- Joined
- May 21, 2009
- Messages
- 1,213
- Reaction score
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- Bike
- Suzuki DR650
Wilddogs and South Africans
WHILE the scorpions, ants and lizards were all scuttling off to find shade from the searing heat in the Cederberg this week , Ian, Firecoast, Nismark, Robin and Dusty Rusty were sweating it out in full gear.
All in the name of good dirty fun and to prove that not only “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.
On the road home one felt like a loaf of bread moving on a conveyor into the oven to come out burnt brown with a hard crust on top.
Or a Knight of the Round table donning his suit of armour and heading onto a battlefield in France in the summer heat.
The group all met at 8am on Tuesday Jan 4 in Brackenfell and headed for Wellington via the gravel and then headed up Bains Kloof to meet Nismark.
The morning was still relatively cool as we slowly cruised towards Ceres making sure that we stayed in touch with the Agricultural Yamaha of Dusty Rusty. Several times saw some go with a burst of speed especially Ian sitting aboard a 990 KTM.
After a fill up in Prince Alfred Hamlet we stopped at the hotel for a much needed beer or two plus a bite to eat.
Now the heat was really on and Op Die Berg saw a party of already well cooked riders.
But once hitting the gravel all was forgiven as this is what we had come for and the pool at Oasis beckoned.
A few us also stopped at the top of one of the passes to help a cage driver whose vehicle was bubbling away like a steam train but going nowhere.
After several words of advice and the directions to Oasis fortunately on the downhill side we left the hapless fellow and his family to their own devices and survival.
On reaching Oasis it lived up to its name as we all plunged into the pool along with all the other visitors as by late afternoon the countryside was really baking hot.
Nismark however, the toughest of the bunch took off for Wuppertal to see how fast he could ride the route, return while us weaklings cooled off and helped drain the fridge of any beverage one could get hold of.
Meanwhile throughout the day the thunder clouds had been building over the Tankwa Karoo and around 6pm the storm swept across from the South East and pelted down for a few hours.
Winter had come temporarily to the Cederberg.
Thanks to Chantal the steaks, ribs and T Bones were up to the great standard we have all become accustomed to and the party continued while the heat and humidity again built up.
The following day the group had to split as Ian had to return to Cape Town and get ready for the long schlepp back to Gauteng while Nismark, Firecoast and Dusty Rusty were headed to look for San paintings the more crazy but aging Robin headed to climb Rooiberg behind Oasis and then traverse around to Nuwerus and home.
And the walk was well worth it as the Cederberg countryside offers some of the best mountaineering in the world. And the scenery from on top is even more spectacular. Plus a large family of Rheebuck were grazing in one of the hidden valleys.
Nothing better than a slog up a mountain where the silence is so thick it can be cut with a knife and one can sit and hear the blood pumping through the veins.
The day slipped by the heat intensified and Firecoast decided to make a break for home to walk her dogs on a cooler beach in Cape Town.
Again we spent and interesting evening with other guests around a table of excellent food plus great stories from Sean who had ridden in from Lamberts Bay via Wuppertal on board his 1250GS.
After a great night and another hike lung bursting up the mountains Robin returned to Cape Town in a heat wave second only to the Sahara desert while Nismark and Dusty Rusty contemplated riding to Wuppertal return.
All round a hot but great ride with a cool bunch of friends.
WHILE the scorpions, ants and lizards were all scuttling off to find shade from the searing heat in the Cederberg this week , Ian, Firecoast, Nismark, Robin and Dusty Rusty were sweating it out in full gear.
All in the name of good dirty fun and to prove that not only “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.
On the road home one felt like a loaf of bread moving on a conveyor into the oven to come out burnt brown with a hard crust on top.
Or a Knight of the Round table donning his suit of armour and heading onto a battlefield in France in the summer heat.
The group all met at 8am on Tuesday Jan 4 in Brackenfell and headed for Wellington via the gravel and then headed up Bains Kloof to meet Nismark.
The morning was still relatively cool as we slowly cruised towards Ceres making sure that we stayed in touch with the Agricultural Yamaha of Dusty Rusty. Several times saw some go with a burst of speed especially Ian sitting aboard a 990 KTM.
After a fill up in Prince Alfred Hamlet we stopped at the hotel for a much needed beer or two plus a bite to eat.
Now the heat was really on and Op Die Berg saw a party of already well cooked riders.
But once hitting the gravel all was forgiven as this is what we had come for and the pool at Oasis beckoned.
A few us also stopped at the top of one of the passes to help a cage driver whose vehicle was bubbling away like a steam train but going nowhere.
After several words of advice and the directions to Oasis fortunately on the downhill side we left the hapless fellow and his family to their own devices and survival.
On reaching Oasis it lived up to its name as we all plunged into the pool along with all the other visitors as by late afternoon the countryside was really baking hot.
Nismark however, the toughest of the bunch took off for Wuppertal to see how fast he could ride the route, return while us weaklings cooled off and helped drain the fridge of any beverage one could get hold of.
Meanwhile throughout the day the thunder clouds had been building over the Tankwa Karoo and around 6pm the storm swept across from the South East and pelted down for a few hours.
Winter had come temporarily to the Cederberg.
Thanks to Chantal the steaks, ribs and T Bones were up to the great standard we have all become accustomed to and the party continued while the heat and humidity again built up.
The following day the group had to split as Ian had to return to Cape Town and get ready for the long schlepp back to Gauteng while Nismark, Firecoast and Dusty Rusty were headed to look for San paintings the more crazy but aging Robin headed to climb Rooiberg behind Oasis and then traverse around to Nuwerus and home.
And the walk was well worth it as the Cederberg countryside offers some of the best mountaineering in the world. And the scenery from on top is even more spectacular. Plus a large family of Rheebuck were grazing in one of the hidden valleys.
Nothing better than a slog up a mountain where the silence is so thick it can be cut with a knife and one can sit and hear the blood pumping through the veins.
The day slipped by the heat intensified and Firecoast decided to make a break for home to walk her dogs on a cooler beach in Cape Town.
Again we spent and interesting evening with other guests around a table of excellent food plus great stories from Sean who had ridden in from Lamberts Bay via Wuppertal on board his 1250GS.
After a great night and another hike lung bursting up the mountains Robin returned to Cape Town in a heat wave second only to the Sahara desert while Nismark and Dusty Rusty contemplated riding to Wuppertal return.
All round a hot but great ride with a cool bunch of friends.
