Boegoeberg in pictures....now with story and more pictures
Comments
I have had quite a few trips influenced by the weather, but never before influenced by two totally different types of weather.
In the days leading up to the trip, Ivan of Champagne Campsite sadly informed me that his beautiful campsite was roughly 2 meters under water. If you’ve been there you will know how incredible that is.
So with fairly short notice I phoned around and eventually got us a spot for the night at the fantastic Boegoeberg Campsite, in the Engelsman se Berge near Clan William.
Now while the campsite is stunning, something had to be done to make the day on the bike different, so on the Sunday before I got hold of Trevor, also at very short notice, and asked him to come and explore with me, just the area between Cape Town and Piketberg because after that I had sort of a plan.
Well, I think the group will agree we found some stunning little roads in the Swartland, and even though it was my second time riding them, I still at times felt like we were trespassing as we meandered between the wheat fields. Those little roads make you want to slow down and just enjoy the sights and smells, and you get that really happy to be on a bike feeling.
We stopped in Piketberg to refuel and grab some supplies, and as it turned out, not lose a wallet, although I feel for Wolfgang, as I went through not losing a wallet on Monday, and when you think you’ve lost it, it very stressful. What a mad house Piketberg is on a Saturday, will be trying to avoid doing that again the future.
From there we went into the Kapteinskloof, always stunning, and then up towards what was to be the highlight of the ride, the “Middelpad”.
When we got there I took a short ride down it, probably about 2km. Henk and Mike also went down, even further. At first it was just sandy, but then it became powdery. The temperature reading on my bike said 38, it felt like 48 and the thought of needing to pick even two bikes up gave me cold shivers. I went back to where the group was waiting.
The other problem was I could see Boegoeberg on the GPS, could feel the cool water of the pool and that first ice cold beer flowing down my throat and suddenly it was clear, bugger this road, and let’s get to the campsite on the short, easy and almost direct route. There were no complaints from anyone.
What a lekker afternoon spent lounging in the pool, chatting and sleeping in some cases. We were spoiled by Scansatrade with trays of salmon on fresh bread, and before we knew it, it was time to start fires, eat and be merry. It always amazes me on these trips how the usual suspects, some of whom have been on many club trips, still have a whole bank of stories to tell, one of which was Wolfgang finding his lost wallet which had slipped down the back of his top box. A very entertaining evening as usual, but the fact that we missed that road still bothered me somewhat.
I thought we could do it on the way home but that would involve splitting the group quite far apart, not really feasible, so what to do, suddenly there was a plan for the adrenalin and sand junkies. It’s called the canyon.
The canyon basically used to be a farm field with a small stream running through it, then mother nature one day turned the small stream into a raging river and now it is a useless field (for farming anyway) with a canyon running through it, perfect for 4x4’s and mad people on large touring motorcycles. So early on Sunday Sybrie loaded all those that didn’t want to ride into his bakkie and the rest followed on our bikes for a play date in the canyon.
More fun was had by some than others but it was all very entertaining, and also very hot. Already everyone was sweating and it was only 09H00, so another dip in the pool was called for when we got back, and by then it was looking like a more direct trip home was the answer. But first a nice ride down to Paleisheuwel.
Now while the front runners were already on what turned out to be fairly sandy Paleisheuwel road, and had in fact pulled off to try and get a message back to some of the group to rather take the Marcaskraal Road to the N7, there was drama happening behind us. Adie had decided at his old age that he wanted to start surfing.
Now surfing usually involved waves and a surfboard, but if you’re an Adendorff, before you go to all the expense of buying a surfboard, you first have a go with a Dakar on a tar road to see if you like it. But no seriously, Adie is one very lucky, or very skilled old bugger.
Having gone through a front blow out many years ago on the way to Oudtshoorn, I can tell you firstly that it is very scary. What I cannot tell you is what happened to ensure that I ended up still upright on the bike in the bush on the side of the road. Francois, who saw Adie’s whole episode, explained that Adie made his way onto the top of the falling and then sliding down the road bike, and for a short time was actually surfing his Dakar, before it hit the ditch at the side of the road, cartwheeled, and Adie was thrown clear. Perhaps a little more practice on the dismount is needed Adie. The bike is fairly trashed but luckily Adie only suffered some small tears on his pants and a tiny graze on his thumb. Amazing.
If there is an upside to this, it was being able to get a hold of Justin and ask to him divert the non-sand people to the N7, which hopefully saved some more drama, especially as it was getting very warm again.
We all met up again at Cardoesie on the top of the Piekeneerskloof Pass, had some welcome refreshments and nourishment, and then some went direct to Piketberg and some gave the gravel a last visit, before we filled up and said our goodbyes, and I think most of us were home by midafternoon.
So as always, thanks to Pam and Trevor for making it possible to have the safety of a backup vehicle behind us, and thanks to all of you splendid people for making another weekend truly fantastic.
I would also like to make a special mention of what we hope is our new roadie convert. Jacques Botha, for all your worrying, you handled everything fantastically, and now you can proudly say your first big off road ride with the club (as far as I know), was in the Sandveld.
Look after yourselves.
Thanks Warren for an incredible ride and Thanks Natalie for the "to-die-for" Salmon. As usual the trip was amzing and the company was great. Everyone just seemed ready to chill out and catch up and it was just what the Dr ordered.
I have added some more pics below
Warren convincing us that we do nott want to go to Champagne which is now 2m under water
We hit the dirt roads early and they were magical
Like Warren said - sometimes it felt like we were tresspassing
Warren and Mike with his pillion
Pitstop with a view
Who knew there was this much road between Cape Town and Piketberg
Even some Wildlife
This horse was breathtakingly beautiful and the view around this farm is magnificent
Leon's spot of mud.........
.... and more
Leon..... what are you planning on doing to Natalie?
The food and drink.....
Leon always providing us with a laugh
Ready for some fun in the Canyon
Lined up for Action - Clever or Stupid?
Let the games begin
Can I grow another one if I plant this one?
I get by with a little help from my friends.....
Really Warren... that sprinkling of sand was not that exhausting
Henk and Mike riding up a storm
Warren..... Praying for the sand to end?
Thanks again for an awesome trip.... Looking forward to the next one.
Hier is my weergawe. Papwiel
Die hele sessie was so ongeveer 12 sekondes lank.
Ek is op die see want die fiets dryf regs. Wat de F@$%k is dit. Ek slaap nie, ek droom nie, haloesineer nie, was nie te veel gedrink, maar teen 120kph moet ek iets doen. Ok daar was nie tyd vir 'n tweede opinie nie, ek moet vinnig besluit wat om te doen. Van hierdie oomblik af was alles maar instinktief. Throttle toe, rem liggies, probeer die surfboard regop hou. Hey, mik vir die bosse (kies ek links of regs - no no nie tyd vir tweede opinie nie.), bliksem, wat as daar 'n heining is, eerder been-af as nek-af. Op hierdie stadium het die fiets heeltemal onbeheerd geraak en ek het besluit om dit maar te help val. En toe surf ek op my sy met die fiets wat vooruit gaan.
At that point ewerything became surreal, I am slowly sliding home looking at the Dakkie in front. Let the show begin. I cant remember how many times the bike flipped except the two that caused the damage. I think the first flip was from the left side on to the right. that one flattened the pannier, and almost any protrusions on the right hand side (still on the tar). The next flip the bike landed on the instrument cluster/handlebars and stripped all off there as well. It then came to a rest. NO skid damage, it all came from out of 'thin air' straight down. There are no marks on the gravel between the initial contact with gravel (second flip) and where the bike stopped about 3 meters away.
Already on its side for about 5 meters (the strip is from some rubber and then some metal meet the road)
Na ek oor en oor na die videos gekyk het en die skade aan die ATTGAT moes ek redelik ver gesurf het. Ek moes redelik ver terug op die teer al die fiets 'neergesit' het want ek het nie reers die grond gehaal nie.
Looking back where it all ended
I will remove the tyre to try and see the cause for the 'quick' deflation. The bike handleld 100% up to the point where it start 'surfing'. Looking at the damage to the bike and knowing I did around 120 and minding my own buisness when it all happened I AM A LUCKY MAN. There are bigger forces around, and it wasnt my time yet.
Ok, dit was 'n doodgewone GROOT 'puncture'. Reg op die loopvlak van die band. The tube alone did not even inflate to more tha 0.4 bar with a car electric pump. I estimate it would be less than 30 seconds from puncture (at 1.9bar gravel pressure) to accident or uncontrollable bike. If the tyre was at road pressure the action would only be delayed.
Question to the boffins. At what pressure will you 'feel' there is a flat front tyre and still be able to safely stop?
From the edge.
Adie
Quite a story. Glad you survived Adie and the gear stopped the road rash. I thought I'd share a story from a long time ago that involved a rapid deflation of a rear tyre.
I was on the tail end of a long touring ride on a (fortunately) straight road in hot conditions. The bike was a Yamaha 650 Turbo and I was travelling at around 160kph. Suddenly the entire rear end of the bike swung out to the side, which was the point when the tyre lost all pressure and there was no traction. I didn't touch the brakes or move the throttle – still processing – but instinctively I flicked the front wheel to correct the direction, and the gyroscopic effect stopped the bike from tipping over. Instead, the rear swung to the other side.
In this state the bike was pretty much out of control, and the only way it stayed up was my continued flicking of the front wheel that moved the rear from side to side. Gradually, I released the throttle and kept going with keeping the bike upright until I could stop. No brakes at any point.
A good rush of adrenalin for sure. When I got off to see what had happened it was clear it must have been a rapid deflation at some point. The rear tyre was shreds of rubber and cord. Deflation was probably the result of a bad patch on a tubed tyre that eventually overheated and separated. Always replace punctured tubes is the idea - but I was living in a small town where spares were scarce.
The really lucky part was that this was before the days of ATGATT – so staying on the bike was a big plus. Before the days of camera phones – so no pics – and I had to hitchhike to the nearest town...
Twice I have ridden with a flat front. Fortunately not a rapid deflation, and both times at low speed. This is what I noticed:
- On gravel, you cannot easily notice the problem because you think it is just the gravel being loose. I heard a clanging that was the rim hitting the stones. By the time I noticed the pressure was zero,.
- On tar, you notice that the steering gets heavy falls with the lean of the bike. If you are not doing slow turns you won't notice until it is far too late.
So, in your situation Adie, going fast and straight, you had no way of detecting the problem until it was too late. I would have used the same stopping technique that I use in sand: pull in the clutch, stand up and balance your way to a coasting stop. And keep your weight back.
I suspect that as a general principle, unless it calls for emergency braking, pulling in the clutch and coasting should be your immediate response when you are not sure what to do.
Surely one should immediately stand up and lift the front wheel (wheelie) to restore stability and then brake as per normal 
.
Bly jy het dit oorleef, ou maat.
A few more pictures.
Henk in the reeds
And up the bank
Adie was determined to ruin the Dakar
And more
The Money Shot
Back of the money shot, gees I'm fast
Trying to be artistic like Adrian
Last few
The views were stunning, even in the Sandveld
Mike trying to out do his old man
Almost Mike, just a little more practise
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