Clarens December 2007

Keeping the Mind Fit

16 December 2007
by Shaun Haron

Getting away from it all, the city the silly season rush and all the last minute tasks bellowing from a To-Do list. The plan was a trip to get some good riding done, a bite to eat maybe and head back home. Now for an adventure biker “good riding” is a concept of a relative kind. If you are the absolute novice rider, good riding might refer to a 10 minute kick on the dirt road behind your house. For the slightly more advanced rider a 300km trip followed by semi-challenging off-road of 100km or so might suffice, whereas the super advanced rider (my idol type) would prefer the ultimate challenge of riding 400km a day for three days with the most taxing obstacles of which 90% will be on the road less travelled, that is by 4x4 and mountain goat alike.

Our plans got adjusted slightly, as they usually do, and a day’s riding ended up in an adventure of two days across the most serene parts of the Free-State. Our lovely Free-State might also boast of holding the Curry Cup, but that is definitely not what I went to see.

Here is the summary of the original plan:
08:00 - Depart Johannesburg Sunday morning,
11:00 – Arrive Clarens
12:00 – Lunch and a light beer (I know it is like kissing your sister, it might be wrong, but I also always plan to be responsible)
14:00 – Depart Clarens
17:00 – Arrive Johannesburg, wash and place the bike under its cover ready for later “good riding”

In my mind it is planned, structured, I have a pre-conceived idea of where I am going and how I will get there with or without a GPS (I don’t do gadgets, my mate has them all – refer to webmaster…aka Mr. Gadgets). I know what the whether will do and whether it will rain or not, I have had dry run of the trip prior to my departure.

Here is a summary of the actual trip:
07:30 – Depart my house with an angry girlfriend (who doesn’t understand what biking is all about)
08:00 – Arrive at my mate, get ready, fill up, pack, strap, wire-up and head of to Clarens….
Here we are 40km into the ride and I have no further idea as to what the time might be. We got hungry and stopped at the always dependable Wimpy for a breakfast to line the stomach for the ride. A little while later it was good-buy N3 and hello Free-State back roads. Frankfort, Reitz, Tweeling, Betlehem and we arrived in Clarens.

On route the further your drive the less you stress about things at the house, the office, and the girl that got cross when you left early in the morning. My stress turned upon looking at the skies not all that blue, but thick, puffy and full. Clouds hanging so low that if you stand on your toes you could actually touch them. Around us still is the most amazing scenery, long stretches of open road splitting green fields (indicating that it has already rained allot) the bike not straining an inch to get me there. The bike is the thing that I stressed the least about, it’s a KLR. Well maybe I could have replaced the back tyre, but it has already done over 6000km another 300km wont make that much of a difference, or would it? Oh yes and the license had also expired but it is still valid for the extension of 21 days, but that’s a non issue.

We arrived in Clarens, headed straight for Info and booked for the night; it was decided to extend the trip to two days when we originally “planned” the trip, which was a telephone conversation of less than 7 minutes.

Offloading, unstrapping, unbundling the wired devices (ask Mr. Gadgets) we contemplated to do the Rebellie 4x4 course(rated as one of SA’s TOP 10). Rebellie is located on the outskirts of the Maloti mountain range, which we had already done with a 4x4, but not with the bikes. We decided to do some more “good riding” drove out to Fouriesburg and had a well deserved pit stop at the Old School House with a very well priced menu. The drive to Fouriesburg is an indescribable view for the first timer, the wining road allowing you to lean into the bends with my ever impressing KLR.

Driving back to Clarens, we rode into a slight shower. At this point I would like to stress the importance of absolute water-proof gear. We got back and enjoyed the hospitality of a local Clarens pub; needless to say we “drafted” a plan for the rest of the night.

Day two had us riding through Golden Gate Nature reserve, and what a sight it was, lush green pastures with hill upon hill rolling by growing and shrinking in size as we pass. At this stage your mind is relaxed and all the blockages are unclogged, there is a sense of peace, tranquillity and splendorous appreciation for these sights. We headed for Kestle and detoured via a muddy little road for which the two KLRs didn’t shy away, the back wheel slipping and sliding but never giving way, puddles of water embracing the KLR’s approach and waving goodbye with a splash or two.

It is during obstacles such as rain, sedan drivers and off-road unknowns that you find not only what the bike is capable of, but also the rider. It’s a mind thing - getting there, being there, and thinking back. Dean Koontz said: “Your mind always does worse things than people can show in a movie”. Living in the city I can’t imagine what psycho guy I would be if I didn’t own a bike.

Heading back home, ready for the last few days before Christmas, energised and thinking – bring it on… even those “special” family members which you gotta love!