Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

We were warmly welcomed and shown to our room, which was once the main bedroom of the old farmstead of Oom Gertjie Niemoller, a local legend, and the man that has planted most of the 14 000 Medjool date palm trees on the farm. To this date it is the largest date palm farm in the southern hemisphere and produces most of SA's dates. Klein-Pella Guest house Klein-Pella 1 The house was built in the late 70's and must have been ultra-modern then, as the doubleroof design that creates the impression that you are outside even when you are walking through the corridors inside the house, is still quite modern. The doubleroof design serves as highly efficient insulation against the heat outside, and with 'normal' day time temperatures of 52°C in summer this will be sorely needed. It is also evident that no cost was spared in the construction as wood panelling abounds and high grade aluminium was used for all the windows and sliding doors. Not the same as the aluminium doors and windows we use nowadays, this stuff was meant to last a century. The farm is now part of the international Karsten Farms Group and Oom Gertjie is living in Pofadder. After unpacking we went for a stroll around the guest house and campsite that can accommodate a large number of campers, with 2 basic, but neat ablution blocks and lots of trees. The front garden is an oasis in this barren landscape and has a large stoep overlooking the pool and down into the valley of a dry riverbed. Madie having a cold one on the cool stoep The stoep The stoep and garden are frequented by a number of peacocks, that are nice to look at, but with a most terrible 'scream'. This screaming was worse than usual as they were at the start of the mating season. Peacock After the stroll around the grounds we had some cold ones on the stoep and watched the colour disappear as the sun's rays settled for the night. As it got dark the enveloping silence came down. Heaven! We later moved to the dining room for a scrumptious buffet meal, although we could not do it justice after the big lunch. An interesting chat with the staff of the guest house and some guests that had just finished a 6 day river rafting trip followed before we turned in for the night. SATURDAY 19 SEP We decided to sleep late, but due to internal clocks set to get up early we were awake long before seven. The view from our room as the sun started rising was great, but beyond the reach of our camera and its operators to do justice. View from our room View from our room 2 The previous evening we met Ryno Botha, the packing facility production manager, who gave us directions to the pakstoor (packing facility) and river, so the plan for the day was to ride down to river via the Pakstoor, visit the date palm plantation and riverside camp and then ride the 40 odd km to visit the town of Pella. After a 5 star buffet breakfast we got on the bikes and rode the 8 km to the pakstoor. Ryno was overseeing some building work next to the pakstoor and we decided to go down to the river in the meantime. Klein-Pella All the roads on the farm is in great condition, but the occasional soft sandy patch keeps you on your toes (or pegs). The road down to the plantations and river is used mainly by tractors, trucks and bakkies so it had more than its share of small sand patches, but all were handled without problems. When we rode through the Poort we were met by the sight of more than 10 000 palm trees, awesome! Once again the camera could not give the full picture. The Poort Date palm plantation We rode down to the date palm plantation and wandered about the area called Little Israel for obvious reasons, before going to to the river camp. Little Israel Little Israel River camp River camp The bithday girl and I Tall lady at tall trees On our way back from the river camp we stopped at another part of the plantation where there were soft green grass underneath the trees, ideal for a picnic. Alas, all we had were some Coke and Enerjellies, but we sat down in the cool shade anyway. Whilst there some members of the local community arrived and helped themselves to whatever edible was available. Luckily it was only a herd of boerbokke (goats), far more interested in the green shoots pruned from the trees than in our food. Ideal picnic spot "Picnic area" Tree canopy Local visitors Cute By this time it was close to midday and the sun beating down. We took the road back to the guest house while undecided if we would still go to Pella. On the way back we stopped for some pics of the farm and surroundings. Just through the Poort on the way back Rugged mountains, date palm trees and vineyards: Karsten Plase - Klein-Pella Klein-Pella Klein-Pella Klein-Pella Guest house and camp area Guest house and camp area Guest house and surroundings Back at the guest house we spoke to some of the staff about the option of going to Pella or not and were then informed that the RC Mission church and museum were in the process of restoration. As this was the main attractions we decided to relax at the guest house, rather than ride 80 km on a dust road in searing heat to take a photo outside a church. We would rather go there on our way back home. The afternoon was spent reading, watching rugby and having a few sundowners on the stoep. That was followed by another hearty buffet dinner and a chat to Ryno who played professional rugby in NZ before studying at Elsenburg, where Piet Karsten(snr) recruited him for his farm. To be continued...

SUNDAY 20 SEP After another big buffet breakfast we reluctantly packed our stuff and got back on the bikes for the homeward trip via Pella. Ready to go home The trip back to the tarred road past in a flash, surprising how quickly one's rusted feel for the bike and gravel travel can be restored through a little bit of riding. At the tarred road we took the turn-off left and rode to Pella, a small, but very neat town that has developed through the years around the RC mission station. It is not difficult to see where the church is, far left end of the town. We took the touristy photo in front of the church and then proceeded to pump the tyres in the shade of some palm trees adjacent to the church. And there, in the shade next to the church, the only problem of the trip reared its head. Instead of inflating, the small 12V pump deflated the Dakar's front tyre. My heart sank into my shoes. The nearest garage was at Pofadder and we only had a bicycle mini pump as back-up. A silent prayer and a few taps on the body of my old and up to now very reliable pump and it got the air flowing in the right direction, but the sounds from the pump was not good. I managed to pump three tyres but at 180 kPa on the Dakar's rear tyre I realised that it was all that we would get from the pump. Quiver tree Pella Church Inflating tyres with a failing pump We left Pella and headed for Pofadder where we properly inflated the Dakar's rear tyre and checked the others. On to Kakamas where we refuelled and bought some cold Iced Tea, which we enjoyed under big camelthorn trees just outside Kakamas. Last stop We arrived safely at home after a relaxing weekend and thankful for being able to explore our beautiful country in the best way possible. Madie had a wonderful birthday trip. (My ankle stood up to the riding and we can once again go exploring further from home. But first CABC awaits.) Work hard; play hard; never play when you work!

Enjoyed reading Pepe. I was a resident in Upington during school years, my father was the Town Clerk and I remember the name Gertjie Niemoller well since I think my father and he knew each other via the local government stuff. (I thought that you pondered buying a GS800 sometime ago on this forum?)

Yes Johan, I did consider the 800, but downturn in economy postponed that. Maybe later. Work hard; play hard; never play when you work!

Many thanks, it really is a lovely part of the world, in its own way, nice pics.