Adventure Riders Cape Town : August 2015

The weather was somewhat inclement, but perfect for a ride through to Greyton for breakfast. The rain was threatening as the group got together early at the Engen on the N2 grabbing a quick Wimpy coffee. We headed on the N2 over Sir Lowry's pass and through Elgin to Botriver where we took the Hermanus turnoff, and the old road to Karwyderskraal.

The previous day's rain had settled the dust and the morning was misty. We stopped briefly at the Paardenkloof turn-off to stretch our legs and to fix Nic's indicator which had rattled itself loose and semi melted. It still worked - in fact Nic's other rear indicator also gave up the ghost a little later on the trip. What are the chances for a bike that has already done 96,000km?

The road to Caledon was variable with some slow and some faster sections. What beautiful green fields with the occasional blue cranes and little bokkies to be seen. Truly a privilege to be out in the country. We navigated through Caledon taking the road to Napier, and turning off to Krige after some 12km. This section was quite misty but took the group through brilliant yellow canola fields up to the N2. Speed increased as breakfast was calling and we high-tailed the last 18km or so of scenic gravel through to Greyton.

The Oak & Vigne is the normal breakfast stop in Greyton and they have done a little re-configuring of the seating arrangements. They had an enormous fire inside, but we chose to sit out in the cool morning. Breakfast was superb (as usual) and after an hour or so we left for Franschhoek, leaving newlyweds Ben & Fe, to further explore the town. We stopped at the top of Franschhoek Pass before heading home our separate ways.

Thanks to the Nav for the usual superb planning and to Jorg, Hennie, Nic, Pannas, Ben & Fe for joining us on yet another super ride.

Hout Bay to Greyton and back - 346kms

Almost didn't recognise Jorg in his new (still labelled) kit.. Looking good!

Enjoying a leg stretch before the descent into the valley

The Nav's blue eyed girl on the Paardenkloof gravel road near Caledon

My KLR's bigger cousin looking sexy without her pannier boxes

Awesome day for a ride through the Overberg

After a few bumpy sections, Nic's KLR's flicker decided it had enough and tried to escape

The Nav - First down the steep descent

Jorg leading the 2nd group (Ben & Fe, Nic)

Nic getting his wheels and heels wet - Pannas bringing up the rear

Pannas ahead of his friend Hennie

good thing Pannas is such a good rider, otherwise this could quite easily have been a Britney Spears moment
(Oops she did it again...)

Hennie on his GS1200

Hennie wetting his wheels

Nic made it up the hill

Hennie taking in the sights

Pannas hot on Hennie's wheels

Thankfuly we didn't encounter too many gates on this ride

The valley filled with swirling mist and clouds so low they nearly kissed the horizon

the group enjoying the amazing gravel roads in the Overberg

like these Cranes and the Adventure Riders, birds of a feather, flock together

Ben/Fe & Pannas emerging from the misty Krige gravel road in the direction of Greyton

that skidmark to the left was my Britney Spears moment as I was going a bit too fast around the corner and had to swerve to miss the Nav and Nic

KLRs in the mist

Our favourite breakfast stop in Greyton - The Oak & Vigne

ltr: The miseries are... Hennie, camera shy Pannas, Nic, Fe&Ben, Jorg & the Nav

sadly the day has to end - last stop at the top of the breathtaking Franschhoek Pass

Screen shot capturing the only windmill in my sight today

Till next time everyone, safe travels

- Ang -

4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul

A Woman's Day ride? I asked the Nav. To where? To Darling, my darling, came the reply! I needed no further urging as the Nav knows that Darling is one of my favourite little towns along the West Coast, about 75kms from Cape Town.

We met up with the group at Bonjour near the Tableview beachfront, enjoyed a cuppa and headed off to Darling via Melkbos, the R27, Mamre, with a short spurt of gravel as a 'teaser' in anticipation of what was to come after breakfast at Brigs Barn in Darling. Nic joined us for the first time and he and Stu quickly found something to argue about - religion. Nothing sacred here! Lisa (Pannas' better half) joined us for breakfast with their well-behaved 4-year old Mia.

As we were leaving Brigs, we were surprised by the newlyweds Ben and Fe who arrived on 4 wheels instead of their usual 2 wheel as apparently Ben's KLR's battery had given up the ghost. Nice to see them either way and we waved them goodbye as we set off after breakfast.

Once Nic's bike was refuelled, we joined the eastern gravel route towards Moorreesburg, fortunately finding the right roads this time so avoiding any farm gates. It was too early for the Canola "proper", but the wheatfields are really green and the scenery is beautiful. It was a few degrees colder than comfortable as we headed through Moorreesburg and took the next section of gravel towards Malmesbury, stopping along the way for a breather and a few windmill shots. Paul found some long grass to lie down in.

After a little while, we resumed our journey towards Riebeek Kasteel, and decided to take the direct route to Porseleinberg as it was getting on a bit time wise. We stopped again for a photo next to the crop sprayer before making our way back to TableView for the afternoon ice cream stop. The Boland was calm and still with practically no wind, while it was howling at the coast.

It was so good to be out on our bikes again and we need to get riding fit for the trip to Lesotho in September. Thanks to the group / team for a wonderful day. Look forward to the next one.