Calvinia bike rescue
On Sunday I was watching F1 with some friends, Steve the bike collector was there and he received a phonecall. Turns out that a guy had come off his new Adventure and was in Calvinia hospital. Steve was asked to collect his bike, not sure why on-call did not do it. Anyway I asked to go with as I had a day off. We left at 06:00 on Monday. We met three other GS riders just outside Calvinia and were told the bike was outside a farm house about 65km towards Ceres on a gravel road. What a ride!!! By 11:00 the bike was loaded, we decided to take a shortcut to Clanwilliam, stupid, took 2 and a half hours to cover 100km, with roadworks and stop-go traffic, stunning scenery. Got back to Cape Town at 17:00. Apparently the bike hit a ditch in the road, rider came off, not too badly injured, bike continued on its own and hit a rock.
The road to Rodewerf
The ditch that threw the rider off
Approaching the farmhouse
The bike waiting patiently for collection
Steve strapping the bike down
Making sure the bike is secure for the bumpy road ahead
Leaving the farmhouse, back to Calvinia
The long, long road, back to Calvinia
Not a very smooth ride at all
Calvinia at last
Botterkloof Pass on the "shortcut" to Clanwilliam, note the strong Armco barrier
The never ending "shortcut"
The scenery made the ride worthwhile
More scenery
Stop / Go roadworks delayed us even more
More scenery
More scenery
More scenery
Rock formation
Rock formation
The road to Rodewerf
The ditch that threw the rider off
Approaching the farmhouse
The bike waiting patiently for collection
Steve strapping the bike down
Making sure the bike is secure for the bumpy road ahead
Leaving the farmhouse, back to Calvinia
The long, long road, back to Calvinia
Not a very smooth ride at all
Calvinia at last
Botterkloof Pass on the "shortcut" to Clanwilliam, note the strong Armco barrier
The never ending "shortcut"
The scenery made the ride worthwhile
More scenery
Stop / Go roadworks delayed us even more
More scenery
More scenery
More scenery
Rock formation
Rock formation
- 2096 reads
Comments
29 April 2009 - 8:51am
#1
William, nice one thanks, just re size your pics to a larger size as when clicked on,they only +- double in size and don't get large enough to fully enjoy.....they are too good to stay small.
29 April 2009 - 8:56am
#2
A bit sad about the rider coming off but a nice story - thank you William.
Johan de Jager
"It's all about the ride, nothing else"
29 April 2009 - 11:52am
#3
Well Done and thanks for the lekker PICS
Ride Like the Wind
29 April 2009 - 11:59am
#4
Nice, thanks for the resize!
29 April 2009 - 12:05pm
#5
It always amazes me how little these bikes "look" like they have major damage to them after an accident.
Johan de Jager
"It's all about the ride, nothing else"
29 April 2009 - 12:23pm
#6
I am quite sure I met the other guys in the group on Monday. We were on our way back from a 4x4 weekend at Boegoeberg and had stopped at the Swartland One Stop on our way back to say good bye to our group. We then decided to have lunch there quickly.
There were some bikers in the Wimpy who told us they had been on a long trip up north but had cut it short because one of their party had had an accident and was lying in hospital in Calvinia.
Small world.
29 April 2009 - 1:53pm
#7
William tx. for the report back. Lekker photos. Now if you had a G S you too could enjoy that wonderfull scenery all the time!!!
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Think before you ink.
29 April 2009 - 5:52pm
#8
Cheezy, dare I wonder if William's back would enjoy those roads on a bike - remember he has already had two back operations ...
I will HAVE TO take the Suzuki there .... :)
19 May 2009 - 6:14pm
#9
Small world. I have just come across this aticle now. On 28.4.2009 I had an accident on GS1200 near Algeria in Cedarberg. In short, completely stuffed up my hip - ball shoved thru socket in pelvis. Anyway I was carted to Clanwilliam Hosp. in a bakkie (what a trip) and then from there treated and transferred to Durbanville Medi Clinic for some operations to fix it all up (where I still am and will be for some weeks). Anyway, in the same ward as me was lying this guy who had damaged his back (spine). Had apparently had an accident on a GSA when he hit a ditch, had been transported to Calvinia Hospital and then to Durbanville Medi Clinic where I met him. His name is Greg Philips. He has of course left hospital now. He has a fractured disc. He's the same guy whose bike you went to rescue. (wonder who rescued mine?)
Just thought that I would share with you what a small world this is!
Take care out there!
20 May 2009 - 7:20am
#10
Get well soon Mark. Hope the recovery is speedy. See you on the road soon.
Lets Ride!!!
20 May 2009 - 2:23pm
#11
Thanks Daniel. Yep, can't wait to get back out on the bike although it looks like it will be some time yet!
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