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River crossings? River crossings?
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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 13 Oct 2004
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River crossings?
Hi Grant and all,
I posted this on the BMW tech page but want to try here as well.
The biggest obstacle on my imminent Mozambique journey is the Limpopo River.
Right now the wet part of the river is 70 metres (200 feet) wide and between 40 and 70 centimetres (approx. 14 - 30 inches) deep (the dry part is 1km of sand...) There is no current to speak of and the river bed is sandy and flat.
There is no bridge and no boats or canoes of any kind. (Luckily, there are no crocodiles either as they have all been eaten.)
I doubt whether I'll be able to ride my R60/6 through but I'd be happy to be proved otherwise.
Any advice on riding, dragging, floating, raft-building or other assorted river-crossing magic tricks gratefully received.
cheers
Paul
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  #2  
Old 15 Oct 2004
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Good luck on your crossing. I couldn't help but to pass on a actual river crossing I saw on film many years ago. This film was put out by Harley and it showed a guy with one of harleys small two strokes (american made) crossing a river by tipping the bike onto a inflated small life raft.How many two liter pop bottles would it take to float a R60?
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  #3  
Old 15 Oct 2004
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Hi Bill,
I've been toying with that scheme too. I was thinking about buying a small inflatable cataraft - I guide on whitewater for fun so the idea appeals. But that's 15 kilos of boat, less other stuff like rope and maybe a paddle and double pump, that could be more profitable used for extra gas.
No, the solution is either to drum up a gang of porters or load the bike into the back of a passing truck. It seems a bit excessive for 70 metres of water that's less than a metre deep but there you go - if it was easy, it wouldn't be fun.
Thanks for the reply.
cheers
Paul
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  #4  
Old 15 Oct 2004
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Hi Paul;
Before there was a ferry across the Jardine river in far north Queensland(Australia)some motorcyclists carried two truck tubes,placed one under each bike wheel,passed wood or something suitable through the spokes of the bike wheels(two pieces each end on either side of the bike axles)The wood or whatever must rest on each side of the truck tube.the truck tube is then inflated and the bike was then floated across across the river with several people steading the bike on either side.Bike motor must be cool when using this system,otherwise the exhaust may melt the truck tubes.
Have never used this system myself but have seen photos of it being done.
The Jardine River would be about the same dimensions as the river you wish to cross.
This info may give you something to ponder.
Ben
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  #5  
Old 15 Oct 2004
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Hi Ben,
Yeah! I had been thinking about a truck tube raft but this would be a much better idea.
Two questions, though: how big was the bike? (My R60 weighs 200 kg - but it's easy to whip the gas tank off); second, any crocs in the Jardine?
cheers, and have a good weekend
Paul
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  #6  
Old 16 Oct 2004
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Paul;
The bikes were mostly XL250 one XL350 and a YammaTT500?About 1970 manufacture.
I think two good size truck tubes should be able to carry 200kg.
Yes there are crocs in the Jardine but we did not see any when we were there in August this year.The local people were going to take us to see them,but they (the locals)did not meet us as arranged.Perhaps the crocs cleaned them up.
Ben.
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  #7  
Old 18 Oct 2004
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Hi Ben,
I'm going to try a tube crossing at home first.
And if the trip's a go, you'll read about it here.
cheers and thanks
Paul
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  #8  
Old 20 Oct 2004
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Good idea,will be interesting to know how you go.
Perhaps roping the sticks to the tubes and then from the handle bars to the sticks to stabilize things,may be worth trying.
Good luck.
Ben
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