Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Chris and Suzette van der Westhuizen has been a part of the BMW club for some time now. Chris owns a tractor dealership in Rawsonville, and regularly drives 160 km just to attend the Tuesday night meetings. Most often Chris leaves Rawsonville very early to be at Engen for the start of a breakfast run, sometimes they join us en-route. One of Chris’s friends and clients, Stanley, owns the Opstal. Stanley is also a GS owner. When Chris put Dave and Stanley in contact it was only a matter of time before we booked his venue for a breakfast run. How do you do a breakfast run to your own place. Easy, just leave an hour early and go to the starting point and ride with everyone. Donations PLEASE !!!! Once again, we have been so blessed with perfect weather. Slight cloud cover and no wind greeted us on Sunday morning. By 8:10 there were only 4 bikes and 7 people at the starting point – and then the bikes arrived in a steady stream. By the time we left there were more than 20 bikes. There was a buzz in the air, you just felt that this was going to be a memorable day in the saddle. :) He got away. He did NOT get away. Everything went well for about 15 km. Just before the Engen 1 Stop on the N1 we came across a roadblock (the second Sunday in a row). For every 20 bikes they pulled over 1 car. I know of about 4 “non standard” plates in our group. As fate would have it our host, Stanley, was the only one that had to sign a pledge to contribute to the cops’s Christmas party. While our bikes were checked out, I took some photo’s, until a good looking blond cop got all stroppy with me: “It iis not leegal to taik fotos at a roadblok, put your kamera awai or we will have to konfiscate it!” Suddenly, she was not good looking anymore. With some of the bikes still to be checked, discretion was the better part of valour and I just walked away (swearing inwardly). :( 81 years YOUNG A few kilometers later we turned toward Stellenbosch. At the start of Hellshoogte, a group of about 6 bikes from Somerset West was waiting for us. One of these bikes, a TransAlp, was driven by Oom Ben, an 81 year young gentleman. Thanks to Danie (Geelkameel) for his assistance with the second group. Hellshoogte, as always, brought a smile to many. After regrouping we headed towards Franschoek, but then turned towards Paarl. Du Toits Kloof was also successful in bringing out a few closet Rossi’s. Thankfully they did wait for us. The ROSSI Squad Now it was only a hop, skip and double clutch to get to Opstal. The last few kilometers we did experience some wind, but nothing was now going to dampen the good spirits. Too many cars not enough bikes Welcomed by a Helmet Table. By the time we got to Opstal we were a total of 28 bikes and 35 people. Clearly the manageres is not used to such a big group arriving together and wanting coffee immediately. Fortunately nobody waited too long for his or her coffee, and we settled in for a stunning breakfast. The food was served very quickly. The quality and quantity was perfect. And then suddenly all you heard was the klunk of knifes and forks. After another cup of coffee, we started figuring out which group was going to take which route back. Some came back via Bainskloof, many chose the direct route over Du Toits Kloof. Cheezy, Geelkameel, Olaf and Padlangs took the scenic drive, Rawsonville, Villiersdorp, Franschoek. By now the wind was acting up, making for some “interesting” moments – leaning right at about 30 degrees in a left turn!! Good times to be had when your host is a fellow biker If this is any indication, we are going to have some stunning and big group rides in the months to come. A heartfelt thanks for everyone in making this such a great ride. It is quite unnerving to have almost 30 bikes behind you, but it is a pleasure when everyone works together so well. Also thank you to Brian for having done the sweeping duties. THANKS.