Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Just after a gorgeous, windless sunrise, 8 bikes (with 3 lady pillions) gathered at Plattekloof Engen.  My first glimpse of our fellow riders was Neil, sitting atop a pile of braaiwood bags, reading the Saturday paper, seemingly oblivious to the world.

After a quick rider briefing, we set off down the N1 in blinding sunlight, diverting off at the R300, dodging taxis and concrete barriers, then onto the N2. We turned off the N2 at the Firlands turn-off for Gordon's Bay. Frank joined our group on his immaculate 800S at the beginning of Clarence Drive. What a pleasure riding that road! It was still early, so it was relatively quiet, and NO wind! (until we hit Betty's bay). Some gusty wind up to the turn off to Hermanus, which was beautifully windstill.

At this stage it was still relatively cool. Breakfast at Wimpy was to their usual standard, even though they forgot a few orders, mine included, and all I ordered was coffee!

 Breakfast

After topping up the two 650 twins (myself and Hamid), we headed off for Stanford, swinging onto the R326, through beautiful farmlands, past the odd herd of sheep looking at us quizzically, heading for the N2 and Riviersonderend. At this stage the temperature was creeping up towards 32 degrees, only a vague little hint at what was to come.

Riviersonderend was surprisingly busy, we saw at least 10 people milling about in the main road.  Past Swellendam and the 2 obligatory cops sitting at the junction of the R60 and the N2. I wonder if those 2 cars aren't permanent fixtures?? they're always there. We turned off the N2 at Buffeljagsrivier, heading through Suurbraak for the stunning Tradoux pass and Barrydale.  (PS... I'm now officially jealous of Hamid's bike, with the really lovely sounding aftermarket slip-on. It sounded sexy going through the kloof, echoing off the rock walls).

Lunch at the Country Pumpkin was once again beyond comparison, my burger patty more the size of a frizbee than a patty. I had to EAT to finish it.

Lunch1Lunch2Tony trying to suck some coolness from the sparse shade

With full tummies we filled our bikes too, mine was complaining it was getting hungry.

Brian, John and Hamid coming back from refueling

Stomach and bike filled to the brim!

Our shepherd, trying to coax us back onto the road

By this time, the temperature was reaching bragging proportions, it was between 36 and 38 degrees, depending whose temp gauge we looked at. (hot, in anyone's terms). We headed merrily off down the R62, headed for Oudtshoorn. By this time, I was keeping a beady little eye on my temp meter, watching it creep slowly but surely up the ladder. Opening the visor while we were riding was becoming a problem, it was cooler with it closed. When one opened it, it felt like someone was sitting on the handle bars with a heat gun aimed at your face. A quick stop in Ladismith for Willie to refuel saw us on our way again.

Dropping down Huisrivier Pass, the temperature jumped up 4 degrees. Calitzdorp was just a heat haze in the distance, the buildings and trees seeming to wave in a non-existent wind.  What's that Afrikaans saying?.. dis so warm, die kraaie gaap.... the crows were clever, they'd gone to ground, not one in sight. Unlike us idiots riding in that heat. The few locals we did see in Calitzdorp were hogging any shade they could find, not even bothering to wave, it was just too damned hot!

Leaving the town towards our goal, the temp hit 48 degrees. Dale, Roz and Desiree weren't faring too well with the heat. Dale was nauseous and light-headed. She was thinking of asking me to stop. We hammered on for Oudtshoorn, all of us just wanting to get there. The last stretch wasn't any fun.

We were the first group to arrive at Kleinplaas, a true oasis (bless their souls from their soles up!) in that hellish Kleinkaroo. Anything that looked like a fan or aircon was fired up to max in the chalets. Most of us collapsed for a while, trying to recoup a bit.  Tony and I headed off to the pool after a bit, which was quite busy with a few kids, and a random group of adventure bikers riding an assortment og KTM's, Africa Twins, Yammie XT660's. A few of them had gone to Die Hel for the day... and apparently looked for the other Hell because it was cooler.

yup, heaven does exist 

By this time, Andy's group had arrived, and they attacked the pool with gusto.

NatalieThe Dunns re-hydrating

Thoughts were wandering towards what was happening with supper, we were starving. Geoff must have read those thoughts, 'cos thats when his group came haring into camp, looking very much the worse for wear.  We wandered up to the dining room and bar, where pre-dinner drinks were absorbed more than drank.

Drinks

Dinner was yummy, braai'ed kebabs, wors, a potato dish (with enough melted cheese on top to keep a child happy!), veggies, mieliepap and sous, salad and pudding.  We all sat at long tables, eating and swapping "war" stories from our various rides.   "Damn, was hot today, I rode in 46 degrees".... "thats not too bad, our temp was 48 degrees".... "is that all?? Anysberg was 50 degrees".... and so on.

After dinner we repaired to the lawn outside for cigars and brandy (the drawing room was just too hot..) to carry on waffling, old friends catching up, new friendships forged, advice asked and freely given by many. 

chilling

Da man, and a very tired and dehydrated first lady

A few of us ducked into town while it was cool (only 34 degrees) to fill our bikes, ready for an early start. As is the norm with a Karoo town at night, not a soul to be seen, and you've got to hunt far for a petrol station that is open.

Slowly but surely, everyone wandered off to bed. Needless to say, I slept like a baby... awake every bloody half hour. It was just to hot to sleep comfortably.

By the way, those of you that had aircons in your chalets...I hate you. We were stuck only with ceiling fans.

Sunday morning bright and early, feeling somewhat refreshed, we met once again in the dining room for a monster breakfast. Good-byes were said, hands shaken, hugs handed out, kisses slobbered, and our group took to the road first.

Heading out of Oudtshoorn towards Robinson pass, we could see huge banks of clouds spilling over the Outeniqua mountains like ice cream from a too-full float. Just shy of the summit, we rode into heavy mist and had to take it easy over the top. John gave me a seat-puckering moment when he ran wide in one corner, into the oncoming lane, because his visor and sunglasses had misted up and he couldn't see where he was going.

By the time we got to the bottom of the pass, it had started drizzling. Once on the N2, it started raining nicely.  We stopped at the 1 stop outside Mossel Bay, and I think the only person with any sort of raingear was Neil. With the weather predicted, it didn't even cross my mind to put wet weather gear in, so we just had to get wet. One saving grace, it wasn't cold and after the heat of the day before, it was nice riding in the rain.

Onwards to Riverdale for a good ol' Wimpy coffee. (they still make the BEST coffee).  When we left the Wimpy, they would have had to mop the floor where we were sitting, we were running with water when we sat down, leaking all over their lovely tiles.

All the way to Swellendam, it bucketed down. We turned off the N2 onto the R60, headed for Bonnievale. On the outskirts we finally ran out of the rain.  Brian had a moment on the R60, when, going into a sweep, he had both wheels sliding under him, taking him into the oncoming lane. Lady luck and experience saved him and Roz, I think.

After a quick refuel (I didnt even have time to sneak in a quick smoke!) we headed off for Worcester, and our final stop for the weekend. The closer we got to Worcester, the clearer the skies became, and hotter, drying us all off nicely.

Last supper... well..lunch, anyway

Willie and Tony

A final round of food, coffees and cooldrinks, we said out last good byes, and headed of down the N1 for Du ToitsKloof and home.

We stayed in a group, and peeled off one by one as our offramps came up. Frank first, Brian and Tony next, Hamid last, leaving Dale and I alone for the last few k's home.

A good weekend away, with memories to last forever