WC Chapter: Outride to Paarl, 15 May 2022

Al is dit aanvanklik koud, is dit verder ‘n volmaakte dag en hoor mens oral motorfietse brul soos wat hulle die pad vat. By ons bymekaarkomplek voor Sir Lowrypas, staan Feroza soos gewoonlik reg met die heerlikste varsgebakte koeksisters. Delphius het eers later, met spyt, verneem dat hy die heerlikheid misgeloop omrede hy op die nippertjie by die vertrekpunt opgedaag het.

Wynand, Kraai, Gerdus en Cynthia-hulle was ook daar; die De Doorns-paar was hoeka in Stellenbosch. Chris van der Merwe het saam met ons opgedaag met sy 1100 Wing. Boet en Jacques was effe ongesteld – ons hoop hulle herstel gou. Krish en Gail het ons langs die pad gekry wie Donny se Wing geleen het. Dié het al vierkantige wiele omdat Donny, wie naby aftrede is, baie besig is met werk deesdae en selde kans kry om te ry. Krish is al so uitgehonger om weer op ‘n Wing te wees dat hy elke kans gebruik wat hy kry om sy been oor die saal te gooi. Met die wegtrek vang die verkeerslig ons en weg is die Wings, maar André het die adres op sy GPS en ons kon gelukkig nie verdwaal nie.

The trees along the roads were beautiful in their autumn colours, as we took the scenic route along Grabouw and Villiersdorp. It again made us appreciate the beauty of the Western Cape.

On our way, we came across an accident and immediately the thought crossed my mind that safety must always be number one, whether we are in vehicles or on our Wings! On the bridge over the Theewaterskloof Dam, we stopped for a bit of pep talk by Kraai.

The Theewaterskloof Dam needs more water, but our rainy season has just started, so there is hope. The bridge over the dam was lined with various bikes and some fast cars that were practising fast pull-aways. Delphius was frustrated with a couple of cars that did not move over to the left lane when there were dual lanes. It was not long before we saw him lined up behind an AMG 63 Mercedes and off they went to many others’ amusement. When the Merc’s driver made a U-turn and saw it was a Gold Wing on his tail, he was surprised with this huge bike keeping up well with him.

At 10:30, the temperature was still only 14°C outside (we were of course snug in the car). The Franschhoek Pass was lovely and green, as usual, and as we came down, it became a bit warmer. There were lots of cars with their tops down and lots of bikes coming up and down the pass. Franschhoek was packed as usual.

By ons eetplek, Freedom 301 Restaurant, buite Paarl, is die groep nog nie daar nie. Ons weet nie waar ons hulle verloor het nie. Deon en Lizbe (ook op vier wiele), wag vir ons terwyl Kenny en Gladys pas afgeklim het van hulle Wing. Deon-hulle het al koffie gedrink en teen die tyd wat die res arriveer, staan hulle bottel wyn al reg. Dit is ‘n baie gewilde eetplek, veral vir motorfietsryers, en daar is heelwat ander dinge te sien soos ou motorfietse en karre, asook ‘n mark waar allerhande goed te koop is. Donny en Suzette en hulle kleinkinders kom later, soos ou vriende, ook gesig wys.

Die kos was heerlik en ‘n paar van ons waag om dit om Bitterballen te bestel wat toe heel lekker smaak. Na lekker eet en gesels, vertrek ons huistoe nadat dit al heelwat warmer geraak het.

Baie dankie aan ons Road Captain en sy span wie die reëlings getref het. Dit was soos gewoonlik puik en almal het die dag geniet.

Written by Amorita with input from Cynthia and Delphius 

To view more photos, click HERE.