Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Warren and Natalie invited Julie and I to ride on a friend of their's farm near Kalbaskraal.  This is Julie's first trip of any kind riding her own bike (Betsy a Honda CRF 230 F).

We met in Richwood and set off over conterman's kloof.

Warren, Natalie and Julie

Pretty soon we were on a farm road.  Julie handled the dirt very well - so much so that when Natalie got a fright and ended up pedalling through a sandy patch, Julie literally stood up, looked up and opened up past her!  I nearly fell off my bike with laughter, this was beginners luck of the best kind - not knowing that sand is to be feared and respected (not!) ...

The quarry

We stopped for a chat and then explored the quarry.  Julie set off across this dried out pan full of cracks to join Warren and Natalie and I.  When I looked back she was down.

Julie had unknowingly ridden into the soft clay in the middle of the pan and it was clay mud.  To her credit she went down fighting and nearly made it out to the dry clay.  At least it was a soft landing, and the mud, although sticky and pervasive at first, eventually dried up and fell off.

Julie mudpack

The bath

Julie let me ride Betsy for a while and I promptly overcooked a ditch and ended up eating dirt myself.

Natalie

Warren

It was hot and there was no shade, so after a few hours of fun we set off for home along the coast road to enjoy some  cool sea air.

Last spin

By the time we got home, I was shattered - and I had been riding well within my comfort level.  How Julie lasted the distance I don't know.  What was nice was the relaxed pace that Warren and Natalie rode - so that Julie was never under pressure to ride fast.