Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Overview of the Route

When Cecil Hill asked me to join a group of friends from the club for a 3-week trip to the Kaokoveld, I agreed in a flash.  Although, at the time of asking the trip was a year in the future, soon the trip was upon us and other plans had crept in.  In particular, on the day of departure from Cape Town, I had to be in Pretoria as part of the GS Trophy adjudicating team.

So the route for me ended up looking like this:

This training will give you experience of managing your bike in thick sand and dunes.

You will learn

1. Bike setup for riding in sand
2. Rider position for sand riding
3. Getting going and stopping in thick sand
4. Reading dunes and riding appropriate lines
5. Traversing the dunes

We will meet at the "Atlantis Dunes Permit Office, Atlantis, Cape Town, 7349" (put this into Google Maps), at 8am on Sunday 18 Aug.

Join Charles for a breakfast run to the Opstal Restaurant in Slanghoek on Sunday 30 Oct.

The breakfast menu will be:

Seven brave souls were prepared to join this ride.  In the end only 3 made it to the start line: Cecil, Clayton and James.

The weather perfect, the riders competent.  The dunes - not ready for us.  The sand was very soft.  Like powder, at 8:30 am in the cool of a September morning.

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?).

Hier volg my boere ingilse weergawe van die dag. (Ignore typo's)

So, Saturday the 25th of June, was a thrilling day for me. Not only did I see some amazing sights, I was able to capture them all on camera. And with me behind a camera - I will miss NOTHING. So be prepared to see some people experiencing.....

Not quite their finest moments.......

However, between all the award-winning tumbles and sprawls, there was no denying it was an adventurous, thrilling and exhilirating day! There were SO many photo's so I have chosen some of my favourite (The rest will be up tomorrow at the Club Meeting - So be there!)

An introduction to sand and dune riding under the care of more experienced riders.  Beginners will be paired with experienced riders and will be able to experience the thrill of dune-surfing and overcome their fear of sand.

A 4x4 will establish a base in the dunes with refreshments, and there will be helpers available to help people who get stuck.

The view of table mountain from the Atlantis Dunescape is surreal and spectacular, and well worth the effort of getting out there.

Julie hates passes.  Especially dirty ones.  Somehow I had to get her over a few before she realises what is happening, so that I can prove that they are nothing to fear.

We have been looking forward to the BMW Bike Fest 2011 since the end of the inaugural Bike Fest last year.  Finally, it arrived and we set off on a leisurely ride to Montagu for an overnight stop, with some dirt roads thrown in for fun.

This trip was originally organised to help Frances get some more kms under her belt. In the end she opted to do the Intro Course with Leon, which was also a good thing. '''Riders''' Charles Oertel 1150GS (Mr Badger) Peter O'Hanlon 650Dakar Andy Connell 1150GSA Anne Connell F650GS The plan was to travel dirt all the way to Charles' Fijnbosch Farme (we had not yet accomplished this since we tried 1½ years ago). We met at the Swartland Engen on the N7 7am (ish), had breakfast and then headed off in search of dirt - a mere 14kms away. Turning left, we followed the train track, snaking its way through the Swartland. From that moment, we never sat down again, as the road was full of potholes, corrugations, ruts...and MANY water crossings. I tell you, I finally learnt to stand crossing water, except in 1 or 2 which were deep and slithery and tried to suck you down or wash you away with some currents.