Ladies Beginner Breakfast Ride to Franschhoek

Annie's picture
Our riders: '''Annie''' - F650GS '''Karin Pohl''' - F650GS Twin (Bella) '''Erica Korb''' - F650GS (BenG) '''Glenda & Melanie''' - F650GS '''Jean''' - F650GS (PinkGoat) '''Chrisma''' - Kawasaki KLR (Sidechick) '''Michelle''' - KTM (1 Kat) '''Peter O'Hanlon''' - F650Dakar (Our ever-patient Sweeper) The Ride was once again successfully organised by Renette (Rynet) who unfortunately had to phone me on Saturday evening to cancel herself as the trip leader :( because of a very bad bout of flu (We missed you!) Renette gave me the route telephonically and asked me to lead the ride. At this stage it was still raining cats and dogs. I went through to Plattekloof Engen with dark clouds looming - the same clouds that caused a few to phone and cancel - I got 5 minute updates from Renette by phone. I wondered who would pitch! I caught the tail-end of the Tulbagh breakfast ride and waited with a cup of coffee, almost swallowing it in one gulp when 7 bikes arrived just about simultaneously :)! Michelle on her KTM arrived with a very confident Vroom-vroom - and I could see she had many kms under her belt, unlike some of the others who took a while to "land" and disembark. After a short trip briefing, we headed out around 8.45am onto the Plattekloof road, and then took the scenic Tiekiedraai road through Durbanville. We then took a Right onto the R312 Lichtenberg road, which winds through vineyards and farmlands - the weather was great. I could see dark clouds above the Franschhoek mountains... My neck was getting sore, having only my left-hand mirror to check on the troops (I lost the other one on my Namibia trip). Yep, they were doing well! We cruised at a smooth beginner's speed of around 80km/h. We then turned Right onto the R44, passing through the Klapmuts 4-way stop and turning left onto the road going past places like Backsberg. Occasionally we hit gravel wash-aways running across the road - phew - all the lights were still in my rearview. Nearing Simondium, we turned Right onto the road taking us on to Franschhoek - again still perfect weather and scenery. We arrived at Goederust at about 10am where Renette had booked us for breakfast. We were welcomed by a huge warm fire (with a yummy spit roast on the go) and fresh cups of coffee. When the breakfast arrived, we were surprised by the generous portions :) We had a super breakfast and kuiered for quite a while. After breakfast, we had a photo shoot and another trip briefing, as 4 of the bikers wanted to do the short off-road Robertsvlei road. The others weren't confident enough (wet gravel :( ) and we "assisted" Erica with refuelling her bike at the garage in Franschhoek, meeting up with the off-roaders at the monument. Peter then swapped places with me and took us on a short detour up to the dam on the Berg River - more photo shoots (wow the papparazzi were really following us). Peter & I swapped places again, and we following the road through Simondium towards Paarl. Just before Paarl, we took a left and then a right onto the Suid-Agter Paarl road, which winds its way past Fairview back to the R44, where we turned right again. At the Windmeul Winery, we turned left onto the Voor-Paardeberg road. The ladies were coping well - this was a much longer ride than some of them had ever been on, and I was glad they weren't losing focus and falling back! Finally we turned left onto the main road taking us back to Durbanville. In Durbanville, our riders started peeling away and taking their separate routes home. I arrived home just before 3pm - some breakfast run! Well done to all the ladies who rode like stars behind me, and thanks to Peter who swept and kept us in check. Above all, thanks to Renette for organising another stunning and successfull ladies ride :) :) PS Ladies and gentleman - please upload your photos.

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rynet's picture
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Joined: 2008/03/17
Great trip report Annie and thanks a lot for taking over and leading the ride , and doing such a sterling job ;) my heart was with all of you :) ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''
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KarinP's picture
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Joined: 2009/04/30
Thanks again to Annie for a great ride, and to both her and Pete for their patience on the day! The bits that Annie had left out: The SMS's started flying from around 06h30. First it was Rynet to say that she was sick but that Annie was taking the ride; then it was to say that the four girls from the Far South (aka Fish Hoek) were not coming. Fortunately I had met Michele (1 Cat) quite by chance the day before, so we met up and rode together from Claremont to Plattekloof. Michele was very patient with me out on the N1 - it was my first time ever on the freeway and 120km/h still feels very fast. After Annie's 'routes and rules' briefing, we all set off like good ducklings in staggered formation, with Pete (He Who Likes To Watch *poetry/*poultry/*chicks In Motion {*choose one} ) sweeping. Breakfast was great. Loads of coffee, orange juice, crispy bacon, eggs whichever way you wanted it, toast - you name it, we had it. Breakfast table talk included in-depth discussions on "what to wear on the Sutherland trip", with Pete offering to show what his long johns looked like (I don't think there were any takers); "how much red wine is needed to warm you up in Sutherland"; and an idea for a trip around southern Africa. We also talked about shoes. Pete said he recently talked to his daughter (?) about shoes and he was quite surprised that this conversation was nothing like that one. This was a discussion on the merits of MX boots vs dual-purpose boots, and Jimmy Choo was not mentioned once. And yes, being a ladies ride, we all had to go to the loo, some of us even more than once. When Erica said she had to refuel, Pete said he would go and check out the Robertsvlei dirt section with three of us. Michele finally let her snarling orange beast have its head and she disappeared like a klipbok down the road, followed by Chrisma (I think) with me doing a nervous 'this is my first time on dirt how the heck does one do it' stint behind. But, with Pete pointing out the washaways and hammering 'stand up/look up/open up', even I made the section, albeit very short. Just before the Monument (where we were meeting the 'refuellers'), Michele saw that the big open (and very wet and very muddy) field on the left had some tracks on it, so off we went, some with considerably more success than others (Note to self: Do NOT put your foot down in the water, it is cold). The ride home was, as Annie said, a relaxed affair and I eventually made it back to Claremont after about 4 hours of riding time, which is roughly 3 1/2 hours more than what I've ever done on the GS. What a lot of fun ;-) Thanks girls!! (And Rynet - get better soon!)
rynet's picture
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Joined: 2008/03/17
Some fotos Glenda sent me Franshoek ladies breakfastFranshoek ladies breakfast Ladies at breakfastLadies at breakfast Ladies at breakfastLadies at breakfast Ladies leaving the breakfast venueLadies leaving the breakfast venue bikes in a rowbikes in a row bikes next to the dambikes next to the dam Bikes next to the damBikes next to the dam Group photoGroup photo ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''
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BenG's picture
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Joined: 2009/01/16
Rynet: thanks for organising the trip and Annie: for being such a wonderful considerate leader. I had so much fun even though I must admit that all I wanted to do yesterday was to "gas" it. Some pend up frustration from not being on my bike for 2 weeks. Always good to get out on a ride and catch up with the girls!!

Chicks Dig DirtKiss

rynet's picture
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Joined: 2008/03/17
The Deep South Ladies who didn't make the Fanshoek ladies ride due to rain and cold , but they did manage to go for their own little ride to Cape Point where they took this lovely foto. Sandi , Carolyn and TinekeSandi , Carolyn and Tineke ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''
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