We are back :Club Off Road Tour to the Eastern Cape Drakensberg and the 8 passes - 15 to 23 January 2011

Oooooo ---  I can only imagine the enjoyment you guys had on the Eastern Cape roads and passes! Very happy you all are back safe & sound.

Anxiously awaiting your trip report!

Eh, the Eastern Cape roads alone offer so much in off-road touring, in addition there are so much history and sightseeing.

Three of us did the Grootrivier Poort just before Chrismas. My tripreport on the Grootrivier was delayed by various circumstances, but should be complete soon.

What a Tour.............

To try and put it remotely into words will be impossible so good luck to who ever is going to write it.

Yes we will be back to this fantastic area that will take your breath away in more ways than one.

I am unfortunately one of the casualties of the ride with an off at about 30kph on Joubert Pass just outside Lady Grey that resulted in some broken ribs and NO RIDING for at least 6 weeks..................and off work for 3.

Mmmmmmmmm...........now to start planning the next tour to the area me thinks......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sincere thanks to all who attended the ride and helped make it such a success.

Hi Geoff, know how you feel but I can tell you mine are now 4 weeks old and it just about feels as if I would be able to ride again! Hope you recover swiftly! See you tomorrow!

I don't know just how much the average rider understands about these club tours or even appreciates until you do go on a tour.

But here is some insight.

This is what gets me signing up each time I can find the sheckles and the time.

• The organization is 110%
• You have no worries at all.
• The group dynamic is priceless and you really get to know yourself and your buddies when you hit tech terrain, rain, mud etc
• You never worry about fuel- the leader has worked out fuel stops months ahead.
• You never worry about direction or routing, you simply follow the rear wheel of the bike ahead.
• You have no worry about food- that is all planned and worked out and very good.
• You never worry about a clean potty and a clean bed- that too is waiting for you up ahead
• You never worry about dehydration, that service vehicle has ample hydration goodies in an ice box at the stops.
• You have no worry about spares, the service vehicle has grips, pegs, levers, mirror, tappet covers, tyres, tubes, lube oils, tools etc
• you have little to worry about accidents, there are many people to assist you and pick up and help straighten you and your bikes if you forget your side stand.
• You know there is a comprehensive BLS (basic life Support) kit and a trauma board & someone who knows something about that sort of stuff.
• And there is huge priceless piece-of-mind that all you have to do is ride, eat and drink and be yourself.
• Then there is the bond of esprit de corps that builds up with each day as we all find our 'fit' in the team.
• And there is all the tips you pick up about tyres, styles, gear, techniques, short cuts.

9 days on the road with great people in this huge wonderful country can only make for an extravaganza of note.

I'm still staring at all the photos when my peers think 'm working to catch up on mail and get going again.

Each photo evokes a memory and my face is creased in a smile.

Geoff,

Julie sends her best wishes also - sorry you had an off and hope you heal soon and well and the pain-killers don't interfere too badly with your tipple

After a 30 year gap in riding a motorbike, I acquired a 1200 Adventure and decided to tour the Drakensberg with my wife Elsa in early January. Then low and behold there was an invitation to join a ‘Club Off Road Tour to the Eastern Cape Drakensberg and the 8 passes’ on the website. We put our names down, paid the deposit and after a few chats to Geoff to gain some reassurance, we waited for the day of departure.

We arrived at the Engen Garage on the N2 bright and early not quite knowing what to expect.

I was concerned that we would be able to make the 780K’s to PE on the first day let alone the following days that I later found out were somewhat of a mystery to most of us.

Anyway…the following days proved to be very exciting to say the least!

It’s impossible for me to actually write a ‘trip report’…my memory must be failing me.

Riding eight hours a day, all the passes seem to be a blur, possibly due to the concentration needed to keep the bike upright and in a straight line. There were some challenging situations I found myself in to say the least!!

Our thanks go to Geoff ‘broken ribs’ Russell for his professionalism, Andyman for bringing us home safely yesterday, Hilton for lifting Elsa when I lost confidence and all the gang that made this a life changing experience.

David and Elsa Cade

Get well soon mate...Hope you recover quickly. Belinda sends her love.

A BIG vote of thanks to Geoff for organising the trip and leading our band of GS riders thru the E Cape.

Thanks also to Andy, Hilton and Gunther who spent many an hour sweeping and ensuring that they were always near to assist where necessary.

A huge thank you to John and Des who piloted the backup vehicle and trailer. Lots of luggage to pack and unpack every day and many water bottles to fill as well - all done with a smile and an encouraging word.

Well I guess everyone wants to see the photos ... so here are a few to whet the appetite.

Day 1 (Saturday 15th) ended in PE after the long haul from Cape Town along the N2.

Sunset - PE

Day 2 took us to Elliot via the "infamous" Katberg Pass. Apparently a couple of Wild Dogs has turned back the previous day as the conditions were too difficult.

enroute to Elliot

wild life at Mountain Shadows Hotel - Elliot

Monday the group crossed the Otto du Plessis and Bastervoet Passes on our way to Tsitsa Backpackers (near Maclear).

Ubu the puppy - Tsitsa

From Maclear it's a short hop across to Rhodes via Elands Heights, Lower Pitseng, Naude's Nek and Tiffendell in cold rainy weather.

Walkerbout - Rhodes

Friday we travelled to the Mountain View Country Inn in Lady Grey - not exactly a 1st class establishment!

At least the views were good

- Lady Grey

Saturday saw a quick dash on tar to Graaff Reinet in very wet conditions. Here we were warmly welcomed by Chantelle and Karen with some local "produce" (what a difference from the reception in Lady Grey). A few celebratory drinks were follwed by an excellent dinner (braai) and a shot of Withond op Hitte (White Dog on Heat).

All safe n sound - Graaff Reinet

Sunday dawned and we all prepared for the 750km dash for home, ably led by Andy with the mandatory stop for lunch at the Country Pumpkin in Barrydale.

Just in case your're wondering whether we really did travel by bike here's a photo taken on Katberg Pass demonstrating precision parking skills.

Precision parking - Katberg Pass

more to follow ...

Thanks for the messages guys & gals, they are all appreciated.

A note on ATGATT and the fall at very low speed:

BMW System 5 Helmet - written off.

Leatt neck brace : Damaged - The front of my chest is eina from where it pushed against it in the fall.

BMW Rallye 2 pro pants - No damage

RICHA - Air jacket - No damage

Sounds like an awesome trip - can't wait for more pics (and Geoff, the feedback at the club outing need not be quick!) 

Hope the ribs etc heal fast.

So - which of the eight passes were the best? What was the Bastervoetpad like? And more importantly - just how did that bike get parked so carefully...?

Let me not pre-empt the trip report but to answer your questions ;

Parking : It took 7 attempts to park in this place but the rider, being exhausted, made a last gasp attempt and got it right. By the by we met some Wilddogs in PE who said we would never make Katberg.........we did......all of us!!!

Bastervoetpad (L.A.P.A. MUNNIK pass) : Awesome....no other words to describe it, starting off in soft drizzle and thick mist, what an experience!!!!

What can we say??  A "life changing experience" is probably too much, but not by much.  Unforgetable: definately.  We will have the memories for ever and will feed off them for a long time to come.  The team, and especially, Geoff, John and Des, and Andy: many, many thanks!!

Annine has not been to see the "real" doc yet but has an appointment tomorrow so will give a report back at the meeting.  Please bring your computers so that we can bum the pictures onto a flash drive!

Despite Annine being on the bike for the first 4 days only, it has made us realise that we can ride terrain, that we only last month would have considered bloody impossible.  Thanks to the encouragement and advice of the team the ride became possible after all.

Our leaders

Just this once..........................

Yes you heard it. I am regretfull.

My story is I could not afford the trip, then managed to squeeze in a home run, paid for the trip.

December I fell on one of Geoffs legendary West Coast trips before my annual leave.

Days before this trip I was forced to pull out due to a dispute with the BMW insurance which is still unresolved and pending an argument with them.

I hope to get back on line soon as Gym spinning bikes are very very BOREING............

Think of me. Your bikeless buddy Rusty.

PS Get well soon Geoff and Roni

What was truly laudable is that once this rider, in sheer funk, exhaustion from extreme terrain managed to park his bike, he took time to settle his cardiac rate and breathing, re saddled his horse and rode it the rest of the way UP and then down Katberg.

It is a moot argument whether Up was worse or Down. a real toss up.

And then it rained on us going down as well. with Rivulets running down the tweespoor.

Then the rider went on to take all the mountain passes in his stride- That calls for guts and determination. 

Respect.

Lot of Respect.

(Now he's looking at an Adventure- 1200 GSA)

Looks awesome! Get well soon Geoff! Yay for ATGATT.

I am D E F I N A T E L Y not missing the next Eastern Cape trip.

marita