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

2014 - February Scenic jaunts (Table Mountain/Cape Point) on our Africa Twins

The hubby and I each acquired our Honda 750 Africa Twins towards the end of 2013.  As much as I LOVE the AT for road riding, I am simply just NOT confident enough on her when it comes to gravel roads.  She is so much heavier than my KLR and it doesn't help matters much that my feet just touches the ground.  On gravel, this is not really conducive as it makes me fearful and the last thing I need is to fear my iron steed.  So, sadly, for this reason, we have decided to sell our AT's and stick to what we know and do best on our Kawasaki 650 KLRs.  No use having 2 motorcycles (KLR & AT) that we can practically do the same thing on anyway right?  Me thinks the hubby and I were just being over ambitious because 'we can'..... and I can finally let go of the feeling that I am being 'unfaithful' to my KLR!  (sigh of relief)

I will miss the awesomeness of the AT (power & sound) and not to mention the extra bit of oomph that my KLR certainly lacks.   As the saying goes 'rather to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"....   I am happy in the knowledge though, that she is going back to her first owner who just happened to call us a week ago to enquire whether we'd be interested in selling the AT back to him... Just shows you that life does come full circle, even for motorcycles...  

Some photographs of our recent scenic jaunts around Cape Point and Table Mountain

Red Hill overlooking Simon's Town in the distance below

Probably the last scenic photo I will ever take of my AT

ofcourse NO ride is complete without a good breakfast
Bertha's @ Simon's Town Harbour 

come on... smile for the camera!  No need to look so glum chum... breakfast has arrived! 

Family of Egyptian geese frolicking in the harbour 

FORTUNA-tely  for the lady driver of this vehicle, we didn't kick up a fuss because she parked in a 'motorcycle only parking bay' as she was at least walking her dog on the beach before 8am and no other motorcycles were being inconvenienced!

Safe travels everyone

till next time

-Ang-

4 wheels moves the body, 2 wheels moves the soul

2014-02-02 Malmesbury, Mooreesburg, Langebaan, West Coast National Park

The Nav planned a ride along the West Coast as relatively moderate to warm weather was expected. We met up with the group at the usual spot in Table View (Stuart, Ben with a pillion (Kath) and Erich.  A Zambian chap was intrigued by the group of riders and scooted towards us for a chat with us on his little scooter.  He was fascinated by our motorcycles and told us that his scooter was his mode of transport and he wished that he could join us.  After filling up, we waved him goodbye and set off on our adventure.

The route took us from Tableview through Blaauwberg, Botterberg and Kalbaskraal on the old road to Malmesbury for breakfast. Cherry Lane changed their hours and is now closed for business on a Sunday.  We weren't too upset to have to turn back to the Wimpy, where you can most always be assured of good value and great service.  We caught up on riding stories over breakfast and the Nav pulled out his maps to get some more route ideas from Ben and Stuart for our upcoming Namibia trip.

After breakfast we continued on through some gravel to Morreesburg and down to the tarred R45 to Langebaan where we stopped for a welcoming cooldrink at Pearly's on the lagoon.  It was very windy and the kite surfers were out in full force.   Wonderful to see so many people out and about enjoying what nature has to offer.  From there a leisurely ride through the West Coast National Park (a wild card avoids the R37 entry fee), followed and we made our way back home on the R27.  The wind was something else but sometimes to be expected when travelling along the West Coast.  I suppose it could've been worse, as riding close to coast more often than not means sand.... 

Today, the challenge was wind, something that I thankfully don't struggle too much with.   

All in all 363km with only around 70km on gravel. 

The Route 

The Nav contemplating whether he should take our Zambian friend's scooter for a spin...

on second thoughts....... 

Our lawnmower's fuel tank is bigger than this one

Ooh eh eh.. now where do i put da petrol in?

Honey, I shrunk the kid...  

Groupies

Cath using her arms to slow Ben down as we wait for Stuart and Erich to catch up

He's here, let's go! 

Wimpy at Malmesbury for a hearty breakfast

Erich honing his 'stand up' skills on the gravel on-route to Mooreesburg- SUCH FUN! 

PLEASE can we go straight?  yayyy, we so do! 

Re-grouping and taking in the splendours of the Swartland, the gateway to the West Coast 

Erich sporting his new helmet

Big smile from Ben and Kath

Stuart putting his foot down

and there goes Erich.... still standing......  

my two TRUE weaknesses

made you wait, made you wait.....  this is what happens when I see a windmill! sorry guys!

The Nav seeking some relief from the sun...
I almost mistook him for a traffic cop - always lurking behind bushes they are.... 

Next town Mooreesburg

Refreshment stop at Pearly's in Langebaan
Did you know?   Langebaan has some intimidating wind speeds and as such have managed to sustain a large kite surfing community and establish itself as a leading town playing a vital role of the enrichment of the sport.

The Nav enjoying a coke float as Survivor Stuart, Erich and I entertain him with our biking tales

Cheers everyone, here's to enjoying yet another day of fun in the sun with our biking buddies

Ben reflecting

My FAVOURITE view!  minus the sand....

Law abiding citizens

Did you know? The West Coast National Park lies 120 km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is 27,500 hectares (106 sq mi) in size. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the R27 coastal road, and runs from the town of Yzerfontein in the south up to the Langebaan lagoon. The park is particularly well known for its bird life and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to October, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the park.

We're in!  Wild Card holders get in free otherwise have your R37 entrance fee ready

Could Kath be the next Nav? 

Birds of a feather flocking together?  KLRs to the right... everything else to the left

The azure waters of the Langebaan lagoon has lost its allure -  low tide only thankfully

and off we go.... 

Till next time.  

Safe travels everyone 

-Ang-
4 wheels moves the body, 2 wheels moves the soul