THE DIRTFELLAS | DUAL ADVENTURE TOURS AND ACCESSORIES
DUAL ADVENTURE TOURS AND ACCESSORIES
Namakwaland Blomme toer. (26/08/2013)
Posted on 2013/10/11 by Dirtfellas
Dis baie mistig terwyl ons die fietse pak. Die KTM hou sy naam (Kom Tou My) gestand. Na ons hom aan die gang gekry het word petrol ingegooi en so vat ons die natterige grondpad via die Botterkloofpas na Clanwilliam. By Moedverloor en Papkuilsfontein kruising neem ons fotos en die blomme skitter in die son. Min sou ons weet dat die pad ‘n modderasie sou wees met ons volgende besoek, later in die week aan Papkuilsfontein en dié se waterval.
Mistigheid in Nieuwoudtville
Kruispad Moedverloor en Pakuilsfontein
Ons stop weer in Botterkloofpas vir foto’s
Ons ry verby die “Ingelsman se graf” en ry ‘n ent op met Pakhuispas wat nou teerpad is. Stop toe maar by Travellers Rest, en geniet ” koffie en toebroodjies. Die fietse trek baie aandag en almal wil gesels, oor dit wat ons doen, waarnatoe ons op pad is.
Die weer begin toe trek, maar terwyl ons oor die “Hoek se berg” pas ry, met uitsig na die Biedouwvallei, kom die son uit en die mooiste prentjie lê voor ons, en geruime tyd word hier spandeer.
Biedouw Pas / Hoek se Berg pas Biedouwvallei
Ons Fotograaf, My Pillion
Nog vol smiles voor die 4×4 roete aangepak word
n Ver pad lê voor. Ná Wuperthal, lê die tegniese deel nog voor, al langs die 4×4 Eselbankpas, deur die Cederberge, oor Uitkykpas en Niewoudtspas, na Rondegat langs die Clanwilliam dam.
Wuperthal se gemeentskap is baie vriendelik, en ons geniet die ou Sendelings kerkie se eenvoud, met die handgeskrewe muurbehangsels, bybelversies. Die preekstoel is iets besonders.
Hannes en Antoinette
Seker nie vir vet predikers gemaak nie
My vrou, as my Pillion, het nie ‘n idee wat voorlê op pad na Eselbank nie. Ek moet vele keer bevestig dat volgens my wete, die 4×4 roete die enigste pad na Matjiesrivier en later na, Uitkykpas is. Ek het geweet ek moet niks sê nie a.g.v haar hoogte vrees en ook omdat dit die ander Antoinette se eerste tegniese grondpad pas sou wees, met die KTM.
Haal weer asem
Alles verloop wel. Almal haal diep asem en ons neem ‘ n welkome rus, by een van die kruispaaie, tussen die helder pers blomme.
Antoinette haal darem weer asem, na die 4×4 bergpas.
Mrs Ballz haal ook weer diep asem.
Uitkykpas en Algeria kampplek in die Cederberge is iets om te aanskou, en die Niewoudtspas is slegs ‘n breeze teen wat ons deur is.
Olifantsrivier naby Clanwilliam
Die Olifants rivier oorstroom en ons ry rustig en gemaklik tot by Rondegat. Nadat ons afgepak het ry ons die sowat 13 km na Clanwilliam en geniet die gasvryheid van die personeel by die hotel. Die Koues word terdeë geniet, en is net die medisyne vir die moeë lywe. Die 13km grondpad langs die dam, in die aand, met pillion, was nog ‘n eerste. Almal geniet ‘n warm stort, terwyl die kaggelvuur brand. Ons gesels tot laat en die forum naam “Mrs Ballz” word gebore. Daar is blykbaar ‘duike’ in die KTM se tenk
Kyk gerus na Dirtfellas Toer Deel 1
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, ADVENTURE TOURS, Adventure travel, biking, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Boesmanland, Cederberge, Dirtfellas, DS Motorcycling, Dual motorcycle adventure, Ernst de Vries, Namaqua flowers, Namaqualand, Niewoudtville, South Africa, Westcoast	| Leave a comment
Namakwaland Blomme toer. Dag 1 (25/08/2013)
Posted on 2013/09/13 by Dirtfellas
Die voorbereiding was klaar teen Vrydag 23 Aug.
Vrydag 23 /08/13
De Vries bagasie
Net my broer Mias se troue Saterdag 24 Aug. en dan….
Sondag oggend, 3h45 (25/08), groet ons die kinders en ry om Hannes en Antoinette op te tel. Die 1200km na Nieuwoudtville lê voor, maar die opgewondenheid werk die moegheid van die vorige aand tee.
By Pink Flamingo, naby Kimberley ruil ons bestuurders, en kort voor lank draai ons af by Britstown in rigting, Carnarvon, Williston.
Die blomme begin hier en daar wys net voor Carnarvon.
Williston is die geboorte dorp van my oupa en ons verken die welbekende, “Williston Mall”. Jammer die plek is toe op die Sondag middag, maar dit lyk baie interessant. ‘n Opvolg besoek is reeds bespreek om hier oor te bly op ‘n volgende toer.
Williston Mall Menu
So ry ons Calvinia in, en word begroet met blomme op sypaadjies en oral in tuine.
Ons stop by die grootste Posbus in die wêreld, en bewonder die blommetuin reg langs diè posbus terwyl, fotos geneem word.
Wereld se grootste Posbus
Tussen Calvinia en Nieuwoudtville stop ons 4 keer by “stop/go’s”, maar kan darem die blomme in die veld van nader bekyk. So langs die pad tel ons toe ook sommer ‘ n souvenir vir die Dirtfellas Pub op, maar dit is n ander storie.
Laat middag arriveer ons by Hannes se ma in Nieuwoudtville, die sleepwa word afgelaai en die fietse reggekry vir die volgende dag se rit na Clanwilliam en Weskus.
Later gaan kyk ons na die sonsondergang oor die Knersvlakte, by “Die Kranse” bo die Vanrhynspas. Die eerste keer wat ek die Knersvlakte sien met so baie poele water.
Sonsondergangs by Vanrhynspas “Die Kranse”
Na ‘n heerlike aandete en kuier, kruip ons in.
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, ADVENTURE TOURS, Adventure travel, biking, BMW F800GS, Calvinia Vleisfees, Dirtfellas, DS Motorcycling, Dual motorcycle adventure, Namaqua flowers, Namaqualand, Niewoudtville, South Africa	| Leave a comment
Full ride report when we are back
Posted on 2013/08/27 by Dirtfellas
The internet conection very slow. Photos etc will be posted next week.
Posted on 2013/08/18 by Dirtfellas
Most of the preparations are done. Motorbikes loaded. Panniers packed.
Namaqualand had severe rainfall in the last couple of days, over the weekend the roads were inaccessible due to the heavy rain. Predictions are that the rain will continue to fall until Wednesday, with sunny days to follow, in the Nieuwoudville area.
According to the locals, they need the follow-up rain for the flowers to stay longer. The flowers will be beautiful following the sunny days.
A couple of pictures of the preparation, during the weekend.
Sorting items to pack.
BMW F800GS and a BMW R1200GS loaded.
If you would like to read another ride report of a fellow traveller to the region, click on the following link. http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=131894.0
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: ADVENTURE TOURS, BMW F800GS, Namaqua flowers	| Leave a comment
18 Days to go until our Namaqua Flower Tour
Posted on 2013/08/07 by Dirtfellas
Last preparations is now getting finalised for our upcoming tour. Weather patterns are being studied. We receive daily photo updates of flowers.
All the routes have been finalised. Overnight stops booked and paid
This is what we expect to see.
We are planning to Trailer the Motorbikes down to Niewoudtville NC via Kimberley, on 25 August 2013 Total of 1200km, from where we will depart on 26 August 2013 with pillions on the 271 km “Gravel Travel” to the Cederberg region, past Moedverloor, Wuperthal, then a 2 spoor road to Cederberg pass, to overnight at Rondegat, overlooking the Clanwilliam dam.
Day 3 consist of Tar & Gravel Roads and we will travel to Elandsbay, from where the coastline will be followed past Saldanha Bay and Paternoster to Langebaan and overnight in Club Mykonos. Dinner will be at the Boesmanland Plaas Kombuis.
Day 4 promises to be a Flower day through The Westcoast Park, then off to Darling, where a photo must be taken at “Evita se Peron” and then following the N7 on backroads back to Clanwilliam. Overnight Accommodation at Boskloof.
Day 5’s highlight apart from more flowers and nice gravel roads, will be the round route over Gifberg Pass, outside Vanrhynsdorp, and back to Niewoudtville over the Van Rhyns Pass.
Day 6 and 7 will be small round trips from Nieuwoudtville as our base. We all looking forward to mingle with the locals at The Calvinia Vleisfees on the weekend of 30 & 31 August.
On 1 September we will return to Jhb.
Follow our “Flower adventure trip”.
We will keep posting as long as the internet connectivity permits.
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, biking, BMW 1150GS ADV, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Calvinia Vleisfees, Cederberge, Dual motorcycle adventure, Namaqualand, Niewoudtville, Westcoast	| Leave a comment
Katse Dam Tour Final Day
Posted on 2013/04/12 by Dirtfellas
With the Sunrise as a backdrop, Anton read from the Bible, and we were ready to take the road home.
It was very sad to see the Small towns destruction. Outside Virginia it seems that the entire town has been carried away.
It is only walls still standing, roofs, windows are all gone.
We traveled through Kroonstad and stop in Parys for lunch.
The packed GS’s and KTM draw much attention from the locals, and fellow bikers on their Sunday breakfast run with their “Plastic Torpedo’s” Maybe they also dream of doing the “Gravel Travel” one day.
The Harley gang became a discussion point and later the joke of the day. A ridiculous looking couple in full Harley Bling kit, Wide hat, Boots, Leathers, etc. was strangely looked at by everybody. Quite a show when they both departed each on their own “Noisy Milwaukee Vibrator”, sorry Harley Davidson. The Harley guys even had a good chuckle. Luckily a GS don’t need tassels to show in which direction the bike is moving.
Each of us became more quiet, quite normal on the last day of a trip, reminiscing on the great trip we had.
Our thanks goes to Manny and staff at BMW Clearwater Motorad.
The general feeling is that we must do this more often.
At Sasol Pinehaven a last photo was taken and we said our goodbyes.
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, biking, BMW CLEARWATER, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Dual motorcycle adventure	| Leave a comment
Katse Dam Day 3
All the guys slept in this morning, and slowly started to pack the bikes, before we departed to fill the motorbikes at Fouriesburg. Petrol comsumption were checked between the GS’s and the KTM. The 800 were close in front of the 1200’s with 25km/Ltr.
Outside Fouriesburg we took the gravel road towards Ficksburg. Pumula Lodge looks like a possible overnight camp for the next stopover. The “Cosmos” flowers were spectacular.
After the group photo in Ficksburg, a great breakfast were enjoyed at the local Wimpy. The usual jokes were shared between us.
The boring tar road took us past Clocolan, Lindley & Marquard, where another group photo and stop were taken before we hit the gravel.
Lindeq is getting so handy with the KTM, and I had to open up to stay in front. At each stop it was just smiles from everyone. The gravel road was a GS heaven. After the fear of loose gravel was overcome.
Too soon we reached Aldam resort, and wisely decided to stay over in a chalet for the night. A massive rain storm came down late afternoon.
After we got rid of the rider gear, a couple of cold ones were enjoyed at the bar, before we took on the swimming pool.
The local crowd, were the subject of interesting conversations between us. Enough said.
The bar was again enjoyed to watch the Super Rugby, specially the Stormers game. It was nearly missed because we decided to have dinner before the game. After we waited 1.5 hours for the starters, we requested the kitchen staff to bring supper to the bar. Nothing can be said about the Chicken Snitzel, because it was definitely not worth the wait.
The Stormers came to the party with a deserved win, and so a great day came to an end.
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, ALDAM RESORT, BMW 1200GS, BMW CLEARWATER, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Dual motorcycle adventure	| Leave a comment
KATSE DAM DAG 2
Posted on 2013/03/27 by Dirtfellas
Voor Sonop was almal op om vroeg by Caledonspoort Grenspos te wees. Om 6 Uur gaan ons deur S.A. kant sonder moeite, en ook Lesotho was ‘n breeze.
Oral is kinders wat ver stap na hulle onderskeie skole, (Hier is nie mammas wat die arme bloedjies aflaai nie, almal stap skool toe.
Die klimaat is al redelik koel so vroeg en baie Basotho’s loop toegewikkel in die kenmerklike komberse werk toe. Die temperatuur val met +- 5-7 Grade in die skaduwee.
Met die dorpies agter ons, en verder uitmekaar, stop ons vir ‘n boude rek. Die landskap lyk kompleet soos Switzerland. Hierdie land is net nie so skoon soos daar nie, maar die uitsig is asemrowend.
Die 500m klim in 83km was rustig. Nie lank nie begin die magdom draaie, en ons klim ‘n 1000m in slegs 10 km. na die hoogste punt 3090m by Mafika Lisiu Pas. (2 de Hoogste pas in Afrika)
Na die Uitkykpunt daal jy vinnig vir die volgende 10Km na 2000m bo seevlak. en vir die verdere 60 km, om duisende draaie, bokke, beeste, skape, donkies en gehuggies tot by die 185m hoe damwal.
Ons was gelukkig om die 9uur toer mee te maak. Die toergids het haar goed gekwyt van haar saak.
Die koste om iets in Lesotho te doen was verstommend goedkoop. Dam toer R10. Die middagete met goeie diens by Katse Village Restaurant, net so billik, (R30 hamburger) Lindeq het waarlik gesmul aan die “Leak” sop.
Na die ete was niemand lus vir die honderde draaie terug na Camelroc nie.
Hier het ek weer besef dat om dieselfde roete terug te ry, is nie iets waarvan ek hou nie, en verkies altyd om ‘n ompad terug te ry na die kampplek.
Die uitsig by die Mafika Lusiu pas was asemrowend.
By Die kamplek het ons eers ‘n paar koues langs die swembad geniet. Later het ons weer soos konings geeet, waar Bennie die braaibroodjies en braai behartig het. (Jammer ou maat dit is van nou af jou werk om te braai).
Vroeg het dit stil geraak, na ‘n wonderlike ry dag in die “Mountain Kingdom”
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: Adventure motorcycling travel, biking, BMW CLEARWATER, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Camelroc, Dual motorcycle adventure, Lesotho	| Leave a comment
KATSE DAM DAG 1
Posted on 2013/03/26 by Dirtfellas
So is nog ‘n trip “Done en Dusted”
Weereens was daar baie gelag, en het ons baie fun gehad.
Ons is bly dat die Katoem se Battery, nie die toer gehijack het nie.
Na die foto nemery van die groep, kon ons toe 9h00 vertrek vanaf, BMW Motorad Clearwater.
Dankie aan Manny en staf vir die Koffie, BMW Caps en Toer Stickers.
Met die kort afstande kon ons luilekker ry, rustig op die dag se beplande grondpaaie, om net eers die “grondvoete” weer te vind.
Dit is tragies om te sien hoe ons land se paaie verval. ‘n Hele aantal “STOP & GO’s” maar die gras groei in die “nuwe” deel.
Ons het ook by Vegkop gestop vir ‘n “Boude rek”.
Slegs 33 Boere het met baie vegmoed die magdom Matabelles teengestaan.
By Clarens het ons by “The Grouse & Claret” koues ingeneem en die Honger mae gestil.
Na die stop vir brandstof in Fouriesburg het ons by “Camelroc” aangekom en kamp opgeslaan.
Categories: Uncategorized	| Tags: biking, BMW CLEARWATER, BMW F800GS, bmw motorad, Dual motorcycle adventure	| Leave a comment
Posted on 2013/03/20 by Dirtfellas
All packed – can’t wait to hit the road tomorrow. Leaving at 8am from BMW Clearwater Motorad