Plattekloof

This ride was arranged after requests from members. It in no way takes the place of our ever popular "breakfast" runs but does give members the choice of an extra ride between the normal breakfast rides. Once the invite went out the ride was quickly full with a waiting list. The format of this ride was to take no more than 12 bikes so filling it was easy. The group led by myself consisted of long standing members as well as a lady rider who has just joined the Club. We all met at the Engen in Plattekloof at 0700. Just before departure we had a pre trip briefing where the do's and dont's of the ride were discussed. It was emphasized that the ride was in no way a race and that overtaking between the passes was not allowed.

SO on a slightly sunny day we met at Plattekloof Engen garage for our first ladies off -road BEGINNERS ride . All of us on BMW's except Suzette on her KTM 990 beast. There were to be 10 lady riders of whom 4 had hardly any tar riding experience, let alone any off –road experience. In order to lure the ladies’ bikes out of their respective garages I decide to make this the shortest , easiest, most level , most straight, most good gravel road ride that I can find in all of the Western Cape short of staying in the car park. Wisely I rope in Annie and Geoff , and the week before the ride Geoff and Noeline kindly hosts Annie and I first at Geoff’s computer and then at his bar . Geoff gives us some interesting and safe routes which we proceed to cut and slash to make it even easier and shorter .

Leaning the bike into the wind, I wondered about Alvin's phone earlier call asking whether the ride would go on in the heavy wind. A smattering of the regular faces is always a pleasure, but more pleasingly are the constant new faces. Today we had two new members (please introduce yourselves on the forum). The bikes varied to include 1200GS/A's, 1200RT, 1200S, 650GS, 800GS, 800ST, K1200GT and 1200C. The ride took us towards the sea on the Plattekloof Road where the traffic lights were totally out of sync stopping us every time. We stopped to regroup 4 times, the last being as we turned on the M13 towards Durbanville.

This trip was organised by Andy - see his comments on the forum. He organised it a week before. Anyhow, even though there were no other riders besides myself and Andy plus our nephew, we still had a fantastic time with fantastic weather. The roads were quite muddy at various stages, and you had to look out for ruts. We used exactly the same route as the previous time (see trip report). This is a relatively easy off-road trip with mostly good dirt. There is also quite a bit of tar in between. The scenery was alive with canola fields and blossoming orchards. It was not too cold and we had sunshine most of the way.