Grit and Gravel, and Corrugations

I have done the incredible once again! This last week I rode out to a dam, because I craved a paddle. What I’m saying is that I really wanted to go out and paddle in a kayak. There are three dams nearby that are suitable for paddling, but I could only go to one, because we moved the kayaks recently, to the smallest of the three. This dam is on a farm called Damascus. The dam is 22km out of town which is not too far to go on a little 50cc scooter, is it?

There were only two problems… One was that my moped has started stalling at high speed. Don’t worry; it’s not as dangerous as it sounds. The moped doesn’t actually stall, but it loses power and then shuts off as soon as I come to a stop. When I first encountered this, I tried limiting the fuel, but that did not work, so I tried un-limiting the fuel, which did not work either. Now I just make do, and start it up as soon as it switches off. It’s not the best situation, and it looks really funny when someone sees me kick starting the scooter at every stop sign.

The other, more serious problem was that the 22km were on slippery, treacherous, bumpy gravel. Yes, it was a dirt road. The Yamaha Passola was not made for off-roading, and it probably handles corrugations a lot worse after thirty years. This did not deter me in any way though, so I filled up, put my helmet on and tied the paddle to the moped. Let me add that the only way that I could tie the paddle to the moped prevented me from sitting on the seat. I had two options; side saddle, or on the rear cage. I chose the latter.

The ride there was not exactly comfortable, and it felt like it took tremendously long. I had to stop six or seven times because of my previously mentioned engine troubles. On my fourth stop I looked down and saw two bolts jumping up and down on my foot panel. Where these bolts came from, I don’t know, but it did unnerve me a little at the time.

When I arrived at the dam, I was so happy at the Red Devils achievement, but I didn’t waste time by celebrating, because I knew dark would be coming soon. I ran to fetch the kayak and forced it through a thicket of all different types of thorn trees, and then I followed it. I found out that the dam hadn’t received water in a long time, and the water was stagnant. After doing two laps of the dam, and being petrified by massive underwater creatures, I got out and ran around five hundred metres with the boat on my shoulder.

By the time I started on my way back, it was past six, and the sun had sunk beyond the horizon. The way back was fast, and 5km from home my dad came out to check if I was still all right. I was, and I rode the last few kilometres back in complete darkness.

I felt the same way I did when I finished my journey from Oudtshoorn. It revived my interest and yearning for moped adventures. We will just have to see where the little Devil takes me next…

The Moped Army

I have news. My mate Matthew has just acquired a Honda Melody! He is as excited as I was when I first got my moped. Farai, another good friend is busy fixing up his 150cc Lambretta tuck-tuck and I another two friends, Chris and Johanli, already have mopeds. Plus there are still many of my friends who are looking for mopeds.

I have arranged that the four of us go out on a ride to De Rust on Sunday, and hopefully everyone will make it. The plan is to ride out to De Rust in order to have breakfast. On the way we will be able to race one another, play around and experience the beauties of riding ones moped without any cares in the world.

Once we get to De Rust we will be able to order some breakfast and coffee, and discuss various things about mopeds. If anyone has a technical or mechanical problem we will be able to discuss it, and find a solution. Then we will meander back to Prince Albert.

We must just remember to take enough petrol along!

What an Idiot

Hey Passola Fans!

It has been a long, long time since I last posted... The truth is, I have been trying to find a way to tell you what I have done without making myself look too bad. It has taken me this long to realize that there is in fact no way of doing that. I am going to look bad anyway.

I did something no Passola owner should do; I did not put two-stroke oil into the tank! Before you go ahead and judge me, let me put my case foreword. 

The dude I bought my little red devil from said to me at the time that I should put some oil in the tank every now and then. This seemed simple enough for me, and that is what I did, until I got back from Oudtshoorn. I had left my oil reserves in Oudtshoorn, and did not have any with me in Prince Albert. So I simply kept filling her up without two-stroke oil. I assumed that she would be fine for a while. Little did I know that she would not be fine. 

The first time she broke down, I had just left town. I did not think much of it, and after a while, kicked her back to life. On my way back into town she broke down again. At this point I started getting worried. There was a acrid smell, and it took me a very long time to get her going the second time. I had just entered the town when she broke down a third and final time. I had to push her back home :(

Not to worry, I thought, there must be something small wrong with it that I will easily be able to fix. Now if you know a thing or two you would immediately know that no two-stroke oil means messed piston rings. I did not know this, so my friend Matthew and I proceeded to clean and fix everything, except for the rings. Every time we accomplished something, our hopes were broken down when the damn thing wouldn't start. 

Two weeks ago I decided that I had had enough, and I took it back to the Kobus, the able mechanic in Oudtshoorn, in order to have it fixed once and for all. I am hoping that it will be done by the end of the week. I have not rode on it since my last post, and I am dying to feel that familiar wind in my hair.

I hope you will not make the same mistake as me, because the heartache of not being able to ride it is almost unbearable. I know that I will never make a similar mistake again. I was an utter Idiot!