6 Tuesday June 7, 2016

With hearts racing, and nervous lungs sucking expectantly at the early-morning sea air... the gladiators waited for the signal.

Like World War I warriors about to “go over the top” on the quagmires of the Somme, they waited with throttle hands at the

ready and left boots levitating for the quick flicks so necessary in

the initial assault. This magnificent first wave of adventurers prepared

themselves for the magical moment, when Lester would give the go-ahead... and then it happened. With almost 7 000 horsepower of pure mechanical bedlam erupting and nearly 80 off-road and adventure bikes roaring to get a much sought-after front spot in the

knee deep, wheel-swallowing, sandy

Lowveld Dual Bike Adventure, Philip Marsh

The high tide almost caught us off guard.

Route master Mark Taylor setting up Jesse Hardy’s GPS.

beaches, the fabled 10km Prawn Run beach dash kicked off - from Tan ‘n Biki to the Nkomati rivermouth, in Mozambique.

Not since the war-winning Normandy beachhead invasions in June 1944, has such a mechanised Armada attacked a beach with such vigour and enthusiasm. As the cacophonic crescendo of wheel spinning and fantail roostering sounded, riders busied themselves in ejecting from the seemingly tectonic deep sand. The more experienced bikers found second, third and fourth gears as quickly as possible, and started propelling themselves from the morass of motorcycle mayhem - like purposeful projectiles hurtling down the beautiful beach towards a distant victory. In some places the sand was so thick, the beach crabs actually played a form of Australian tag in the evenings.

But what series of earth-shattering events could possibly have led up to this magnificent spectacle? It all started some

five years ago as the brain child of Rika de Bruyn to stage a Dual Bike Adventure event in the beautiful Lowveld. This place, with its combination of magnificent off-road and Enduro-riding potential, great weather and awesome accommodation options, and to top it off with a ride into Mozambique... and voila, the LDBA and the spectacular Prawn Run was born.

From humble beginnings in 2012 of around 30 bikes for the Mozambique Prawn Run, which forms Stage 2 of the LDBA, it has grown to be arguably the top Dual Bike Adventure event and most anticipated off-road biking weekend in the country – with an amazing 78 people, 4 medics and an ambulance for the Prawn Run this year. It is indeed a wonderful testimony to the winning formula that Rika, Treffon and Mark have so successfully evolved over the last half a decade.

The spectacle of an entire showroom’s

On the ferry...

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R319 000‘13 Mazda BT50 D/C

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45 3.0 D4D SuperCab 4x4

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Tuesday June 7, 2016 7

The ultimate dream, a beach ride and braai.

Rika de Bruyn (organiser) shares a moment with Altus Theart. Photo: Robert Coutts

No, this is not a “boep” competition. This is a braai - Mozambican style .

the epic Prawn Runworth of off-road bikes, hurtling through bottomless beach sand - launching some riders and their trusty steeds into award winning poses and landings - is truly something to put on the bucket list for bikers. The absolute privilege of participating in this amazing event is only made possible through the all-important permits from the Mozambique authorities and once again, a huge vote of thanks to Lester and Betsie Mouton for pulling this off! Great food, beautiful beaches, gallons of R&Rs and squadrons of inebriated mosquito’s make this an event not to miss…even just as a pillion or back-up passenger.

The pattern-creating beach phenomenon known as Longshore Drift, which causes the wave vortices and tidal eddies of the Northward-flowing Benguela Current to create wonderful natural biking ramps, buck-jumps at regular intervals in the littoral zone of the beach, appeared to be

completely mistaken by some riders. They regularly launched themselves at high speeds, head first over their handlebars, into the sand in search of hidden pleasures and treasures.

One disappointed diver, none other than the legend Dave Griffin himself, said the sorest part of the “hole experience” was trying to get his tongue out of the air vent in his helmet! Jude - his gorgeous wife, who just happens to be a medical doctor - has promised to buy him a book... with pictures.

This is a Dual Bike Adventure Event not to miss - and a huge thanks and congratulations once again to the winning team of Rika, Treffon and Mark for pulling one out of the hat - again.

Judging by the comments from the participants this year, entries for the 2017 event will be like a Harrods Christmas sale on edible underwear... so keep your eyes and ears open.

‘14 Nissan NP200 1.6 R 99 900‘14 Hyundai H1 2.5 CRDI A/T 9-Seater R 419 900‘13 Hyundai IX35 R2.0 CRDI GLS/EXEC R 269 900‘13 VW Polo 1.4 C/Line R 149 900‘12 Ford Ranger 2.2 TDCi XL S/C P/U R 149 900‘11 Toyota Hilux 3.0 D-4D Raider R/B 4x4 S/C R 239 900

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