Club Ride - Tulbagh

I was keen to ride too, but my air filter was busy drying and we had 20 hours of power outage so I couldn't hurry the process along by putting it on my computer monitor. Well done you all-weather riders.

Well done guys. We were just about to leave when annie deicded to check the forum. I wish she had not. We were bok for a ride reen of te nie! Next time we will not look and if no one pitches we'll do our own ride. but it seems there is always some game folk who aren't put out too much by some rain. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Iron Brain ride..... Corne, Neil and I had a most enjoyable riding experience in the rain this morning. It's not everybody's idea of fun but wearing the right gear certainly improves the weather. We only rode 125km and took it slow when we had to. After Corne turned left at the Durbanville/Plattekloof corner to Parow, Neil and I turned right and enjoyed a good defiant finishing sprint on the N7. Thanks Guys! It was a great ride! It appears that there are many ways to enjoy your BMW. Neil 3 of us Alvin

Some wet weather riding gear for those who missed the ride.:-)Aah!

Wellllll, some did!Only 3 souls took "the opportunity to develop and build our skills and experience of riding in the rain". Corné,Alvin and I...venue became....Fairview wine Estate restaurant. The manageress was a little flustered as to these wet..er.... customers, what to do with their rain gear, that sorted we had nice coffee/ cappuccinos then a really good breakfast. Then into the cheese shed and purchased some cheese sans the drama Mr Cleese had!:-) Well another fine ride, back via the back of Durbanville. The breakfast Trio Cuppacino This says it all: Apparently they are slow thinkers as this has been up for a number of days! The Goat Tower with a dry goat looking at wet on the outside, riders. Preparing to depart...Alvin The Durbanville area weather.1 The Durbanville area weather.2

Thanks Alvin and Neil for a lekker ride :-) We went to Fairview and had an awesome breakfast... Wet weather riding was actually very nice! Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Wellllllllll....Did some go? Any of the Iron Butt-ers, after all perfect practice weather?:-)

i was just about to leave... I still want to ride... anybody else keen? I will go to Plattekloof and see who pitches up... cheers, Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Thanks for letting us know Lawrence - we about to depart for Plattekloof!

Hi All, Just been out or a test. It's storming really bad here in Blouberg with the rain coming down in sheets, horizontally. Sadly, therefore, we're going to have to postpone the ride. Have a relaxing day, Lawrence Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safetly in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadsides, loudly proclaiming WOW, What a RIDE!

WEATHER FORECAST - Rain mainly from noon (60%) Wind strong north-westerly Sunrise: 07:51 Sunset: 17:50 Now some may say that a day riding in the rain is for the birds. It could be, however, with all the rains the experience of riding Bains Kloof and seeing the river in flood is unbelievable. It's a great achievement to develop and build your skill and experience of riding in rain. With the right gear, you stay dry and it's an adventure. So, the ride is still on and we hope as many as possible can make it. Leaving at 08h30 (except Steve, we'll see you there mate!). Lawrence Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safetly in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadsides, loudly proclaiming WOW, What a RIDE!

I would love to join, but I only started riding again last week after a drought of +- 20 years . I am still a bit nervous and am not sure how I will do on the twisties in wet weather. Maybe I should skip this 1 and join in another time.

Can I just add to this the following if I may. I have the dubious privelege of riding up the N1 every morning on my way into work - today I was a bit later than usual - about 7.15 ish and if you saw the colour of the sky over the mountains you would be asking for the rides to set off earlier and not later - it was absolutely glorius. It is actually also not that cold - if you have the right gear on.

PADDAGANG or BOULDERS RESTAURANT - TULBAGH - DEPART 08H30 Just over an hour from Cape Town, the Tulbagh is our destination for this ride. Home to the crazy named tipples of BrulPadda Port, Paddasang White Wine, Paddapoleon and Paddarotti red wines, the Paddagang restaurant venue has entertained the club on numerous rides and it always gets a thumbs up. Boulders gives you a birds eye view of the surrounding landscape as you sit at tree-top level entertained by great scenery and not a glimpse of the modern world. Our social secretary will call these two and get the booking made. Boulders may be a little cold for winter though! The valley has of course existed for eons and has no doubt been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous San and Khoi peoples. The area was known to be verdant and in it's natural and unspoiled state, was the home to so many of Africa's wild animals living in what was their natural habitat. It was only after the Dutch Colonial era when this all changed, after modern day hunters 'discovered' the area. It is said that initially the hunters established a trading/replenishment post in the area where the present Tulbaghweg settlement and the old railway station is now situated. There was apparently a flourishing trade in animal skins, meat and elephant tusks etc. until of course the area was denuded of most, if not all of the indigenous animals. The indigenous flora has also suffered from the onslaught of human habitation and certainly not many indigenous trees and natural fynbos exists anymore. Thankfully the flora and fauna is now protected in the areas under the administration of Cape Nature Conservation (mountain reserves). It was only about 300 years ago when, after a land grant by the Dutch Colonial Government to a more or less equal number of Dutch and Huguenot settlers to settle the area, was the town of Tulbagh founded. The town developed slowly and over time and in the period many notable examples of Cape Dutch, Victorian and Edwardian houses and other buildings such as Die Oude Drosdy (the original colonial Magistrate's complex) were built in the valley. Many of these lovely buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 1969 but quite a number did survive the catastrophe. Many notable examples of the Cape Architecture of the time still exist on farms throughout the valley although in some cases they have been altered or repaired and also modernized. The authentic buildings are sadly few. In the famous Church Street however, all the houses in the street were restored to almost original condition after the earthquake. Church Street is now graced by the largest number of original Cape- Dutch, Edwardian and Victorian National Monuments in one street in South Africa and is a major tourist attraction of the town to the present day. To take a walk down Church Street is akin to walking through a page in history. For those of you who want to spend the day, the Oude Drosdy museum is open from 14h30 to 16h50 and only costs R5,00. For loads more information, visit www.tulbagh.net We'll be taking a scenic route to Tulbagh, including as many twisties and as few straights as possible. Hope to see as many riders (and their pillions) as possible. Cheers Lawrence Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safetly in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadsides, loudly proclaiming WOW, What a RIDE!

Johan, how about pasting the stuff I have pasted into this event into the others. I started doing this because we always got the same questions about what route the ride would take, where to meet etc. regards Charles

Christo, we have to be careful on the start times for breakfast rides as the distance involved can mean that we arrive late for breakfast at the venues. Everything depends on where we are going and how long it takes to get there. Some venues also have Sunday lunches and start preparing for them early - therefore wanting us to leave just after we get there if we arrive late. Start times for close venue rides can be 08h30 but longer rides need to leave at 08h00. The committee will have to look at the ride schedule and adjust the start times accordingly and then post the ride schedule for the forthcoming year on the website.

Hi Christo, I have for merely indicated the dates - the club captains will pass on starting time, I do not see your request being "out of reach" Sir. Johan de Jager "It's all about the ride, nothing else"

Can the winter rides not start at 8-30am again? Christo L