Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
  
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I have been invited on a short trip to Lesotho, to based at Ramabanta arriving on 23rd Oct departing 25th Oct. The guys im going with are bikers intending to ride Baboons pass and various other tracks, and Ill be helping some of them tow the bikes down and perhaps provide some vehicle back up if required. Whilst im there I thought Id do a little exploring. But would be a little nervous to do some of the tracks there without a backup  Ill be travelling without SWAMBO so will be relatively free to do what I please  Apperently still plenty of space at the lodge. Any interest? Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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 15th Oct 2008 9:04 am |
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heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
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Very tempted - let me check my diary
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| 15th Oct 2008 9:17 am |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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Was thinking about doing Jockstrap pass and a track on t4a from the school just north of ramabanta to malealea. Just not keen to try self recover from a flooded river or watch (or worse, experience) my d3 dissapearing down a gorge  Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 15th Oct 2008 10:06 am |
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Andrew van den Heever
Member Since: 09 Jun 2007
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 340
 
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"Was thinking about doing Jockstrap pass and a track on t4a from the school just north of ramabanta to malealea. Just not keen to try self recover from a flooded river or watch (or worse, experience) my d3 dissapearing down a gorge"
Bushboysteve. Looks like you read my recent post!! 
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| 15th Oct 2008 12:29 pm |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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Andrew, I did read your post and an excellent one it was too. At least you had a back up vehicle. I like to read trip / action reports as it adds to my knowledge base so hopefully I learn from them. Wish there were more on the site (I think I saw a post on the very subject the other day).
Heine if you are interested in comming, PM me and we can make arrangements. Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 16th Oct 2008 6:31 am |
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heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
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Swambo a bit iffy as I'm away this weekend as well . So rather than string you along , I'm going to decline
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| 16th Oct 2008 6:39 am |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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Thats why they call her SWAMBO  ,
Maybe next time Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 16th Oct 2008 8:06 am |
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heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
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Otherwise AKA Minister of War and Finance
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| 16th Oct 2008 11:04 am |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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 Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 16th Oct 2008 11:31 am |
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Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
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THanks for the invite, but my excuse is a bad as Heine's - both Mrs & I been travelling a bit lately, and kids getting aintsy, plus she's away again next week 
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| 17th Oct 2008 12:15 pm |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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Not to Worry. Trying to convince my brother in law to leave his wife and kids and office for the trip. If all else fails at least Ill have someone to help me "jack and Pack" my way out the  Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 17th Oct 2008 12:41 pm |
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Bushboysteve
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: North west & Jhb
Posts: 75
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Well, Im back, and we had a blast. The only hassle was that I was the only one driving the routes and the rest were on bikes, so with no back up apart from the bikers who would come and find us if we didnt pitch by a pre arranged time, I had to take it a little easy.
As for the trip, the D3 did brilliantly. First the towing was excellent, Pulling a 3 bike trailer, with full kits and fuel, plus being 4 guys with plenty of gear and a few cases of beer, We still sailed past the other guys in the cruiser and hilux. After filling up in Ladybrand and doing the border, we got to Ramabanta at 11h30 where after a quick bite to eat, I changed out the suspension height rods, with my new tool, which witha little help took 10minutes including airing down tyres. In the afternoon we tackled a route marked by t4a as "offroad and difficult" which turned out to be a walk in the park. It must be noted that this route was very dry and would be much more challenging in the wet. We had 2 river crossings which were at most 20cm deep. 
That evening we got back to camp before the specified time, so decided to go and have a look at baboons pass access, which we did. It turned into a rock crawl fest and was not difficult, just slow going. The extra clearance afforded was put to good use and our biggest concern was trying not to damage the tyres. Anyway in 20 minute we had made the bottom of the pass and had to turn back as light was fading fast. Im thinking that I could do this pass with someone elses tyres and some rock protection quite easily.
To be continued.... Of course we'll make it... were in a landy!
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| 28th Oct 2008 11:51 am |
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heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
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Photies ?
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| 28th Oct 2008 11:56 am |
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TiaanS
Member Since: 25 May 2007
Location: Pretoria
Posts: 200
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Bushboysteve wrote:
To be continued....
Awaiting with anticipation 
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| 29th Oct 2008 6:13 am |
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