Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

The rendezvous- N2 exit 36 Engen 1-Stop, (yes both the big Engen 1-Stops on the N1 and N2 are on the exit 36, by no coincidence either).

Already BMW bikes were lining up on the forecourt and I must have counted 5 bakkies trailoring KTM’s (250’s & 300’s) tanking up at the pumps. - Off to a funduro meet in Swellendam.

In fact as Annie n I had arrived an hour early, it became clear as successive bikes came in for fuel or to meet and push on, our beginners ride was not the only organised ride event this day.

Many roadies were taking the advantage of good weather to head out and burn their pipes clean and many a dual sport enthusiast was off to dirty their bike.

This was the kinda day- if you weren't out on a bike it was because you did not have one

We had finished breaky and chatted to many bikers coming in and going out before our group started gathering.

Most had had breaky so just a coffee stop and topping up water bottles and fuel tanks and the group grew to 18 bikes.

Annie, Julie and Anname were the only lady riders and Bridget and Desire the only pillions.

08H15 We had a ride briefing and left for the 155km trip to Greyton via via via….. by now the wind was rising out of the SW and a bit chilly.

 Thanks to Bridget for taking the photos.

We picked up Peter O as we went through Somerset West and Graham M as we went past Elgin.

During the entire ride we never had delays due to riders missing any of the many turns. No incidents or events to mar the trip either.

Thanks guys n gals, I really aqppreciated the good riding and ride discipline. I kept a pace of 85 to 95 Kph, even 100 to 110 for a while on tar and 60kph on gravel.

John and Desire Gillespie on their R1200 RT left us in Caledon  keeping it real on tar as we headed into the Hemel on Aarde Valley and gravel.

Stopping on a rise- Get that view man!!: whenever you topped a rise, views like this, rolling hills, ribbons of road beckoned.

 we stopped  often to take in the new vistas

All day vistas like this opened up around us

We stopped on the gravel road to adjust tyre pressures and to have a gravel road safety briefing.

Terslaarsdal road, tyre pressure setting, briefing and splitting into two groups

I was nervous as we had several riders new to gravel and a few who were riding for the first time in decades. Anname’s new bike would double its kilos to 350km on this trip and it was her first gravel ride and with under 400 kilos on any bike she was still bok for all sports.

This was Julie's first bike trip on gravel as well.

Nicky would ride shotgun and look after her as would Frans who had joined the ride.

Supposed to be two groups of ten, only sweeper Pete has an extra finger and we had 11 bikes and 12 people in group one, which left a few minutes ahead of Annie n Danie’s group

Running along the Steenboks river as it heads for the Klein.

Excellent roads 

Following the farm roads

Stopping on the Klein river

 Mike's 1100 on the Klein river

 Turning left we followed the Klein River up passed Oukraal farm to the R316, where we turned left again onto tar with the broad Klein River on our left for 5.3 kilos before turning right onto gravel again towards Jongensklip

Jengensklip railroad station, middle of nowhere

 Jongensklip Stasie, 1163 ft bo see speel & 106 myl vanaf Kaapstad: This quaint station, tiny, yet nicely built in the style of the day

Waiting for a train that won't come today: Frans, Stan, Gary, Bruno, Evan, Holden & Bridget, Dries, Brent, Peter O, Andyman, Mike

Stunning 17,5 kilos of scenery- oats, barley, lucern and canola crops all coming along fine.

Left onto the N2 for 3.1 kilos and right at Driefontein, our group passed the Parmalat tanker sucking milk at a Driefontein dairy farm.

I've never not met the tanker, and often he is setting blistering pace oblivious to other vehicles in this neck of the woods. There was clear spoor of several other bikes on the same raod before us.

But The second group folllowing had to ride around the tanker. He was done at Driefontein and now heading off to his next dairy pick-up.

Louis from The Posthouse gave me a courtesy call to check eta and prepare the venue.

We rode through Inon plaas, over the Kwartel river, on past Gelukshoop and then left at Ouplass, a big farm set-up. We passed a group of bikes -4 I think- coming towards us making big dust, Fast pace.

Then a short 2 kilos to the low bridge over the Riversonderend river on the outskirts of Greyton.

We rolled into Greyton on the stroke of 12h00, to be greeted by Pieter n Louis our hosts who had kept the forecourt parking free for us. The BMW’s quietly advancing down the main road at slow speed with all riders up on the pegs.

We were bang on time! Impressive stuff.

John & Desire had arrived earlier and were waiting for us. Just as group 1 had parked neatly, group II came in and parked making a very disciplined sight which drew lots of attention and admiration as people could walk up and see almost every dual sport bike in the BMW stable, respectable covered in dust with happy riders taking orders for drinks.

We relaxed at The Posthouse and were treated to excellent service by mine hosts and the food was really well worth the trip in cuisine and value.

We kuired until well onto 13H30.

John n Desire went tar back home, thanks guys, thanks for coming along and contributing to the lekker day.

Anname & Julie were relaxed as we donned gear and headed off in our 2 groups, Brent staying on to visit the family farm nearby.

Working with a group of 10 bikes is so much more manageable and safer. Many dragons had been slain on the trip, the rut monster, the loose stone monster and the wind monster came at us now and again to be slain by each rider as confidence levels rose gradually to a new pitch.

The reasonable speeds of 40 Kph to 70 KPH  may have been ‘slow’ for the experienced riders and I thank them for their discipline and samewerking. For the beginners I hope they lost a lot of fear of gravel and realised how competent the bike is and how comfortable gravel can be.

We had no heroes, no spills, just a really relaxed ride in the most awesome setting treated to every spring colour on the pallet and wonderful weather.

Mike pumping tyres: Every trip has to end sometime. Thanks team for a lekker day