Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Sometimes you just have to ‘hak uit’ and take a breath of fresh air. This weekend, without a plan we did just that…. On Saturday Annie n I took our time loading the bikes with the full Monty. When Andyman goes road tripping he takes a full tool kit and a full 1st aid kit, not to mention his famous ‘self sufficiency’ kit. The fact that it is all stowed conveniently to hand in the garage makes this an easy job. Firstly you go over it all, check-list in hand. I’m sure Annie often wishes he had never ever been in the NSRI, ‘cos he has checklists for almost everything. But when you are spontaneous and respond to the slightest idea of a road trip, then it pays off. So loaded with food, tent, mattresses, sleeping backs, utensils and all the other impedimenta of travel, we headed out via a short stop at CTI to meet a brother inbound from Heathrow with his soon-to-be-wife. After the meet n greet we left CTI to the envious gaze of many people. CTI is bike friendly and we ride and park right at the int. arrival doors. Sadly as we were negotiating the traffic at CTI a road user pulled another car off, jumped out and proceeded to beat the other drive up. ROAD RAGE AT IT's WORST! Being up on the pegs I saw it all unfold. I tore up to him hooting, pulled right in front so he could not get away and took out my camera. I got a few shots of him retreating and a good one of his vehicle. The traffic police were so stunned they just stood and stared and by the time they reacted he was tearing off again. Raod rager at CTI trying to get away The other driver was too shaken by the surprise attack so I shut his engine off, gave him my card and said he could call when he was more ok. Several foreigners who had stood screeming while all this happened asked what it was about! CA95797 - beat up a driver on the right in full view of arriving passengers. Not Cool, That almost ruined my day, poor Annie pootling on from behind could not understand the commotion. I put on my music and to Geoffery Oryema’s African music I rebooted my mind and hit the highway. Man, feeling that 1150GSA snaking through the morning traffic and out to the R44 West just relaxes you so quickly. There is so much power, and then some, packaged so neatly below you, balanced to make the ride so easy… I was soon euphorically jiving to the music as my bike ate up tar towards Smellington. 31°C in the shade Annie stopped us to buy some Bains wine before moving on up the pass. Wine & drinks stop in Smellington Those Eucalyptus trees are all in full blossom – what a wonderful sight as you crank over in the bends and twists of the lower pass, hundreds of trees all in different coloured blossom. By now I’ve also moved onto my favourite road CD- Green Day’s “American Idiot” causing the rhythm to step up a pace. Hardly anyone on the pass, Annie shifting in & out my mirrors as she follows up the switchbak towards the top. Then abruptly the weather changed to stifling heat as you descend into the Bainskloof valley. The river is still strong, day trippers are parked on the shoulder. No bikes at all. We turned in at the nature reserve- Steenbok Park and rode up to the camping site. The camp pitched under the trees In short time we had unlimbered the gear, pitched camp, down a few cold ones and were walking up to the rock pools. It was heaven to just soak up the day in the pool, a cool box of cold stuff and ice floating around with us. One of several rock pools to soak in We had the park to ourselves. Pheww!! At 19H22 it was still 30.5ºC Later I put the pyjamas on my bike and we settled down to a relaxed evening of braai meat, salads and lying down watching the stars. Lazily talking about this and that. Poor Annie's 650 sleeps kaalgat Daylight sneaked up on us all too soon and I made the first two rounds of coffee. (I think that was all I did) Lazy Sunday afternoon... The day passed lazily, following the shadows as Annie finished the “Long Way Round” & I worked my way through Richard Coward’s “Strange Deception”. Just the two of us..... Lying around in the grass we caught up with each other’s thoughts and impressions, lazily dipping into the food basket – demand feeding. Annie taking the wet route to the pools Eventually we succumbed to the master- TIME, and started to pack. We left the park towards 16H00 in 33°C of dead heat. I drained my Camelbak in the next 30 minutes of road. As I breasted the top of the pass, my phone interrupted the music as it started picking up signal. Message after message came in. “Bugger this! not now. Not yet” I thought and pulled the plug out of my headset and just soaked in the wonderful views displayed below us. Riding puts me in such a good space, and as Annie noted later, there were no idjots or ass holes on the road to ruin the experience. My GS had scented home, dropped its head and was reluctant to head back to its stable. Wishing it could last forever, I tucked in behind Annie’s tail-light and followed her home. As we passed cars and through towns many motorists greeted us with friendly waves – evidently identifying with the freedom a camping loaded bike exudes in abundance. And me up on the pegs made it obvious this was all seven types of magic fun. So a short weekend break of absolute magic that not even an enraged motorist could spoil for long had ended, but not for long ‘cos the calendar is full of rides planned and booked. Andyman Yup that’s me you see up on the pegs in traffic.