Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

This has the makings of another "goody" Geoff......looking forward to this report plus loads of pictures.................

Geoff...Whats this about writing a little every day crap, write lots every day...you are retired after all.

yes Geoff, get off your backside. anyway you missed two days riding so you've got less to write about!

I'm excited to read this report

He is probably mowing the last patch of grass.

Gosh, I am being placed under pressure. I will see what I can do with alzheimers lite and two arthritic fingers.

Come on Geoff!

First post was over 5 hours ago - where's the first installment?

I went on the January 2011 Eastern Cape Off Road Tour as a novice off road rider. Those who have read my trip report of that tour will know that I found it both scary and exhilarating. When the October tour was announced I entered immediately. I also managed to convince Jane (my wife) to come along as well.

I knew that I would have to improve my levels of expertise to cope with Jane on the pillion. I followed the advice of more experienced riders who said that apart from doing courses it was a matter of getting miles under the belt. To that end I went on as many off road rides as I could. Fortunately Warren was on a roll with weekend trips and I went on as many as I could – maybe even all of them. These rides are brilliant and really helped me improve my skills. I also rode on as many of Andy's day rides as I could manage.

The net result being that my bike's mileage increased from 30 000km to 50 000km in the period January to September – most of which was on gravel.

Eventually the evening of pre trip get together at GeoffR's house arrived. I already knew most of the guys, some quite well. Amongst those whom I did not know were a number of mischievous faces. The owners of this type of face belong to a fairly unique class of person. I have worked with many of them during my career. They have an easy way about them, appear to view the world with amusement and look as if they are about to burst into laughter at any moment. This type of person plays hard and works hard. I generally have to watch their escapades from a distance because I am not in their league either with the playing or the working. They make life interesting.

I wondered how my interaction with my fellow riders would compare with the first trip seeing that Jane would be with me this time.

The Tuesday before we left I fitted a Heidenau to the rear wheel and a Karoo to the front. The Heidenau was to give me hassles throughout the trip with an intermittent leaking of air. In future I will fit tyres well before a trip and go on a longish ride to test them.

Common on now Geoff, that last post was ages ago.

The lawn can be mowed another day.

Hi GE, thanks for starting this BUT the suspense is ... Even without having spoken to Brent one can be sure of the 'Adventure' being part of a GS ride with GR.

Hi Neville, my computer crashed but I am up and running again. Bob is sorting the pictures which he got from Andy and we will try to upload the text with the pics. The next installment will be up later today.

No presure ay Geoff?

The reason you make a woman to love you, is.... to exploit 'em.

Come on, you narrate, let that sexy YOUNG wife of yours type and she can help with the Alzheimers.

Open a bottle of wine, get your feet under the desk and get typing.......

The crew line up along the Telle river to present front tyres for inspection.

Every day, we had to measure wear and the most wear earned the rider a night in the same dorm as JJ & Gunther

 

E

very 3 hours from day 5, Geoff stopped to phone home and tell her how much he was missing her..

Bastervoetpad pass, as will be described in the text, was a walk in the park.

There was mostly soft grass, the occasional rut like this which we dismounted and helped the bikes across and then remounted on the other side and rode on. It was nice n level and as Geoff promised at the bottom, "a walk in the park". a term we heard quite a bit to describe stretches ahead.

The Legendary JJ reporting back to General Hennie: "Hennie, I put all heated grips to max, smudged and tilted every mirror, what else was I supposed to do? remind me..."

 

 

Overnight accommodation was sometimes a little cramped, and lacked shade. but what they lacked in style and comfort they sure made up for in location and spectacular views

Overnight accommodation near Ten-ahead

 

Day 2, top end of Devils Bellows where the road literally ran dead in the trees and we had to carry the bikes around to avoid slipping in the dry grass slopes

 

 

Look forward to the Rest Andy

Great Pics and Story so far

 

Wayne

 

Geoff??????????????

 

You got your computer back from the Panel beaters??

Been renovating my pondok. Will get into it soon.

Ag nee Geoff, waar's jou prioriteite?

Tony, I was threatened with the withdrawal of marital privileges if our pondok was not given some attention. Jane got this idea from Natalie on the ride to the middle of nowhere. I wonder if Natalie's barometer is on the wall yet.

In that case, all I can say is - condolences!

PS the barometer IS on the wall. Bliksem, looks like these tactics actually work!