can spend some time in the hotel with something cool to drink.  What an interesting bar. The walls are chock a block full with bike stories. We two wheelers, famous or not, seems to do crazy things.

Stories teen die mure

Ladies Powderroom

Sometimes it is the small things that is leaving the lasting impression.  We eventually set off for Brandvlei.  The hotel parking is used as caravan park with not a blade of grass in sight. We could pitch our tent between two palm trees just outside one of the rooms (with noisy people).  After a while we decided that this is way to much when the party goers started to arrive. A bad smell from the drain pipes was the last straw.

Assigned camping spot between the palms 

We first decided to check tis out but then decided to rather go to the guest house on the other side of the street. Eventually we decided to book a room as the hard gravel did not look too appealing.  We had a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast the next morning. Throughout the trip a beetle or some large bug was hit but we never saw what it was, untill this one.

Road kill

Day 9 Brandvlei to Biedouw - 278km

Ons het so 9h00 vertrek Calvinia toe. Daar sou ons brandstof ingooi en die laaste goeidjies kry vir die aand in Biedouw.  Die paaie is nou EERS lank en reguit. Plek plek kan mens sien waar die ou pad geloop het, dit het beslis baie meer draaie gehad as die huidige een.

Nou is dit EERS reguit

Baie dinge is verganklik. Hier was 'n trein wat deur Calvinia geloop het.  Mens sal wonder wat vervoer moes word.

Hier was 'n trein, choo choo trein... 

Daar moes brandstof vir die fietse, ys vir die camelpack en 'n vlessie vir ons gekry word.  Miskien vertel die vulstasie se naam alles, mense jaag net verby om uit die vlakte te kom.  Ons het egter die deel van die rit besonder geniet.

Jaag deur die vlakte

Alles is gereed vir die laaste stukkie teerpad vandag. Ek het die laptop in 'n ekstra handdoek toegedraai om die stampe van die grondpad te verduur. So 36km buite Calvinia draai ons links en Marinda kry haar eerste grondpad na die paar oeffenritte om Durbanville. Met die interkom het ek so paar goed gesê waarvoor sy moet kyk en die sit/staan asook gewig op die buite voet verduidelik.  Daarna het ons lekker rustig gery en die natuur bewonder.

Moeder staan so bietjie

Botterkloof pas begin

Daar is teerpad

Die grondpad is verby, of is dit. Hier gaan ons links verder op grond Biedouw vallei in.  Die pad tot hier was in 'n baie goeie toestand maar nou het ons redelike sinkplaat pad gekry tot by die kampterryn. Nie te erg maar genoeg om 'n mens paraat te hou.

Ons span uit en relax

Net na 12:00 ry ons die kampeer terryn binne. Die rit is verby, more ry ons die laaste stuk huistoe. Ons gaan egter eers ontspan en die res van die dag met die ander klublede geniet.

Boetie (Mike) is ook hier

Nadat ons middagete geniet het en sommer net daar rondhang het ons die stof teen die pas gesien.  Die klublede het ook een vir een hier aangekom en tent opgeslaan. Die middag het ons in die slyk dam geswem en later na die watervalle gegaan.  Wat 'n heerlike uitstappie na 'n lang rit. Die aand is daar gebraai en gesels soos net die manne dit kan doen. (kyk maar na die Biedouw naweek verslag.)

Slykdam

Daar was ook 'n nag rit gereël, iets wat nie normaalweg gedoen word nie.  Ek en Marinda het besluit om nie te gaan (Sy nog versigtig vir grondpad en ek het daardie groot panniers aan)

Dag 10 - Biedouw tot Durbanville  272km

Na 'n heerlike nagrus het almal die oggend tent afgeslaan en reggemaak vir die dag se aktiwiteite.  Ons het nie eers tent opgeslaan en net so onder die sterre geslaap. DIS NOU LEWE DIE. 

Geen tent is nodig

Boetie in die vlakte  Iemand neem 'n closeup.  

Mike moes maar sy eie slaapplek kry en het sommer daar in die verre vlakte loop slaap.

Ons het almal by die plaashuis gegroet en die pad terug huistoe aangepak.  Om die een of ander rede is die (teer)pad van Clanwilliam nooit vir my lekker nie. Ons het dit maar rustig gevat en net na 12:00 by die huis ingery.

Weer veilig tuis.

Geseënd met 'n veilige rit en weereens dankbaar vir Marinda dat sy dinge saam met my geniet.

Ek moet binnekort Middelburg (Mupalanga) en Bethlehem toe. Hoe lyk dit Ma is jy reg daarvoor. Okey ek sal maar vlieg en dan doen ons die Oos Londen trip oor 3 weke.

Laat die wiele rol.

Ek beplan om later 'n kort artikel oor wat ons gepak het, moes pak ens vir ons beginners skryf. Moet nou eers bietjie werk ook.

Tot volgende keer en dankie aan almal wat betrokke was.

Adie