Swellendam

After weeks of scouring the web for suitable routes and countless hours spent tweaking the selected route on Mapsource - I wanted to find a route that avoided the N1, N2 and R62 yet was suitable for a "solo" ride - Adrienne and I finally set off on Friday morning enroute to Wilderness.

Just after a gorgeous, windless sunrise, 8 bikes (with 3 lady pillions) gathered at Plattekloof Engen.  My first glimpse of our fellow riders was Neil, sitting atop a pile of braaiwood bags, reading the Saturday paper, seemingly oblivious to the world.

 

After a quick rider briefing, we set off down the N1 in blinding sunlight, diverting off at the R300, dodging taxis and concrete barriers, then onto the N2. We turned off the N2 at the Firlands turn-off for Gordon's Bay.

My friend Robin has a way of dropping bombshells. The figurative ones. "I'm riding my bike to our holiday house near the Kruger, via Naude's Nek" he announced. "Hmm," I said. Then I googled 'Naude's Nek' and the 'hmmmm' became a bit tinged with green. The highest pass in South Africa, and gravel to boot - what could be nicer. "Well, come along!" came the invitation. "Hmmmmm!!!!" I said

===The Group=== Geoff Russell (leader) – 1200GSA Michiel Bierman – 1200GSA Andre Ferreira – 1200GSA Andy Connell (sweeper) – 1150GSA Leon & Liza Kroucamp – 1200GS Anne Connell – 1200GS Sean Hidden – 1200GS Dave Hidden – F650Dakar Noelene Russell – F650Dakar Tiara Odendaal – F650GS '''Friday, 2 Oct 508kms''' We were set to have fine weather the whole weekend. We met at Lanner’s Landing in Klapmuts at 8.15 for 8.30 departure. However, Dave, coming from Stellenbosch, somehow ended up near Wellington and then finally met us about half an hour later. 1st round of strafdoppe already allocated to Dave.

A club ride to Swellendam lead by Peter O'Hanlon. Meet at the Engen, everything you need to know will be discussed at the meeting point. The map to the meeting point and other information on what to bring is at these links: * [http://bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/node/1 General Club Ride info and map to meeting point] * [http://bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/faq#41n65 Frequently Asked Questions like 'What to bring and wear?']

Ek het die naweek van 24 tot 27 Aug op my eerste werklike motorfiets trip gegaan saam met die ouer geslag (my pa, Funduro & twee van sy vriende, Dakar & 650GS). Ons het ‘n 650GS vir my gehuur van Albert Franck (op die oomblik en Zambië besig om ‘n roete te plot vir ‘n toer). Ek kan enige iemand wat ‘n fiets wil huur aanbeveel om hom te kontak, die fiets het die pad opgeslurp en sy prys was die beste wat ons kon kry. ( www.gs-adventures.com ) Vir my ‘doop’ as ‘n motorfietsryer het die drie ouer manne dit goed gedink om vir die naweek gou-gou deur die Baviaanskloof te gaan ry...