Honda Quest Adventure is out of the starting blocks
The ultimate prize of the off-road bike rally is a Honda Quest Africa Twin CRF1000L.
All 14 Quest 2018 contestants gathered at Kaleo Guest Farm in the Koue Bokkeveld recently, with some having travelled from as far as Namibia and Limpopo.
The president of Honda Motor Southern Africa, Toshiaki Konaka, made a fitting entrance, arriving at the send-off on a Honda Quest Africa Twin CRF1000L to welcome the contestants to the great adventure that is Honda Quest 2018. The contestants were then told who they were going to be paired with and given their official Honda Quest gear.
From Kaleo the teams were bussed to Springbok in the Northern Cape to meet up with their bikes, where the competition started in earnest.
Day 1 to Day 4
After the first few days of intense adventure riding, Day 4 did not get any easier.
The routine is becoming the norm; many of the contestants are from city backgrounds and the challenge of Quest has taken some getting used to. Added to this, the last few days have left more of a mark on some than others. Very few, if any, can still claim a clean score sheet regarding trips to Mother Earth. Fortunately, the Africa Twin is made of sterner stuff as only two hand guards are a little worse for wear.
A terrific unseasonal storm blew into the overnight camp just outside Springbok, leaving many with precious little sleep. This was a worry for Hardy from Specialised Adventures and his team, as safety is a primary concern.
The trail
The route started east down Spektakel Pass while thunder and lightning threatened. Hardy had threaded together a tricky but scenic route through many private properties that the local farmers had graciously opened their gates for. Fortunately, the stormy weather was a blessing, as just the week before the recce team had experienced 45-degree heat on the same stretch.
It was apparent that the contestants were well and truly bonded with their steeds as there was little trouble to be had from tricky off-camber rock climbs or deep sandy tracks.
Just past Tweerivier the group entered the little-known Kheis trail; a stunning path that winds its way through the mountains between Kamieskroon and Garies. The whole route prompted one very experienced adventure riding contestant to quip once into the camp, “That's the best day of adventure riding I have ever done!”
With another long, satisfying day in the saddle and two evenings of sleep deprivation from stormy weather, the teams were given the night off from the planned presentations and tests.
The president of Honda Motor Southern Africa, Toshiaki Konaka, made a fitting entrance, arriving at the send-off on a Honda Quest Africa Twin CRF1000L to welcome the contestants to the great adventure that is Honda Quest 2018. The contestants were then told who they were going to be paired with and given their official Honda Quest gear.
From Kaleo the teams were bussed to Springbok in the Northern Cape to meet up with their bikes, where the competition started in earnest.
Day 1 to Day 4
After the first few days of intense adventure riding, Day 4 did not get any easier.
The routine is becoming the norm; many of the contestants are from city backgrounds and the challenge of Quest has taken some getting used to. Added to this, the last few days have left more of a mark on some than others. Very few, if any, can still claim a clean score sheet regarding trips to Mother Earth. Fortunately, the Africa Twin is made of sterner stuff as only two hand guards are a little worse for wear.
A terrific unseasonal storm blew into the overnight camp just outside Springbok, leaving many with precious little sleep. This was a worry for Hardy from Specialised Adventures and his team, as safety is a primary concern.
The trail
The route started east down Spektakel Pass while thunder and lightning threatened. Hardy had threaded together a tricky but scenic route through many private properties that the local farmers had graciously opened their gates for. Fortunately, the stormy weather was a blessing, as just the week before the recce team had experienced 45-degree heat on the same stretch.
It was apparent that the contestants were well and truly bonded with their steeds as there was little trouble to be had from tricky off-camber rock climbs or deep sandy tracks.
Just past Tweerivier the group entered the little-known Kheis trail; a stunning path that winds its way through the mountains between Kamieskroon and Garies. The whole route prompted one very experienced adventure riding contestant to quip once into the camp, “That's the best day of adventure riding I have ever done!”
With another long, satisfying day in the saddle and two evenings of sleep deprivation from stormy weather, the teams were given the night off from the planned presentations and tests.
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