Done 20,000 km and next service due.20th Jan
Well got up early and breakfast, ready to go by 11, not sure what the hold up was but sweating just standing about was part of it, tempted to ride in shorts and t shirt but then I thought of the hard shelled flying beetles. Common sense prevailed and I climbed into the gear. On bike and off for a circular ride of about 200km, gps now working (dirty contacts to cradle) refused to take me where I wanted to go and insisted there was no road so decided to just go and let it re calculate the route automatically.
Anyway out of the drive way, turn left and off up the pass, almost like being a bird, flying and twisting and turning, like I did as a kid pretending to fly with my arms out and running about only a lot faster. 50 km and onto the motorway, no choice it is the only road all 2 lanes with Lorries going up and down in low gear. Through the capital, filled up and onwards East to Manzini, long flat valley with mountains on right, turned North and and back onto narrow twisties about 90km worth to Hhohoho. Road was good all the way so not sure what GPS was suggesting. Stopped for a snack on roadside and the horde appeared trying to sell me things. Turned south to Piggs Peak and back down the valley to the lake.
Had some dinner and some bloke having consumed some vast quantity of alchohl, abused the wife verbally decided he did not like ‘Bikers’ so guess who he started on, lots of staff appeared and bundled him off with his wife, if he was driving did not see his car over the barrier next day. Bad end to a good day and the only one so far.
Off to bed as wanted to get back into South Africa next day.

21st Jan
Left early and headed off to the Capital to fill up, this done had a poodle down the Royal families valley again but through the towns and villages turning South at Manzini and and about 200km of great roads and one pass but none of it straight, rolling along at 100 and getting through all the police stops. Arrived at the border, helmet off, gloves off ,GPS in pocket, tankbag off and inside. Handed over passport, stamped and out in 30 seconds, 5 minutes dressing again and into South Africa. Thought, gloves and helmet in hand entered Immigration, stamped passport discussed where I was I going, no customs as nothing to declare, 60 seconds and outside again. Gear on and off. Out of border post and straight long roads again to Piet Retief (rotten tarmac so swerving around potholes).

Africa from my childhood

Found a campsite and booked in by 3, had a bar but gave it a miss and had a snack and coffee sat down and read the electronic version of Jock of the Bush Veldt I had down loaded, apparently tigers were hunted in Africa? Fell asleep and and woke up to a dark miserable morning. The tent was in the shade of the bike but as the sun rose it got brighter.

22nd Jan
Wanted to get to the Vaal dam so off I headed for Volksrust, on the way found a lovely town with small shops, snack bars and friendly people and a petrol station, Wakkerstroom, very olde worlde and had a bite and headed off. Wish there was more space for souvenirs on the bike. Kept going, headed for Standerton, rode the worst road in Africa yet, think it was the 26, not a square metre of good tarmac, constant ruts, potholes and dirt bits for about 40Km. They should get an award for negligence, allowing any road to get into that state is amazing. Turned south for Vrede and then west for the lake. What a tip, could be the cities seaside but very run down and the bridge was an old single lane girder bridge.

The good bit of road before the bridge.

As I rode across I was thinking keep the bike up don’t bounce to the side with the surface more like a lunar one or I am in the water. Into a very run down town Orangeville wher I saw the places to stay and passed straight through to Dennysville.
Found a campsite, sat and had a beer or three, but gear in the rondaval and slept with the groundsheet over the bed in my sleeping bag with the door open. They did cook me a fantastic steak and chips and the bar was good.

23rd Jan
Got up got dressed and said goodbye, was told about places about to see and one was a bike museum down the road, breakfast I thought and a cuppa. Off I headed and rolled into a biker hotel, great place and 8-30 in the morning. Anyway they opened it up for me, real nice bikers ran it all, spent and hour looking about, man who restores the bikes, repairs some and fixes all mechanical said he was off for tea did I fancy one? Off we went and had breakfast as well as a long chat about all in the world including all motorcycling and our pasts. Was a Brit who moved out, ex racer who knew all the 70s lot and had lots of their gear donated. Would put the place on a par with Sammy Millers. The man is a fountain of knowledge and has built it up from his own few machines to what it is. Had a great morning but needed to get to Jo’burg as bike needs another service and they have the bits so off at about 1. Called the Historic Motorcycle Museum in Dennysville, all motorbikes welcome and I really was.

humorous side

Serious side

Uneventful ride to town zigzagging through thunder storms I arrived dry. Did go past where the trouble has been, only route I knew to see police, burnt tyre’s dragged off roads, tarmac burnt away, quick turn right and head off in another direction, decided not to stay for a look. Pulled into a shopping centre for a cuppa and shelter as storm headed my way. Got to my sisters place bone dry but had to ride down soaked roads. Very proud of myself.
Tomorrow off to dealer for bike bits and spend a couple of days working on bike.