Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

So after 17 years together, countless camping trips and quite a few bike trips, you’d think I’d know the love of my life quite well. Apparently not quite as well as I thought.

I had spoken to “Hoofseun” Geoff Russell even before the “All the Passes” trip was publicized after getting some insider info (to do with back up vehicle) and told him that we would like to join, as would Marc and Heidi, Heidi once again didn’t mind driving the back up, we would like a 4 sleeper unit at Kleinplaasie and we would be in Andy’s group as Natalie really likes riding with him and Anne, and also she has many riding buddies in this group.  Okay, so booked and …………..

……………..I phoned the wife to relay the information of what I had accomplished all on my own, because I’m  often told I need parental supervision for just about everything, and was stopped shortly after I started explaining because it seems I had done it all wrong and needed help. After this help and guidance was kindly provided I had to contact Hoofseun again to rearrange all my arrangements.  A two sleeper please and we would like to ride with Brian as firstly it is time for something slightly faster and secondly we apparently missed out on two brilliant lunches last year and this time she was not going to hear how awesome it was at the Country Pumpkin in Barrydale.

So all booked and paid and then a longish wait, but at least we were on leave for most of August which certainly helps to pass the time as leave always goes so bloody quickly. No believe me, if you want time to go really fast, take some leave, you’ll see.

I was considering putting Natalie’s not so old Tourance tyres on my bike in an effort to leave her behind on the passes (don’t ask, it’s a male thing) but couldn’t find a half decent 21 inch front tyre which was more road orientated, so that plan got shelved.  Both bikes were ready, save for my whole dashboard which seemed to have had enough, and both had complete rear suspension overhauls done by our friends at CPR in Montague Gardens. I can highly recommend CPR for this type of repair. Very efficient and very reasonable, also top notch service and my house is between CPR and where Jason stays which means pickup and delivery too.

During the usual weather watch it looked like we were in for fabulous weather so it was again a case of count the sleeps down , pack the night before and then the early morning thing which I am not so fond of, made worse this time by a late Friday night playing music to myself (no one else will listen). Anyway, I made it, and on time.

Packed: Not sure what those things hanging on the right are, I see my wife walking up and down with them sometimes on Sundays while I am watching MotoGP

We had already been informed that Brian’s group would be divided into two due to the number of riders and when we got to the meeting place Saturday morning we found out we had been placed in Ian’s part of the group. After a brief briefing we set off along the N1 and by the time we had gone over Du Toits Kloof Pass and stopped in Worcester for a coffee and a bite, we realized we were in the wrong group. We were the only two 650’s in this group and we could not keep up properly as the pace was just a little too fast.

By the time I got my helmet off at the Ultra City (apparently I am a faffer as well), Natalie and already spoken to Brian and I was informed of the new arrangements, namely a transfer to Brian’s riding group. I was quite happy as I wasn’t keen to spend most of the day pinned at full throttle where ever possible trying to keep up with much bigger engine bikes and also didn’t want to hold anybody up.  Anyone who has ridden a 650 thumper will tell you, it’s not the most fantastic thing for cruising at 140 over long distances.

First smoke break

It was quite windy here

Anyway, after that we cruised through Worcester with our “new” group, stayed on the R60 to Robertson and turned off after this little town towards Bonnievale on the R317. The landscape was still wintery, the weather perfect, the pace nice (for us) and we really enjoyed the ride. We stopped for the first time just after we turned back onto the R60 near Swellendam and we got a chance to meet a few more of the folks in this group as we didn’t get a chance in Worcester.  After that our route took us to Swellendam, to the N2 and then our next stop was at the BP One Stop near Buffelsjagrivier, where we stopped for quite a while, giving everyone enough time to refuel, stretch, use ablutions and relax a little.

Angry Geese

I was drawn to the little farm enclosure where gaggle of geese was having a go at each other. It looked like a scene from the WWF wrestling. I couldn’t’ really see who was biting who but it took me straight back to my childhood when my old man insisting on keeping these horrible birds on the farm. I was attacked so many times I lost count and still today I am still fearful of the bloody things.

Suurbrak

Veiw opposite Suurbrak

We left the BP and followed the N2 for only a few hundred meters before turning off left onto the R324 through Suurbrak and then left again further on to go through the Tradouws Pass. It was brilliant riding through here. Everything is still winter green and the yellow flowers everywhere just made it spectacular. It makes for a difficult choice as on the one hand one wants to push a little, it is a pass after all, but on the other hand it is really beautiful and one also wants to go slower and have a look around. I tried to do a combination of the two but found eventually the beauty won hands down.

Tradouws Pass (1)

Tradouws Pass (2)

Tradouws Pass (3)

After the pass it was a short journey to Barrydale and the Country Pumpkin where as promised, we had a fantastic lunch. Maybe too fantastic as later Natalie told me she was trying hard to stay awake. How do the Afrikaans people say it, “Magie vol, oogies toe”.

Country Pumpkin

Brian looking serious

Our God Child and me, beautifull eyes

 After lunch and now back on the R62 we head towards Ladismith. Stunning scenery on both sides of the road and finally I could see the Touwsberg looming large on the left and Towerkop above Ladismith in the distance. Our good mate Rudy lives on just on the other side of the Touwsberg right at the exit to the Buffelspoort, a famous 4x4 trail that you only do in an old truck these days.  Just before Ladismith we turn on right onto the R323towards the Garcia Pass and Riversdale.

The Touwsberg

Towerkop in the distance above Ladismith

 It is somewhere along here that I start to feel something is not right. Every time I tip the bike over into a corner the steering seems to be shaking. Only very slight but definitely there. I remember thinking this is what these Moto GP boys must feel like when things are not right up front, it’s becoming an issue for me and they are doing 5 times this speed. Is it bearings, the road surface, tyre maybe, it definitely can’t be “set up” as I often hear on the TV. Then just as I am thinking that I must pull over and have a look, in the next corner the front goes crazy and I start to lose control fast.

As I stand up trying to get the bike off the road, I look down and can see that my tyre is really a weird shape and I am almost sure I can see both sides of the rim. It also feels like someone has turned the whole front end into rubber. Somehow the bike and I manage to get off the road and stay upright, although later when Noeline asked me what I did, I had no idea. Whatever happened just happened. All I do know is it was pretty scary there for some moments and I am thankful it wasn’t a full instant blow out, although it did seem to go down rather rapidly.

Now Natalie and I have a game plan for just about everything. Survival courses teach you to be prepared at all times for anything, and we are. After Geoff Russell and I helped fix Mel’s puncture in Sutherland last year, our game plan for a puncture when it’s just the two of us looks like this:

1. Get puncture and therefore stop.
2. Put up tent, set camp and make tea (we don’t know how long we will be here for)
3. Relax a bit, have tea, take out tools and begin.
4. Put on more tea. You get the picture…………………………….

Thankfully, Dave Higgs stopped to see what the drama is which is handy because our game plan won’t work as we don’t have our tent with us.

Well, in the end it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, it was fairly hot to be messing around in protective clothing at the side of the road but Dave and I changed the tube with no real issues and I think we were back on the road in about 30 minutes, partly because we carry the correct kit, including a small thing called a valve puller and three large tyre levers. If you have tubes in your wheels please make sure you have a valve puller, that’s all I can say. Thank you Dave, the help was greatly appreciated. I’d also like to thank my best mate Marc. Even though he was in Geoff’s group, and even though I showed him thumbs up as they all came flying around the bend, he still stopped and turned back to come and see if he could help. Awesome mate.

Valve Puller

The next 50 km’s were some of the most tentative of my life. It took ages to convince myself that I hadn’t pinched the tube or done something else wrong that was going to result in the thing deflating suddenly again, especially seeing as my rim tape inside the wheel was a little worse for wear.  I went quite slowly down the Garcia Pass and only sped up some when we got onto the N2.

From Riversdal to Mossel Bay where we found the rest of the group waiting for us (thanks everyone) and on to George on the N2 at speed is not the nicest ride on a 650 I am afraid. In fact by the time we entered George I had a game plan forming to try and get a 1200 past the missus.  But more about that later.

It was my first ride up the Outeniqua Pass between George and Oudtshoorn having once before ridden down it. I thought going up was maybe more fun. Without the amazing view to distract one, one can concentrate a little harder on enjoying the ride and pushing just the corner of the envelope. I only got to this level of enjoyment near the top unfortunately as I was still expecting something weird to happen again up front.  No trust in myself and my repair job obviously.

I was quite relived to get to Oudtshoorn, check that tyre pressure one more time and find it was still the same, and as planned all 4 groups met up at a restaurant down the road from Kleinplaasie for a drink.  After that everyone left in drips and drabs for Kleinplaasie with instructions to be in the bar early and supper was to be at about eight. Now I don’t get told very often to be in the bar early so I made sure that I was and after a very quick shower we joined the folks for a few more before dinner drinks.  

The bosses getting ready to talk

Our billingual biker: Please close your eyes

The start of the stories I heard

Just before 20H00 everyone was summoned to the dining room where after one or two entertaining stories by the Hoofseun, Neels said a very bilingual grace and we tucked into supper, which as always was absolutely excellent. After supper folks sat in groups chatting and for once I don’t have any late night stories as my batteries suddenly ran out and I ran away to bed. I heard some stories though………………

It was another early morning on Sunday, we got ready, packed the bikes and went off for a scrumptious breakfast. Man, what a spread those folks put on.   At almost exactly 08H00, we set off again in convoy, homeward bound. This time we headed east out of Oudtshoorn and turned left outside the town onto the R328 which would take us down the Robinson Pass. Also nice and scenic with a few strange named little places along the way. A hamlet called “Eight Bells” is one I saw. Scotsman maybe..?

Robinsons Pass

If I thought I’d got the biggest fright of the weekend the day before, I was about to be corrected as we hit Mossel Bay on Sunday morning. Sarel and Teresa were right in front on me and Geoffrey Kite just in front of them as we came into a slight curve at the bottom of the hill just outside of town. We all saw an old white Mercedes arrive the stop street off to the right as I am almost sure the old idiot in the car saw us all. He stopped, looked around and then just pulled out. At first, while hanging on the brakes for all I was worth, I thought there was no way he was coming all the way and must surely be just pulling forward, but he just kept coming, right in front of all of us. Geoff swerved madly and managed to get around him, and Sarel, well I thought I was going to hit the car, never mind Sarel.  I have no idea how he stopped that bike and missed that car. A mixture of unbelievable skill and luck. Luckily none of us carried out our thoughts as we re-passed him otherwise I don’t think he would have got much older than he was that day, and even when we passed him, gesticulating and hooting etc, he stared straight ahead as if nothing had happened. But the wheel turns and every dog gets his day, I trust his will be soon. I must really practice that kicking the mirror off thing.

We stopped again at the One Stop just outside Mossel Bay for a coffee. It was here that Brian was overheard telling Roz that from the next trip he is going to be like Geoff Russell. When he put his helmet on, folks will have 30 seconds to be ready and that’s that. We’ll it took longer than that for everyone to stop laughing after Roz had pointed out that it takes Brian 5 minutes or more to get his helmet on along with all his paraphernalia and therefore his plan wasn’t really going to work.

After coffee you've got thirty seconds - yeh right

Garcia Pass

After that we travelled again down the long (well for me anyway) stretch of N2 highway back to Riversdale. Then back onto the R323 and up Garcia Pass much more quickly than I had come down it the day before as I was finally convinced that everything was alright where the front wheel was concerned. As we approached the intersection with the R62 again, I could see the convoy pulling over to the side and as I stopped I saw what looked like a bike falling near the front and then one bright yellow clad person being ejected towards the side of the road.

Speeding along the R323

By the time I had got off my bike there was already a throng of folks, with Dave Higgs in the lead, around what turned out to be Brian and Roz. Apparently Roz’s five minute comment had just hit home and he had decided to teach her a less…….  nah,  I’m only kidding. They had simply pulled over to allow for a smoke break and misjudged the angle of the dirt on the side of the road, and Brian caught his ankle as they started to go over.  Thankfully no one was really hurt, a bit of a sore ankle for Brian and a few scratches on the left side pannier were the only consequences of this little mishap.

The scene of the incident: But all okay

The group split up a bit after this as Barrydale was still some 61 km’s away and some folks were worried about whether or not they would make it fuel wise. Natalie and I carried on with the main group as my fuel light hadn’t come on yet, but I would later learn that my fuel light isn’t working either as I took 16.2 liters in Barrydale which is cutting it close.

Barrydale from the little pass above the town

A vary rare prototype BMW spotted in Barrydale

Now if you are the type of person that tends to fall asleep after a big Sunday lunch, I would suggest you either make plans to have a sleep somewhere in Barrydale after Sunday lunch at the Country Pumpkin or otherwise avoid the place all together. When they brought the first plates of roast lamb, potatoes, veg, fritters and crackling to the table I for a second seriously thought that they had run out of plates and Nats and I were going to share a plate. Man it was a lot of food.  But then we each got our own and suddenly it seemed like a personal challenge. But the food was so good I was up for it and managed to get my plate so clean my mother would have been proud of me. And just when I thought I had won, they brought out slices of lemon meringue that were bigger than whole tarts we can buy at our local Pick ‘n Pay. I somehow managed to make short work of that too.  Now I’ll have to gym twice a day for the foreseeable future. Thanks a lot.

At lunch it was decided due to time constraints to cut the Koo Valley from the itinerary for the day and we would head straight home from Barrydale, down the R62 as far as Montagu, then from there the direct route down the R60 through Robertson, Worcester, onto the N1 and home. Fine with me, I needed my couch anyway.

I can’t say I am mad about the road between Montagu and home as I have travelled it so many times in the last few years that I think I can explain just about every meter of it. We stopped very briefly at the Shell Ultra City near Worcester again and then harped it down the N1, over Du Toits Kloof Pass which was sort of spoiled by a lot of trucks and traffic in the way (don’t these guys know there’s a tunnel) and onto the N1 near Paarl where the guys on the bigger bikes, after kindly riding with us all this way, waved goodbye, opened the throttle another millimeter and disappeared down the road.

Hamid takes on Du Toits Kloof

The Cape from Du Toits Kloof Pass

I had decided already in Barrydale that we would follow the N1 all the way to  the N7, and go through Montague Gardens to get to Tableveiw as the traffic trying to get in via Plattekloof Road (our usual route) can be crazy on some Sunday afternoon’s. This was in response to my wife threatening to sell all my bikes should I ever go through this traffic like I did the previous Sunday after an afternoon at Neel’s house.

A last helmet cam shot of Natalie

We got home without any such hassles, and then the usual moving of cars, parking of bikes, unpacking and debriefing in the jacuzzi over a nice bottle of semi sweet white wine this time. Home and happy again. We missed the Sunday night movie as it suddenly became apparent how knackered we both were and we were in bed fast asleep by 21H00.

Thanks once again to all the folks who put in a lot of time and effort planning, leading, sweeping and everything else for these weekends, we really do appreciate it.  Thanks again to Dave for the help on Saturday and a big thank you to our now three back up ladies Heidi, Madison and Karen, for chasing us all over the country so we can ride bikes. We really do appreciate it and realize that you could be shopping somewhere. But Marc has promised to take you all shopping soon, and he’s paying. So please, feel free to buy whatever you want. And lastly, to Andy, we’re sorry you feel betrayed but we’ll definitely be back, so says the boss.

 If I discovered anything on this trip it is that I really am a dirtie. I am much more at home in the far reaches of the Karoo going nowhere slowly on some nondescript back dirt road than belting down the R62 through some fantastic pass. I think also my current bike sort of dictates the type of riding I enjoy and as long as I have it, well you’ll probably find me in the Karoo somewhere won’t you. Now there is an alternative, it’s called a GS1200 and I was speaking to Dave Higgs and Geoff at the weekend and ………………has my wife just logged in,  @#$&%, gotta go, sorry but I am still working on this game plan and ………………...  (to be continued sometime)

 Dear Father Christmas: My name is Warren and I have been a very good boy this year...........so far......