Transkei 2010 Laid Back Tour (12-24 August) - Part 1
These are the voyages of 26 intrepid adventurers whose mission was to explore the lands north of the Kei River (with apologies to Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise).
The “crew”
Participants on the expedition (in no particular order) were:
(more about this “couple” later)
(photo removed)
Trip Statistics
Average age of participants : 50 years & 3 months
Total distance: 3409km
Offroad: 843km / Tar: 2566km
Note: I did not ride on two of the “rest” days” - this would probably have added another 200km of offroad riding.
Fuel used: 220 litres (15.5km/l)
Riding time: 50 hours
Tyres: 3 x front tyre sidewall cuts, 1 x rear tyre sidewall cuts, 1 x buckled front rim - all the mechanicals issues were swiftly and efficiently dealt with. Everyone pitched in to help where possible, although Peter and Abie seemed to be involved in most of the running repairs on the trip. Well done guys!
Sidestand incidents: Probably some 25-30 over the duration of the trip. Not bad considered the number of bikes and the terrain and the fact that I hold the record for most "offs", 13 in total (10 on a single day - more on this later).
Photos: more than 4500 photographs were taken - no children or animals were injured during the making of these photos!
Videos: more than 300 video clips were taken. All in all some 30.5GB of media files.
To be continued ...
Part 2
This section of the trip report offers my perspective on the 2010 Laid Back tour, hopefully without too much duplication.
It should be read in conjunction the Leon’s report - http://www.bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/transkei-report-%E2%80%93-so-called-lay-back-trip-part-1.
Day 2 –Friday - PE to Trennerys
En route to the Kei River we stop at a small shopping centre on the outskirts of Port Alfred for some sustenance. Almost everyone chose the local pies. I, however, found a most amazing shop that sold sweets from my childhood – Chocolate Eclairs, Gum Balls, Black Magic Balls (formerly known as Nigger Balls), Chappies bubblegum, Fruit Sherbet and Original Wilson’s Toffees.
At the fuel stop in East London my 1200GS “looses” the 1st of many bits on the trip. Pete notices that one of the bolts on the rear mudguard has sheared off. We remove the remaining bolts and stow the mudguard in the Cruiser. Thanks Pete, well spotted!
During the day various people (Geoff, Peter, Kevin, Tiaan) comment that I’m sitting skew on the bike when riding. Apparently, completely unbeknown to me, my hips and shoulders point in different directions when seated on the bike. So I spent the next couple of days constantly moving around on the bike in an attempt to sit “straight”. This provided much hilarity throughout the trip, especially when the riding conditions were more challenging than my skill level (i.e. when I “crashed”).
That evening at Trennerys quite a number of us had our very first oysters – some liked ‘em and some definitely didn’t.
Geoff was presented with some gifts at dinner. A bottle of Jagermeister from Leon - little did we know this would be used against us later in the form of “uncorked Merlot”. Marius had a number of items for Geoff – Banana liqueur, a join-the-dots drawing book (with complex instructions), a whistle and a small compass for everyone on the tour (to assist in not getting lost).
Day 3 – Saturday - Trennerys “off day”
After a very educational forest walk with “Trev-wors” in the morning the more adventurous riders and pillions went for a ride with Geoff to the Jacaranda shipwreck. Kevin, Jinx and I (not quite feeling adventurous enough yet) plan an easier, but longer route to the wreck. We were making good time on the atrocious district road (the top layer was gone leaving a very rocky riding surface) when the “sand monster” struck. Kevin went down heavily and injured his left shoulder and upper chest.
It was unanimously decided that I should “ride” Kevin’s 1200GS back across the sand to firmer ground – something to do with having long legs which made it safer to paddle, absolutely nothing to do with my sand riding skills. So, paddle Kevin’s bike 300-400m, walk back and repeat with my 1200GS. After waiting a short time for Jinx, I once again walked back down the sand monster only to find her “resting” next to her 650GS. Fortunately there are no photos of me (at 1.95m) riding the little F650GS out of the sand.
Soon we were making our way back to the safety of Trennerys. Unfortunately we were not out of the woods yet. Kevin’s 1200GS suffered a large sidewall cut in the front tyre – six “snotties” and three gas cartridges later we were on our way again.
Thanks to Gerhard and Marius for checking Kevin’s injuries and prescribing the much needed painkillers. Fortunately he was not seriously injured but nevertheless had to be a passenger in the Cruiser for the next couple of days.
Day 5 – Monday – Mazeppa Bay “off day”
Today Leon (owner of MBH) led the GSes on a brilliant morning ride on his quad-bike. This ride was the most fun I’ve had since getting my 1200GS 22 months ago.
Geoff once again led the more adventurous riders and pillions on a “slightly” more extreme ride in the afternoon.
That evening the 1st strafdoppe of the trip were issued to Marius “the English patient”, and the other two riders on the injured list, Kevin and Frans.
Day 6 – Tuesday – Mazeppa to Kob Inn
I somehow managed to leave Mazeppa Bay Hotel without paying my bill. Luckily I managed to catch Geoff at one of the frequent stops and explain the situation to him. I had visions of the hotel calling Geoff to inform him that someone in his group had done a “runner” and that he’d better sort it out. I managed to contact the hotel and transferred the outstanding amount that evening. Some people took great delight in asking me whether I’d paid before leaving the remaining hotels on the trip.
Kob Inn had a wonderful bar – it seemed as if one were on the bridge of a ship at sea. They also had an extensive cocktail menu which included Long Island Iced Tea. Some of us attempted to drink our way through the cocktail menu. Unfortunately (or should that be fortunately) I did not quite succeed – at the end of the evening the Pina Colada and Margerita were still on the list.
Some more strafdoppe were issued that evening – Lawrence for “abandoning” Leon (and moving to another room) and Geoff for not using the whistle (given to him by Marius on Day 2).
Day 7 – Wednesday – Kob Inn “off day”
We all went for a short ride to our lunch destination. Just before reaching the lunch spot we had to cross a muddy “puddle”. After getting across without dropping the bike in the foul smelling water I promptly put my foot into a depression surrounding a small shrub. This was the 1st of my many sidestand incidents on the trip.
On the way back Geoff took me to the river next to the hotel to show me the ferryman. After watching Geoff almost put his GSA down in the sand I immediately demonstrated how it should be done. As I picked myself up all I heard was Geoff chuckling to himself. Geoff then made the fatal mistake of telling me that my riding had improved over the past few days in the Transkei. I promptly showed him just how much I’d improved (not!) on the short incline back to the hotel. Fortunately this did not involve another sidestand incident – only some dismal clutch control due to the elevated position of my handlebars (as I was to find out later).
Day 8 – Thursday – Kob Inn to Ocean View
It rained during the night and we were all somewhat apprehensive about the day’s ride. Geoff explained the “joys” of riding in mud – something about “the bike has a mind of its own in mud, you have no control over where it goes”. With that reassuring bit of information we set off on the shortened (175km) route to Ocean View.
Jinx, Leon, Kevin and I were requested to ride behind Geoff. We fell back often in the first few kilometres and Geoff has to keep encouraging us to keep up, otherwise we would not yet to Ocean View before dark.
in the mud
After a particularly long muddy section (with many bikes going down) Geoff decided to lead us through the veldt to avoid the muddy sections. Thankfully we soon got to dry roads again and the riding became easier.
We descended a stunning mountain pass, had to ride around Dwesa Nature Reserve as the new park manager would not allow bikes through, went to the famous “hole-in-the-wall” view site and generally had an awesome day. I had so much fun riding behind Geoff that I hardly noticed that I was standing on the pegs the whole day – probably covered 160km standing! For the first time the whole “stand up, look up, open up” mantra made sense and felt right (thanks Pete for rotating my handlebars). Today was my new all time most fun day on the bike.
Neville (“Borselkop”) was issued a strafdop for cleaning his boots and riding gear immediately after arriving at Ocean View and not joining everyone at the pub for a drink. Neville had the cleanest riding gear and bike throughout the tour.
Saying of the day: “Before the tour I couldn’t spell “standing”, now I are standing”.
Day 9 – Friday 20 – Ocean View “off day”
Today I bravely (or should that be stupidly?) went with on the “extreme style” off day outride. Geoff had commented that “my kop is nou reg” and that the skill would follow.
The ride started at 09h00 and we were back at the hotel at 17h15 – a very long day in the saddle (OK, so I wasn’t always exactly in the saddle!) to cover about 110km of just about every type of off road terrain known to man. There were tricky forest sections with very little space next to 2m deep trenches, very steep ascents and descents, river crossings, a sandy river crossings, loose stones, grassy surfaces – you get the idea, everything except snow and ice.
I had numerous “offs” throughout the day – OK, 10 to be exact! Fortunately very little damage to my trusty 1200GS (bent gear lever, left indicator lens and left mirror slightly bent) and my ego took a little beating. I remember really struggling with the clutch control and Geoff repeatedly commenting on my crazy handlebar setup and just shaking his head. I readjusted the handlebars during the lunch stop but by then my lack of skill and fitness was really starting to kick-in and things did not improve much.
What really stands out about the day’s ride was how much I enjoyed it (yes, in spite of the many offs), how much I learned and the tremendous “gees” of the group – riders, pillions and the “spectators” following in the Cruiser. Everyone pitched in to help when needed and offered encouragement throughout the day. A big thank you to all those that helped pick my bike up on numerous occasions!
Yup, you’ve guessed it! – this became the new all time best day on the bike.
The day’s ride was concluded with some more strafdoppe – Leon (for not assisting fellow riders) got a dop from every rider, Geoff for riding Gunter’s bike halfway across a river crossing, Tiaan for making Janetta cry after a sidestand incident, me for dropping the bike and running down very steep embankment into a pole.
So all I need to do before next year's Extreme tour is:
1. Get fit 2. Acquire some riding skills 3. Sort out my handlebars.
The first two are easy, but I'm not sure the third can be sorted in such a short timeframe.
All good things must unforunately come to an end ...
The tour was awesome - great accommodation, excellent food (and drinks), a wide variety of riding conditions, good weather - but the best "ingredient" by far was the absolutely marvellous bunch of people! You all made this an unforgetable experience.
Respect! and until next time.
The scary thing is that I'm struggling to sleep on my own now without all the sound effects that Leon provided!
I thought we agreed not to talk out the bedroom.
What happens there stays there.
report completed.
Thanks, Tony! Your good attitude and unflagging sense of humour (ok, except for that ONE time...) in spite of some hard knocks was an inspiration.
Thanks for the report, enjoyed it.
You can stand proud Tony.............your progress through out the tour was amazing.
Well done and thanks for the report.
Hi Tony , great report and fantastic accomplishment on completing the Tour , best regards Hamid
Tony, nice read, is agreat trip report!
I don't understand women!
After this trip I offered to make supper, which I did. Di looked quite put out that I served a selection of delicious energy bars. Can't work out why, they were ok a week ago and now they're not!!!
Well Tony, just this Sunday I was ridding with Andre' from the Ceres Karoo thinking about this dude that rode with us the last time we rode this road. he kept us up at +-60km/h all the way.
And now look at you.!!!! Ridding Transki and all.
Respect man..!!!!! Well done..!!!!
Cheers
Charl
Tony do not forget to check all those loose bolts. I did and this was the result.
Dust do get in everywhere
She does look sad without her dress on.
Things to make note off:
Do an quick oil change. The engines worked hard while we where there.
Airfilter was a bit blocked. I just used a vacuum cleaner to clean it.
Check the bolts. I had one or two that was a bit loose.
After the wash use some silicon spray on all moving parts. The wash do not remove all the dust and it makes the parts a bit sticky.