Yoh, we made it!
My original plan of giving Big Red a basic service before hitting the road was perhaps not the greatest idea, as a minor service turned in to a major service. What was meant to be a simple oil and oil filter change became a 'let's replace the alternator belt, spark plugs, oil etc etc' change. 'For the best' I thought, as I did not want any mechanical issues this time around.
Here's a hint for all vehicle owners: the cheapest mechanic is not necessarily the better mechanic. To get you the best price corners are usually cut, much to the detriment of your vehicle.
Luckily for me, I have the best bike mechanic around - Andrew King of Kingtek Motorcycles (www.kingtek.co.za). I am so privileged to have this guy as my close friend. He insists on me working on my bikes myself, and promotes this by giving me a little space in his (highly prestine) workshop and access to whatever tools I require. He is a living BMW Motorcycle Encyclopedia, and this, bundled together with his attention to detail, warm personality and gentle nature makes for a top guy.
It is a tradition to wear my Kingtek Motorcycles t-shirt on every trip I do.
We eventually set off around 16h00, and what a fantastic ride it was, even though a lot of it was in the dark. We got to see some ot the smaller towns though, with Porterville and Citrusdal a buzz with the excitement of the locals stocking up with munchies and dop for the weekend ahead. Low light, warm vibes and the hustle of the towns made up for the lack of visibility of the landscapes.
Clanwilliam itself was pretty mellow upon arrival, with the local stores closing up as we rode in on Big Red. The Goose and I were grateful for a little stop, for a fill-up, smoke and a warm top, before venturing over Pakhuis Pass.
And an awesome pass it is!
A twisty, winding road, with smooth tar makes for awesome riding. Apart from the odd game of 'Dodge-the-Steenbok', it was a magical cruise. Large rock formations stand along the sides of the road, looming over like giant policemen guarding the road, whilst all sorts of shrubs, bushes and trees adorn the area as if staging a mass protest.
To get to Zandkraal Private Nature Reserve requires you to travel along about 23 kilometres of dirt road, something that I am not confident on. But Big Red seemed to know what to do and we just sat back and enjoyed the adventure. The Goose was most relaxed and clearly loving the the journey. This was made obvious by the odd spot of wailing emanating from behind me. She later informed me that this was actually her singing. Eish.
It was great to arrive to see our friends Steph, Gordon and Alfie. Alfie, our generous host, set about preparing our dinner, after which we indulged in a little drinking, star-gazing and general chuckling. Our digs is awesome, beautifully simple, warm and comfortable.
There's some exciting plans ahead for today, so stay tuned...
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