Roads to Roam - Africa Awaits

11/06/2024

The Geography of South Africa - very interesting and well done YT video:

Go to https://ground.news/factspark to stay fully informed. Subscribe through my link for 40% off unlimited access this month.South Africa is arguably the mo...

28/05/2024

Fishing on the Breede River. It's a tough life but someone's got to do it!

21/05/2024

Sunset on the Breede River, about a month ago. What a privilege to experience such a breathtaking view! Cell phone image, no filters used, no touching up afterwards - though my cell camera is pretty clever and adjust the settings itself for the best image. But this is pretty close to reality on the day!

15/05/2024

Three weeks at the panel beaters but my baby is back! I even managed to finally get my vanity plates sorted and fitted (best you have hair on your teeth for that one - but that is a story for next time). Here she is, almost brand spanking new! Sshhhhhtttt.... do you hear that.... The Troops wants to go camping!

10/05/2024

Six weeks in this country made such an impression on me, cannot wait to go back!
https://fb.watch/rZMgiMn5EX/

09/05/2024

Lovely autumn day, perfect to explore my favourite place near home... Kogelbay Beach on Workers Day. The advantage of a misty, drizzly start is that once the sun stuck it's head out, I had the beach virtually to myself!

03/05/2024

Yes I've been a bit quiet.... too many public holidays, and not enough time in between to catch up with work. Also, while on holiday, had a bit of a situation with a bike driving into me.... Thankfully there were no serious injuries but I'm still a bit of a wreck when driving.

I came out of a corner (in the cruiser) and saw 2 bikes approaching me, driving abreast, one in my lane. I took my foot off the accelerator, moved left the few cms I could and put my left wheels on the verge. All the bikes had to do was tighten up their formation and they could pass me in the other lane, still driving abreast.

To my utter horror the bike in my lane moved to his right (my left) and kept coming straight at me. I hit the brakes and steered the Cruiser off the road. I could not believe it but the GS (BMW1200) followed suit. I'm pretty sure I came to a standstill before the bike hit me but the noise upon connecting was nerve shattering. I saw the rider bounce off my bonnet, both rider and pillion flung backwards and then falling sideways off the bike. All in slow motion.

I got out of the Cruiser ready to collect limbs, torso and head from different locations, stump blood flow, put limbs on ice, etc. (don't ask, 17 years of first aid training and watching all 20million episodes of Grey's Anatomy), but both rider and pillion were back on their feet by the time my feet touched terra firma. More bikes arrived and soon everybody was speaking in tongues unbeknown to me. Imagine being a stranger in your own country - where you were in an accident, and you don't understand a word anybody is saying.

Turned out it was a group from Poland on rental bikes, they drive on the other side ( refuse to call it the right side) of the road and the rider's instinct is to keep right to avoid a collision, not left as we do in SA.

A doctor in the group checked both rider and pillion and pronounced them as alive and OK (I still could not believe it), but we decided to call an ambulance to have them checked out in any case. Eventually we dislodged the GS from the Cruiser's bumper, I warmed up the glow plugs 3 times (as I always do) and the 1HZ roared into life within a split second. The Poles have now dubbed her "The Tank" .

I drove the 10kms to my campsite outside Greyton for the night, picked my spot on the banks of the Riviersonderend, opened a Savanna and started shaking. Driving the road again 3 days later, and dissecting the incident in my head, I came to realise how lucky the GS and it's occupants were - no thanks to the rider!

I drive slowly on gravel, "gravel travel" to me means chill time. I slow down more when approaching a turn, as advanced driver training taught me to accelerate out of the bend (not hit brakes in the bend if I'm going too fast). And I'm naturally cautious, so I tend to follow the rules. So I was already going slow, and slowed down more for the bend, which enabled me to stop a split second before the bike hit me and thus lessen the impact.

I always drive in 4x4 high range on gravel, so I always had control of the vehicle (OK this was to my benefit not the biker's!) - imagine losing control and hitting both bikes!

I chose to keep my plastic bumper on the Cruiser and not convert to a steel bull bar - the impact for the bike's occupants may have been a lot worse coming to a dead standstill against a steel bull bar (though may have been a lot less damage to the Cruiser). (Lots of weighing up to replace it with a steel bull bar with insurance money, but I decided against it. For now)

It is a a busy gravel road, between apple farms, and it is picking season - read "many trucks". There was a truck behind me and I was prepared to pull over and let him overtake me if he was riding my ass - but he kept his distance and we were comfortably driving along at less than 60km/hr (as per my GPS recorded tracks) - if I let him past, the GS would've hit the truck not my Cruiser, and I don't want to guess how that would've ended.

All's well that ends well they say - besides me still getting pins and needles on my scalp when I see a bike (or any vehicle!) approaching from the front and encroaching into my lane. Not to mention the chill up my spine when a bike opens up throttle near me - the roar of the engine literally sets my nerves on fire. And I love adventure bikes. I used to ride back up for an adventure bike company, so I have a lot of patience with them, until a few years ago I was going to get a bike myself. I give them their space to enjoy the road as much as I do, I love that little sideways nod or the left hand coming out with two fingers extended, to say thank you for moving over to let them overtake.

It's only been 6 weeks since the incident, so I'm sure my nerves will improve with time. But for now, I'm pooping in my pants on a regular basis.

Meantime my baby is at the panel beaters. Cosmetic repairs only - new bumper, new grill, new headlights, and panel beat the dent out of my bonnet where the rider's helmet landed. Would've been quicker but I have that special raptor paint on the car - which, by the way, is helmet proof - and we had to find a slot to get the raptor paint done.

Hopefully will be reunited with my baby next week!

23/03/2023

Africa, we love our wildlife!

10/06/2022

Finally, finally, FINALLY I added something to the Troopy instead of just ripping stuff out! Second filter fitted to deal with the "impure" diesel you find in many places in Africa, diff and diff-lock breathers extended so they don't suck water during water crossings, and my 270 degree awning fitted. Super excited!
Still have to rip out the old floor, but I've received my solar battery system, and the water tanks will be fitted come July. Then need to treat bare spots for rust, do insulation, put in a new floor, and build the interior. Sounds easy but I see another 6 to 8 months of work!

20/05/2022

Third Bridge being repaired after more than a year of being out of action!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1195223277581254/posts/1439866966450216/

28/02/2022

14/02/2022

Maabwe Bay, Lake Kariba - awesome campsite on the shores of Lake Kariba, with owners Margot and Richard going out of their way to make your stay at their camp as comfortable as possible, and going out of their way to smooth your travels through Zimbabwe. Highly recommended stay during your Zimbabwean travels!

Camping in Zimbabwe, on the shores of Lake Kariba, near BingaA review of camping at Maabwe Bay Chalets & Campsites. Maabwe Bay, located on the shores of Lake...

31/01/2022

This was posted on another page that I cannot share. I tried to rescue a drowning squirrel from a loo in a game hide once, and got bitten for my efforts - I can so relate to this story!

I hate to run over animals...and I really hate it on a motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me. I barely had time to brace for the impact.
Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels can take care of themselves!
Inches before impact, the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was standing on his hind legs and facing the oncoming Valkyrie with steadfast resolve in his little beady eyes. His mouth opened, and at the last possible second, he screamed and leapt! I am pretty sure the scream was squirrel for, "Banzai!" or maybe, "Die you gravy-sucking, heathen scum!" as the leap was spectacular and he flew over the windshield and impacted me squarely in the chest.
Instantly he set upon me. If I did not know better I would have sworn he brought twenty of his little buddies along for the attack. Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of activity. As I was dressed only in a light t-shirt, summer riding gloves, and jeans this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry little tornado was doing some damage!
Picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and leather gloves puttering maybe 25mph down a quiet residential street...and in the fight of his life with a squirrel. And losing.
I grabbed for him with my left hand and managed to snag his tail. With all my strength I flung the evil rodent off the left of the bike, almost running into the right curb as I recoiled from the throw.
That should have done it. The matter should have ended right there. It really should have. The squirrel could have sailed into one of the pristinely kept yards and gone on about his business, and I could have headed home. No one would have been the wiser.
But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary pissed-off squirrel.
This was an evil attack squirrel of death!
Somehow he caught my gloved finger with one of his little hands, and with the force of the throw swung around and with a resounding thump and an amazing impact he landed square on my back and resumed his rather anti-social and extremely distracting activities. He also managed to take my left glove with him!
The situation was not improved. Not improved at all. His attacks were continuing, and now I could not reach him.
I was startled to say the least. The combination of the force of the throw, only having one hand (the throttle hand) on the handlebars, and my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle of a Valkyrie can only have one result. Torque. This is what the Valkyrie is made for, and she is very, very good at it.
The engine roared as the front wheel left the pavement. The squirrel screamed in anger. The Valkyrie screamed in ecstasy. I screamed in...well...I just plain screamed.
Now picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a slightly squirrel torn t-shirt, and only one leather glove roaring at maybe 70mph and rapidly accelerating down a quiet residential street...on one wheel and with a demonic squirrel on his back. The man and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder.
With the sudden acceleration I was forced to put my other hand back on the handlebars and try to get control of the bike. This was leaving the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to crash into somebody's tree, house, or parked car. Also, I had not yet figured out how to release the throttle...my brain was just simply overloaded. I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little affect against the massive power of the big cruiser.
About this time the squirrel decided that I was not paying sufficient attention to this very serious battle (maybe he is a Scottish attack squirrel of death), and he came around my neck and got IN my full-face helmet with me. As the faceplate closed partway and he began hissing in my face I am quite sure my screaming changed tone and intensity. It seemed to have little affect on the squirrel however.
The rpm's on The Dragon maxed out (I was not concerned about shifting at the moment) and her front end started to drop.
Now picture the large man on the huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a very ragged torn t-shirt, and wearing one leather glove, roaring at probably 80mph, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel's tail sticking out his mostly closed full-face helmet. By now the screams are probably getting a little hoarse.
Finally I got the upper hand...l managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of my helmet, and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it worked...sort-of. Spectacularly sort-of, so to speak.
Picture the scene. You are a cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some paperwork.
Suddenly a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a torn t-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing one leather glove, moving at probably 80mph on one wheel, and screaming bloody murder roars by and with all his strength throws a live squirrel gr***de directly into your police car.
I heard screams. They weren't mine...
I managed to get the big motorcycle under directional control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke at the stop sign at a busy cross street.
I would have returned to fess up (and to get my glove back). I really would have. Really But for two things. First, the cops did not seem interested or the slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. One of them was on his back in the front yard of the house they had been parked in front of and was rapidly crabbing backwards away from the patrol car. The other was standing in the street and was training a riot shotgun on the police cruiser.
So the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to "let the professionals handle it" anyway. That was one thing. The other? Well, I swear I could see the squirrel, standing in the back window of the patrol car among shredded and flying pieces of foam and upholstery, and shaking his little fist at me. I think he was shooting me the finger...
That is one dangerous squirrel. And now he has a patrol car...
I took a deep breath, turned on my turn-signal, made an easy right turn, and steadaely left the neighborhood.
As for my easy and slow drive home? Bag it. Faced with a choice of 80mph cars and inattentive drivers, or the evil, demonic, attack squirrel of death...I'll take my chances with the freeway.

28/01/2022

High rainfall in Namibia's catchment areas are filling up those dry riverbeds, bringing welcome relief to the desert and raising the water table below to supply moisture in the dry season. What an awesome sight!

https://fb.watch/aPdWCQ48vH/

19/07/2021

The Klipspringer Hiking Trail is one of the lesser known trails in the Steenbras Nature Reserve. It starts from Clarence Drive, across the road from the entrance to the Kogelbay Resort, and runs along the foot of Kogelberg until it comes out on Clarence Drive again, opposite the entrance to Klippiesbaai. You can either return the same way, or cross Clarence Drive (take care!) and stroll back along the sandy beach to Kogelbay Resort where you will have to cross Clarence Drive again to get to your car.

The circular route is 4,6km long and includes a short but steep ascend over some rocky patches (no scrambling required) before it swings east, offering beautiful panoramic views over Kogelbay. From here the trail is mostly flat (or gradually descending back to Clarence Drive) with a clear, flat path underfoot. After the rains there were lots of water on the path, and little streams (with wooden bridges) gurgling down towards the beach. Flowers were starting to bud while sunbirds were flitting about between the proteas.

The concrete bridge over the last (and biggest) stream had broken, and I had to either turn around or take my shoes off to stay dry – I opted for the latter and enjoyed a tea break while waiting for my feet to defrost in the winter sun after exposing them to the chilly mountain stream. A beautiful trail, well suited to beginners and families with young children – allocate about 2 hours to complete the trail at leisure, or more if you feel like a swim, a picnic or just exploring some of the other tracks leading off from this one.

19/07/2021

South Africa becomes the first country in the world to dedicate a day towards celebrating our vitally important Marine Protected Areas: https://www.aquarium.co.za/blog/entry/10-reasons-to-celebrate-sa-first-ever-marine-protected-areas-mpa-day

It's official! On Sunday, 1 August 2021, South African will become the first nation to celebrate a day dedicated to the conservation of critical ocean areas which allow marine life to thrive, reproduce and grow. South African has 42 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), all of which protect crucial habitat...