Moz2021 was Groot! / Great!
Hierdie EPIESE toer van tien dae was beslis besonders gemaak deur die ryers en ondersteuning span. Almal was van die begin af daarop uit om motorfiets te ry en dit ten volle te geniet, maak nie saak wat voorval nie. Ons het besef dat geleenthede soos hierdie nie alledaags is nie.
Ons route was goed beplan al het ons (ek) dit hier en daar mis gery het ons elke aand veilig en lekker geslaap. Dit was so goed gekoördineer dat ons twee konvooie, Benoni en Witrivier, by die aansluiting van die N4 soomloos bymekaar aangesluit het. Die RSA/Mosambiek grens oorsteek was sonder pyne en ons arriveer 22ste April almal veilig by JOMoz. Hulle het mooi na ons gekyk die eerste en laaste aand van die toer. Die lekkerste hoender was voorberei! Dankie Johan en gesin. Naskrif. Julle sal nie verkeerd gaan om daar oor te bly as julle of in of uit Mosambiek ry nie. (Vind hulle op Facebook) |
This EPIC ten day tour was definitely made special by the riders and support team. Everyone was out to ride and enjoy it to the fullest, no matter what transpired. We realized that opportunities like these are not commonplace.
Our route was well planned even though we (I) missed it here and there, we slept safely and comfortably every night. It was so well coordinated that we seamlessly joined two convoys, Benoni and White River, at the junction with the N4. The RSA / Mozambique border crossing was painless and we all arrive safely at JOMoz on 22nd April. They looked after us nicely the first and last night of the tour. The tastiest chicken was prepared! Thank you Johan and family. Postscript. You will not go wrong staying there if you are driving in or out of Mozambique. (Find them on Facebook) |
Die eerste twee dae... / The first two days...
Dag 1: 23 April 2021 : JOMoz – Chokwe - Mapai
Die weer het ons so bietjie onkant gevang met die wegspring wat gepaard gegaan met harde reën, na 2 minute was ons almal sopnat. Later het die manne gebieg dat daar gedagtes van omdraai was, ek was een van hulle! Maar, ons het deurgedruk en later onder die reën uitgery. Die pad was plek plek nat en snotterig and het ons ryvermoëns so bietjie getoets. Die dag was bietjie lank, eintlik net ‘n afstand verkorting aangesien ons nie, soos oorspronklik beplan, van die Pafuri grenspos gebruik kon maak, a.g.v. die pessiekte, nie. Ons het middagete in Chokwe genuttig. Die span het nie Mapai gehaal nie, en laat middag langs die pad (N221), wat al vir jare in aanbou is, in 'n kwarrie, naby Mabalane (S23° 50.925' E32° 37.496' ) gekamp. Daar was geen haas nie. Daardie aand na lekker kosmaak en braai het die weer opgesteek en dit het weer lekker gereën. |
Day 1: 23 April 2021 : JOMoz - Chokwe - Mapai
The weather caught us a little off guard as the start was accompanied by heavy rain, after 2 minutes we were all soaking wet. Later the guys confessed that there were thoughts of turning around, I was one of them! But, we pushed through and later drove out from under the rain. The road was wet and snotty in places and tested our driving skills. The day was a bit long, actually just for distance shortening as we could not, as originally planned, use the Pafuri border post, because of the pandemic. We enjoyed lunch in Chokwe. The team did not reach Mapai, and camped along the road (N221), which has been under construction for years, in a quarry, near Mabalane (S23 ° 50.925 'E32 ° 37.496'). There was no rush. That evening after nice cooking and barbecue the weather picked up and it rained again. |
Dag 2: 24 April 2021 : Mabalane – Mapai – Machaila – Mabote
Wat ‘n pragtige oggend! Almal het nat klere en tente maar die gees was goed en almal was redelik vinnig gereed om te begin ry, dit was nog ver Mapai toe en Mabote het heeltemal te ver gevoel. Mapai was ook ons volgende brandstof dorp. Die pad was nat en heel party keer in enkel diep water gery. Richard, Ronin en Eugene het die span gelei en nie teruggestaan vir die hindernisse nie. Daai KTM 790s is super avontuur motorfietse. Die 950 het oppad besluit om sy remvloeitof te verloor deur die inspeksie glasie wat sommer uitgeval het. Niks wat, ‘n 20c en Pratly Putty nie kan regmaak nie. Met ons aankoms in Mapai is ons meegedeel dat brandstofstasie nie brandstof het nie en dat ons na die straatverkopers sal moet gaan. Dit was nie die eerste keer dat dit met ons gebeur nie. Koördinering van brandstofvoorsiening na Mapai is duidelik ‘n probleem. Maar daar was genoeg brandstof teen die premium prys van R20/l in die dorpie te koop. Die pad was oor die algemeen goed tot na Machaila waar dit na diep sand verander het. Almal het dit baie goed aangepak met min insidente. Plek-plek het die pad doodgeloop in panne vol water, dan ry ons om. Dit het wel langer gevat en later die middag het die span besluit om af te trek vir die nag. Weer langs die pad, die keer op ‘n oop stuk grond waar ‘n oorhoofse elektriese kabel loop. Kamp is vinnig opgeslaan en ons inwonende sjef het kos gemaak. Dit was baie lekker. Dié aand het ons droog geslaap. |
Day 2: 24 April 2021 : Mabalane - Mapai - Machaila - Mabote
What a beautiful morning! Everyone had wet clothes and tents but the spirit was good and everyone was ready to start riding, it was still a distance to Mapai and Mabote felt far off. Mapai was our next fuel stop. The road was wet and quite a few times we have ridden in anckle deep water. Richard, Ronin and Eugene led the team and did not stand back for any obstacles thrown at them. Those KTM 790s are super adventure motorcycles. On the way the 950 decided to lose its brake fluid due to the inspection glass that fell off. Nothing that, a 20c and Pratly Putty could not fix. Upon our arrival in Mapai we were told that the gas station has no fuel and that we will have to buy fuel from the street vendors. This was not the first time this had happened to us. Coordinating fuel supply to Mapai is clearly a problem. There was enough fuel for sale at the premium price of R20/l in the village. The road was generally good all the way to Machaila where it changed to deep sand. Everyone handled the sand very well with few incidents. In some places the road ran into pans, we just drove around the obstacle. It did take longer than expected and later in the afternoon the team decided to pull off for the night. Again along the road, this time on an open piece of land where an overhead electric cable runs. Camp was quickly set up and our resident chef made food. It was very tasty. That night we slept dry. |
Dag 3 - 25 April 2021 - Day 3
Die volgende oggend word ons wakker met pragtige weer, met 'n vooruitsig van goeie grondpad en ons eerste groot stop, Dolphin Dhow in Vilankulos, waar ons vir die volgende twee aande gaan oorslaap, met ‘n besoek aan Bazaruto eiland as hoogtepunt.
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The next morning we woke with beautiful weather, with a prospect of good dirt road and our first big destination, Dolphin Dhow in Vilankulos, where we will spend the next two nights, with a visit to Bazaruto Island as a highlight.
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Kamp afslaan, ondersteuning voertuie en motorfiets pak was in die orde van die oggend. Almal was opgewonde om nog ‘n puik dag van avontuurmotorfiets ry te geniet.
Die grondpad was eerder 'n sandpad vir die eerste paar kilometers, maar later nadat dit by die grootpad (N222) aangesluit het, naby Mabote, het dit beter geraak, met net hier en daar ‘n sandkol en spoelsloot. Die manne was rustig en het die roete met moed aangepak en min ongelukke is aangemeld (nie seker of dit ooit gebeur het nie?) Daar was sporadies gestop en koeldrank gedrink. Die gees was goed ondersteun deur die vooruitsig om die aand in ‘n "rente" bed te slaap. |
Braking camp and support vehicle and motorcycle packing was in order the morning. Everyone was excited to have another great day of adventure riding.
The dirt road was rather a sand road for the first kilometers, it improved later after joining the 'high'way (N222) near Mabote, with only a sand spot and ditch here and there. The men were calm and tackled the route with courage and few accidents were reported (not sure if any happened?) There were sporadic stops and soft drinks enjoyed. The team spirit was great, supported by the prospect of sleeping in a real bed that night. |
Sikloon Eloise se spore was duidelik te bespeur met brûe wat weggespoel was en verskeie water kolle waar die pad veronderstel was om te loop. Die plaaslike bevolking het reeds nuwe paaie uitgeloop en gery en dit het nie ons vooruitgang belemmer nie.
Vanaf Vila De Mabote het die pad verbeter. Dit was ook een van ons brandstof stoppe. Brandstof was oor die algemeen redelik beskikbaar, maar dis altyd beter om ‘n reserwe saam te ry. "Jerry" kanne op die ondersteunings voertuie en as mens net ‘n 10,1l tenk op die motorfiets het in ‘n brandstof sak soos byvoorbeeld die Desert Fox Motorfiets Brandstof Sak. Noraly, van ItchyBoots.com gebruik 2 van hulle op haar Honda CRF 250L in haar avontuur deur Suidelike Afrika. Volg haar avonturen op YouTube. Die dag was warm en ons het ooreengekom dat van Mabote die manne op hulle eie stoom kan ry tot by die T-aansluiting met die EN4 by Mapinhane. Dit was maar afstand verkorting, die natuur was steeds mooi. Die ryers moes mooi die plaaslike voertuie dophou, hulle is geneig om “chicken” te speel met aankomende verkeer. |
Cyclone Eloise's tracks were clearly detectable with bridges washed away and several water spots where the road was supposed to be. The locals have already walked and driven new roads and it did not hinder our progress.
From Vila De Mabote the road improved. Mabote was one of our fuel stops. Fuel was generally available, but it is always better to carry a reserve. Jerry cans on the support vehicles and if you only have a 10.1l fuel tank on your motorcycle, a fuel bag such as the Desert Fox Motorcycle Fuel Bladder is a must. Noraly, from ItchyBoots.com uses 2 of them on her Honda CRF 250L on her adventure through Southern Africa, go check her out on YouTube. The day was hot and we agreed that from Mabote onwards the men could ride on their own to the T-junction with the EN4 at Mapinhane. It was distance shortening, but nature was still beautiful. The riders had to keep a close eye on the local vehicles, they tend to play "chicken" with oncoming traffic. |
By Mapinhane het ons ‘n langer breuk gevat en plaaslike koue verversings geniet. Jonny het so bietjie met die plaaslike bevolking vriende gemaak.
Die roete van Mapinhane tot in Vilankulos was meestal op die EN1 en plaaslike teerpaaie en nie ver nie, net so oor die 50km. Vroegmiddag kom ons by ons eindbestemming, Dolphin Dhow. Kamers word ingedeel voertuie parkeer en afgepak en nie lank daarna was almal rustig in die restaurant en lekker honger. Die kos het nie teleurgesteld nie en selfs die vegetariër lyk opgewonde oor die seekosse! Dolphin Dhow is op die see geleë, so naby dat met hoogwater spoel die water onder die restaurant in. Die eienaar is ‘n fixer van alles en het ons verblyf so aangenaam moontlik gemaak. |
At Mapinhane we took a longer break than normal and enjoyed local cold liquid refreshments. Jonny made friends with the locals.
The route from Mapinhane to Vilankulos was mostly on the EN1 and local tarred roads and not too far, just over 50km. Thus early afternoon we arrive at our final destination, Dolphin Dhow. Rooms are chosen, vehicles parked and unpacked and not long after that everyone was enjoying themselves in the restaurant and very hungry. The food did not disappoint, even the vegetarian looks excited about the seafood! Dolphin Dhow is located on the sea, so close that with high tide the water washes in under the restaurant. The owner is a fixer and made our stay as pleasant as possible. |