wow what a trip, sound like you are having fun.
Keep the reports coming.
Keep the reports coming.
GS_Rafiki
Guest
Aus to the Orange river...
The next morning I carry out repairs. I replace the 2 H7 globes in my headlight cluster. It's quite a fiddly job, especially if you do not have hands like a mid-wife, or a concert pianist. Patience is a virtue. I depart Aus, taking the tar road down to Rosh Pinah, where I can top up the tank.
Rosh Pinah is a mining town. The tar road ends, and I take the direction towards Noordoewer.
Wow, this looks awesome...
This will turn into a very challenging ride, today. The road is very windy in places, and the surface constantly changes from sand to rocky, and or all mixed. So, I get to really work the big GS, using the rear wheel to control and steer the bike. Unfortunatly I have no one to capture these moments on camera, as I'm alone, and too busy doing the riding...
Along the Orange river, the view is fantastic. On the other side lies the Richtersveldt NP, and all this is part of a Transfrontier National Park. Along this road I encounter signs, "Private Property - Keep Out!" Small Diamond mining operations all along this road. The area is notorious for attracting the some dodgy mf's, and several incidents in the past have made the headlines. But, the road today is empty so far...
...and it is very hot... did I see 50deg C on the computer?
The closed in valleys, flanked by rock walls, and the green river bed contrast beautifully...
And the figs growing out of the rocks close to the river, give cool shade.
What a lovely piece of road... but I musn't get complacent. a little later, around a blind bend I encounter a truck. Traffic? No problem...
I reach the confluence of the Fish and Orange river. Yes, there are pools of water amongst the smoothed out rocks, containing some sort of fish.
The causeway across the Fish river, and the road goes on...
This view goes on for quite a long while, as the road leads away from the river into real rocky terrain, and I have to ride out of my skin, to maintain focus, as it is incredibly difficult in 50deg C heat. My 3L Camelback has payed for itself, over and over again...
Many hours later, I eventually find shade, and a hut to sleep in at the Felix Unite River Camp, near Noordoewer. Lovely place. Just what I need, now. I first have to rescue a massive red roman 'spider' (Solifugae are not true spiders, which are from a different order, Araneae. Like scorpions and harvestmen, they belong to a distinct arachnid order.) He/she's caught in the shower, and needs help getting out. We catch him/her, and release him/her into the grass, but he/she quickly disappears into the maze of reeds which make up the wall of the hut.
Now I will chill out and wait out the afternoon heat. Later when the sun sets, I will venture up to the bar for some refreshing Tafel lagers and a decent scoff.
Tommorrow, it's back on tar for the long haul east towards Joburg.
The next morning I carry out repairs. I replace the 2 H7 globes in my headlight cluster. It's quite a fiddly job, especially if you do not have hands like a mid-wife, or a concert pianist. Patience is a virtue. I depart Aus, taking the tar road down to Rosh Pinah, where I can top up the tank.
Rosh Pinah is a mining town. The tar road ends, and I take the direction towards Noordoewer.
Wow, this looks awesome...
This will turn into a very challenging ride, today. The road is very windy in places, and the surface constantly changes from sand to rocky, and or all mixed. So, I get to really work the big GS, using the rear wheel to control and steer the bike. Unfortunatly I have no one to capture these moments on camera, as I'm alone, and too busy doing the riding...
Along the Orange river, the view is fantastic. On the other side lies the Richtersveldt NP, and all this is part of a Transfrontier National Park. Along this road I encounter signs, "Private Property - Keep Out!" Small Diamond mining operations all along this road. The area is notorious for attracting the some dodgy mf's, and several incidents in the past have made the headlines. But, the road today is empty so far...
...and it is very hot... did I see 50deg C on the computer?
The closed in valleys, flanked by rock walls, and the green river bed contrast beautifully...
And the figs growing out of the rocks close to the river, give cool shade.
What a lovely piece of road... but I musn't get complacent. a little later, around a blind bend I encounter a truck. Traffic? No problem...
I reach the confluence of the Fish and Orange river. Yes, there are pools of water amongst the smoothed out rocks, containing some sort of fish.
The causeway across the Fish river, and the road goes on...
This view goes on for quite a long while, as the road leads away from the river into real rocky terrain, and I have to ride out of my skin, to maintain focus, as it is incredibly difficult in 50deg C heat. My 3L Camelback has payed for itself, over and over again...
Many hours later, I eventually find shade, and a hut to sleep in at the Felix Unite River Camp, near Noordoewer. Lovely place. Just what I need, now. I first have to rescue a massive red roman 'spider' (Solifugae are not true spiders, which are from a different order, Araneae. Like scorpions and harvestmen, they belong to a distinct arachnid order.) He/she's caught in the shower, and needs help getting out. We catch him/her, and release him/her into the grass, but he/she quickly disappears into the maze of reeds which make up the wall of the hut.
Now I will chill out and wait out the afternoon heat. Later when the sun sets, I will venture up to the bar for some refreshing Tafel lagers and a decent scoff.
Tommorrow, it's back on tar for the long haul east towards Joburg.
this is great. next instalment please!
Tractorpilot
Registered user
Awesome! Looking forward to more
TP
TP
mystic
Registered user
Great pics and report. 
....... which brought back lotsa memories for me! Rode through the southern part of Namibia ..... in April 2006 ....... on a friend's 1150ADV out of Cape Town. Temperatures clearly not as warm as on your trip, thank heavens!
Awesomely beautiful landscapes, and when you could find them, just great friendly people. Discovered after the trip, that Namibia is the second most sparsely populated country after Australia!
Wish I could go back ...... it's a big and beautiful world out there!
At the risk of hijacking your thread
......... a few pics to add to yours.
....... which brought back lotsa memories for me! Rode through the southern part of Namibia ..... in April 2006 ....... on a friend's 1150ADV out of Cape Town. Temperatures clearly not as warm as on your trip, thank heavens!
Awesomely beautiful landscapes, and when you could find them, just great friendly people. Discovered after the trip, that Namibia is the second most sparsely populated country after Australia!
Wish I could go back ...... it's a big and beautiful world out there!
At the risk of hijacking your thread
......... a few pics to add to yours.
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
mystic
Registered user
GS_Rafiki
Guest
Hijacking my thread is not cool...
F*ck off, mystic, and start your own thread!
Great pics and report.
....... which brought back lotsa memories for me! Rode through the southern part of Namibia ..... in April 2006 ....... on a friend's 1150ADV out of Cape Town. Temperatures clearly not as warm as on your trip, thank heavens!
Awesomely beautiful landscapes, and when you could find them, just great friendly people. Discovered after the trip, that Namibia is the second most sparsely populated country after Australia!
Wish I could go back ...... it's a big and beautiful world out there!
At the risk of hijacking your thread
F*ck off, mystic, and start your own thread!
mystic
Registered user
Rafiki ........ as you're so offended ...... you have my fulsome apologies fella!
No offense intended!
Looking forward to your ride back to J'burg.
Right, I f*ck off then.
Last edited:
GS_Rafiki
Guest
Apologies accepted...
Mystic, apologies accepted. It's just, I wouldn't have done (highjacked) that to your ride report, at least not without checking with you first.
Anyway, if you want to go back and do it again, check out www.karoo-biking.de/en/ and visualise doing it again. They've got a trip planned for 2009. The pound against the rand exchange is in your favour... so just do it!
I hope it'll get you through another uk winter, must be tough, not seeing blue skies for long periods of time. And drinking warm beer... Mind you, a pint of guinness will help.
Cheers
Mystic, apologies accepted. It's just, I wouldn't have done (highjacked) that to your ride report, at least not without checking with you first.
Anyway, if you want to go back and do it again, check out www.karoo-biking.de/en/ and visualise doing it again. They've got a trip planned for 2009. The pound against the rand exchange is in your favour... so just do it!
I hope it'll get you through another uk winter, must be tough, not seeing blue skies for long periods of time. And drinking warm beer... Mind you, a pint of guinness will help.
Cheers
mystic
Registered user
..................hope it'll get you through another uk winter, must be tough, not seeing blue skies for long periods of time. And drinking warm beer... Mind you, a pint of guinness will help.
Cheers
You're about right with the UK winter, depressing or what! Cold, wet and grey, without no sign of a let-up
Need some sun NOW
Great trip & pics, Rafiki. Look forward to conclusion of the trip. As a new GSer with bike but no travels under my belt yet, you're inspiring me....
indaba
Registered user
Rafiki,
Brilliant report - keep 'em coming. The wife and I are planning on riding through Namibia late next year and you are showing us that that is going to be some trip
Adrian
Brilliant report - keep 'em coming. The wife and I are planning on riding through Namibia late next year and you are showing us that that is going to be some trip
Adrian
Nice report until you proved that you are from Joburg with your aggressive attitude
This is a sharing community of like minded individuals riding their bikes all over the show so remember Rafiki you are special......just like the rest of us 
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