A south African Blog

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sapaul · #1 Unread post by **sapaul** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:32 am

Ok so what's a blog supposed to be about, I dunno but after reading some of yours out there I think that the only way I will be interesting is when I post pic's.

I left the UK as a young man, buggered around in Europe and at the age of 23 ended up in Africa. Now I am African. How come, simple I went through the transition like everyone else who decided to stay here. I have got to live in one of the most bueatifull countries in the world and have no intention of going anywhere else. You are however invited to visit if you wish.

As for biking, I am one of three boys, only one of us got the bug, yours truly. How? Why? Who knows, I don't care. I am glad it was me, it seems that I am the wealthy relative who lives in Africa in a big house and has a BMW motorbike. Thats all rubbish of course but this is the impression that people have when they have no idea what Africa is all about.

I am now 44, have been married for 27 years this year. Have a boy now 22 currently living in Newcastle UK, and a girl now 17 currently at college doing her commercial matric. We each have a machine which tend to get swapped around a bit except for the Beemer as I am the only one who can ride it.

I am a short little fat guy with all the muscles in the right places and I know how to use them. All the synpses are firing in the right order and alls well with the world. I don't think this will be a daily blog, I am just not that interesting, but I will get around to showing you some of Africa of which I am very proud. I promise.

Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:01 am

Hey cool, now you can log all of your "bad days" you have riding there. Look foward to more jealousy inducing pictures

#3 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:12 pm

I see you found another reason to post a pic of that beautiful wife of your's. A great start to your blog , keep up the good work...

Doug

sapaul · #4 Unread post by **sapaul** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:12 am

So, thought I would expand on the last trip:

Mark & Sam are friends of ours from way back but they are raising a family and so are we but it is starting to get a little easier to get away for a weekend. Mark is happy for me to do all the planning and this time I have a suprise for him. We have a part of the country that is commonly thought of as being flat. All the highways run through the flat parts, but I know the twisty bits. It is not a long run so we have decide that we will have plenty stops and photo shoots. We leave home at a leiserly 9:00 on Sat morning, clear skies but the promise of rain is there. We both know the way to our first stop and thoroughly warm up our tyres for the first 90 kms.

We are greeted at the dam by a sight that is very uncommon for us, flooded rivers and opened sluice gates. This is the widest we have ever seen this river. Just past this crossing it starts to get really rural and the small towns keep appearing and we have to cross the one way bridge over the "O Ring" end of the dam. Look and you will see the supports for the other bridge that was never finished. the local town decided it was too much money for two and just made the one and fitted it with robots.

Have to admit that this is my favourite type of riding, out in the country, miles and miles of open road where we can really just cruise at top end speeds. We usually run at 180 to 220 and just chew up the miles. The girls like this as they get their kicks and on the short runs we get to stop often for coffee breaks. We stopped to show Mark and Sam where we were going. Mark had a very suprised look on his face.

This area is now a national park and really spectacular to ride in.
Mark is a fast corner specialist, after spending all of his misspent youth on a race track on 500 singles he is fearless on that ZX12. Once through the gate i waved him on and told him to enjoy the twisties. He sped off and dissapered as he usually does around the next bend. Within two more bends I had caught him. He was riding 40 ks an hour, helmet visor up and waiting for me. You caught me this time you bastad he said, this is too nice to scream around, I have to take my time and enjoy this. We spent the next 2 hours just roaming around looking at the sights and getting on these tiny one way tar strips that led right to the top of the mountains. Brilliant

It was just incredible to get up there on tar bikes. Enough for now, watch this space for more soon.

Aggroton · #5 Unread post by **Aggroton** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:54 am

sapaul · #6 Unread post by **sapaul** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:17 pm

Lesotho is a land locked country within South Africa just the other side of the mountains. A deal was made to build a dam that will give Lesotho hydro electric power and give South Africa water. This is the dam

The water travels fro miles though the mountains and comes out on the SA side.

We also visited a little dam in the mountains

From here we went to the one horse town of Fouriesburg where they have a suprisingly good country lodge. Lo and behold some friends of ours walked into the bar an hour after we did having done an unnoficial trip to Katse dam on the dirt roads (BMW 1150 GS's). A great night was had by all but most of us hit the sack early.

Bright and early next morning, oops not quite. Overcast and raining. A steady downpour we just know is going to last all day. OK quick check on the maps and I know the flat short route home but we know it is not going to be comfortable as Mark and Sam have no waterproofs and nowhere to get any. After the first 40 k's we have to stop for mark to try and add some layers. it is not really cold but mark is already shivering and we have another 300 k'sto go.

The goose and I are well prepared and have no such problems

After the next 200 k's we are OK but in need of warming up, we decide to refuel and see if we can get coffee. the small town petrol stations are just that, petrol and oil nothing else. we did find a hole in the wall bakery that had a small sit down secton and we had hot chocolate and pastries. Still rianing though and not even cover for the bikes.

it was kinda dark and dingy like somthing out of a phsyco movie, so we did not stay long.

80 K's out from home and the rain lifted and the sun broke through, it had taken us three hours of hard riding to get home but we were still pleased that we had done it. the trip and scenery had been well worth. Mark said to me as we parted" Thanks mate, that was well done. I will leave you to plan the next one" Typical Mark.

Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:49 pm

Even with the rain, that sounds like an awsome ride. How's the bike in the wet? And how comfortable is it over those long trips like that? I think i want one, a sport tourer apeals to me.

sapaul · #8 Unread post by **sapaul** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:14 pm

I posted the whole story of the K1200S in an earlier thread but here is the condensed story. We had ordered an 1200RT from BMW. We then went to the AMID show in SA where we get to ride the bikes around Kyalami race track. The K1200S was an invitation only ride. We got to do it three times, that was it, cancel the RT go get the K12. I like long rides and I like to move, initially we did not think this bike capable but it has proved itself very capable over the long distances. you still have to work the bike because it is heavy but that is a good thing. If I compare with my old RT, two things come to mind. One, you sit upright for hours and you get stiff because you are not moving around on the bike. Two, the Goose used to fall asleep on the back, she does not do that anymore. The transmission of power is the smoothest of all the hyper tourers, Busa, Kawa zx12, CBR there is nothing to touch the stability. This is down to the funny suspension that works so well. A lot of guy's bigger than me also like it because of the stability, it is not twitchy at all even under full load, third gear coming out of a corner with the Goose on the back. Even the Goose said it is comfortable on the back. Can't recomend it enough. As for price, we service only every ten thou k,s a lot less then the other makes and a lot less problems to worry about. The bikes go from service to service. I also got a two year no limit warrenty with mine. Tyres are a problem but not more so than other SBK's. If you can handle your snatchy nasty little powerband on your bike, you will think you are driving a limo on the K12S

Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:21 am

sapaul wrote:I posted the whole story of the K1200S in an earlier thread but here is the condensed story....
....If you can handle your snatchy nasty little powerband on your bike, you will think you are driving a limo on the K12S

I'm sold

. I think, once i get passed the akward first roadbike stage of life, that I want a 03-05 R6. Also, i want the K12S/R. Hey, have you sat on the K12R? Opinions on it if you have/in general?

sapaul · #10 Unread post by **sapaul** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:27 am

Better still I have been promised a ride from a dealer, will do a report after the ride.