Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Middelpos- off-tar trip. Aka “A gate too far..” 10th & 11th August 2007 On the 1st August a thread appeared under the ‘Trips and Tours’ page of the BMW Motorcycle Club Cape’s forum. I checked my Outlook calendar entries and saw I had three vessels in Port loading citrus- Maputo, Durban and PE. “Oh, my hat! With citrus volumes starting to peak was this trip possible for me?” Alas, duty calls…and it galls me. Anyway with a slight hole I my budget, dear Liza, dear Liza, I slept on it for a while. I saw the places fill up very quickly and anyway only recognised 2 names…… Then fickle mother nature played her hand- keeping all vessels out of port due to heavy seas. Was the schedule slipping enough????! Another sleep tormented me and I belatedly asked GK the trip organiser to keep me on last minute notice to go. YES! The schedules kept slipping, rain kept the boere from picking/packing and the ships in port from working, delaying those out in the roads. My God!, the stars were lining up in my favour very fast! I was posted as a late entry. Leaky budget of te nie, I was going. Annie was keen but the windguru.com warned of shitty weather which meant wash-aways, muddy roads, swollen rivers, cold. She was going on the Women’s day ride so stayed off the Middelpos list. The weather changes called for an earlier start and we all met on time at the Cape Gate Engen for a 08H00 start on the cold wet Friday morning 10th August 07. JR Rossouw was trip leader and what a route he chose! I met the people that were going to become a team, a strong bond was going to be forged between gritty, no-sissy guys and gals that would ensure we all had Maximum fun and safety! We had actually rail-roaded Johan Roussouw’s family long weekend, so I found along the way. I was impressed that no one was asking to back out- given the falling rain & forecast. The Team: * R1200GSA Johan JR Rossouw and his bro- * R 1200 GS HD Rossouw, * Africa Twin Derrick Geary, * R 1150GS “Arra” van Zyl, * R 1150GS “Geel Kameel” aka GK, aka Danie Malan, * R 1150 GSA ‘Andyman’, yup that’s me standing up on the road * R 1150GS Brendon Burman and his mom Alida riding pillion * R 1200GS Patrick (Brendon’s Dad) * F 650 the irrepressible Charles Turtle, * F 650GS Goeffery Geary * And the bonus was definitely the most welcome Oupa Nico and Johan’s wife Tanya & two kids- Elzaan and Juan- riding shotgun in the Skasuz KB twin-cab and back-up trailer. We left in rain, on time and rode in rain, rain that got stronger and more insistent. The passes we transited on the two day trip were the Du Toits Kloof , Mitchell’s, Gydo, Katbakkies, Ouberg, Gannaga, Gydo & Bainskloof /Du Toits Kloof. As we hit gravel off the R303, rain abated but the leaden skies threatened rain which came n went for a while still. The ritual last pee and tyre deflating ceremony over –with the inevitable discussion on what pressures were best?!? Tyre deflating ritual off the R303A rainbow gave some promise of good times ahead. The rainbow promised a day of fun We were all thoroughly cold, damp crotches and wet feet. The roads had hardened caked ruts from slithering 4 wheeled vehicles and the irregular edges were ready to catch the unwary and throw them into the veld. Nevertheless we kept a good pace. You can’t help notice the bias towards 1150GS bikes- this is 1150 weather and country so the guys on the 1200’s and 650’s were at a disadvantage already. (He he he). It was heady stuff, up on the pegs, feeling the bold power, smooth balance of the 1150 GSA under me giving me immense confidence as it chose its path to Middelpos by way of the Katbakkies and Ouberg passes. I found that I was rarely giving conscious thought to opening my legs & my throttle, keeping my hands loose on the grips. These basic elements were becoming second nature and I rarely looked down at my duck-bill. I soared above the gravel cruising at 90, with a series of long 120 to 140 Kph stints just out of sheer joy at being loosed from the harness of my daily work and being totally entranced by the flora and vistas opening out before me. As my frozen thumbs and finger tips thawed out I lost all cares until the odd occasions I sat down and suddenly felt the icy cold of my crotch as I landed on the seat. It was difficult keeping my mirrors clean so I could keep track of my responsibility behind me. I was impressed by Brendon’s clean riding style as he and his pillion bulleted ahead on the weak pretext that being in front kept his contact lenses from gravelling up. – Hello, I also wear lenses- BUSTED. We stopped regularly to share the views and to take photos. The back-up vehicle kept leap-frogging us and then at a convenient stop there would be the most welcome hospitality of warm cocoa or later on cold beverages, to keep us hydrated. God bless you Tanya! “GK” dropped his bike in a river crossing as did Geoff, taking a spill - getting very soaked in MUDDY water. That shook Geoff’s confidence and it stayed that way for the rest of the day. Leaving my ignition on at that stop drained my battery flat. Ever tried push starting a 259Kg 1150GSA with a dead battery? River across the road at the bottom of a steep incline!! Luckily the discipline of someone always riding shotgun to the guy behind had Charles by my side to help. Thank heavens for the BMW training days. He had just done the BMW rider-pillion course! What a windfall, out came my recovery straps and he taught me the technique of pulling a bike out of trouble- up a hill and then pull starting! Front bike loops the eye over his RHS foot peg, I loop the eye over my LHS footpeg. And viola, off we went. As the motor took to life I kicked the strap off my peg and that was that- Home free. Then the fantastic chase at 140Kph jumping into wash aways and over streams, bottoming the suspension and odd solid thuds as the plate bottomed in uneven gullies - to catch up to the team who had stopped at the next turn some way ahead. The roads gave us in-depth experience of every type of terrain. Wash-aways became second nature, as did ruts and water patches, loose gravel, hard stones, loose sand, soft sand and long stretches of clean good gravel road. I’d plucked my nose hairs the day before leaving, so no irritating tickles this time! I learned that some wash-aways started L to R, the next few R to L, then back again. Once or twice after a photo stop I had to clutch-in on the move to switch off the motor and de-activate the ABS before starting up again on the move. But soon all the disciplines I had learned from Leon and Co. on the BMW off-road course became absolutely ingrained and I was performing all those disciplines instinctively. Shifting weight to L or R in corners, towards the back over the soft sand or forward when accelerating I felt it all come together over these two days. I’m sure my 1150GSA and I are now a single harmonious piece of man & machine and who cares what it looks like, it sure feels like poetry in motion. A short while ago on the West Coast trip I was cautious and over-careful. Now a few off-road trips later as the bucket of ‘experience’ in one hand fills up and the bucket of ‘luck’ gets less in the other hand I feel the music as I take every road surface in my stride with confidence and joy. The welcome night stop at the Middelpos hotel, checking the bikes over for signs of wear & tear. The set menu boerekos for dinner, –every one turned in by 21H00!!! Pap en roer eiers for brekky, a re-fuel ceremony from a 44 gallon drum via a 5 litre bucket! I placed a geo-cache at the Boer War memorial for the 11 fallen of the 11Th Imperial Yoemanry (5 Feb 1902). (www.geocaching.com search for cache GC153EW). Then we were off. Brendon and his mom n dad carrying on to Augrabies and the remaining 8 bikes n bakkie by way of the Gannaga Pass route. It was really great to see Geoff’s confidence coming back and he never fell again, successfully crossing 4 more swollen rivers and negotiating the mud, soft sand and then good speed over the open road. Johan had a whim and off we diverted through the Tankwa reserve kind permission of Mr Hanekom. Best move he ever did, gliding over the wild flowers, on a twee-spoor that gave us everything. Rocks, mud, wet treecle clay, soft sand, shale, and eventually a gate too far. We were in danger of ending up in Calvinia, not Ceres. We had to turn back and regain the tracks4africa roads towards the R303. We forded the swollen Tankwa river twice. Stopping for a lekker braai at the second crossing. The leaden skies dropping rain here and there. Finally our extended excursions had the 650’s heading for the nearest fuel pump while the 1150’s & 1200’s went back in driving rain over the Katbakkies pass onto slippery clay roads to the R303 and the tar. It was the ride, it was the team building, the frozen fingers, wet bums n feet. It was the bakkie stops for cocoa n drinks or the riverside braai. It was pumping fuel from a 40 gal drum in Middelpos. It was the Cape’s fantastic wild flowers and out-of-this-world views. Sipping OB’s from a plastic bottle up on a mountain pass or the odd slug of whiskey from a hip-flask. The magic was in everything we experienced. Well my gear is all much heavier from the accumulated sand and mud, everything needs a good clean & preventative maintenance. This was a fantastic patch of fun and camaraderie in a busy cycle and I am fortunate we have such fantastic people to ride with in this beautiful country so rich in diversity and options. We will do this again soon. Andyman, Gordons Bay. welcome hot chocolate & Cappucino break other die of Katte bakkies Thawing out with the chocolate Brendon & Alida coming up form behind The great straight fast roads and when the rain stops, the dust rises Here they come to the next wash away Road kill - wasn't me. letting nthem catch up Brendon and Alida at 130kph again Die berge hulle kronkle Yet another wash away- this is a mild one A short rest before Ouberg pass That's Ouberg pass up ahead, the rain has gone for a few hours Jeff coming up the Ouberg pass At the turn we wait for the catch up Crossing the Doring Rivier All across the Doring, the clouds are gathering again Stopping to remove a fence from my back wheel The long chase to Midelpos Middelpos over night stop The boer war memorial for the 11th Yoemanry fallen Leaving Middelpos Abandoned farmsterad,lonely in the great expanses GeelKammel racing to catch up the group- What fun!!! GK catchin up with the group [Because he can. Marking territory on top of Gannaga Checking out the Gannaga pass Long fast roads after Gannaga Wild flower carpet the plains a lekker cappuccino and chocolate break enjoyng the break so kry die volkies hulle brak drink water Tresspassers will be SHOT! And another river crossing in the Tankwa reserve Ya dit lyk bra maklik Whoops here comes the Tankwa crossing a Don't- Slow down, look up, not at your front wheel a do. slow, small bow wave, stand up look up, easy does it Derrick and his Africa Twin -in the mud And a muddy river with clay, Charles takes Geoff down with him The rest take it carefull and go through ok Die bakkie, hy trek homself maar lag lag duer The skies clear, the twee-spoor is clean- off we go flat open twee-spoor with patches of stones, loose sand, rocks, shale and long open stretches The rest take it carefull and go through ok The Tankwa plains Mensa maar dis mooi This is what we live for The boys are on the move again A GATE TOO FAR..... Ok, so how did we get to be here? so we crossed the tankwa yet again down the line and had a braai The rained out plains after Kattabakkies again Down the Kattabakkies in cold rain