raw-adventures-blog

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Still trying to figure out what I was saying to @darryltemp1985. But it was somewhere between "fuck that's amazing" And "fuck you playing with my heart" So much stress when you are a meter or 2 away from a skater who is going sideways through a corner not knowing if the two donkeys on the right or the horse on the left will get spooked or not. #lesotho #themountainkingdom #longboarding #skate #skateboarding #extreme #froth #stress #horse #donkey #skater #bmw #bmwmotorrad #bike #downhill #fast #fun #peoplewhodofunstuff #mountain #explore #travel #adventure #rawadventures

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#Repost @maxwellimages with @repostapp.
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Minister, thane and the Danes. A photo of the Sports Minister of Lesotho and the couple people who stalled him for an hour while he was rushing to an important rally. It doesn't help that when a raw run of Lesotho takes 7 minutes each. By the way, thank you mr minister for the wild chicken and veggies. It felt as though I was Fred flinstone with a dodo leg. #minister #Danes #longboarding #skateboarding #lesotho #downhill #bmw #rawadventures #bmwmotorrad #ministerofsport #marakabeilodge #chicken #ministerofswag

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RAW ADVENTURES MOUNTAIN SKATING SURVIVAL GUIDE

If you think you have it, think again... After making multiple videos of Stu ('The Eagle') skating downhill, we realised that it wasn’t the cool slides or the perfect line, ok yes it is, but it was also about where we were taking those lines. We realised we were over the local 3-corner road. We knew we wanted more… More corners, more speed, more fun. But as with life more of everything comes with a price: more corners to slide out and that usually means off a cliff, more speed than you can handle (most of the time), and way more slides (a double pendy, even a triple, is going to saveyour life). With this new desire a new idea crept up into our minds - lets explore Lesotho. Three trips down and we have definitely learnt a few things: so here are our guidelines to what we believe could get you safely through Lesotho on any trip.

Photocred : Jp Myburgh. Waiting for a gap at provincial.

ACCOMMODATION: Marakabei Lodge is the only place we stayed during our trip, there are many places to call home for your trip in Lesotho, but for us we realised that Marakabei Lodge is the perfect accommodation for a skate trip. With the river at your doorstep, two mountain passes on either side, and the best hospitality any backpacker could ask for. Plus, the Marakabei staff have a soft spot for skaters, especially after going three times in one year so they tend to go out of their way to make you feel at home - which is nice when you are away from home.

http://marakabeilodge.com/contact_us.php

See that bridge and all those trees That's where we stay

ROADS: If you looking for a straight, you are in the wrong place. If you have an issue deciding what to order off a menu with 20+ world class meals, then try deciding which pass you want to skate when you have 20+ world class passes. The tar is impeccable, and smoother than a photo shopped super models skin.

Switzerland, Italy, What is that?

THE PEOPLE OF LESOTHO: The people of Lesotho are some of the most humble people on earth. They treat you with respect and all they want to do is talk. They are not tainted by every day technology so talking, drinking and story telling is what they do best. CHILDREN: The children of Lesotho are the coolest guys in the mountains. Our only worry was that they had no idea what the hell was going on and that what we were doing was extremely dangerous. They could sense the danger in what we were doing, but would never see the results of a crash, so they would (innocently?) throw stones at you whilst you were flying by and they also realised that we were taking the same general line on a corner and would sometimes put a stick in the apex. They also use stones to herd cows which resulted in many unwanted stones on the generally smooth roads.

Like i said, Coolest guys in the mountains

TEENS: Expect stone throwing and sometimes a stupid game of chicken. These are also the drinkers, be wary. Also when passing a taxi stopped on the side of the road, expect broken glass and maybe even a random burning object half on and half off the road.

Not all the teens are stone throwing chickens

ADULTS: The Adults of Lesotho are generally amazed when you fly passed them, or alternatively are seen jumping over rails or running up mountains to get away. But still you have got to keep an eye out when a man is hobbling along on the side of the road - he is most likely drunk and could fall into the road at any time.

Landyachtz team rider, Dylan de Fleuriot

ANIMALS: Cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses are the main animals in Lesotho. Animals cross the roads whilst its raining, all the mud scatters all over the road from their hooves. When it dries up it turns into a slippery dirt trap for the helpless.

SHEEP When you see sheep, look on both sides of the road and be prepared to slow down or even better... STOP. They tend to run across the road at the last second to join the rest of the herd.

COWS Worry about the herds more than the two bulls pulling the tire. The herds have cows and calves which tend to be spooked more than bulls. Also the bulls are being controlled when pulling a tire, so you wont need to worry too much about them being spooked.

GOATS Goats are half the culprits for the stones on the roads. They climb the mountain faces which knock off rocks and some times boulders. You will hardly see these guys on the roads because they are in the mountains all the time. But when you do see them on the road, react as though you would with sheep. They tend to be spooked in the same way. GEAR If you could get an iron-man suit, you are winning, but if you could get an iron man suit, why the hell are you skating??!! Generally a piss pot helmet, gloves and knee-pads are great, but here you need all the above (FULL FACE HELMET), a spine protector, g form crash pants, and even elbow pads. Precision trucks are precisely what you need. Trusty wheels, a strong deck and a GEAR CHECK before EVERY RUN.

Photo Cred : Jp Myburgh. Craig filming for Raw Adventures

SPEED If you think you going fast, you probably were going too fast about 200m back but didn’t realize it until it was too late. We realized that Lesotho was not about going fast, it was about being comfortable at your own pace. If you want to hit 115kmph in Lesotho, then so be it. But if you hit a stone or a cow is suddenly in the road. Good night. We were more for making it to the bottom of some of the most beautiful roads in the world, than trying to get the craziest video with the best lines, crazy speeds and standees everywhere. HOSPITALS

Before you think of hospitals, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BASIC FIRST AID COURSE UNDER YOUR BELT. But, Yes they are cheap: 20 stiches (Shark fishing gut), 2 head x rays and a night in a mission hospital for only R130 ($14 for you Americans out there) but no ambulances, no choppers, no English, a couple of patients with gastro. So you tell me if you would rather risk it closer to home where your medical aid can organize a chopper and a CAT SCAN?

WEATHER Mid March is most probably the best time of year to go for skating. All the animals are in the mountains grazing, the raining season is coming to an end, and it is getting cooler. If the animals are in the mountains, they not on the roads. If its getting cooler, you can wear more protection with out getting irritably hot. If it doesn’t rain, you can skate more.

Just look at that weather, and road

CONCLUSION

One day we will be shepherds in Lesotho. I hope to see all you big names in Lesotho. Stop spending copious amounts of money in the Alps, and come to the Mountain Kingdom, Lesotho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8AXKaUT8c

Written by : Craig Maxwell Webster + His bike was a GoPro Mount

Raw Adventures : Craig + Stu

Instagram : @raw.adventures

Youtube :  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLccwudj_0uFX8aF9j5VAxQ

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/rawadventures2014

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Qachas neck pass near the border of Lesotho and South Africa. #rawadventures #adventure #travel #explore #roadtrip #mountains #thisissouthafrica #southafrica #landscape #beautiful #exploring #bmw #bmwR1200GS #motorbike #adventureriders #sa #easterncape #cloudporn #sky #green #blue

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Dylan, you male. I'm sure this mountain man is sending all his love. Just like everyone at marakabei. Speedy recovery big guy. I want to see a smile like this soon. Yellllooooowwwwwfiiiiish. #portrait #getwellsoon #rain #mist #smile #happy #adventure #travel #explore #mountainmen #islandstyle #basotho #lesotho #rainjacket #hat #rawadventures #yellowfish #mountains #fun #hiking

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On route with @darryltemp1985 to Lesotho. The mountain kingdom. 800km on a BMW R1200GS through some of the most breathtaking views in the world. This is On the way to Qachas neck border post to Lesotho. This was one my last photos in South Africa of 2014. Photo cred : @maxwellimages #roadtrip #rawadventures #adventures #adventure #BMW #bmwr1200gs #motorbike #green #blue #southafrica #thisissouthafrica #africa #roadporn #dirt #dirtroad #clouds #travel #explore #qachasneck #lesotho #mountainkingdom #mountains #iphonography #nofilter #life #longdistance

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Another mountain man with his sheep/goat/cattle dogs. What a cool guy. Had a full conversation where I spoke English and he spoke Sotho. Seemed to understand each other well enough. Photo cred @maxwellimages #rawadventures #rain #water #adventure #adventures #dogs #bricks #travel #explore #sheepdog #mountainmen #mountains #mission #landscape #life #lesotho #hike #hiking #animals #work

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Happy Tuesday. When we saw these guys at the bottom of the pass, we were too happy that they were alive. We drove up Ha Cheche and Ha Noi to find these jackknifed toyotas. The red one in tow had 4 different sets of tires with NO tread what's so ever. The bar was straightened by shoving it into a crack and bending it straight. The pass they had to endure in the wet must have been one of the scariest things they have probably done. #mountains #mountainpass #pass #hilux #toyota #lesotho #rawadventures #adventure #adventures #travel #explore #rain #iphonography #skate #life #mission #help #jackknife #cars #vehicles #tow #clouds #red #green #control #accident

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Another beautiful moment in the mountains on the hike on our first full day in the mountain kingdom, Lesotho. Photo cred : @maxwellimages #rawadventures #adventure #horse #portrait #mountains #river #landscape #beautiful #mist #fog #rain #travel #explore #fun #hike #hiking #chain #blanket #mountainmen #iphonography #adventures exploring #skate #mission #winning #life

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Craig Maxwell Webster. The man filming on his BMW R1200GS. Sitting on Stuarts tailfeather like no one else. Constantly 1-2 meters behind him. Crossed the South Atlantic Ocean with Stuart. Experienced heavy weather. Completed advanced off road courses on his BMW 1200 with Jan Staal at country trax. Completed an on road advanced course at Kayalami Race track. Explored South Africa and surrounding countries on his BMW. His super power is optimism. He helped build a 12.5 high art Bon fire. He photographs things. @maxwellimages #portrait #beard #mustache #smile #happy #rawadventures #adventure #adventureface #beforeafter

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Stuart "The Eagle" Purchase after our last adventure to Lesotho. He is the guy that flys down hills on skateboards. Quite an impressive young man. Completed 5 ocean crossings. Experiencing life threatening weather. Has a skippers for 200 ton yachts. Completed the Cape 2 Rio in 2014. Raced lasers over seas. Countless adventures through foreign countries on a BMW 1200. He is a mountain skater. He can grow a beard. Also a mustache. Always wears a jersey. All the time. @spurchy #rawadventures #portrait #beard #mustache #smile #happy #adventureface #adventure #hairy

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This lil lamb sheltering itself from the cold wind and rain. Using the entrance way of a Basotho hut as a shelter. #lamb #little #lesotho #shelter #weather #wind #green #sheep #thatch #thatchroof #landscape #mountains #adventure #travel #adventures #rawadventures #explore #live #hike #home #cute #fun #mist #fog

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A quarter way up the mountain by marakabei lodge. First day in the mountains and the heavens open up. We decided to put on our wet gear, I helped Camila with a Midmar mile rain jacket, and we set of on an adventure. What an interesting first day. Submerging in to the locals. @daletempleton1985 and @steffano_dimera running from the top of the mountain to the bottom like on a trail run. Whilst I accompanied @jpegphotos @ren_s9 and @oj_shep on a little mission in the mountains. Meeting with the locals, hiking and just adventuring. #adventure #adventures #rawadventures #rain #mist #mountain #travel #travelbug #hiking #hike #saloman #rainjacket #roadporn #fog #green #happy #lesotho #landscape #maxwellimages #explore #beautiful #mountainkingdom #marakabeilodge #marakabei Photocred : @maxwellimages

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Take me back to the mountains, where everyone says hello. No matter who you are. Basotho people, some of the most amazing people on the planet. If you have met the mountain men, you would understand what I speak of. #lesotho #basotho #beanie #river #smile #happy #portrait #environmentalportrait #blanket #mountain #landscape #humble #rawadventures #travel #adventure #adventures #travelbug #hike #hiking #newfaces #rain #mist #fog #green #grass

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Raw Adventures joined some great friends from around the world on one great adventure to "The Mountain Kingdom" Lesotho. "A place where tranquility is an understatement" Hiking up the mountain to the beautiful road where herds of cattle, sheep and goats are lead by a Shepard either by foot, horseback or even donkey. A common sight in the mountains of Lesotho are donkeys filled with anything from wild cabbages, trees, or even crates of quarts. In the background you see Ha Noi pass #donkey #lesotho #mountainkingdom #rawadventures #mountains #pass #roadporn #people #landscape #longboard #marakabei #beauty #hiking #rain #downhill #skate #adventure #travel #descent #walk #trail #beautiful #africa #maxwellimages #southafrican Photocred : @maxwellimages

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Starting our rawadventure to Lesotho with some great people. @spurchy @steffano_dimera @daletempleton1985 @maxwellimages. Quite excited for what's to come. #rawadventures #roadtrip #lesotho #travel #explore #adventure

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"Why though? Because I said so!" Check out our very own @daletempleton1985 just having a lil freeride down Through inanda in South Africa. #skate #skateboard #skateboarding #skateboarder #skater #longboard #downhill #southafrica #longboarding #down #fast #extreme #rawadventures #travel #beautiful #adventure #adventures #speed #surfing #freeride #roadporn #maxwellimages #fun #goodtime #downhillskateboarding