Kwa Zulu loop: 2-5 April 2010

This is the chance for those with the 'feeble' excuses why you cannot go on the Victoria Falls trip to still get away for 4 days in April - and you do not have to take any leave!!

Information of the road route is available on the website. Total distance for the trip will be approximately 1 700km.

The following accommodation has been provisionally booked. If you will be joining us please confirm your accommodation with the people mentioned for each stopover. Once you have booked your accommodation please also let me know at gonedown@telkomsa.net so that I can send you details of the arrangements and trip route.

Day1 Shonalanga Lodge, Vryheid. (no gravel road to the lodge )
Provisional booking in the name of BMW Motorcycle Club, Pretoria. Rate includes breakfast.
3 x Standard Single Room (1 person per night) R410.00
4 x Standard Double Room (2 people sharing per night) R530.00

Contact Lorenza Williams at (034) 982 2086 to confirm booking.

Day 2 Fairways Hotel, Salt Rock, KZN
Accommodation in this part of KZN is difficult to secure as a block booking because of the long weekend. Most places will not accept bookings for one night only. I have however managed to make a booking at the Fairways Hotel in Salt Rock, but they will not hold this for long.
Prices are R495.00 per person sharing and includes a full english breakfast. Contact the hotel on 032 525 4861 to secure a booking.
You are welcome to try to find other accommodation in the area - may be easier to book for 1 or 2 people at a venue than trying to secure provisional bookings for more people over this long weekend.

Day 3 Royal Country Inn, Dundee
The following provisional bookings have been made in the name of BMW Motorcycle Club, Pretoria and includes breakfast.
5 x 2 sleeper double rooms – R335.00pp sharing (normal rate – R370.00pp)
1 x twin room – R335.00pp sharing.

Confirmation and payment of 50% deposit to be done with Helen at Royal Country Inn 034 212 2147 by 15th February 2010 to confirm booking. Reference: BMW Motorcycle Club Pretoria.

AS OF 11 MARCH 2010 THERE IS STILL ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE - THOSE WISHING TO BOOK PLEASE DO SO DIRECTLY AND ADVISE ME SO I CAN INCLUDE YOU IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE.

Please remember that this is a long weekend so it is important that you book your accommodation as soon as possible.

The final Trip document (provided by DaveS) is now on the website.

HI All, who is thinking of joining, already seem to have an issue with accommodation at Salt Rock

(PC)2E wrote:HI All, who is thinking of joining, already seem to have an issue with accommodation at Salt Rock

That's strange - I booked yesterday for me and Dorothy and received confirmation today?

Who is planning to go on this trip, please put your names down
Dave & Dorothy
Peet & Christa

(PC)2E wrote:Who is planning to go on this trip, please put your names down
Dave & Dorothy
Peet & Christa

That's about it for now - if no more then we will not take back-up vehicle.

Seems we will be making up for lost time, traveling and trips last year - we might be joining. Will still think about it.

LeRoy Olivier wrote:Seems we will be making up for lost time, traveling and trips last year - we might be joining. Will still think about it.

OK - will the LT be ok in the twisties - foot peg scraping time!!

Yip - footpegs, middle stand - does not matter. Cannot do it as fast as you do - but nevertheless we do it in style and comfort, and flipping the LT from peg to peg is the ultimate in adrenalin.

LeRoy Olivier wrote:Yip - footpegs, middle stand - does not matter. Cannot do it as fast as you do - but nevertheless we do it in style and comfort, and flipping the LT from peg to peg is the ultimate in adrenalin.

Not necessary to do it very fast in the corners to enjoy the ride.

True - regardless of the speed putting the bike - whatever rocks your boat - down on the tar is the reason why we bike. I see the route your worked out basically gives you 430 km's per day.

Will phone and see if accommodation is still available at the venues mentioned - if so will book and join - last time we travelled in that area was in 2007

Kept the daily distances relatively short for 2 reasons.

Lots of twisties day 2 + 3 so travel will be a bit slower and also means we don't have to rush and can spend time somewhere interesting if we want to.

Anyone know who would want to do backup??

At this point it seems we will only be 6 people and 3 bikes - is a backup really necessary - just make sure the bike is serviced before going on the run. LT will be going in for 40 000 service just after the Chrissiesmeer ride.

6 people and 4 bikes - Dorothy rides her own.

That was my thought until now - but at this stage could be 11 people and 8 bikes.

Hopefully will have confirmation soon so putting out feelers in case we more bikes.

Actually meant 4 bikes - typo - presume Dot will again be using the R1200S seeing as you will be on the Hooligan Bike (S1000RR).

LeRoy Olivier wrote:At this point it seems we will only be 6 people and 3 bikes - is a backup really necessary .

Personally...

When the ride is an official club ride a backup should not be considered as per the number of bikes participating. To have a simple breakdown or just a flat will bring the ride to a stop for a length of time. Don't think a flat is just putting in a plug... There are flats and flats.

The club's rule does however stipulate the number of bikes on the ride for the subsidy that the club is paying only. If the number of bikes are not sufficient the participants should contribute to the R700/day towards the backup.

We have once had an 650's chain problem and if it wasn't for the backup the trip would've been a disaster.

My 2c

tj wrote:

LeRoy Olivier wrote:At this point it seems we will only be 6 people and 3 bikes - is a backup really necessary .

Personally...

When the ride is an official club ride a backup should not be considered as per the number of bikes participating. To have a simple breakdown or just a flat will bring the ride to a stop for a length of time. Don't think a flat is just putting in a plug... There are flats and flats.

The club's rule does however stipulate the number of bikes on the ride for the subsidy that the club is paying only. If the number of bikes are not sufficient the participants should contribute to the R700/day towards the backup.

We have once had an 650's chain problem and if it wasn't for the backup the trip would've been a disaster.

My 2c

Hence my request above for volunteers for backup - you offering your services??

LeRoy Olivier wrote:Actually meant 4 bikes - typo - presume Dot will again be using the R1200S seeing as you will be on the Hooligan Bike (S1000RR).

That will depend on whether her new bike is here yet! First batch received did not have the colour she wanted with full spec!!

So now has to wait at least 3 weeks to know if the next lot have her colour with full spec which may mean she cannot use it on the trip as we will be doing more than the 1 000km for the first service.

[quote="DaveS"]

tj wrote:

LeRoy Olivier wrote:At this point it seems we will only be 6 people and 3 bikes - is a backup really necessary .

Hence my request above for volunteers for backup - you offering your services??

Would've loved to but we are doing the gold ride - that weekend being the Alex/Agulhas leg.

Not with you - what new bike for Dot??????

Still accommodation available for people still wanting to join this one.

Have changed the route slightly on the last day because of very bad road conditions between Newcastle and Vrede. Drove it today by car!

Following have confirmed:
Chris & Golda Meyer
Peet & Christa Erasmus
Dave Swart
Dorothy Prinsloo
Willie Nel

Anyone else booking please let me know and let me have your e-mail address so that I can include you in any correspondence.

Hello Dave, this looks a great trip. Will let you know soon if we are joining you, just need to organise a house sitter as we were away doing the run for the Kosi Bay/Blood River trip this last weekend.

Sue Coetzee wrote:Hello Dave, this looks a great trip. Will let you know soon if we are joining you, just need to organise a house sitter as we were away doing the run for the Kosi Bay/Blood River trip this last weekend.

Day 2 and 3 both nice routes with lots of twisties.

DaveS wrote:

Sue Coetzee wrote:Hello Dave, this looks a great trip. Will let you know soon if we are joining you, just need to organise a house sitter as we were away doing the run for the Kosi Bay/Blood River trip this last weekend.

Day 2 and 3 both nice routes with lots of twisties.

Abe and I sat up late last night and studied the map book, this is going to be an awesome ride, but unfortunately we are not going to make it.