Finally, an opportunity to ride in South Africa

[RonC]

I just returned from several months working in South Africa and have a nice story to share.

This summer (2008), I wrote a letter to the editor of BikeSA magazine, the major motorcycle magazine in South Africa. In it, I stated just how much I enjoy BikeSA and how much better it is than the typical American motorcycle magazines. BikeSA is honest in reviews, not in the pocket of their advertisers, and humorous (more like the Brit mags). A fellow in the Cape Town area (Constantia), Lance, read the letter and saw the 'Golden, CO' address. He emailed me to say that he had been to Golden several times and had a fellow, classic motorcycle collector as a friend here. I have since met the Golden collector for coffee. When I arrived in SA, I contacted the Cape Town rider and he insisted that I fly down from Johannesburg to take a several day motorcycle tour with him. Motorcycle touring in SA has been a dream of mine. I have been going back and forth to SA since 1999, and had yet to take such a tour.

But I had to inform him that it might be impossible given my work obligations in Johannesburg. He assumed it was a cost issue and I received a call from his secretary a few days later. He had purchased an airline ticket for me to fly down to Cape Town that weekend. The secretary’s final statement was "You will be here this weekend. No if, ands or buts."

Keep in mind that I had never met this gentleman face-to-face, only email to email.

I arrived early on that Saturday morning. My new friend picked me up at the airport, drove me to his brother's house along the SA west coast, and said, "Take your pick" of the bikes in the garage. I ended up on a Triumph Bonneville for the first day of riding. We rode along the west coast for about 200 miles that day. On Sunday, I was astride a ZRX1200 Eddie Lawson replica (the same bike model I used to own until totaling it against a steel post) for a ride through West Coast National Park, an International Heritage Site. What an experience!! Here was my first installation to fulfill my dream of touring SA on a motorcycle.

Not only did I have an opportunity to ride, but Lance also arranged a fantastic, Afrikaner braai, or barbecue, for Saturday evening. I have yet to experience an American barbecue with the quality and quantity of food I've had at a real braai (from braaivleis, or roast meat in Afrikaans). Traditionally, there are several types of meat; lamb, pork, beef, boerwurst (farmer’s sausage).) I’m afraid that the motorcycles had to haul another 5 pounds of me the next day.

Cheers,

Ron

Bonneville and me

The group I rode to West Coast National Park with

Along the West Coast of South Africa, north of Cape Town

With my friend Lance

 

[SacramentoMike]

What a HELL of an adventure! I hope you post all your pics of this thing, it sounds fantastic. Lucky to meet up with such a generous host, too. Man, once again, I'm green with envy.

 

[wellsj]

You are one lucky guy. That was probably one of those once in a life time experiences you were able to enjoy.

Thanks for the post and pics.

 

[beemerdons]

RonC, thanks for the post and pics. Please, show more and tell us more. I have always dreamed of riding a M/C in Africa!!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

WOW. That's all I can say... :clapping:

 

[dcarver]

Excellent! Makes a fella want to start writing letters to motomags!

 

[RonC]

I don't have a lot of photos from the weekend of motorcycling, but I do have photos from a visit to Kruger National Park, the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center just outside of Kruger, and other interesting places around South Africa. I just don't know if these non-motorcycle photos are acceptable on an FJR site. Sight-seeing on a motorcycle in Kruger is not permitted. That is good, because it is a mite risky when the lions, hyenas, leopards, elephants and hippos are not restrained and people are in their cages (literally). If the photos are apropos, I'd be happy to upload some. Here are a few others from the west coast trips

Ron

The lagoon around which the West Coast Nat'l Park winds:

Lance on the Yamaha 750 that died while riding on that Sunday:

Fishing boats that are used by local 'Cape Colored' to barely scape out a subsistence:

I didn't see the Southern Wright whale on this trip, but I have on other trips to SA:

Here is our group entering the West Coast National Park. We were the only ones there in the entire park:

We stopped in the park at an old hotel that is now a coffee shop and restaurant:

How about a teaser for the trip to Kruger:

Or experiences on the farm I stayed at while doing my field work:

 

[Old Michael]

I say post 'em all Ron! :clapping: We get so few elephant shots on the forum. Really great stuff.

And thanks for taking the time to give us a glimpse.

 

[v65]

I just don't know if these non-motorcycle photos are acceptable on an FJR site.

Well, Fencers pics of his rear after his get off were motorcycle related. I think everyone on here, with the possible exception of Scab, would prefer your photos. Keep postin'!

 

[Auburn]

Or experiences on the farm I stayed at while doing my field work:

That is the ugliest "puppy" I have seen in a while. :lol:

Great teaser ride report!

 

[RonC]

Yeh, that is one, ugly puppy! But you have to admit that it really is trying to fit in:

The porker was the runt of the litter and rejected by his mother. However, he adopted the mother pictured in the above photo and another mother who could feed him:

When I drove to the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, this is what I saw:

The Jacaranda tree is native to Brazil, but were planted years ago to beautify the city.

My wife came to visit me in SA and I took her to Kruger National Park. A herd of elephants crossed the road and I circled around on a dirt road to intercept them. Mama elephant took exception to our presence and walked to our car. I immediately shifted into reverse (with my left hand - in SA, drive on the left).

A Cheetah resting after a kill:

One of the many giraffe we saw:

Two of my colleagues in contemplation:

 

[RonC]

The rainy season has been late by about a month for the last 3-4 years. You have to look hard for water if you want to see hippies...hippos:

There are plenty of blue Wildebeest in the park:

Cheetah are much more rare. In the 19,000 sq kilometer park, there are only about 200 Cheetah.

But there are about 190,000 Impala, and I think we saw 187,000 of them. :lol: Notice the 'M' on their hind ends. They are know as McDonalds for Lions.

We saw a lion who had just had his fill of a kill and was going off to lay under a tree:

Here is the French tourist who walked up to the lion for a closer photo: :lol:

And the hyena who paid his respects as soon as the lion left. It was one of two hyena who showed up, along with vultures and black-backed jackals:

 

[RonC]

At the Moholoholo Rehab Center, we saw our first leopard of the trip. Look at the size of his neck! He had been caught in a trap just outside the park as a cub.

A little try at artsy:

A hyena's jaw strength is enormous:

I was in SA working on cleanup of uranium contamination derived from gold mining activity. This water in a former wetland was not only high in uranium, but also toxic metals and acidity:

This is one of the 300 ft high, 1/2 mile long tailings repositories from a gold mine. It is eroding and spreading the toxic metals and uranium into the local stream:

Ron

 

[user 213]

Great pics Ron! All that surplus karma you've been building apparently paid off in spades. Congrats on realizing your desire to ride in SA. I'd say you suck, but you're just too nice a guy.

 

[RonC]

Great pics Ron! All that surplus karma you've been building apparently paid off in spades. Congrats on realizing your desire to ride in SA. I'd say you suck, but you're just too nice a guy.

Well, that makes one who thinks so! :lol: Thanks, OCfjr! There is a price to pay for the adventure. The ceiling on my cottage collapsed during a rain storm:

I was mugged once.

I was electrocuted in the shower. Someone stole the ground cable for the cottages. While holding the shower head, I felt that the sharp buzzing in my arm was due to sleeping on it wrong - except that when I released the shower head, the buzzing went away. ZZZZZap! Sorry, no photos of me in the shower. :blink: Oh, maybe there is one:

A gang stole the electric cable from the road to the farm, so it was cold showers and early nights to sleep on the farm.

I'll put up with all of that for the positive experiences in SA! Looks like I will be back there in July 2009.

Ron

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

Great pics (except for that last one) and story!

I'll have to say that I enjoyed the wildlife photos almost more than the typical motorcycle stuff. Those puppies snoozing with Piglet were priceless! ig_ball:

Thanks for sharing your trip.

Old Michael, we have a new ride destination for you. :thumbsupsmileyanim:

 

[Jobr]

What an adventure! Hope you get to do it again on your trip in '09...

 

[jekirby]

WOW. :dribble:

 

[fjrboomer]

Ron you have had an adventure most of us would die for but likely will never get to immulate. The wildlife pics are fantastic. I am a woodcarver as my other hobby and research for good pics to work from on line and in books. None I have seen were as good as what you did. Then you get to add on the bike trip which most of us would never have even dreamed about. Thanks for sharing.