Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

BMW Club Cape Sutherland 2013 Trip Report by Kevin van Blerk

With 105 riders wanting to go to Sutherland on a motorcycle in the middle of winter it was bound to be an interesting weekend. And interesting it was. There were many tales told around the fire and the bar. Some can be shared others I fear for my life and will not disclose. But if you ask Trevor nicely he has the video evidence. 

Sutherland is an astronomer’s delight. Famously clear skies make for awe-inspiring stargazing. It’s no wonder this special little town is called the Gateway to the Universe.

Sutherland is considered to be the coldest town in South Africa, with an annual average minimum temperature of minus 6°C. The coldest day recorded was the 12th June 2003 when the temperature measured minus 16.4°C. It is a small Karoo town 350kms from Cape Town on the Roggeveld plateau, it is famous for its warm hospitality, low temperatures, snowy winters, starlit nights and dramatic landscapes. Oh and SALT, no not the kind Warren sniffed before squirting the lemon in his eye and downing the tequila.

 

Sutherland is an astronomer’s delight. Famously clear skies make for awe-inspiring stargazing. It’s no wonder this special little town is called the Gateway to the Universe.

Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.

This NGK Dutch Reformed church in Sutherland was built in 1899. 

 

Now let me tell you a little about our trip. We were going to go via Bains Kloof to Ceres and then the Katbakkies Pass over Ouberg Pass and on to Sutherland; however as the weather turned nasty Warren decided to change the route and follow the sun so we went via Ouberg Pass. The other Ouberg Pass.

As usual we met at the Engen Wimpy and excitedly chatted about what was planned for the weekend over a hot coffee at 7:30am and were ready to leave by 8am. 

Warren briefing the group. 

 

We headed out on the N1 towards Du Toits Kloof Pass, the dark skies looking menacing in the distance. 

 

Over Du Toits Kloof Pass it wasn’t too bad in fact, looks like we had missed the majority of the rain. 

 

A quick stop to regroup. 

 

The sun just teasing us. 

 

Blue skies, Warren sure is trying hard to follow the sun and not doing a bad job at all. 

 

My son, Christopher, dry, on his XCountry, he wasn’t dry for long, Jupiter’s bar bekens. 

 

Through the Montague Tunnel. 

 

Some awesome mountains in Montague. 

 

Dirt! Christopher lowering his tyre pressures to 1.8 bar in front and 1.9 bar at the back. 

 

A quick briefing and warning about the driffies, yes Kevin I am looking at you says Warren. You may recall my previous encounter with said driffies here, it didn’t turn out well for me. 

 

<- Ouberg that way 

 

A thumbs up from Christopher

 

Awesome smooth roads. 

 

The first sign of mud. 

 

Mark does it standing up. 

 

Trevor and Megs do it sitting down. 

 

This is the same look I get from Erica when I pop up next to her and tell her to smile for the camera

 

The rest of the group behind me. We were about 25 bikes in our group. 

 

Warren, you are running out of blue skies!

 

<- Pienaarskloof 

 

And then the first casualty of the driffies, it was Tinka that went down. And it was not going to be the last time. 

 

A little way further Tinka went down again, and then it was Sian’s turn to go down, the road was nasty. Before anyone gets hurt Warren made the call to turn back, it was the right call to make. 

 

Sian and Megs 

 

Christopher with his GoPro, I will load up some of his video later.

 

It would be tar to Sutherland, 100kms to go.

 

And then we stopped, “if anyone wants to take this dirt road via the Klein Roggeveld to Sutherland it is 10kms longer than the tar option”, says Warren. So the group split into two and some went tar to Sutherland and some took the dirt. Umm correction, mud.

  

It started off great, nice and dry. 

 

With some water appearing plek plek as Riaan Cruywagen would say. 

 

And then bigger plekkies. 

 

And even bigger plekkies 

 

I failed to get any pics of the real slippery stuff because I had both my hands gripped like a vice on the handlebars it was very slippery in places.

Eventually we reached the R354 and turned right to Sutherland. 

In Sutherland the first stop was to fill the bikes up. It was great to see our muddy bikes.

 

Derek and Dani

 

I don’t think this GoPro is going to be recording much. 

 

Christopher and I decided to pop up to SALT while we had some time. 

 

Even some Harleys were in town. I guess they took the tar option.

 

Sutherland has some quaint little buildings. All with the telltale ‘zinkplaat dak’. 

 

We then rondevouzeded (Charles can do his admin thing and fix the typo) at Jupiter for some kuier. 

 

I am glad the photos were blurry as I thought it was my eyes.

 

Tjops and Wors, soos n boer. 

 

Agh, Jackie found her sticker!

 

Cindy and Rich have their stickers. 

 

A prize if you can guess who this is? No it is not Heidi, the one from the mountains. With the goats. 

 

And this is not Peter. 

 

Sian and Megs

 

A scar. Don’t ask. It was getting late and the conversations were going south.

 

Heidi, the real one and Mark.

 

The girls going south. 

 

Our Jax, looking ever so perky at this time of the night.

 

Leon, Johan and his wife, Tami.

 

Warren on the phone with Charles, "we need money deposited into our accounts because we were stuck in Sutherland and the booze was running low"

 

Now going very South.

 

and Souther…

 

And then dinner was served, not a moment too soon. Russ was first in line. 

 

Can it go more South? It looks like it.

 

We like Southerland. 

 

At least some folks were still decent and had their clothes on.

 

Well, most folks were still decent, not sure what Kellan was trying to explain to Christopher here? His eyes are shut so he is really trying to imagine something?? 

 

Yodlehee Yodlehaa take us South where the horses roam and the goats moan… 

 

We were treated to a pole dance display by Natalie.

 

Natalie was really hot, oh wait it was the heater that was hot.

 Hein, umm, being Hein. Moenie vra nie.

 

Our cutie pies and Annelie, “nee fokkit my naam is Elaine nie Annelie nie!” 

 

No it's not meths, just drink it!

 

Doing some dental work on Graham.

 

“This is all the money I have, just give me something to drink and keep it coming”. Famous last words.

 

I don’t know this drinking game?

 

But I know this, and it starts trouble with a capital T

And we partied till late.

 

And then it was late. It was midnight and someone’s birthday. Happy Birthday Pam!! 

 

I then went to bed. Yes there was more. Lots more, but you will have to ask Trevor to invite you to his house to see it, bring popcorn and beer. Goodnight, time to crawl back to the hotel, it wasn’t far.

 We expected to wake to snow and ice but this was the only ice we found. 

 

A hearty Sutherland Hotel breakfast.

 

It was warm outside. This was the only snowflake we would see in Sutherland this year.

 

We gathered at Jupiters for our departure briefing.

 

And departed Sutherland. We love this town, a good time is always had here. We’ll be back, soon.

 

The plan was to ride tar back to CT, it rained all night and the dirt roads would be horrific today. It was grey but it looked like it was going to clear up.

 

It was clearing up.

 

And then disaster struck. Around the next corner there was a biker down. Tinka was down and suffered terrible injuries. Seeing a fellow biker go down like that sends shivers down a spine. Tinka was hurt bad, she had multiple fractures, both legs, pelvis and possibly more, she had to be air-lifted by chopper. Even her Leatt brace was broken, it did its job, she sure had someone looking after her today. I would like to use this opportunity to wish Tinka a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on your bike soon. Tinka, you are one tough cookie my girl, what you went through today I can only say in one word, RESPECT! Sian and Craig, you guys were wonderful, you stayed by Tinka’s side and supported and comforted her in her time of need, thank you. Out of respect for Tinka I will not publish the pictures of the accident scene but will leave you with the saying ATGATT!

 

The emergency services personnel were fantastic. 

And just when we thought everything was over Heidi forgot her lights on and her ML350 Mercedes Benz would not start. So not a problem the boys would jump start it. Well that is if they can find the battery!? Is wasn’t in the front, maybe it’s in the boot?

 

Our trusty backup vehicle being put to good use today.

 

A quick stop at the Steers in Touwsrivier and then the final stretch back home.

 

It was a very traumatic day, we wish Tinka a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with her. You can leave your wishes for her here. I am sure she will appreciate it when she is able to read them.

 473km’s CT -> Sutherland

 340km's Sutherland -> CT

Warren, once again thank you.

 More photos on Picasa