I left for home, Namaqualand a few days before christmas last year. The ride to Pofadder, where my mother lives, took exactly 10 hours, and was just over a 1000km. The Fazer is a supreme tourer; at some strecth I kept the needle above 200kph, while I was never below 160kph. Tank range averaged from 180 to 260kph, depending on my right-hand. Wind protection is good, and because of the upright seating position there was no strain on my arms, legs or lower back.
This is a lonely road I discovered turning of 40km east of Pofadder. It goes to a winefarm called "Raap-en-skraap" (not sure how to translate that) on the South African bank of the Orange river (it is the Namibian border). To my surprise the road was tarred all the way to the farm. 
Met up with an old friend Werner who lives in the mining town of Aggeneys, 60km west of Pofadder on the N14. He has a ZX-9 and we swopped bikes.
I have fond memories of my ZX-6, and was always keen to sample a ZX-9. I wasn't dissappointed. It has that rough-and-ready feel that I remember so well. It doesn't have the same intoxicating wail from the airbox like the 600, but it does get up to 280kph in a blink.
Yes; I just can't resist these shots of empty roads and desert fields.
Annenous Pass on the way to Port Nolloth. Riaan rode up from Cape Town on his GS850L to join me.
The Orange River mouth at Alexander Baai. It was difficult to find beauty in this forsaken place; but it was there.
See what I mean. Who would have thought that you can ever get something called an ugly beach. The mining has really scarred the landscape, and no restoration is taking place (yet?).
The Alexander borberpost that will take you to Oranjemund, Namibia.
The rebuild Holgat river bridge that was washed away in a flood in 2006.
Momma's Restaurant is an institution in the town, and my mom used to work there. We had it for ourselves for an afternoon. Couldn't find any crayfish though.
The view towards the harbour from the table where we sat.
The sunsets were just magic; quiet and serene.
And no two sunsets are the same. Everyday was different.
And then there is the little holiday town of McDouglas Bay. The fresh sea breeze smell so strong; it burns the back of your throat, like when you swollowed seawater by accident.
This is the peak holiday season over christmas...
Durban or Cape Town over christmas? Sorry, no contest!
And we ate raw rock mussels and black mussels. A secret delicacy since childhood.
Take one more look at the crowded beach. This is as busy as it gets!
Mcdouglas Bay is protected by a reef from the strong Benguela currents; leaving a lagoon-like, shallow and safe, quiet bay.
One last look and then it was sadly time to leave.
In convoy; Riaan, Werner, and me (with Opperman).
Werner on his Zed-ex.
Just outside Pella; the obligatory magazine cover pose.
I haven't seen the Augrabies falls since I was maybe 14 years old, and it is not that far from Pofadder. So on the way back home (that would be Joburg), I had to go take a peek at the 160m drop of water.
And incase no one believes I was there; here is the proof.
I split up with Riaan at Keimos; I continue east to Joburg, and he turned down south to Cape Town. This is the goodbye.
Thirteen hours on the road tend to attact a bit of attention...
No comments:
Post a Comment