Sutherland Winter Tour (offroad beginners)

The week before the Sutherland trip, I virtually did not sleep. First from excitement & anticipation, and then, as the weekend drew closer, nerves took over. But eventually the Big Day arrived and we left home in the dark (one of many firsts for the weekend) to meet up with the rest of Andy & Annie's group at the Engen Winelands. Andy's first briefing of the day: (Check the clean bikes and kit!) Andy spoke the necessary words and off we went on the R44 past Wellington & Hermon. We refuelled as is the norm in Ceres where Andy had the opportunity to play with Noelene’s bike, and shortly after Gydo Pass Andy turned off the tar and we stopped to let down tyres (and so that Andy could kneel in front of Noelene’s bike again). Going off-road for the first time... yep that's Andy on his knees in front of Noelene's bike Andy gave us our second briefing of the day; a few bushes were well watered and off we went, some decidedly faster than others. At one point I came around a corner to see a big mud hole ahead of me, and a bike lying on its side on the far side: Nicole had come off, a broken mirror fortunately being the only damage. The fact that someone had fallen going through this mud scared the living daylights out of me and I certainly wished Rynet and her Rescue Remedy was around. However, James (who really was far too experienced for our group but we really hope you come and play with us again James!) and Andy etc were virtually drawing the right route on the mud for us, arms waving furiously. I made it – no idea ‘how’, but I was way too pleased to question that. The turn-off to Kagga Kamma was the start of the pretty dirt section. I could not stop smiling, thinking “Whaau, I have dreamed about this for so long, and here I actually am riding a beautiful motorbike on a stunning dirt road in the middle of nowhere.” Check those views!: Karin & Erica on their way We stopped once to regroup; and shortly thereafter stopped for lunch, where Annie stunned us all by hauling out hot water, coffee, hot chocolate and rusks – the works. Thanks Annie!! Lunch stop: We even had hot chocolate and rusks! Earlier on Andy was worried that we would not make Sutherland before 5 to refuel, but we made up enough time on this fast, good gravel that we could relax again. We did not encounter too many vehicles on the bigger gravel road, and soon turned off onto an amazing gravel road – smooth, fast, no Monsters. Andy stopped en route to assist a Landrover with a flat tyre. BMW On Call: Stopping to assist a Landy The road now became really interesting, with a few dips and dry ruts and whoop-de-doos and pretty flowers. Pretty flowers in the middle of nowhere Somewhere along this route, we also met up with Geoff's group, with happy reunions, especially amongst the ladies. Karin & Julie: It's a hair thing I was still hyped after all the gravel and surprisingly miffed to hit the tar again, but it had been a long day in the saddle and not having to concentrate quite as much was a bit of a relief. Hubby and I stayed at a really sweet B&B called “Sutherland Inn”, and the first (truth be told, and the second) whisky of the day went down very well while having a bath. Tiara and I had hoped to go and look at the Louw Museum, but I think I faffed too long in the bath so the Museum was closed - that’s on the cards for next time. Dinner – well, you were all there & those who weren't, should try to come along next year ;-) We had parked our bikes overnight underneath a big tree so 'Le Bleu' and 'Wille Willemien' were relatively sheltered. Although 'Le Bleu' said it was –2 when Gav wheeled the bikes into the faint wintry sun to warm up while were having breakfast, neither complained when asked to start (unlike a few other bikes, Ludwig’s included). Bikes warming up: Andy said wheel the bikes into the sun to warm up before starting... Annie had organised a special tour for us to SALT, where Willem did a great job of explaining the whole set-up to us. Amazing stuff. Getting organised for a pic at SALT: Annie's group with Willem, our guide All too soon it was time to return to Cape Town. Cheryl, Nicole and George left us at the turn-off onto the dirt and travelled back via tar. They made it back to Cape Town safely by 4:30. The rest of us went off onto the Ceres gravel road. I had to stop to take off a jacket & the group went on, leaving Gavin and Annie to patiently watch while I got strangled between gloves and jacket and neck brace and helmet and sunglasses and Camelbak (how the heck does one get rid of all this gear quickly??). After a bit of a chase (which involved an "interesting" crossing of a mud hole. I went in way-y-y-y too hot, but that's another story), we caught up to the group who had stopped to have a bite and a breather. Then Andy did The Briefing: “We are about to hit some water crossings,” he said, and proceeded to tell us about all the water they had encountered the last time he did this route and how vital it is to stick to the track and watch out for moss underneath the water and walk through water with your feet turned out to check for holes and how he fell into water hip deep… at which point Erica and I were looking for the way to the nearest tar. So, very nervously this time, off we went. The first few little crossings were fine and I started breathing normally again, when suddenly I came around a corner & saw all the bikes are parked on the other side of a big puddle with the Boys shouting “Slow down NOW! Look up! LOOK UP!” A big splash and some wobbles and we all got through. Miracles never cease to happen. The next water crossing was deeper and even more fun. Bike wash, Sutherland-style: Diana goes through in great style IN the background you'll see some locals, who had parked off next to the river for the day, waiting (in vain) for thrills and spills Ludwig: ... does it standing up Noelene just about found the drop in the middle of the crossing Noelene just about finds the hole ...while Erica goes through with a huge smile Erica: (there's abig smile underneath that visor! With James kindly jumping up and down on the far side and pointing to the 'right route', Karin finds the high & dry path through the river Karin goes high: ...and misses the hole ... while Annie decides all this dust is nonsense and it is high time to wash her boots Cleaning your shoes, Sutherland-style: (aka testing if the boots are still waterproof, before the Wild Coast trip) We stopped at the other side for a breather and a bite, but nobody wanted to go back and do it again. Funny that. From there we hit some flat, fast dirt roads and all too soon reached the last bit of tar before Ceres. They'll be coming down the mountain... Some people went straight home, the rest of us stopped at the Bush Pub at the foot of Bain's Kloof for a bite and a quick chat to the other group. Gav and I then continued over Bain’s Kloof, where I promptly forgot everything I knew about riding around corners, countersteering and correct braking techniques. Sigh. Thanks have already been emailed around our group, but again: To Andy & Annie for being willing to take a slow ride; to our back-up vehicle drivers Sarah and Bruce; and to Pete for the use of your car – You guys rock! Happiness is... a good dirt road: on a Club Outing! Read more & see the other pics: http://www.bmwmccc.org.za/sutherland-18th-19th-july