“Highlands and Winelands of the Western Cape” ~ Aug 21 – 30, 2005

A small collection of veteran Roadrunners, seasoned from Cambodia the previous year and still bearing the dust, assembled in Knysna to tackle the Cape this Spring.

Arrival in Knysna a day early, allowed a brief introduction to paragliding by way of a short tandem flight over the outskirts of nearby Sedgefield.

The next day it was down to business and a drive over Prince Alfreds Pass in the morning after a successful navigation through the Knysna forest, taking care not to collide with the elusive pachyderms rumoured to roam wild there !

Our visit to Arniston was again an exciting highlight – this time for the right reasons and the culmination of the fourth Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge, which saw a nail biting finish with an English victory and the deciding moment in one of the most captivating series of cricket matches ever recorded.

Other memories along the way will include encounters with exotic beasts over lunch in Barrydale, a faerie no-show in Swellendam and the luxury of chilled petrol in Ruiterbos on the last leg home over the Robinson Pass.

Eager to explore the Cape to the full, some of the tour participants enjoyed an extra day after the tour, exploring by means of 4WD vehicle part of the Ox wagon trail pioneered in 1814 by the eminent botanist William John Burchell near De Vlugt in the Outeniqua mountains.

Beauty, Beast & Boxer	On Tap?	Manpower

"Highlands and Winelands of the Western Cape" ~ Apr 17 - 26, 2005

A relatively uneventful tour by recent Roadrunner's standards with no Cyclones, Floods or other Natural disasters (snow was, however, sighted atop the mountains!).

Our first afternoon at Mountain Pastures ( near Uniondale ) was spent in the company of a gentleman called 'Frick' ( short for Frederick). Frick was brought up until the age of five by San Bushmen in the Northern part of Namibia and so was able to entertain us with jokes around the campfire that night in the local Bush dialogue ( a succession of clicking sounds ). Quantities of local firewater during the evening was sufficient to convince some group members of the need  for a dawn game walk the next morning.

Despite rumours of an approaching cold front and the possibility of snow fall on the higher ground our ride through Meeringspoort went well and our confidence suggested that the weather would hold off until later that evening. Emerging from Meeringspoort on the Northern side of the Swartberg mountains we were greeted by conditions that indicated the likelihood of snow on the summit of the Swartberg Pass and we promptly performed an about turn to Oudsthoorn, from where we spent the afternoon exploring the Cango Caves and a local Ostrich Farm ( Cango Ostrich Farm - highly recommended!).

Our approach to the 'secluded valley' of Tulbagh the next day was marked by a dusting of snow on the summit of Matroosberg ( 2247 metres ). That evening our weariness was soon forgotten at The Ballotina restaurant in Church Street where owner Michael Kenny  regaled us between courses with his operatic renditions. We are grateful to Michael for introducing us to Manley wine, produced on a nearby private vineyard in very small quantities (buy some if you get the opportunity!).

Our visit to Stellenbosch was marked on this occasion by a visit to the Meerlust vineyard as one member of group was familiar and anxious to renew acquaintance with their Rubicon wine. Introductions were made during the visit with some delicious Grappa liqueur chocolates which was a surprising bonus.

Yet again Arniston produced some surprises! With the surrounding countryside still under substantial quantities of water from two weeks previously a sign was spotted on the way into the village pointing the way to 'Willies Bush Pub and Grill' - a phone call to the establishment revealed that the path there was navigable by 4 x 4 in spite of a considerable expanse of water, and so, after traversing this and a detour through the said Bush we arrived at the Bush Pub where we were greeted by the occupants Willie, Rambo, Chops and various assorted regulars (see pictures below:).

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Another surprise in store was later that night in the Arniston Hotel where we made acquaintance with Arniston Bay wines ( no local connection other than the name ) which at R46.00 / bottle was better than many wines costing thrice that (available in Sainsburys for those who can't wait)!

The last day of the tour was marked by an exceptionally friendly welcome from Derek at The Country Pumpkin in Barrydale where we paused on the way home for lunch. A keen biker himself he extends a very warm welcome (which includes several shots of local Montagu Muscadel before you reach your table!) to all bikers who drop by and can be highly recommended although the 'pet' pythons sunbathing on the lawn are probably best avoided by those suffering from snake phobia!

Classic BMW Motorcycle photo shoot for
Western Cape Tourism Authority near Three Sisters ~ Apr 14, 2005

Two motorcycles were taken to Three Sisters ( beyond Beaufort West ) by myself and Maj Andrew Duncan and the official and unofficial photographs will be posted shortly on this page.

The Unofficial Version

"Highland and Winelands of the Western Cape"   ~ April 3 - 12, 2005

Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, Mother Nature intervened with all her power to disrupt the planned itinerary of South African Roadrunners inaugural 10 day classic motorcycle tour of the Western Cape. This tour will go down in the history books and in the memories of those involved as the "Arniston tour of 2005".

A group of seasoned classic motorcyclists, all veterans of previous Roadrunners tours in Bhutan and Cambodia assembled in a gloriously sunny Knysna with the prospect of similar Autumn weather for the coming week, so typical of the Cape at this time of the year.

The first days saw the group criss-cross through the Swartberg mountains by way of Meiringspoort canyon, the Swartberg Pass and the Seweweekspoort canyon and eventually arrive in Cape Town to a tremendous greeting from the Classic Motorcycle Club of the Cape. Several of the Clubs members met us as we exited the Cape Peninsula National Park and rode with us over Chapmans Peak Drive into Cape Town along Victoria Drive. The following day we were most generously entertained by the Classic Motorcycle Club in the Fishermans restaurant in Kommetjie, and on behalf of all the visitors we would like to extend our thanks to them for their friendship and camaraderie. There was a remarkable turn out of about 60+ classic machines and quite a number of head turners amongst them. During the morning, after a quick visit up Table Mountain in glorious sunshine, the group had ridden over Ou Kaapse Weg into Kommetjie, via Rhodes Drive and Tokai.

Through the Flats to Table Mountain	Speeches at lunch with the Cape Classic Motorcycle Club

The first inkling of what the weather had in store must have been on that Saturday morning as we drove over the top of Ou Kaapse Weg. The plan was to stop and meet up with other riders from the Classic Motorcycle Club who would be waiting in the car park area at the top - unfortunately, due to the density of the fog at the top, we completely missed the planned stopping point! At lunch that day, one of those assembled was heard to remark that there was a South Easter blowing and a cold front coming into Cape Town, a condition that is most unusual and almost unheard of.

Thus it was that the afternoon was spent in Kirstenbosch amidst gloomy, clammy and rather damp conditions and, as we rounded Devil's Peak, we were met with blinding sunlight. The next morning, the Sunday saw us leave Cape Town. Such a strong South Easter was blowing that we decided to forgo the ride along False Bay for fear of flying sand and a sticky salt laden wind in favour of the N2 and the Athlone Cooling Towers. At Gordon's Bay the wind appeared to be from a northerly direction but was so gusty it was difficult to determine what was happening as we gripped the handlebars with such fierce determination in our effort not to be blown off the road. As we climbed the pass over Cape Hangklip at Pringle Bay the rain started and, by the time we reached Betty's Bay, we felt as bedraggled as the penguins looked. Entering Hermanus amidst a ferocious thunderstorm with lightning and thunder immediately overhead, we were grateful for a bowl of hot soup and a cup of hot chocolate! Similar conditions persisted for the remainder of our 100km ride to Arniston where we arrived to find a power cut (hence a shortage of hot bath water!) but at least we soon had a roaring fire going in the hearth of the little thatched fishermans cottage around which we all huddled along with our sodden clothes. Few of us slept that night, such was the strength of the wind and the sound of the rain agianst the window panes.

During breakfast on the Monday, which was taken in the Arniston Hotel where the staff were trying to push back the water which was flooding all over the ground floor, we began to hear rumours that the only road into the town had been breached by a swollen river and we were quite literally marooned. As the prospect of a wet and windy ride evaporated and the rain eased off at about lunch time our attention turned to finding a way out of the town. Several reconnaisance journeys were made and it became evident that the situation was actually getting steadily worse as the waters were rising and would do so for some while before they started to subside.

As we were to later discover we had found ourselves centre stage of the worst floods in the Overberg region since February 1940 (official reports record 325 mm of rain fell in approx 24 hours although a local farmer measured 380 mm at Arniston in the same period!). Thanks to assistance from a local farmer, Henk Aggenbach, we were able to carry our motorcycles acroos the flooded road aboard a trailer attached to his 4x4 tractor at 1530 the following day (Tuesday) and proceed to Bredarsdorp and on to Swellendam where we overnighted. The next day (Wednesday) we arrived back in Knysna (24 hours later than planned) with nothing more to show for the ordeal than one water damaged digital camera (which accounts for the lack of pictures to go with this story - these will be posted as soon as received from the touring party who are making their way back to the UK).

Cloud Spilling over Chapman's Peak	The Road from Arniston - A picture says a thousand words.

Feb 7th 2005

South African Roadrunners Launches with a Leap! Today marked the start of South African Roadrunners classic motorcycle touring operations in the Western Cape of South Africa. The occasion was marked by two of the tour participants Mr. Alexander Howard and his companion Miss Sophie Pasquier,  both visiting South Africa from Hong Kong, leaping from Bloukrans Bridge ( the worlds highest bridge with a descent of 216 Metres ).

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The first tour was  a special three day  itinerary - first night spent at Mountain Pastures Game Reserve near Uniondale and the second night in Oudtshoorn.at Fosters Manor, one of the towns  historic "Feather Palaces" built at the turn of the 20th century.

There was time on the first morning as the group rode over Prince Alfred's Pass to make a detour to the summit of Spitskop to enjoy the panorama afforded to those who brave the track to the top. After lunch at Mountain Pastures the afternoon was spent exploring the nearby hills with out hosts, where some oustanding examples of San rock art are to be found.
The next day took us through Meiringspoort and after pausing for lunch and refuelling in Prince Albert the group departed, laden with many different cheeses after a quick visit to Gay's dairy, for the ascent of the Swartberg Pass. Magnificent panoramas on the way up and from the summit, but sadly the road has become very corrugated ( those who have been to Tibet with Himalayan Roadrunners will remember the corrugation there - getting similar on the Swartberg, but only 20 Kms not 900 Kms and at least no ice ! ).

The next morning after donning full riding gear the tour participants took a quick ride aboard an ostrich before heading back to Knysna via the Outeniqua Pass stopping before the Homtini Pass at Fullers firing range, on the old George / Knysna road, for a bit of target practice.