great, fantastic and lots of other words discribe Kruger Park. Took time out to go look and im very pleased that i did. I only saw a very small amount of the Park, but what a part i saw. I got to see all the Big 5 and lots more besides. I have now got hold of the bike, DR650. It was all there at the freight recievers in Joburg. The people at this end could not have been more helpfull, well actually they could have put the bike together for me. I say that because about 100ks out of Joburg a loud bang hit the bike, on stopping, which was a little worry as id lost a bolt out of the front brake caliper. This lost bolt had been the noise that i heard. A little walk back the road did not find the affending bolt so out with the tool kit and spares to sort it out.

On the road again after a few moments, i came to the town of Ventersdorp. Stopped in at the local pub at the end of town. With in an hour i had meet two lovely blokes and with in 2 hours i was invited back to one of the blokes (Gideon) home for the nite. This invite was ofcourse cleared with the Wife first. Gideon took me to his home where i parked the bike, then out in his car to do a tour of the town and his properties.

The next morning after a great sleep it was of on another tour with Gideon. He showed more of the town and to check on his farm fences.

The friendlyness of Gideon contiued all that day. I followed him on my bike to Potchefstroom, a larger town about 50klm away where we visited the local bike shop, shopped for batteries for my camera, went to the post office, took time out for lunch, then meet a friend of his, Kobus.

Kobus owns a local hotel and the Elgro river lodge. After meeting Kobus for no more than a few moments he offered me free accomidation at his lodge. I must say this blow me away. I could say no more than 'thank you'.

The rest of the day Gideon and i spent in the private bar at the said hotel meeting others and eventually getting to chat some more to Kobus. Turns out that Gideon owns a Harley and Kobus a BMW, i did not hold that against them.

I left Gideon at the bar to travel the 25klm out to the Lodge, it rain lightly on the way out and had a slite chill to the nite air. At the Lodge i was shown the room and asked if i would like the bar to stay open for me. I declined the bar offer prefering to run a nice warm bath and have a relaxing time while turning over the past 2 days events in my mind.