Jurg se Kaya 2011: Thanks...

Uiteindelik kon ek die toer meemaak en al wat ek kan se is "Hoor, hoor!" - Karin has put it perfectly; and I know that by tomorrow around mid-morning, the memories will be even better. Could not have asked for a greater trip - even the weather was perfect. So again - thanks everyone!!  

This is my fifth time on this trip, and everything came together so well that it turned out the best trip by far:

• From the people,
• the weather,
• the food,
• the crayfish,
• the route,
• the decision to take everybody to groenrivier via the sandy route,
• the lack of incidents (other than Andy - sorry mate), to
• the time arrivals at various destinations.

Well done Geoff - you have outdone yourself this time.  Thanks for a brilliant time.

PS: The only complaint I have is that the trip could have been longer.

The first day, all the sand riding was really new and strange, having done only Rony's 'intro to sand' course exactly a year ago. Day 2 the sand was only funfunfun; Day 3 was overshadowed by the terrible idea that we had to go home - and this morning I woke up, raring to go and find some sand again. What a disappointment when I saw I was not next to the sea.

Just imagine... another night at Jurg se Kaya, then perhaps a meander through to the Cederberg to spend a night perhaps at Mertenhof and ride up to Barry's plateau for sundowners... then back via Wuppertal for lunch at the Oasis...

C'mon Geoff, how about an extended West Coast trip...?

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

To Geoff for his inspirational leadership and truly bottomless well of patience. Seriously, I would have shot the bumbling 'troep' if I were the 'korporaal'
To Neels and Charles for 'always being there'.
To everyone else, from the 'senior' David to the 'junior' Kellan, for the camaraderie and the endless stream of advice, support and encouragement.

This tour has brought it all together for me - now I know that I am well and truly on my way to learning to ride my bike.

Finally, a word to everyone who subscribes to this forum.
The members of the BMWMCCC (not only those who were on this tour) form an incredibly wonderful community of which I am both truly fortunate and extremely proud to be a member. We should cherish and jealously protect this 'spirit' since I believe it is the result of hard work of past and present members which could so easily be lost if we take it granted.

My first experience of Jurg se Kaya!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 You may all gather that I spend 90% of my riding on road and get very little opportunity to ride on gravel and sand. The technique required is very different and a tremendous amount of fun to see how these bikes behave in different conditions.

Thanks for all the support and great company, this made it a weekend I will treasure forever. To Geoff and his crew, well done again, we are truly blessed to have this level of organization and well planned off road trips with the BMW Club.

All I can say is that I agree with all your posts and thanks to all.

I can only echo the appreciation expressed by others for Geoff's exemplary organisational skills ... though not sure I'd was as enthusiastic about his choice of strafdop tipple ... but then I guess I had it coming ;)

The weather was perfect, except for that super gnarly southeaster for the last 200km back ... eina!

Big thanks to Rusty for taking Janetta on the long stretches, that really helped a lot and was hugely appreciated by both of us, and kept her fresh for the rough stuff! I'm really proud of my 'grasshopper' (as she was dubbed by Gavin for the way she was forced to perch at the end of the HP2's grass stalk seat). Some of you gathered that this weekend was really an elaborate and very successful marketing gig - she's now in completely in agreement that we need a new GSA ;) Dave - what are the new season's colours?

I really enjoyed getting to know you all a bit better, old friends and new. This trip truly deserves its status as the highlight of the annual tour calendar. Long live Jurg se Kaya!

En route to Groenriviermond: A taste of what the weekend's riding consisted of - miles of lovely tweespoor sand. To this point we'd flushed two duikers (or other small antelope), some spectacular birds of prey perched on the fence posts.

PS. Rusty, I had nothing to do with the kreef in your topbox, in case you were wondering, though next time I'll bring stronger cable ties for the wheel clamp ;)
Thanks for the (many) object lessons in why bikers should always ride with a utility knife ... grrr

Well another club trip one under the belt!

I have heard so much about Jurg se Kaya…the sand, the soup, the crayfish etc. and now I know!

What a great trip, I can really recommend this one. Thanx to all that made it happen especially Geoff, Neels and my mate Jurg and his gang.

First of all thanks to everyone who made the weekend to the WestCoast great - especially Geoff for all his planning and leadership.

The last time I visited Jurg se Kaya, I became one of the statistics - falling and hurting my ankle really bad. You can just imagine the apprehension when I booked this trip after having undergone reconstructive surgery to my injured ankle in Feb. My heart was beating at about 200bpm when I entered the sand pit, but I tried to focus on the road ahead and all the other 100 things that seem to be important - not trying to do silly things or going too fast. Great was my relief when I arrived at the Kaya in one piece this time. The next day of 40 odd km's to Groenrivier seemed like a huge challenge, but once agian - there is nothing like experience - no manual teaches this - after losing about 5kg through this workout and eventually reaching Groenrivier was a huge personal victory for me!

What a trip! Thanks again to everyone for their special contribution. I was great to get to know some of you a little better.

Andy, hope you get well soon.

Andre

Mmmm - question to Tian above: are you throwing out the bait that the HP might be market in the near future...?!

Morning all,

Firstly thanks for all the messages of thanks they are all greatly appreciated.

Yes what a great weekend in the company of great people.

I hope that you are all not to stiff this morning and that your bikes are all OK. I believe that Andy is not doing to well and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Lots of you took lots of pics so I sincerely hope that one of you writes a trip report to which those with pictures can add them to the report. Such a lekker trip deserves a lekker trip report with ton's of pictures.

Jurg has invited the Club back early in the new year for another crayfish weekend so I will put something together soon.

Karin, regarding your post on the Forum about a longer West Coast Tour incorporating the Cederberg has got my mind going on a great route. If I can get the time I will arrange something. Mmmmmmmmmmm I already have a great route in my head, don't even need a GPS.

While I wrestle with a route can one of you wrestle your key Board and put out a trip report real soon.

Have a great day.

Regards

Can anyone tell us what happend to him ?

Is he ok  ? is the Bike Ok ?

Glad you guys had a Gas

Post some Photo please

Wayne

Karin has already started a seperate post with pictures.

Andy's bike is fine.

Here is what the doctor said : Doc says his sternum is fractured and the chromium end piece on his shoulder is broken.

On the Saturday morning, just 7km from the Kaya, while leading the faster riders, Andy hit soft sand while doing about 60km/hr, and got face-planted.  His helmet and neck-brace took the impact and as a result he has a cracked sternum and a fracture in his shoulder.  Much better than a broken neck, thanks Dr. Leatt.

I was bringing up the rear when Mike came riding back towards the Khaya, with news that Andy had fallen and his mouth was full of blood and he could not move.  By the time I got to him in horror at what was going down, he was up on the bike ready to ride again.  He rode a further 3km to the vlei through the sand, but then realized he should get into the backup vehicle.  A few hours later Andy had seized up and was in considerable pain.  He spent the rest of the trip in the backup vehicle, which could not have been pleasant with a cracked sternum.

The lessons from this:

• Always wear protective gear, and when riding in sand a neck-brace is a must.
• The sooner you learn to ride slower in sand, the better for your health.
• Ride with knobblies on the back, with good tread, and drop your tyre pressure to as low as 1 bar (tubeless) or 1.3 (tubed).

Shame thats terrible news

Get well soon Andy

I Always think of you as a Sherman Tank - Indestructible !!!

Our prayers are with you for a speedy recovery

Wayne

Eish!! When I read stories like this I wonder what I'm getting myself in for. I'm still a nervous wreck on gravel from the time I fell on one of Andy's rides. He was so supportive and kept calling to see how Dawn's progress was getting on.

Andy, I hope you get well soon. You're a good guy and don't deserve bad luck like this.

Geoff, Neels and the team

Thanks so much for an awesome series of rides, challenging roads and the SAND. I know I messup the sand for a lot of you guys but no-one even mentioned it! This was my first ride with most of you, and you made me feel so welcome. I arrived home to some glum faces (probably just jealous) but my grin was fixed...still is! Hope to do it again soon!

Rory

Thanks to all who came on this trip.

Once again, the topography and the general beauty has so much to offer but it is the company that really makes a trip special.

Everyone rode well - meaning we did not have long to wait at re-group points, had no punctures delay us and no turns were missed.

we had two very short courtesy waits while someone tore back to look for a dropped phone or earpiece, but nothing that slowed the group.

Result, we did not need to make up any time or chase, the general pace was excellent and we could relax and rest at the re-group points.

The lunch drill at Phuchifino worked smoothly.

Because of this we arrived well on time and generally Geoff was in better mood because his class behaved on the road.

Some of the roads were in their worst condition ever and some were in fact in better.

As per any organised group ride, the "Follow me, it can be done" approach saw skills levels  improve by the hour for many riders and the sand monster had to slink home in the end with only a few still in fear of him.

Well done. Together we all made Geoff's job easier.

Special thanks to Neels who has a knack of anticipating the next move and so is always on hand and ready at the right moments. Great job on the back-up when he'd have preferred to be on his own bike.

Thanks Charles for your depiction of my bad off.

I was doing a steady 60kph as per the previous day and enjoying the ride, feeling comfortable, checking mirrors to keep the following bikes on pace, adjusting here n there to keep 100m or so ahead.

Just after clearing a good solid stretch comes another deep sand section 2.9km from the pan and rendezvous.

Suddenly the bike became very uncomfortable and jumped from left spoor to the right.

I opened the throttle and it jumped back to the left.

I leaned well back, gave more throttle and as it jumped spoor again it pitched me into the dirt, face first.

This was then 60+ kph

The fall ripped the visor off, chin guard split my lips and helmet transferred the loading to my neck brace which dissipated it all onto my thorax.

Somehow my left arm was wrenched awkwardly.

I don't know how long I was out cold, but I came to very confused and disorientated. must have been a few seconds

I tried doing diagnostics again and again, could not reboot, and slowly awareness came back.

Tristan and someone else helped me up and my left arm almost caused a black out. Tristan pulled hard while lifting my arm over his shoulder and by pulling and massaging manipulated the ligaments, nerves and arm back into its proper lay.

Then against all my better judgment I mounted and rode on to the pan.

Stupid thing to do.

While going over the bike on the trailer, I registered that I could not see the bolt head in the suspension mount. I was too dazed to investigate further but at that time it was not wedged into the tyre yet.

On the rode the suspension did wedge itself into the wheel from all the shake-rattle n roll.

I'm pretty sure that from comfortable riding to almost unmanageable was the result of that bolt sheering and dropping the frame a few centimeters.

Otherwise the bike is fine and I'll take it to Atlantic to have the stub in the swing arm removed and replaced.

This is the part of the bolt from the bottom suspension strut.

Suspension collapsed

Brave face, pain has not yet set in: full and firmly worn ATTGATT minimised any further injury

The manubrium took the main thrust from the brace: At my age this is no longer pliant had calcified and hard.

I wish you a speedy recovery Andy - just reading your account of what happened send shivers down my spine! I think at the club meetings there should be a few seats reserved for the walking wounded! I will be sitting there for some time to come still .

Hey bud

All the best with the recovery and stay away from persistent jokers.

I'm sure a laugh has very negative effects at this time.