Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

This is by no means a ride report. Only my version  of my experience getting to know the sand (and its dangers) for the first time.

And to let you know I am minus my sun glasses and Nokia N97 cell phone – in case you come across it next time in the dunes or I left it in your vehicle or something…

O yes, and to try and post some of the pics I took in the dunes (I do believe there is much better footage, but maybe I have a few different ones here?).

And so we start off

After hurting my knee about a year ago and only some “light” biking on tar, this was the first time I ventured off the tar with my bike again. My biggest concern for the day was injuring a nagging knee.

Instructing...

To skip the beautiful (albeit a bit cold) ride to Atlantis, I will get right to the starting point. We were lined up (OK OK, circled up) and given a good explanation of how to ride in the sand. Then a bit of "practice" in the carpark. Unfortunately, by the time the 2^nd half of all the info was starting to set in, the first lot moved out to make place for the next bombardment. The result was that by the time we were fired up and ready to go, my nerves were shot and the bike was vibrating (although switched off!). Maybe the fact that we had to ride in over the first 2 steep hills of deep sand – after understanding that it would be taken in FOR us, (my first freaking time in sand man!!) might have had more to do with it than having an information overload!

 Looks easy in the parking lot

Needless to say, I came down twice, but managed to make it all the way to the base camp without falling again. Once at the gazebo, we were left to take to the dunes at our own pace and difficulty. Apparently?!? the sand was nice and hard and easy to ride. (Yeah right!)

Maybe a bit of truth in that, as I did quite a few rides out and did not come off once. – O yeah… except for the one time I gave a spectacular plunge a few metres from the start, making sure the guys at the gazebo were not getting too bored because of no other falls around!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQeE_bh81ws     (Thanks Tiaan!)

The sore shoulder and painful back would be thought of once the day of fu n was over. 

I had been trying to take pics of Table Mountain. The sunny day was glorious and the mountain called for its magnificence to be pictured from the dunes.

Kellan suggested a dune a bit further away and was prepared to take me there to take some pics. Scared out of my wits, I had the choice of trying for that daunting dune or admit I was way to chicken for something like that. Opting for the 2^nd train  of thought, I tried to get him to go alone with my camera (and then to find out he had no  pockets in his riding gear – just my luck!!). So off we went. One reason for my nervousness was the fact that the dune was pretty much untouched and according to him, not a too difficult ride (with the light 230cc he was on!). A baby whale on a 650cc sorta seemed different (somehow?) in my opinion!Taking the dune

Lo and behold! I made it! Awesome! A nd up from that lovely dune, he notices one even closer! Now I put my foot down. Waaay to high (not to mention getting down the one I was already on!!). No he says, he will go first and check, and if all OK, I must f ollow. To my horror, he almost does not make it to the top, but then signals it is fine for me to come. – What the heck?!? This is crazy! How on earth do I get the message across all that way, that there is just no way I am even attempting THAT? He obviously did not get that I was freaking out this side.  Thinking of all the loved ones I will be leaving behind in this precious life I love so much, I took the plunge and followed. – And once again, - I made it!! Yeahhh! The most exquisite view, adrenaline pumping and a feeling of accomplishment I have seldom felt. I am on top of the world! – Literally and figuratively!!

 base camp

So by the time we get back to base camp (without falls), all is ready for lunch and they are just waiting for us. The best ever hamburgers! And something to drink. Sighhh… what a feeling. Tummy full and the exhilaration of knowing I have managed the day thus far without breaking anything and actually staying on top of my bike in spite of where I have been makes me feel invincible and ready to take on any challenge thrown at me!

Getting out

So for after lunch, we are going on a “green” ride. Hard sand and lovely scenery. A gentle ride all along the beach. Easy peasy japaneasy! – or so we are told… Toren decides just to make a short little detour for a bit of excitement (his or ours?!) and we end up in deep sand. Not for the fainthearted or unfit! Just to state clearly... At this point I was not the only one falling off all the time. Tumbles and struggles were the order of the day. “Just peddle along” I was told, but due to length-limitations, toes barely touching the ground does not do well for peddling. I want to thank (and take my hat of) to the guys who were prepared to help me get my bike through (and then having to go back for theirs). So after enough falls, someone would ride my bike till the next spot, with me, fully kitted and helmeted, treading up along by foot.

Taking a short cut

At one point I just felt I could not go any further. Knackered to the bone, every muscle in my body aching, my back was killing me and somehow, I had managed to pick up another sore leg. At which fall I could not remember. It also felt like I was carrying half the dunes along in my boots. The earlier feeling of invincibility had given way to the dreaded feeling of mortality. Fear and dread for every step started taking over and I announced that I would rather wait there than go any further. “Nope”, I was told, “easy way was to follow ahead” (as if I had not heard that before!!). “We’re on our way out”. And then just what I needed to hear…..”Man the f***k up!!” And in my mind something like “f***k the (wo)man up” was making more sense..??

Somehow, that got me thinking… I’m the only woman here…. In a man’s world…. Keeping the guys waiting…. Having to help me pick up the bike…. Mhmmm! My Granma told me once (bless her soul!): “If someone can do it, so can you!” So I dag down deep, searched for that speck of manliness I was sure to possess, put on my best smiley face and started up the engine.

From there we het some better terrain and I was handling myself (or should I say the bike?) fairly well. Stopping on top of a dune, I noticed some guys having difficulty getting up and over quite a high dune (could see the deep sand around the top too). This time I had to REALLY dig deep for every ounce of (manly) courage to go for that impending dune. Reaching the top (barely!) I came over with quite a speed, to discover that the other side was WAY steeper and … me… well, I was just too fast and too inexperienced (would not have thought that before lunch!) to handle the deep, steep incline, with a stationary biker just below me trying to get going. All happened so fast. The next I heard was someone telling me to roll over. What the…? Roll Over? I was thinking... That’s down hill!! But so I did, and rolled into the waiting arms of Neels, a concerned look on his face. And who said dunes cannot be romantic?!? Hiehie!

Apparently the bike had landed on top of me, but fortunately I did not know about it. I have a lot of (weird) bruising on my right leg, and pretty sore muscles - from my toes to my shoulders and arm on the right side. -  Mhmmm? Wondering if THAT fall did not contribute to most of the agony I am in today? – I just know, if my husband was along, his comment would be along these lines: “Good thing you don’t have brains, other wise you would have had brain damage now”. Long story short, just needed to get some of the sand out of my eyes, fasten a few screws (fortunately not my own!) and act all brave again.

Doing well till before one last tumble just moments before reaching the group waiting (again… sighhh!) for me on a hill. The last bit of the ride, I snuck in behind our leader, and was not too long before I was feeling like the superior rider I had convinced myself I was by lunch time. Making a last, non-falling entrance to base camp, (most) of my ego was restored. Not sure if it was the lack of falls or maybe just the fact that 10 or 15 other bikers had not churned up all the virgin sand before me. (Not to mention the experienced ones making beautiful doughnuts as far as they went, and to my inexperienced, frightened mind, each one a little mountain I had to cross and overcome). But overcome I did! … And conquered! – In some dodgy style I might add, but still ... I conquered!

Just too tired to ride out that last bit back to the parking lot, I opted to finishing my first day in the sand in style, (with no more falls!), thus taking a ride back in a 4x4. In the parking lot, everyone helped me! Mirrors back on, screen fitted, top box in place and tyres pumped, I was ready to take the 240km ride back home to Montagu. – Although it took every bit of self control not to follow Adie back to Durbanville and his Jacuzzi. (For the aching muscles of course!!) - And what a spectacular ride that was!! Hein took me via Durbanville and Agter Paarl (said our goodbyes in Paarl), beautiful scenery, lovely weather and a sunset to die for! Over Du Toitskloof and via Rawsonville I only did about the last 30km in the dark.

Neels and Annemarie (wish you joined me Annemarie!), thanks for the great base camp and meal, Charles, for the good leadership and organizing, Rusty, the wise words and Toren, help and encouragement and good teaching! (you helped “braven” me up!!)

For the rest, I don’t want to mention any names, as just about EVERY one either helped me pick up my bike, ride it out for me, gave me their chair when my back was aching or encouraging words when I was knackered and thought I could no more. The greatest bunch of guys, always willing and always there for me. Without your help, I would not have learned such an incredible amount, experienced so much and feeling so good about it afterwards! Thank you sooo much for making this experience possible for me.!!

PS. Cannot get all the pictures to load up. I have a few more and also the original size, so if you see yourself and want it, let me have your email and I will send it on.