RAT Cape Town

Strangely enough we seemed to once again attract some of the most fierce rain fall & setting off from the shop , dead on 11.00 , those rain fall periods followed us all the way to Citrusdal. Patches of dry and some wind , but after Clanwilliam the sky was grey but no rain. The route from Town , via Malmesbury , Piketberg ( where Gareth confused all by pulling in) , Citrusdal ( Kardoesie for coffie & a toast……which took forever – poor service) , Clanwilliam through 3 Stop & Go and onto Graafwater , Elands Bay.

Explorers , Tiger 800 xc’s , Thunderbird’s , and one single Griso ( which appeared at a Stop & Go) , had a fun ride to Elands. The hotel was ready , the bar most welcoming , dinner was great (massive portions of fish – tender calamari – huge burgers) and a massive fire afterwards. Wigs were worn by all…………photo’s say it all.

What happened………….. well watch out for the next event , meet the people that attended , and join in for the next ride / overnighter / weekend away.

 

 How does one TOP good company into words….. sommer impossible…………..

Not threat of rain (which never happened) or a flat rear tire or road works or no shows could dampen the spirit in which this ride took place. Streeten did his normal……I will show you how to do a trip on steel thread……………. move , Dawson’s Tiger developed a rear flat out of no where , and to this very minute still a mystery as to how. BUT tyre weld works.

After a well deserved “cold one” the bus tour of the town was enjoyed. With much laughing at ” we now turn left , as we can’t turn right ” and ” I love it when you talk foreign” and “ it’s show time” 10 minute trip was 9 minutes with 1 minute to the old house. The town has a long history. The old trains / buildings and so on deserve a good hard look.

Dinner was at 19.00 – on time , the dinning room perfect , all were dressed up in what had been “requested”…………. of course some over dressed and some under dressed. One slight hic cup @ dinner ( apparently cold pickled fish starter takes long to prepare)…… rest of the dinner was perfect. Back to the Laird for a night cap and celebrate Julia’s birthday. The Honky Tonk piano player ( who is also the tour guide) kept the music going and grabbed one and all to sing along. ( no idol winners).  A time was reached that no ringing of the “bell” could raise the barman from his hideaway.  but the Chippendale did his “stuff”.

Breakfast……….. ok we leave that.

 

 

 

 

RAT’ters

There is still accommodation available @ the Lord Milner in Matjiesfontein

Contact hotel directly on 0235613011 / use ref : Triumph Cape Town

Email will be sent out with route – but departure from shop is @ 11.00

Plans for the afternoon / dinner dress code / ride back to follow on email.

Thanks to all those that joined for what tuned out to be a WARM (HOT) ride.

The “cruise” weather was great….. even though Mike Johnston could not get out of third gear – the pace was casual.

NEXT run will be a “more speedy” ride.

Thanks to Bushpub for a good meal at a refreshingly affordable price.

Any suggestions to other venue’s always welcome.

Any route suggestions welcome.

REMEMBER 8th March is Matjiesfontein Overnighter

Next Breakfast ride planned for 13th April.

The list of celebrities that ride Triumphs

Have fun guys & gals.

Triumph Riders have something to be proud of.

All Triumph Explorer and Trophy Motor cycle owners have been requested to contact their closest dealer with regard to a Factory recall on the ECM.

Mike Hopkins Motor Cycles & Triumph SA have already made contact with all owners , as on record – MHM expects the first batch of new ECM’s to arrive from the factory within a week , whereupon clients will be telephoned and requested to come in and have the change made and software downloaded. This process should take the workshop no longer than +/- 45 minutes.

Triumph UK ( worldwide) place customer safety as a priority.

Once again , TRIUMPH , leads the way

 

Prince W at the Triumph stand in Milano

 

Weekend away has been renamed …………… ” WHAT RAIN”………………..

With those who dared to defy the weather guru’s heading off towards the Black Clouds was to turn into an adventure. N1 Winelands for 1st meeting , Bottom of the Du Toits Kloof Pass for 2nd collection and on towards the interior. A suggestion to go through Rawsonville was wise , missing the camera’s and stops. Fuel at Robertson BUT Ashton was the turning point. RAIN , RAIN and my some more rain. Towards BarryDale and for fun we had RAIN.

The Sherry at Country Pumpkin warmed the inside but nothing could remove the wet riding gear. Needless to say the TRIUMPH all weather gear really works (those that had). The rain slowed in parts , arriving in Oudtshoorn around 4 ,fairly dry.  La Dolce Vita for dinner.

Saturday morning showed that the heavens had opened up the evening , wet , wet & some drizzle. Leaving at 08.30 towards Robertson Pass the sky was blue BUT the pass was misty. Riding slowly we could actually see the beauty of Gods work.

Keith & Schalk from Knysna joined in a hearty breakfast , spilling the beans that they had traveled in rain all the way……..BUT………we left Eight Bells in drizzle which soon disappeared and we were greeted in George with blue sky and SUNSHINE. Now there was no looking back ! WHAT RAIN????

Knysna – to The Heads – oops the service sucked but Tiger rider Wim sorted that out and we suddenly had more waiters than in a german beer hall. TAPA’s for all@ Thesen , RAT Dawson went Oysters…..Tourists gathering around the Triumph’s. Back to Oudtshoorn , over Outeniqua Pass , again………..NICE……….road was clear and dry …need I say more.

BRAAI time

Trust a man from Paarl to get massive fires going…. Jack Daniels arrived…………. inhibitions left…..it was Guy Fawkes with no crackers.

RETURN

08.30 saw the rear end  of the group….one rider rode in green jeans….”follow that pants”… with the GT of Zak under terrible strain (dam jack)….. stop @ Ronnies….. Breakfast @ Barry dale , fuel @ Robertson and a final good bye @ Du Toits Kloof Lodge……………

THANKS TO ALL………. A GREAT WEEKEND ….SOME GOOD RIDING …AND WONDERFUL COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

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In typical Cape weather the group left the shop and headed towards Philly to meet up with the “others”.

Patches of rain greeted us as we made our way towards Malmesbury then on to Moorresburg with a planned stop in Piketberg for some fuel and a bite. This was a bad plan, the new “Spur” outside of Piketberg was under staffed and unable to handle the “crowds. The fuel pumps were packing up and cutting out – so anyone wanting to use that place in the future should stay clear.

The road between Piketberg and Velddrift is as bumpy as corrugation – we rode the “road” balls to the wall , well in Ian’s case he felt them in his throat. The R6 taking strain – BUT the Triumphs well suited for that kind of road. A welcome sight was Velddrift – and a sigh of relief from Andre after sending poor Ben 10 down the road twice and littering the road with their clothes as a pannier came open. The short distance from there to Elandsbay could not come quick enough.

The hotel was waiting for us. Check in was without hassel. Of course being gentleman the MHM guys ave up their sea facing room to the newly engaged couple – but then found ourselves in the Presidential Suite.

Down for a well deserved cold one – Gareth giving the bar lady a hard time in deciding what he wanted ” Die man vat sy tyd”………. as she wanted to go off shift , of course no one dared argue with her. PHOTO’s tell the store further.

Needless to say , the evening progressed with plenty of giggling , laughter , leg pulling , chatter , and cold drinks (ja right). (Photo’s tell the story). No one knows how much wood was burned and between Ian and Richard there seemed to be an endless supply – thanks guys.

Breakfast……….. You gotta love the scrambled eggs and baked beans……….. and the road map eyes – any sunglasses salesman would have made a fortune.

Road back to CT seemed to be over so quickly. Stop in Velddrift & Langebaan and a final “cheers” at Melkbos.

THANKS TO ALL THAT JOINED – IT WAS GREAT FUN

(and I now hear well done to Doug who has just bought a Triumph Explorer)

REMEMBER OUDTSHOORN 1st WEEK NOVEMBER