John's Pass and Bakkers Pass

John's Pass and Bakkers Pass

Four of us met up at Beestekraal Station for the departure to Vaalwater and the Taai Bos farm. Taai Bos would be our base for the next two nights. A very nice mixture of bikes, Africa Twin, MZ 660, Transalp and a KTM640, Hardy and the Dangerous Dakar would meet us at the camp. From here we planned to ride via some less travelled roads

and routes found on Google. Upon arrival at the bush camp Hardy was already busy with a cold one. The camp was really impressive; on the banks of the Taai Bos River, a huge Lapa, and four rustic thatch huts, gives one a real African Bush sense and smell. The four hundred metre track leading to the camp already gave me the notion that we were in for a very sandy weekend.

Needless to say, put a couple of adventure riders together and the evening becomes the normal South African event, sitting around a fire, beers popping, ice crackling in coca cola mixer’s, meat sizzling away on an open fire and great camaraderie.

It was Johns first attempt on dirt with a (just run in) 640 Katoom, so the usual advice of stand up, look up and gas it was eagerly shared, amongst other tall tales and experiences.

The next morning we were all up early in anticipation for the route which was not yet named and according to T4A was a “Very Bad Mountain Pass,” north of Mokolo Dam,. That was enough to catch my attention and this trip was only planned and booked four days before departure. After a snack and a cup of coffee or two, we mounted and rode off to Mokolo Dam, did a brief stop at the dam to get a photo or two and then travelled toward Ellisras. On route we did another detour into a Nature Reserve to view the cascading water from the dam into the river below, almost a Vic Falls look-alike, with spray shooting high into the air. The surroundings in these areas on previous occasion were usually pretty bleak and dry, unlike this year where the scenery that met us was lush green vegetation.

Then it was time for a quick brunch in Ellisras and on to the very bad mountain pass. We were not disappointed; T4A were not wrong, for a car or un-raised vehicle it will be bad or even impassable but for us it was fun and games all the way. OK, maybe not for all of us, John had his hands full with all this totally new terrain, riding thick sand got the best of him, luckily with no harm to him, the bike took a bit of a bashing but that can be repaired. It was at this point we decided to name this Johns Pass, after all, he now owns a little piece of it.

I must add that John is a very brave fellow, he just kept getting back on and pushed himself till he got it right.

When reached the tar to Vaalwater it was midday and we stopped for a bite and drink at a Biltong shop. Next stop was the Big Five Pub in Vaalwater, here we quenched our thirst’s again before heading off to get provisions for the evening meal. After dropping the victuals at the camp we headed for Marakele Nature Reserve, the intention was to traverse the reserves border, but the roads were in a state after all the rains we’ve had of late. At the Matlabas River I waded in to check the depth, when the water reached crotch height I back-tracked; it was cold, and that is air-intake height. It would have been foolish to attempt so we all turned back. Frans’s Africa Twin would probably have made it but the rest of us definitely not. Hopefully next time the water level would have subsided a bit.

Dual sport heaven for us and pure hell for normal vehicles, sure that even 4 x 4’s have to crawl along these sections. Back at camp we had a visitor awaiting our arrival, as Hardy entered the Lapa a Mozambique Spitting Cobra slithered off before him, his going was slow as the polished floor did not have much traction so I had time to get a photo before he disappeared into the greenery below the deck. That evening, none of us walked around without a torch.

A fire was soon crackling away and wet boots and socks were placed about strategically to dry out. The topic that night ranged from thick sand, ruts, John’s major improvement in riding skill in one day. Frans; being new to thick sand, also conquered it very well. The falls of the day were now humorous events off course.

Sunday morning dawned on us and it was home time, but a lot of dirt still lay ahead of us, from Vaalwater, after filling up, we headed via Bakkers Pass, here some really serious stretches of thick sand lay in wait for us, Patrick, who can ride thick sand came very close to tumbling and John trying to avoid him took quite a serious fall, thank heavens with no serious injury. One could see that every one of us had gained a lot of confidence in sand riding as we all made the rest of the trip without any incidences. Rooiberg to Assen the roads where in much better condition and soon we were back on the tar. Lunch was had at Beestekraal Station and then the last leg homeward. At Hartebeespoort we all said our goodbyes and headed off in our own directions. For me it was the first trip for the year and I must add that if they get any better I am going to have one hell of a ride.

Places to see:

Bakkers Pass.

Johns Pass (Very Bad Mountain Pass)

Taai Bos

Big Five Pub and Grill Vaalwater.

Beestekraal Station (On the R511)