Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

We (JdJ & Tracey) did this trip whilst our friends Wayne and Joe embarked on a 5500km trip from Cpt to Jhb, Lowveld, KZN, Garden Route and back.....we wanted to be with them but could not stay away from home for so long and therefor decided on a shorter trip.... The plan was to from Cpt go to Struisbaai, from there to Prince Albert, then to Addo to the Elephant Park then Bathurst to visit a friend, then to somewhere between PE and Struisbaai and for the last day to Franschoek on the 25th Dec for Xmas lunch with family - all more or less about 2000km's. Day 1- Cpt to Struisbaai We have done this so many times that we can almost do this trip with closed eyes. We decided to stop at the botanical garden just outside Kleinmond for a light lunch. Loaded and ready to go An other traveler at the garden... We stayed over with family in Struisbaai, the Adventure was happy to sleep under cover this night... Waiting.. Day 2 - Struisbaai - Prince Albert We started early the morning to get some km's done before it became really HOT, the high of the day was 34.5C. We was not to go over Swartbergpass but at the end after havin spoken to Neil Terry in CPT to inform him of our decission and that we would phone him in 3 hours time to confirm that we are OK and IF NOT to get HELP, we went for it... We camped in Prince Albert and it was AWESOME and VERY VERY HOT !!! First we went over Tradouw Pass. Tradouw pass Swartberg Pass: Looks like we are going for it! Halfway or not !? Over towards Prince Albert We came from up there ?? Almost there... Campsite in Prince Albert Day 3 - Prince Albert to Addo We knew we were in for it when the temp @ 8am in Prince Albert already was 33.5C....the plan to go through Meiringspoort to Willowmore, then Steytlerville, Wonderfontein, Kirkwood and to end at Addo, which is just outside Addo Elephant Park. Ready to go Meiringspoort: Meiringspoort 1 Meiringspoort 2 This is the road between Willowmore and Steytlerville....long, HOT AS HELL - here the Temp got up to hold on.....42.5C, we decided to go a bit faster than allowed to try and cool down a bit...this is the KAROO as we know it. For some reason I found myself singing to Tracey via the Bluetooth unit "the road is long......" !!! Willowmore to Steytlerville We stopped at Wonderfontein....and the reason for it being called "Wonderfontein" is because 1 "wonders what the heck is EVER going to happen in Wonderfontein"...........We bumped into the local of Wonderfontein at the HOTEL, his name "STOKKIES".... Stokkies Into Addo where we stayed at a Backpackers called Orange Elephant Backpackers - AWESOME; please visit http://www.addobackpackers.com/ when ever you are in the area pop in and speak to John - you will never regret staying here !!! We decided to go to the Addo Elephant Park for a afternoon game drive. All the 450 elephants in the park have names and we were introduced to Skakuza who is the biggest male in the park - 7500kg of MANHOOD !!! The other is Gaatjies because of the holes in his ears, of course we some other game and even some warthogs that looked almost like some members of our club....he he he !!! Skakuza Gaatjies Waterhole Redhartebees BMW Motorcycle Club members ?? Afer all of this and the heat it was a looooong night's kuier that was lying ahead - lekker !!! Day 4 - Addo to Bathurst. After the loooong night it was off to Addo Elephant Park again for a 6am morning game drive; here we again saw some game from REALLY CLOSE...When we finished the ride and got on the bike to head back to the Orange Elephant it already was 36.5C at 8am.....ai it's going to be HOT again... Skakuza upclose and personal The REAL king of the park... We got to Bathurst (Pineapple country) where we had a early Xmas dinner with our friend Kerry and her family. Thnx for everything again Kerry and also to your lovely family - tell Ouma "she can cook O man she can cook!" Day 5 - Bathurst to "somewhere as close to Struisbaai as we can" The day was just rain, rain, rain, and even more rain - no photo's !!! We started at 8:30am and got to Struisbaai @ 17:30 and ALL of this in the rain, it was really bad !! We were soaked. Day 6 - Struisbaai to Franschoek Fist into CPT to get the car and then to Franschoek for Xmas lunch with family. JdJ & Tracey Xmas dinner And there you have it - that's our trip report. OH I almost forgot - to all of you out there that has asked this question over and over and over again - here you have it, it's official !!! Johan & Tracey is now engaged !!! Our happy ending to a very nice trip and the year off 2007 !!! I love you with all my heart Tracey & thank you !! To all part of the BMW society - see you all in 2007 - happy new year. To my family (new and old) I love you all and to my mom - I miss you every moment of every day; 2007 is both the best and worst year of my life having lost you and getting engaged to Tracey. JdJ