Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

My version..... We all met at The Plattekloof Engen and it was quite a surprise to note how many bikes pitched seeing as it was so windy (GALE FORCE !) so early in the morning...... Well we were informed that we were to meet some other riders at the Engen N1 1 Stop and off we went! Upon arriving at Engen we did not find any other bikes ? Now what? Due to a phone call informing us that it was raining on the R62 the ride to Barrydale was called off and it was decided that we should ride to Franschoek just down the road....... Graham Porter looked at me and I looked at him and in seconds we decided that we wanted to RIDE.......come what may ! Du Toits Koof / Bains Kloof was mentioned...... Almost instantly David approached me and he asked if he could join us? So off we set into the unknown........we were joined by another two bikes by the time we approached the pass......great! On the outgoing N1 route toward Du Toits WE STARTED GETTING AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT ! We were battered and blasted by one of the strongest wind forces which I have experienced in a very long time and going up the pass it felt as if somebody? was telling me to turn around and go home ! Approaching the crest of DuToits we noticed two smaller scramblers hugging the mountain but we OR at least I was too busy bracing myself for that last corner to notice if they were in need of some help........I hope that they made it out of there! It was a relief to stop off at the Trout Farm and we eventually got to meet our new riding companions Bruce and Geoff as well as David and we had a hearty breakfast before tackling Mount Everest ag I mean Bains Kloof! This being my second only trip on the GSA ( Last ride was the faaaaast ride last week end)I was becoming accustomed to the sheer size and weight of this incredible machine and with my light 72kg frame I managed to hold on! Bains is very unpredicable at the best of times what with all the oncoming traffic etc but with a howling gale force wind this trip was going to be different to any that I have done for sure. Going up the pass was not too bad as one is protected by the mountain but as you ride over the crest the wind slams you about in such a way that you can only clamp the bike between your knees and relax you grip on the handle bar and ...............PREY ! Yuslaaaik it mense.......I can not describe the fear.... One particular moment the bike felt as if it was being thrown off the road as the wind came around a corner and attacked me and my thoughts went back to a trip which I had done a few years ago travelling between Springbok and Upington in similar conditions......I hung on for my dear life ! At the bottom of the pass I sighed and thanked the Lord that I made it out alive! So..... the R1200 GS ADVENTURE RULES ! I have not had so much FUN in a long time! We regrouped at the bottom of the pass in Wellington as the guy's pulled up for a breather... one could not help noticing the smiles! As we had intended spending a full day on the bikes riding to Barrydale nobody was in too much of a hurry to get home and the only reason that we did not stretch this ride out a bit longer was because of the irritating windy conditions but I personally decided that I had pushed my luck far enough today and we headed off in the general direction of home via a few detours and we eventually landed up at the Mountain View Farm for a well deserved frosty! Graham P Geoff David Bruce Thank you for the great company and we will meet up in the new year for sure.....it was nice riding with you all. I wish to take this opportunity to wish all BMW Club members a HAPPY X-Mas and a splended New Year and keep it safe out on the roads please... Regards Graham