Lost - season 1 (not quite the TV series)
Lost - Episode 1:
Saturday morning finally dawns. I'm up earlier, get dressed and set off for the rendezvous point in thick mist (or was it fog?).
I had read the final instructions email sent by Warren for the Boegoeberg trip earlier in the week. The mail mentioned something about a new meeting point on Plattekloof Road. I knew exactly where it was as Andy had recently switched to this venue for his very popular beginner's rides. Heading down Plattekloof Drive from the refinery I noticed two bikes packed with camping gear heading in the opposite direction. No worries, I knew where I was going. I turned in to the shopping centre near the gym (just off Plattekloof Road) with 10 minutes to spare. Oiy!, where is everyone - the parking area is absolutely devoid of motorcycles (translation: no one was there!).
Luckily I have a sharp, analytical mind (okay, okay it's my story) and remembered the other bikes I had passed earlier near the Engen garage on Plattekloof Road. Double back to Plattekloof Road, a U-turn and a quick left found me among my fellow riders at the correct meeting point. Lesson learnt - always read all the instructions, do not make assumptions.
Lost - episode 2
I rode at the back of Peter O'Hanlon's group, just ahead of Julie and Charles who was riding sweep. All went smoothly (okay, there was the odd locked farm gate and detour along the way) until we got to Piekenierskloof Pass. The group got separated by a Stop/Go (due to roadworks) at the bottom of the pass. We kinda regrouped near the entrance to Kardoesie farm stall. We set off and I found myself at the front of another Stop/Go on the pass. After waiting for a couple of minutes at the Stop/Go I set off down the pass and past the Citrusdal turnoff. I checked carefully for anyone waiting at the turnoff but saw nobody - probably because no-one was there! I continued doen the N7 towards Clanwilliam. I noticed that there were no headlights behind me and slowed down a little. Still no headlights! I stopped at a farm stall alongside the road and waited in vain for about 10 minutes. Clearly there were no bikes behind me anymore - damn lost again. So I headed back to the Citrusdal turnoff and started phoning. Everyone was on voicemail.
After a few moments of mild panic I decided to see if I could find our destination on the GPS. After finding the Boegoeberg 4x4 trail I left a message on Peter's voicemail that I would make my own way to the campsite and would stop from time to time and try calling him again. A quick dash down the N7, a left and a right turn got me to Elandsfontein. No $%*# call reception around here so I pressed on. The GPS showed a 6.5km gravel road to a left onto a further 2.2km gravel section. The road was "sprinkled" with a light dusting of sand. I cautiously proceeded down the somewhat sandy road mentally ticking off every 500m. Yes, I have a healthy respect for sand (sounds much better that fear, does'nt it). After surviving a few real (and some imaginary) "moments" I found myself at the top of a hill near a cell tower. I stopped and checked my phone for messages - there were a few from Peter and Du Toit. Whilst listening to Du Toit's message (with detailed instructions of the correct route from Kardoesie) the phone rang.
It was Tyrone who had volunteered to wait at Kardoesie in case I went back there. As the GPS only showed the 4x4 trail and not the campsite (and I did'nt really know how close or far away from the campsite I actually was) we decided that I should head back to Kardoesie. So back down the "sand sprinkled" road I went. Shortly after getting back on tar the rest of the group came flying past me. I stopped Charles and the backup vehicle and let Peter know that I'd been found. What a relief! Quickly followed by another mild anxiety attack as I realised the "sand sprinkled" road would have to be traversed for the third time!
A big thank you to Peter and Du Toit who went looking for me and Tyrone for waiting at Kardoesie for me. Lesson learnt: always go back to the last location where the group was still together. (And go on a sand riding course real soon.) Oh yes, the cellphone tower was about 2kms from the campsite - go figure.
Lost - episode 3
After breakfast on Sunday morning Warren took the group on a little excursion around the farm. We learnt about farming with Rooibos tea from Sybrie (our host) and then got to the main business of the day. Warren had planned some "payback" for Trevor's mountain bike route selection over the previous few weeks (see thread under General on the forum). After successfully completing a few "warmup" sections of thick sand and a very sandy river crossing with an even more sandy and steep exit on the opposite bank we all eagerly headed back to the campsite.
Somehow Rob and I (who had both been riding somewhat cautiously at the back all morning due to the sprinkling of sand everywhere) took a wrong turn. Instead of heading for the safety of the campsite we head straight into the mother of a sand monster. As I followed Rob further into the monster's lair I had this horiible feeling that we would soon need to turn around and go back the way we came. Yup, you quessed right, I was spot on! Paddling in thick sand is #&%$ hard work. Fortunately our little training exercise was soon over. Besides losing a few litres of sweat we were relatively unharmed and successfully reunited with the rest of the group back at the campsite.
Lesson learnt: Duh, it's obvious ..... is'nt it?
Okay, must I really spell it out?
.
.
Things really do happen in threes!
Thanks Warren et al for a most enjoyable weekend!!!
- 1644 reads
Comments
Don't worry Tony, the Koeberg ride on Thursday won't have ANY sprinkles of sand (dunes aren't sprinkles) ... and there are mounted patrols that look for lost souls.
Nice one Tony. To be fair, apparently Warren had indicated to everyone at Kardoesie that the turnoff was just 50m further before the Stop/Go. However, since the 4 of us who were separated from the group by the first Stop/Go were not yet there at the time, we missed those instructions.
That is why nobody paid attention to waiting for us at the intersection, and why Julie also took off down the N7 and had to do yet another U-turn after John caught up with her.
Julie hates U-turns and ends up doing more than anyone on the trip. You hate sand and end up doing more than anyone on the trip. Lesson: you attract what you fear 
. Corollary: you repel what you love - proof - me and money...
Charles, surely that should be Peter indicated to everyone at Kardoesie.
I was definitely enjoying my first beer when you guys started arranging your own routes.
Lost - Episode 4
Today PeterO and I met three adventurers (http://www.ospkw.com/p/who-are-we.html) who had travelled across Africa from Kuwait to Cape Town on R1200GSAs at the Westin Grand. The plan was to do a lap of the peninsula after first visiting Atlantic Motorrad in the Waterfront.
Peter explains the route in great detail to me, mentioning a host of well known Cape Town landmarks. All I remember is that we will stop at the lookout point at the top of Ou Kaapseweg and something about going "clockwise". Sounds simple enough.
Somewhere on Rhodes Drive in Newlands I get trapped behind His Excellency, the President of the Go Slow Club of Southern Africa. By the time I get to the roundabout at the end of Rhodes Drive there are no motorcycles in sight (actually there was no traffic to be seen at all, so proficient was the chap from the Go Slow Club). With a least a hundred vehicles piled up behind me it was time for some quick decision making. Round the circle I went, heading for Hout Bay enroute to Ou Kaapseweg. My decision was largely influenced by the fact that His Excellency, the President took the first exit left.
So off I went through Hout Bay, the tollgates on Chapman's Peak, Noordhoek and onto the lower slopes of Ou Kaapseweg. Still no sight of the three R1200GSAs and Pete's 1150. Unperturbed I push on to the summit and ride straight past the lookout point. A quick phone call (thank goodness for cell phones) and I double back 200m to rejoin Peter and the somewhat bemused Kuwaitis.
Peter explains that "clockwise" is the other way, swinging his arms in a wide circle to reinforce the concept. I explain that I grew up in the "digital age" and have no idea about all this clockwise stuff! We soon setoff again, stopping at Dixies for a cooldrink before going via Red Hill to Hout Bay. I risk "life and limb" to ensure that I stay within sight of the bike in front of me at all times and we miraculously arrive at Mariner's Wharf together.
Lesson learnt: It's the exception that proves the rule (see rule of three above).
Yes, sorry, you are right. Peter also completely missed the turnoff to the old Piekenierskloof pass - which I was a bit disappointed by. Strafdop.
Tony, I must add that the Kuwaitis were also bemused by the fact that we all stopped to wait for our sweeper at the turnoff, only to watch him sail past with what looked like a stiff neck and the determination of Schalk Burger launching himself into the pack. (Do you get on your bike clockwise or anticlockwise? 
)
It was a perfect day for a ride. I enjoyed it as much as the Kuwaiti guys did. Thanks for taking over at Hout Bay, which I was informed means Whale Bay in Arabic.
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