Cape Train Trip 2009

Just got back this afternoon after a FANTASTIC trip to the Cape.
Thank-you to all who came along - especially Deon M & Lyn ( spelling ?)

After doing last year's Train Trip with JB Tours, we felt a bit more confident and less stressed than last year about loading our bikes on the train.
A special THANK-YOU to Johan Badenhorst and Mauritius from JB Tours who assisted us even though we weren't part of their group this time. They even made space for Jan to load his RT in Kimberley. Thank-you guys, will be joining you guys with your Garden Route Train trip in the New Year.

Shawn & I got our bikes off in Worcester and managed to do Hex River Pass, Theronsberg Pass ,Ceres, Gydo Pass, Bainskloof Pass.



Then managed to meet up with the rest of the group for a wonderful lunch in Wellington ( who managed to do separate bills!)

Wanted to do Table Mountain but the "table cloth" was on and Cable Station closed, so we just went to our B&Bs in Hout Bay.

Our B&B was Houtkapperspoort which was BEAUTIFUL ! Initially we weren't allowed in as we were "bikers", but thanks to Willie they changed their tune. Unfortunately they had a bad experience with bikers, but we managed to show them that BMW bike owners behave themselves. We can highly recommend this place - 1st Class accomodation !


Then next day the weather cleared and we were able to go up table mountain - was worth the wait ! What a view from there !


We then took a spectacular drive along the coast towards Gordons Bay and stopped off at Rooiels.

If you ever visit this pub, only park in front of the pub ! If not, you'll be asked to move by the owners of the adjacent shops & estate agency - same happened last year !
Then made a stop at Napier to find my front tyre was flat !!! Thanks Pierre for noticing !

After a stop at the garage, we were on our way again to Struis baai and Agulhus.

Struisbaai Harbour was beautiful



Next morning went to the lighthouse for photos

and the most Southern point



back in the Struisbaai Harbour for group pics . . . and a swim for one !

En route to Barrydale - Tradouw Pass

Deon & Lyn were great !

Lunch in Barrydale

Ronnie's

Pleased to see club colours that Brian Canoo donated, still on the wall in the pub !

Then spent the night in Calitzdorp

Part 3
The BEST accomodation of our whole trip was SPEKBOOM COTTAGES in Calitzdorp. You stay in houses which have been beautifully restored and furnished including and outside shower AND bath - if you want - otherwise a huge shower indoors. The hosts were amazing. Can definitely recommend this place - would like to go back there !


and a HUGE dog !

Stopped over in De Rust

and Meiring's Poort


and a swim for some brave people . . .

A "dop" at the Royal Hotel

before spending the night in Aberdeen - Thank-you to Jurgen for organising accomodation and lamb-spit-braai,

Had breakfast in Graaf Reinet and managed to see inside this beautiful church that I have driven past so many times before

Lunch at van der Kloof Dam

Last night in Kimberly - Milner House - also highly recommended. Beautiful rooms and wonderful breakfast. Also within walking distance of supper !

Last stop for lunch today was Parys before we said our goodbyes.
Great food, but may take the whole day to get it !

Thanks again to all for a wonderful trip.

Good to hear you guys had a great trip - where the other pics??

Looks great. Good to see you had a good trip, welcome back.

Hey Deon (Mr P) - seems you guys has a fantastic time and good weather. Great pics and very inviting accommodation. They look like places we'd need to try (soon ).

Welcome back, glad you are all safely home.

Nice one “Shorty”.

You have been busy on that new “DS” of yours nê

Great report and pics. Thanks for sharing

Excellent ride report! The train looks fun - I should make a plan to do it at some point

2 more pics - courtesy of Pierre

Cape Agulhus


Table Mountain

nice man

I can see the club membership fees increasing with all the badges that will have to order soon

Nice one!

Do I really still have to do Alexander Bay ?
Can I not do Cape Agulhus again ?

deonp wrote:Do I really still have to do Alexander Bay ?
Can I not do Cape Agulhus again ?

yes, no!

deonp wrote:.....Can I not do Cape Agulhus again ?

Only if you want to .......or probably if you did it by train for the first time.

.....but Mr P did it already some time back...yes

Excellent pics - seems the weather was 100% than last year - at least there was no rain. Seems a great time was had by all.

LeRoy Olivier wrote:Excellent pics - seems the weather was 100% than last year - at least there was no rain. Seems a great time was had by all.

Oh - there was rain!

Last year we only really had one day where we couldn't ride. We ventured out to Hout bay, almost got blown and washed away so returned to the Hotel. Then spent a very expensive day at the waterfront !

This year, when we were in Cape Town, it was raining in JHB.
When we got to Cape Agulhus, it was raining in Cape Town. The wind was however very bad.
Then on Sat when we rode from Kimberley to home, the weather in JHB seemed to have cleared up. So yes, we were very fortunate this year with the weather.