Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

The place was amazing but the company was the bestGreat African Wild Coast Adventure 2008 kicked off with 10 bikes, one pillion leaving Cape Town in the dark and pouring rain led by Geoff Russell. After 800kms to PE we slept at the Town Lodge. It was the last we saw any rain and had the best riding weather anyone could wish for. The Town Lodge to the Singing Kettle. Singing Kettle and many more GREAT HOTELS in between The following day took us from PE to Kei Mouth where we had our first real social drink at the Bush Pig Bush Puband joined up with the other four guys from Johannesburg, Knysna and PE. OUR ADVENTURE HAD JUST BEGUN.... BIG TIME...... The Bush Pig Bush Pub was the first of many happy social drinking times. The pubs were diverse and varied in size and Jager Meister Jaque at the Bush Pub Kei Mouth Our Captain Geoff Russell who did a sterling job of leading our diverse team through thick and thin. Soon after the Bush Pig Bush Pub we nervously drove all our expensive bikes and equipment onto a real rickety motorized pont to cross the GREAT KEI RIVER. The Kei Mouth River Pont Andyman the handyman. You'll see why later Dirt road to Trennery's Hotel led us to have a good social and good night's rest. Trennerys Hotel Dinning Room One of many RIVER crossings this time there was a bridge as most rivers had to be seriously negotiated to escape unhurt. Vehicles were not permitted to ride on the beach however this was one of the few times we had no option but to ride a short distance around the blind river on the beach to get to our first massive and difficult hill climb. Geoff true to form had an escape route for those less skilled riders. The ice cold Hydro beverage back up vehicle driven by Abie was always near to perform its vital role in our trip. The love of my life, Gizzy who was my pillion. This trip fortunately developed huge character in our marriage. Thanks to our instructors Leon Kroukamp and Laurence for all their hours of pillion training. Annie and Andy you guys were great and both a pillar of strength. Good Pic. Annies motto in life is "get involved" similar to Richard Branson's "screw it just do it" Once again a hectic river crossing. One river crossing was renamed the "Terrance Crossing" as he bought a beautiful plot and unfortunately hurt himself rendering him US (unservicable) for the rest of the trip. The day trip inland into the rural Transkei gave us the opportunity to truly experience the typical Transkei un exhausted Hills and Vally's which predominantly describes the topography of the area. We all got the opportunity to feel the culture and realised immediately when we crossed over from Xhosa Transkei to Pondo Transkei. Great African Wild Coast Adventure 2008. The trip was about the people, the unfenced, undeveloped wild area of the Transkei, and the absolutely breathtaking scenery stimulated by an incredible social bonding between the riders and pillions. Water falls in the back ground I can't remember their names. The Transkei scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. Andys Dumb Transkei Oxen. These oxen are normally handled by kwedins (young Xhosa kids) which pull a crewdly built wooden sled to carry wood, water and other supplies. However there was evidence that the sled created massive soil erosion. Their solution to the problem was to start another path when the previous one was too bad to use. Great African Wild Coast Adventure 2008 where rolling hills meet the ocean to make spectacular bike riding scenery. Remember no GATES or Fences for the eight days of traveling through the Transkei seemingly taking the area back two hundred years. If Wall street and the US dollar collapse then I'm off to be a Maqueta. (Uncircumcised Xhosa youth) Not many of us escaped falling because the up and down hills were serious and challenged those that did not have top draw clutch and brake control training. Great African Wild Coast Adventure 2008 - A 5 * must The vantage point from the saddle make this view site spectacular. Just imagine this from hiking boots, maybe!!! But from the saddle of my BMW, impossible??? There you have it, the picture does not do it justice. We all agreed with Geoff that this was the best view site on the Transkei Wild Coast. Kobb Inn was awesome as it was regimentally run by Daan the owner and the kitchen was well run by Dean the head chef. Our rooms were cosey and so close to the beach and sea that the waves seemed to roll right into our rooms This is a picture of a gear lever re-manufactured by OUR H-ANDYMAN. Besides this feat, Andy straighted axles, fixed punctures, a bike chain and sprocket drive as well as medicated many of us on the trip. Andy gave new meaning to the term "Bush Mechanic". Gerry Glen This is the Nature guide who guided Geoff on his last trip through the Dwesa Nature Reserve without a uniform This clothing Geoff gave him on behalf of the BMWMCC (I think) had his name and title embroidered neatly on it. The guides face describes much better than I can write. Once again GOOD initiative made our riding the brand something mmmmmm let me think super special. Nice touch Geoff. Gerry swimming his bike through one of the many, many rivers Andy making the same river crossing look reasonably easy as he exercised what the BMW training had taught us "STAND UP, LOOK UP AND OPEN UP". Nice one Andy. Tis cool dude Chris again, Some call him "SHADOW" Some call him Bolt-man. Nice riding with you Chris Transkei, at its very best One of the many hill climbs that made some of our riders level with the grevel. This was after the BIGGEST and most enjoyable day behind us. We arrived at Coffee Bay filthy, tired, thirsty but most of all HAPPY. We were welcomed by the Hotels staff, a BMW motor Cycle Club sign and fresh orange juice. What more could we ask for? Heather joined us for the first time on this BIG ride!!!!! Nice one Heather, nothing like jumping in at the deep end. Hilton's riding skills vastly improved after Heather joined him as his pillion??? Everyone was suitably impressed as we had our doughts the day before. When asked about this Hilton declared that his wife stabilized him. Sure thing guys and well done.Most of us got seriously dirty even though we had the best riding day of our lives.Thats me Rusty, yep, hogging the adventure because its ,my story, I'll edit /reduce me later, fun firstIf I didn't see it I would not have believed it, but that 4x4 support vehicle went wherever we did. Abloodymazing. Well done Abie and thank you Jacque.It was however always about the company. The environment and time just facilitated the social factor.Here I go again, this is Giz and I in front of a windy Hole in the WallGreat African Wild Coast Adventure 2008This trip was especially great because the company was great and the ride tooTranskei at its bestMeeting Hill Transkei style.Because Geoff did such a sterling job of leading this group Russ presented him with a gift of appeciation on behalf of the group The trip was about the people, the unfenced, undeveloped wild area of the Transkei, and the absolutely breathtaking scenery stimulated by an incredible social bonding between the riders and pillions. This trip was especially great because the company was great and the ride too THANKS FOR A GREAT RIDE EVERYONE, IT WAS TRULY AN AWESOME GREAT AFRICAN WILD COAST ADVENTURE FOR 2008.