ALL TAR ROADIES TRIP: 22-24/02/2013
Hi All,
As previously said, please forgive my spelling and tenses. I grew up in the Kalahari where we started crying and went into hiding when the Engelse came to visit us. Charles, please help us Afrikaanse ouens with an English spell and grammar check on this forum. I want to run away when I must write something on the forum.
Ag wat, let me try.
We had a nice all tar trip over the past weekend. 22-24/02/2013.
Trip organizer and Ride Colonel--Jacques Botha. (I refuse to be demoted to a Captain)
The trip was advertised on the forum as an "all tar roadies trip" with the kind assistance of Warren. I just sat one evening thinking that we should not all sit and wait for things to happen whilst the off-road guys are having a joll about every weekend, organizing rides.
Upon throwing the bait out to members, I got the response from John/Des, Eric/Kym(on her Harley), Gehard, Lyn, Kobus and Greg, a visitor all the way from Germany who is on vacation in Cape town for the past few months. Some other responces also but they could not join.
With the kind assitance of Warren, we started the arrangements.
We met on Friday morning at 08:00 at the Winelands Engen (Lyn, very close to being late) for a quick Brekkie and left at 09:10.
We took the route over Du Toits Kloof, turned away at Worcester to Ceres and to Touws River for our first stop. En-Route and at the turn off to Touws River, we drove into a roadblock manned by SAPS, Traffic, SARS and Nature Consevation. And o boy, were they surprized to see Lyn and Kym when they took off their helmets to produce their drivers licences.
After Touws River, we had a quick refreshment stop at Maatjiesfontein and then stopped at Laingsburg for brunch.
From Laingsburg we went via Prince Albertweg, Prince Albert, through Meiringspoort to De Rust where we settled down for the night.
We stayed at a very cosy place called "Olivier's Rust" where there was a nice pool and braai facilities which we enjoyed.
Saterday morning Lyn left us at 05:30 to meet her committment later that day back home. We left at 08:30 via Oudtshoorn, George and Wilderness to Sedgefield's famous Saturday Farmers Market where I had my usual half dozen oysters with a glass of white wine. The rest wandered around and each one found their Brekkie for the day.
We then had a short stop over at Wilderness for some cold refreshments and arrived at our Saturday sleepover in Hartenbos just before 14:00.
As we stopped at the bungalows, Gerhard noticed his front tyre had been damaged to the extent that he needed to replace it. I knew of a Bike shop called AST Motorcycles in Mossel Bay and we arrived 3 min. after closing time. Luckily,they were busy taking stock for the rest of the day and the owner kindly assisted and fitted a new Anarkee 2 at a very very good price. Phone them, you won't get it cheeper in Cape Town.
Kobus then joined us, riding all on his own from Cape Town, and again, we had a nice evening around the fire.
Sunday morning, Kobus went on his usual photography spree early morning to catch the sunrise and we left again at 08:30 via Riversdale and Garcia Pass to Barrydale where we had breakfast at the Country Pumpkin. From there we came home via Rawsonville and Du Toits Kloof to arrive home round about 15:00.
Sorry, lots of photos were taken but I do not know how to post it.
All in all we did 1270km, 10 people on 9 bikes and rode the following passes. Du Toitskloof, Mitchells Pass, Theronsberg Pass, Kredouw Pass, Garcia Pass, Op de Tredoux Pass and Du Toits again. Along the route, we had a lot of nice twisties where one could lekker hone in on your riding skills(all tarr). Some people tried to see what they could get out of their Beemers. Around the campfires I overheard something like 220 and a few 210's and 215's.
We also had someone who thought that he/she was coming to a pajama party and arrived at the braai in pajamas. No names mentioned.
All off us would like to thank Wayne from Atlantic Motorrad for their generous sponsorship off a very handy lucky draw which was won by Lyn. Also thanks for the other goodies which helped me to fill up the "Lucky Packets"
A special thanks also to Mike for his sponsor to keep our refreshments cool on the trip and which made the "Lucky Packets" look interesting.
Thanks to Warren, Natalie, Andy, Ann and Anna- Mari for assisting me to organize this ride. I can guarantee you all that the great job you guys are doing for the club with all the arrangements you do so brilliantly, is much appreciated.
Have a nice week to all readers.
- 2576 reads
Comments
Hi Jacques,
Good trip report and even a better ride. Kym and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as did all the other riders. We’ll be in front of the queue for the next one you organise. You found the perfect balance between riding, site seeing, socialising, relaxing and even shopping. Thanks for organising a super week-end.
Well done. 
Wel gedaan Kolonel!
Wys my 'n Engelsman wat half so goed in Afrikaans kan skryf as jy in Engels en ek wys jou...
Janee - die engels is nogal goed. Beslis nie erger as die van sommige opregte engelsmanne op die forum.
Net een ding - die forum het nie beheer oor jou spel-tjekker nie. Dit is iets wat jy self op jou comper moet reel. Terwyl jy tik, is die webwerf glad nie betrokke nie, en kan dus niks aan spelfoute doen nie.
In elk geval, al gebruik mens 'n spel-tjekker glip foute deur weens woorde soos "there" en "their" en "they're" wat vir een of ander rede (dommigheid?) sommige engelsprekendes (amerikaners?) nie reg kan begryp nie. Ek se maar niks...
Nice report Jacques.
I was invited for a biking trip weekend, 
so I took my pajamas and my biking gear.
LOL sounded as if it was all I needed, wasn’t it????. 
socialising did not even cross my mind, thus
no clothing. LOL. all we do is ride for fun. arrrive at De Rust, time to shower and relax oops! what now. So barefoot
in my Zebra pajama party outfit, walking the street s of De Rust at
5:30pm on a Friday afternoon.
Thank you to Mike Voges for having the foresite knowing we would need 6pack cooler bags. came in Handy Friday eve. Shoe! it was hot, nut the Brutal Fruits were kept really cold.
As for being late on Friday, had to see 2 clients before we left, first one being 6:30am. Someone has to assist with keeping the economy going.
While innocently criss-crossing country, without an evil
thought of any sort, from Ceres to Touwsriver,
with all the cops in the vicinity behind us at the road block, Jacques
pulled up alongside me. He thrusts his
fist forward in a pointing direction, was there a pot of gold ahead???
.Now my mom always taught me to LISTEN to my elders, so I interpreted his instruction to GO GO GO and WENT WENT WENT until I began to feel a little lonely, the group had disintegrated into the background, nobody in site, thought my speedometer was going to spring a spring. 220km p/h and it did not feel that fast at all. I had achieved 190on the GS 650 twin, and wow! that was fast, and said never again, poor bike.! . okay guys and gals, I was lucky to tell the tale, not something I will do again and again. But, feel certain, many of you have done it too.
I would rate Meirings Poort the most scenic of our tripl, wow! The rock formation, the fresh crisp cool feeling while swooping its lazy snake like curves. We stopped and went up to see the waterfall. Just simply breathtaking. Reminded me a little of Dunns Fall in the Caribbean.
Jacques knew of a great butcher in Laingsburg and had him slice off a scrumptious thick slice of Rump which we braai’d and devoured Friday eve, Butcher highly recommended. Once you pass the Petrol Station on the left, next road right, 50m from the corner is this little butcher shop on the right.
Saturday morning I left at 5am, Flip! Had to ride over the grass, over uneven offroad style terrain driveway, up and over the gate entrance, swoop into the ditch at the driveway entrance and up to stop iin the road before closing the gate. I walked the path twice before riding it, just to check the eveness of the ground and the exact path I would ride,. Should have seperated the grass as my line indicator. could just not bear to take Jacques up on his offer to ride the bike out at 5am onto the tar for me. Phew!! Made it.
Well, needless to say the road back home was all mine, simply no trucks and minimal cars in site. The best part of the day is early morning and then being part of the sunrise.
stopped in Robertson for Fuel and brekkie, and at home by 10am
Thanx for Atlantic Motoraad for the super Gift Donation of a fitted back tyre whenever.
Thanx all for a super Friday and eve, a great crowd
Hi Jacques.
I also want to take this oportunity to thank you for the organisation for this great trip.
Please don't worry about your English - mine isn't that good either, but everybody talking English fo my sake certainly made the time much more enjoyable for me...
Thanks also to the "sponsors" (Mike Voges and Atlantic) for the goody bags and the lucky draw!
The trip showed me some beautiful parts of the country, the riding was great fun and I really enjoyed meeting you all - hope to see you again soon!
If any of you should come to Germany after August 2013, please drop me a line and we will try to organise something together (e.g. visiting the BMW plant which is really close to my place in Berlin...).
Regards
Greg
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