I'm back... ..
 

. . . . . safe and sound, aside from the whopping bruise slap bang in the middle of my forehead from a spider bite.

Had an absolutely FANTASTIC time. The best ride out ever and one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Next adventure - Cape to Cairo.:smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026:smt026

Will let you guys know all about it when I have more time, but here's just a few of my hundreds of piccies.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009332.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009332.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009659.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009099.jpg

Re: I'm back... ..
 

hello melody, the place hasn't been the same without you.
glad you've enjoyed the experience and i'm more pleased your back in one piece.
a little dissappointed though i must say. only 3 pictures, or is there more to follow?????

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Nice one Melody...

And Welcome Back. Looks like you had a good time. Looking forward to the photos.

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Thanks guys. :smt058

More pics to follow Genie when I have the time. I have a million and one things to do at the mo. :)

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welcome back mel
love the org lunge action lol

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i like your first piccy, which junction are you at on the M62????

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Welcome back! Looks like you had an ace trip, can't wait to see the photos :D

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Welcome back - how d'you like the beemer?

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Looks wicked, glad you had a good time :cool:

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Glad you had an good time mel. Sounds awesome 8)

:thumbsup:

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Yoooo, well jealous

That first pic looks like the Prestwich junction ; )

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Thanks guys.


Absolutely loved it.:smt049 Couldn't have done this trip on my SV.

The FG650 was brilliant. Very comfortable riding position and handles so well, I found cornering much much easier than on the SV. I had mine lowered so it was just the right height for me. I didn't have the usual aches and pains I get from riding long distances on the SV, instead I was exhausted from watching out for the cows, goats, pigs, baboons etc running across the roads on some days.:D

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That looks sooooo fun!

Glad you had a good time.


Not jealous all, nope, not one bit.

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Wooooo hello Mel!!! Welcome back, glad you had an amazing time :-D So where can we see the rest of the pics :mrgreen:

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gah makes deer hunting a bit tame then eh Mel:shock:

SO WHEN YOU GETTING THE KETTLE ON?
:D

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Welcome back, looking forward to the pics.


Glad you enjoyed it and are back in one piece.

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Welcome back, I did keep a look out but didn't see yo in Kenya...
Glad your back in one piece.

and am looking forward to the next photos you post.
Richie.

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Oooh that looks brilliant! Am so glad you had fun!

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Welcome back, it's been quiet while you've been gone!

Get those pics on the .org!

Then come out for a ride :D

Pete ;)

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Looks amazing Mel, did you go on your own? how long for?

Steve

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Have you been somewhere?



OK then, welcome back, not jealous

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Come on then Mel...where are those photo's? Obviously you made it across the dirt passes...how did you find them on a bike?

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Wotcha Mel, welcome back!

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Sorry guys, my computer is playing up again. When it does actually work, its soooooooooo slow.

All the passes we came across were tarred, except for the notorious Swartberg pass. I chickened out of this one, as did the others so went up it in the car instead. :D

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Ok, about my trip and some photos.

Not sure if I should put this up in the photo section? Mods, feel free to do as you please.

Cape Town on the day I arrived. Was very windy but still warm, temperatures of around 30 celcius. It was also the day of the famous Cape Argus Cycle Tour. Apparently for the first time in seven years the weather forced organisers to physically shut down the race as the wind blew riders off their bikes between Llandudno and Bakoven. :D
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009272.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009273.jpg


Lunch stop in Kalk Bay with new best friends for the next two weeks. To my right is Jurgen, our tour guide. He was in the bakkie (as the South Africans say). Next to him is Pascale, 37 year old German rowing instructor. He was only with us for a day as he needed to get to Jo'burg in a week. To my left is John, mad, mad, mad 60 year old American, and next to him is 30 year old German salesman Sebastian.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009433.jpg
African penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town. How cute are they!!:D
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009402.jpg

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Hello and welcome back Mel. :smt039

Your trip sounds amazing. :D Very jealous, I want to go on one now.

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Me too. I want to go back now. :(

More pics coming up very very slowwwwwwwwly.

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Hehe love the pingus :-D

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Great pics Mel, looks a fantastic journey. I got Ireland to look forward to in June, not quite the same as yours! :D

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The pingus look so cute and innocent but apparently they can be quite vicious.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009392.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009426.jpg

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Great pics Mel, looks like you had a great time, welcome back :D

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I laughed at the antics of this little one.

He (or she) decides to go for a swim.
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009417.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009419.jpg

Soon the waves engulf him.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009418.jpg

And he doesn't like it. LOL. He's had enough. Time to get out.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009420.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009421.jpg

Better to watch from a safe distance.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009422.jpg

Or even better, watch the tourists watching him. :D

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009423.jpg

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Interesting road out of Montagu.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009291.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009292.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009294.jpg

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Kalk Bay where we stopped for lunch on day two. The fresh seafood was divine and it was lovely watching the waves come crashing in on the restaurant.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009438.jpg


http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009437.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009440.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009443.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009445.jpg

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Mel, that looks amazing. How long did you go for?

Are you gonna chop your SV in for something like the GS then?

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Bain's Kloof Pass.

It was absolutely boiling that day. 39 celcius and very very humid. The car with air con was very tempting indeed!

Bain's Koof Pass was amazing. Very twisty and I unintentionally scraped my knee on the road a few times. The scenery was spectacular.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009511.jpg


http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009510.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009513.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009512.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009515.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...ICA2009514.jpg

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why do i get the impression the S.V. days are numbered. wheres your nearest B.M.W dealer mel?

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The tour was two weeks long. Went to SA on my own but obviously had company on the tour. Couldn't have asked for better company. Those guys were fab and we all got on so well. :smt055

Nah, will be hanging on to the SV for now, but would definitely consider a BMW in future. I'm hoping to do Cape to Cairo possibly within the next two years and would deffo use the BMW.:smt026

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looks awesome melody.
How did you find the textiles in such hot weather though?

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she told me she had nothing on under the textiles.:smt047