Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

 

This was not a club organised ride.

It was the stuff legends are made of.

Generations of children and grandchildren will be kept on the edge of their seats at the telling and the re-telling of the Stuff-O'-Legends Dashes across the Western Cape from Cape Town.

This is the third successive Dash.

5 riders good men and true.

Andyman did the planning , Lindi his intern at work made the arrangements and the boys made the DASH REAL!

Well met after work at Zigactly 16H00 - D'Urban Square, Bellville, Friday 28th December.

James, Pete, Russ and I, with Mike catching up the rear later held up by a work commitment....

Small delay while Andy loaded Russ' GPS with the routes and then set up Russ' radio coms.

We were all excited at the prospect of a 'me-time' break and a good ride in a small group where we looked after ourselves and  kept together across country as we all rode off into the cuds- especially the Moordenaars Karoo district!

Een vir almal-  Almal vir een

Also the first time we rode with good clear radio coms and on the private legal BMW MCCC frequency.

We rode the 100 ks to our overnight cabin in the Bainskloof

 

 

Russ n Jamesey unsaddle their mounts in the cool of late afternoon: for both of their bkes, this was a maiden ride.... what can they expect???

 Mike soon arrived and called us on his radio to come down and unlock the gate. We chilled out with a braai, Olaf Bergh tall stories, long stories, the lekker  stuff of guys who know each other well and are comfortable with each other.

We dragged out mattresses and just slept where we fell, snorers or no snorers, until that damned rooster got us up just after 05H00 with the first rays of a breaking dawn.

Saturday 29th December we set off just after 07H15 towards the Slanghoek valley, Coms worked perfectly. 

Very lttle traffic, we  scooted along on tar through Rawsonville, around the Brandvlei dam then onto a little ridden awesome gravel road just North of the Bree river and through the Dageraat Equine stud farm.

Russ had found his remaining 28l on the fuel strip was in fact zilch and after tipping to the left to get fuel from the right saddle to the pick-up in the left side sadlle he made it the last 5 ks to Robertson on his own power.

Ending up for a refuel and a brekkie at the Dros in Robertson.

And yes, the Dros does ok food but the service remains pathetically slow, so don't be in a hurry. We rode right in as usual, parking close by our table.

 

the meandering gravel roads of the Koo were magnificent, with tall mountains lush from recent rain.

 

Road surfaces were extremely good, like 140 to 160 kph good:

We whizzed through Kogmanskloof,

Montagu,

then the Langkloof Pass,

the Ouberg Pass,

through the Koo,

then the Anysberg district

and into the Touws valley- Man, coming down 200 meters, sheer drop to your left to the river from semi desert to lush pastures, where the mowers were cutting the Lucern, rich aromas abounded and we were assailed by the scents of citrus, various blossoms, fresh mown hay and lucern, rich colours.

I just had to ride through some Karoobos now and then to let the hot exhausts scorch some leaves releasing that fantastic karoobos scent.

Intoxicated, we commented on the sights and smells

Next came Van Rhyn's pass, then up and down Die Ou Tol Pas, and on to the Klein Swartland pass where an icon on the GPS immortalises Stan's very first and spectacular crash back in 2010.

Who can ever forget that!

On past places where  we have rested up or regrouped on previous trips in other groups. memories flooding back

I began to muse over the very many people I'd love to have on the ride.

So hard to keep a group to 5 when there's at least 25 you'd love to have in the group.

I cannot count the amount of times we commented to each other on the awesome roads.

Rusty and James had flown in formation for these last 150 kilos, Really fast, really close. Adrenalin junky stuff! 

Rusty wingman to James then swapping slots and just thrilling in the awesome road surfaces that allowed them to chase the 160kph mark on many kilometers, slowing for corners or blind rises, then opening up on the clear view sections. Both their new bikes were measuring up just fine.

 Pete rode sweeper, being almost plagued by a niggly tummy bug threatening to manifest but not quite, Mike somewhere in front of him and myself in the middle way behind the two boys whose genies were well truly out the bottle!!!.

Sometimes kilos apart, I heard Mike from time to time checking up on Pete.

I just enjoyed pootling along, now at 80, now at 100, and just thrilling in the wonderful country we are graced to travel through.

Stopping to look at this ruin or that gully, I was in seventh heaven.

The quiet boxer motor doing its job, the tyre/suspension set-up was on the bubble, I had found the 'sweet-spot' and felt absolutely invincible.

Chatting to Mike now and then over the radio, he too was being intoxicated by the splendour around us.

Now to the Rooinek pas and then a fuel and lunch stop in Laingsberg.

So with very few photos taken, we ran the 34 k's ENE out of Laingsberg up the N1 to the turn off left on the edge of the Moordenaars Karoo and went deep into the cuds.

From now we saw not a single moving vehicle for the next 2 days.

The roads belonged to us. On full fuel tanks, loaded with our 'stuff' in +35ºC to 40ºC heat we churned up the Karoo,

We swooped, dived, climbed, braked, jumped and shot over gullies, wash- aways, slote, streams as we traversed the river beds of the Frieshoek river, then the Tuins river, then the Dwyka 1, 2, 3, , , 7, 8 and so on.

By now Rusty and James were well and truly jamming. Poetry in motion.

Now and then a warning of a dangerous wash away or a caution over the radio had you focus on the road again.

We all regrouped twice to share the moment, James still content to be without headset or coms.

For a while my genie too burst out the bottle as the challenging river beds enticed me to push my envelope, chase the clock, eventually winding it down as the eta to Springbok Lodge became less and less as my speed and sheer exhileration gave me wings.

The plooms of 3 dust trails whisping over the land from the knobbly shod bikes while James and I rode in relative stealth style on Dual Sport tyres making no dust or very little dust at all as is the won't of the DS tyre.

Life after this was going to feel pretty dull by comparison.

By now I had moved form Meatloaf to Aplhaville in my helmet, the SENA SR10 allowing simultaneous seamless operation of phone, music, GPS and radio.

I think it was Meatloaf's, "Bat Out Of Hell" that had uncorked my genie's bottle.  but for the most it was just silence as the motor is soft and becomes a distant background noise.

Russells excited yelps and too fast speech on the coms went largely un responded cos we got the gist but lost the words -he was  overmodulated, but Mike and Pete's slow measured drawls were uncannily clear. Had me looking in my mirror or over my shoulder when really they were a way back.

This allowed us to spread out over 5 or 8 kilos and ride in relative solitude for quite a while.

Kindred spirits closing down on the spire of Merwerville church.

Mike's headset battery went flat, on queue, as he neared  Merwerville.

Just before entering Merwerville is the Engelsman se Graf, preserved

since 1902

"On the outskirts of town is a signpost pointing the way to "The Englishman's Grave". Nearby in the veld is a tiny marble cross which marks the grave of a lieutenant from Australia, who served with the British forces during the Anglo-Boer War. Walter Oliphant Arnot was a member of the 3rd South Australian Contingent. He served with distinction, but died by his own hand on April 16, 1902. The people of Merweville undertook to "tend his grave forever." This is a promise which has not been forgotten."

Pete, Mike n James, too hot to stay & look at die graf headed in to town.

We rode into the quiet, ghostly, empty streets of Merwerville just after 16H00

Visible from a few kilometers out is this beautiful world renowned church

The sign beckoned us closer

to the hospitable comfort of The Springbok Lodge: Where our hosts Maryanne and Johan had filled the pool and made us welcome

Maryanne showed us where to stable our hot steeds

In roomy stables where we stripped off kit while metal bike parts crackled and chirped as they cooled off.

Russel plugged a punctured rear tyre, then played a slap-riem trick on James and was served James' revenge cold, much later on.

 

 

we relaxed and cooled off in the dammetjie

It may well be believed that Andy chose this venue just to study the 1700's oxwagon

Pulled here by oxen in the time of Kallies (the owner of the lodge) Oupa groeitjie - one CJ Leroux, as per the owners plate: It was used on this farm, way back in the day.

This wonderful specimen crafted in French Nevers oak soon started unlocking its secrets to us.

This is a 7-piece pioneer wagon, built in the 1700's before the time of Andrew Geddes Bains graded roads

Clearly the Andyman was in his element as he discovered secret after secret this oxwagon held: Sharing his recently acquired knowledge of  a piece of Africana busy being lost to us today

Then it was definitely time to have more drinks and light the fire..

We chilled out with our drinks and snacks round the fire: after a quick sojourn to the NBS

While the fire (or African TV) mellowed us out, Pete started on his repetoire of naval stories, that kept us in stitches: Squadrons of Mozzies came out as the sun set to attack one or two sweet bloods.

As one does in a tight group we opened up and shared stories and experiences very close to the heart that you simply won't share in other circumstances.

Stories that stay on tour.

Stories that touch a chord, tell you so much about the person behind the shades.

Maryanne had prepared lekker toebies, a patato salad and braai packs.

Andy braaied the meat, Pete toasted the sammies.

 

The bell that tolls the faithful to their knees in time honoured fashion

 

This is the water tank alongside the dammetjie that the Andyman jumped off at 22H30 too full of jungle juice to know better and: Although he pretended it was nothing it HURT and he still walks with a list to starboard with every step he takes. Stupid silly Ass!!

 Well the expected Full Moon ride of the last Full moon of 2012 just never happened because we were content to just chat around the fire, scratch our nuts and down ice cold drinks while we chatted and resolved Julius's Problems, Jacob's problems and many many others with the wisdom of Olaf Bergh in good company.

As if by some unknown signal, we just suddenly, quietly upped and slunk off to our pits, enjoying a good nights sleep.

 

DAY THREE 30 December 2012,

Ambient temp in the morning was a wonderfull 25 to 27ºC

Merwerville to Sutherland for fuel, then Oubrg Pass, Tankwa Karoo National Park, Tankwa bushpub lunch and the Peerboomskloof Pass, Katbakkies Pass, Gydo Pass, Mitchells Pass, Calabash watering hole, Bainskloof Pass and home.

The rooster got going very late; as in 06H50, long after others were up and about in time for the 07h00 full breakfast catered for by Maryanne.

Then in short order we left Dodge for the best day of 2012.

Russel would pay tenfold today for his silly practical joke upon James.

I reckon instead of sleeping, James spent the night cooking up all seven kinds of revenge that all but stripped Rusty of his humour my midday.

Being 'pissed' on while dozing was Capital and Russel was totally taken in and affronted.

Oh yes, revenge is certainly best served cold.

 

 

Again the roads were superb high speed and empty of man, vehicle and best (but not sheep)

 

Through empty quiet farms, only goats an sheep in evidence, plenty gates: plenty cautions over the radios, Great riding .

 But not for sisies!

then came the Rooidraai pass better known as Bennas pass: Down there is Rusty catching up after a photo shoot

 

I had been so looking forward, as always, to this pass. Oh man it does not disappoint

Just an awesome mountain pass

Russ come up fast from below

 

I bet you can see 25 k;s from here distance has no limits...

 

Looking East from the Rooidraai pass

 

..... and it just keeps getting better:

"Then sings my souls, my saviour God to thee...."

and the vistas just get so much better with each turn in the road.

Rusty at a re-group - watch the video clip

Pete in good humour enjoying the ride

But inside his guts were twisting

Pete n Andyman stretching legs at the saddle of the Rooidraai

 

 

 

en dis wyd, my vriend die eensame wereld is wyd.: Feite, die paaie roep aan jou en jy ry maar onder sy spel....

 

The splendour gets too much, you have to stop and wax lyrical and just drink it in. Take your time: Legends are made on this trip,

 

 

a Corbelled house on Vinkvontein

 

The ancient livestock pens of dry walling- before barbed wire became available so loooonnng ago, on Vinkfontein

farmlands with plenty sheep n goats 

a regroup and photo moment and chit-chat at a runnning river up on the Riet river section - see video clip

the bikes seem to love it just as much as we do

James and Russ chase up to the Riet river drifting in...

Russ, James then Pete come through the Dakriet pan crossing

 

Mike exits the dakriet pan

 

Pete exits dakriet pan: By now he's prairie dogging and feeling grim.

We stopped on Portugalsriver farm to look at the Basson family resting place.: One has to respect the tenacity of our farmer forebears, the grave of a one year old Basson and a five year old Basson. some very old graves on local stone carved headstones

and some not so old.

 

Pete in quiet repose, considering the history, the volumes these resting places speak to you of life in the cuds.

The slience was loud!

and then..... Hond se kierie, just awseome expansive flat fast roads.

Shortly before 11H00 we reached the R354 at the top of Rooihoogte pass, 5 ks South of Sutherland and our mandatory top-up fuel stop

 

resting up and waiting for us to catch up in their wake.James and Russ

Pete taxis in to the R354, as 100 plus pink flamingoes fly over us.

We rode in to Sutherland where we waited in the shade for 15 minutes, for the fuel station owner to emerge from church to come pump fuel.

Pete was by now really poorly, and elected to hit tar to Matjiesfontein then N1 straight home and bed. Mike rode shotgun to ensure he did go home.

 

James, Russ n I rode off to the Ouberg Pass, Andyman, Rusty n James up on Ouberg Pass, on the cliffs edge: with the wide expansive Tankwa pleins far below

By now Mr. Spikes was challenging us with 35ºC.

Tankwa Karoo National Park, Tankwa bushpub for a James lunch and the Peerboomskloof Pass, Katbakkies Pass, Gydo Pass, Mitchells Pass, Calabash watering hole, Bainskloof Pass and home.

 

I got a puntcure from sharp rocks and hard riding at 160 on the R355, stopped, plugged, pumped and on we went, hardly losing 5 minutes.

Donkey kar ryers resting at Tankwa bushpub: Wally made this dammetjie for visitors to chill off in

The Tankwa push puib

Cars from all over stop at the Tankwa pub S 32º 52 15.3 E 019º 46 33.1

 

Russ descending the Katbakkies pass, almost can smell home stables.

Well the trip ended at the Calabash pub with some beers and some vodka and fond farewells.

We all got home safe, no animals or bikes were killed or damaged in this adventure and no kit lost, broken or mislaid.

It was awesome fun, and we are sincerely blessed here in the Western Cape with the most awesome array of choices for advetnure riding.

This route, though, remains on top of my list.

James got out his e-calendar and we set the dates for the 2013 DASH and James will organise this one.

If you made it this far you deserve to enjoy James' excellent video clip encapsulating the Dash better than this report can do.

follow to http://youtu.be/zFKYOuYREw0

To read up on the spirit of this annual Dash, the brain child of James Redlinghuis back in 2010

http://www.bmwmccc.org.za/middelpos-dash-27th-december-2010

http://www.bmwmccc.org.za/2011-malgas-dash

Enjoy...

The Garmap picture of the routes

 

The Google Earth picture of the routes

attached here is the .gpx Garmap route file of the trip.

Attachment	Size
Merwerville December 2012.gpx	1.43 MB