Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Soos julle reeds gelees het uit die vorige blog – Weskus Hokkie Weskus Hemel was die trippie na Die Hel reeds in wording en eintlik klaar beplan. Verblyf was effe van ‘n issue maar die stofpad gode het gekyk na ons en dinge so laat uitwerk soos ek oorspronklik wou ry.

Prologue

I have a bone to pick with Die Hel. Actually, it picked one of my bones. Now, almost 2 years later, I was going to take my healed self back there. My insurance: TITS (Time In The Saddle). My reinforcements: Lance, Ilse and Gerhard. Die Hel still held a grudge and levelled a curse at my bike this time, rather than me. Yet I managed to make it out (eventually).

The Plan
I recently tackled Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) for the first time on my own bike; talked into this crazy venture by my overly-optimistic partner, Lance. I was extremely worried about the Huisrivier crossing and “drowning” my bike. Thanks to Youtube, I could see that it is no quick fix once you manage to get a lot of water into the engine or exhaust. Die Hel is a rather expensive middle-of-nowhere if you have to call for any sort of assistance, be it from a trailer rescue service or long-suffering family.

21 March 2012

 Meet Michè

A trip with Chrissie and friends.  Read the attachment (1.6MB PDF)

Read about Mr. Stripes funny antics on the Swartberg pass introducing himself to strangers while pinned under his bike!

WARNING: Reader Discretion is advised.

Heidelberg, Riversdale, Ladysmith, Seweweekspoort, Floriskraal dam, Prince Albert, Die Hel, Oudtshoorn, De Rust, Uniondale, Avontuur, De Vlugt, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladysmith, Riversdale and back to Heidelberg... 4 days, 7 bikes, +- 1200km... Die hel Stay tuned, report coming soon...

===Day 1: Cape Town – Bonnievale=== We set out late Monday afternoon for Bonnievale at 17h00. The weather was good…..that is no pumping cape doctor, “anything else is good in my book”, but once we hit the R60 to Robertson the cape doctor gave us a woes snot klap making it difficult to maintain 140km/h. We were packed reasonably light, only the absolute essentials for a one night camp out, no rain gear, a cell phone to use for any major repairs, and a basic supper of noodles with tinned tuna. (The rest of our meals were to be had on route.) Our first night was with friends on their wine farm on the Breede River. After a really good braai and good wine it was off to bed before many dusty back roads to tomorrows destination….Die Hel!

A friend of mine asked me what I did this weekend. The answer was easy, I delivered the “Devils” newspaper in “Die hel” and on Sunday lunch I did some “pole dancing” in Laingsburg. Neadless to say, she was shocked. Saturday morning Daniel Nelson and I left Wellington and headed for Worchester via bainskloof (someone must show me a way out of the Cape that does not go over Bainskloof) we had some breakfast at the Shell petrol station and we headed on. Once outside Worchester we took the Nuy gravel road to Rodeberg and via Robertson, Ashton to Montague. What a beautiful morning it was.

While everyone was relaxing at Nelson's, I was one my way to Oudtshoorn - Mosselbay for the weekend, with one reason and one reason only - THE HELL. I filled up in Barrydale and thought if any GS's at Ronnies, I will stop and have a drink, but to no avail. However, just over the first hill I found a 1200GS standing next to the road with the rider. I stopped trying to find out if he is OK and started chatting. It seems he is from Belgium and is touring SA all on his own and wants to take a picture with his camera, but is trying to find help on the electronic documentation on his laptop. I tried to convince him to do "The Hell" with me but when I told him it is a gravel road he said he has done some gravel Road in Prince Alfred Hamlet area that day and does not feel up to another day on gravel so soon. Weird but nice chap.