2014-02-23 Breakfast in McGregor

Sunday morning started early, 6.30am departure to be precise, just before sunrise. We made our way through to the N1 Engen 1-stop where we teamed-up with Paul. The ride planned was a fast one to McGregor for breakfast, coming home via Greyton and Franschhoek. There was unavoidably a lot of tar, but with some decent gravel stretches inbetween.

The weather played along, being mild with the wind howling near Cape Town, but calmer once you got over the mountains.  The ride took the spectacular DuToits Kloof pass to Rawsonville, and we were greeted by a blanket of cloud tumbling over the top of the mountains, and rode through the cloud into Rawsonville.  After a short stop to stretch the legs, we headed onto the gravel Scherpenheuwel road to Robertson and McGregor.

Breakfast at "The Deli Girls" was just what the doctor ordered, and we took a slow cruise through the quiet town on our way out.  The buildings are quaint Cape Dutch period, which gives the town a relaxed feel of the past, and explains why it is so popular with Capetonians and retired couples.

We headed on good gravel roads to Stormsvlei where we connected up with the N2 to Riversonderend.  There is a road heading to Greyton just after the town shown as Noordhoek which we ventured along.  The road was washed away completely in places, and this was the adventure part.  Unfortunately it ended at a locked gate, and as Mark wasn't around with his tyre levers, we retraced our steps back to the N2. Having burnt some time, we headed (quite quickly) through to Bot River and the gravel van der Stel pass instead of going through Greyton.

A fuel stop and ice cream at Franschhoek brought an end to the ride, with only a very windy highway trip back home left to do.  All in all 492km was done on the day at a moving average speed of 82km/hr with an overall average of 65km/hr.  Quite fast for us!

Scherpenheuwel Road (Worcester)

Stark imagery  of 'life and death" in the fertile valley of Scherpenheuwel

Not this time...

the boys waiting up ahead  while I snap away capturing memories of our ride 

Our breakfast spot in McGregor

Town folk heeding the call of the early morning church bells

Not many people are awake this early on a Sunday in McGregor

Deli boys

Not usually a poser - made an exception for the birthday boy

Happy birthday my love 

It was worth the wait

whaaaattt?  ham instead of bacon???

Talulah (Paul's KLR) looking for some attention again

did you know?  McGregor was originally called Lady Grey. Confusingly for the authorities of the day and the post office, the village shared this name with another in the Eastern Cape. But in 1904 the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church decided to call their parish and new church in Voortrekker Street after their much-loved pastor, the Rev. Andrew McGregor, who had just retired after 40 years of dedicated service in Robertson. Two years later, in April 1906, the relieved authorities followed suit and gazetted an official name change to McGregor.

Gravel road to Stormsvlei - LOVE it when the Nav find us new roads to explore

What a lovely road

awesome day to be out on the KLRs in the Overberg

Greyton up ahead?

Washed away river crossing..... where to from here?

so we took a left and went bundu bashing

The Nav felt a bit bullish

and Paul followed short on the Nav's heels

When in doubt SHOUT... Thanks Nav for taking my KLR through the MUD... this is NOT a walk of shame... on the upside and to redeem myself, I rode through the muddy stream on the return journey thanks to a locked gate a few km's away

"Thats the way aha aha I like it aha aha"

right back where we started.  a 50 minute detour thanks to a locked farm gate - nice adventure, somehow these 'unforeseen mistakes' turn out to be the highlight of our day..SUCH fun!

last pic of the day - beautiful Franschhoek valley

Quite a long day in the saddle, but what a blast.  Good company, good weather and great motorcycles!

Till next time, safe travels everyone
- Ang - 

4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels moves the soul