Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

I have been meaning to do this trip since the beginning of the year once I finally decided not to sell my 1200. But broken ankle and infections got in the way. Well I finally set off on Tuesday 8th September. I was a bit concerned re the weather and had moreorless decided to give it a miss. But when I got up at 5am I looked out and saw a couple of stars blinking in the sky, so thought what the heck let’s get on with it. I got 500 metres up the road when what I can only describe as an Indian Monsoon downpour hit me full on. And yes, it stayed with me all the way to Knysna. Luckily I started off with full rain gear on, so I arrived pretty dry, just damp around the thighs. I stayed in a great B&B called the hideaway. The trip was broken up as I was visiting several of our shops on the way, Riversdale, Mossel Bay, George and Knysna. The roads were pretty clear, no other bikes seen. Can’t comment much about the scenery etc as I couldn’t see any! I was woken up a few times as the rain intensified during the night, making me feels quite anxious. The bike was parked outside; many thoughts crossed my mind as to what to do if the thing didn’t start. However, my fears of being stuck were allayed when the thing burst into life on the first press on the button. On my way then, Jeffery’s Bay here I come, rain pelting down, and worse were the trucks whose spray was such that I had to ride blind pass them. Having finished my business at Jeffrey’s I headed onto P.E. same story, the rain kept coming down, 2 days of it started to really get on my nerves. Finally I could see a break in the clouds coming up to P.E. My prayers worked...ah ha. Left P.E and headed towards East London via Port Alfred, overcast but no rain. The traffic was pretty clear but there are a few road works where there is a wait. I saw a KTM coming from Port Alfred, first bike sighting, it made me feel better as not being the only idiot on the road. I arrive in East London or actually Gonubie at around 4 pm. No rain. Also, stayed at a great B&B, Amanda’s on Ocean View, fantastic breakfast. I arrived a 4 pm, dumped my kit in my room, just wore my jacket as I was only going up the road to KFC. I got absolutely soaked thru 200 metres before the KFC. I was mad..!! I had just ridden 800 odd K’S without getting wet now I looked as if I had gone for a swim in the ocean with my kit on. The next day I left at 07:30 am, no rain, great day. What a fantastic road ride from Gonubie to Bloem. I saw a Harley and a 1200GS. The roads were empty of traffic and they had all been upgraded so the ride was smooth and uninterrupted. Bloem to Jhb was uneventful save that I was running from the storms which kept creeping up on me. At Kroonstad I missed a heck of an electric storm by seconds. The few drops of rain that did hit me felt like hail stones. The best part of the ride was definitely between Gonubie and Bloem, via Queenstown. The worst was coming into Jhb on the N1. The road from 14th Avenue onwards is a nightmare. There are ruts in the tar which try to drag you into the traffic. Also, ridges between the lanes which makes controlling the bike difficult. I had to come off at William Nichol, another nightmare. Drivers criss cross lanes at will no regard to what’s behind or by their side. You see the funniest sights, like very short women driving great big 4X4’s, hardly being able to see over the steering wheel. They have made the lanes narrower than before, exactly the width of a truck. If the truck moves of its lane the traffic follows suit. If you happen to be riding or driving next to the concrete barriers, chances are that you will crash. I saw a number of cars that had been pushed into the barriers in a matter of just 20 K’s