Marquard overnighter - 10/11 October 2009

The following was posted in another thread earlier today:

Quote:
Re: To all of you...
by JCM Today at 8:36 am

.So Marquard is in the news today.....as first winner of the “Volksblad-Toerismedorp van die Jaar-kompetisie”.

Runners-up are Clarens, Excelsior and Ladybrand while Ficksburg is in the vicinity anyway.

Maybe a tour some time or another to see if we agree..............?

See: http://www.volksblad.com/Content/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/2114/72d8d9356bef473a80314ae483fb5b9c/01-10-2009-03-06/Wendorp_se_resep_is_samewerking,_gesindheid

Unquote

....which of course got the thought processes flowing..

So - who is interested in a ride to Marquard next Saturday, 10 October - approx 355km via the scenic route, have a look around the area, sleep over for the night and come back on Sunday.

1. DaveS
2. JCM
3. Johan & Trudi
4. Wahl

I wanted to go with.. but was reminded that there is only a short time left to get into shape for the 94.7...
Enjoy!

You can go with your bicycle????

tj wrote:You can go with your bicycle????

Ek het al snaakse goed op 'n GS gesien. Kan mens nie maar 'n bicycle ook oplaai nie?

... of in daai Kroeser van jou?

jaa swaer . . .

Soos voorgestel deur JCM:

Ek stel (voorlopig) die volgende roete voor: Ons ontmoet almal Saterdagoggend op Bapsfontein (dan hoef Johan en Trudie nie op te kom Pta toe nie). Dan ry ons daarvandaan Delmas-Devon-Balfour-Grootvlei-Villiers-Frankfort-Tweeling-Reitz-Bethlehem-Fouriesburg-Ficksburg-Clocolan-Marquard (ek het hierdie pad - tot op Bethlehem - al voorheen gery om tolpaaie te vermy).

As Johan en Trudie nie omgee om eers Pta toe te kom nie, kan ons natuurlik heeltemaal 'n ander pad ry. Gaan ons Clarens ook insluit? Seker verkieslik Sondag.....dan lewe die plek).

Ons moet, wat ons ookal doen, die pad tussen Petrus Steyn en Reitz vermy as gevolg van padwerke.

Oor die presiese terugkompad kan ons later besluit?

Anyway....hierdie is maar net voorlopige gedagtes.....dalk het julle beter idees.

Ek ondersteun die eerste voorstel.

Due to a few “unforeseen accidents” and some ferocious riding lately - Vanessa came down yesterday - we will probably not make this one but please be so kind to post just the “macro” trip detail. Departure point and time, route there (just towns) and overnight plans……one never knows , maybe we can join in for part of the route.....


….and some others might be interested as well

JR wrote:Due to a few “unforeseen accidents” and some ferocious riding lately - Vanessa came down yesterday - we will probably not make this one but please be so kind to post just the “macro” trip detail. Departure point and time, route there (just towns) and overnight plans……one never knows , maybe we can join in for part of the route.....


….and some others might be interested as well

Vanessa.....your daughter? What happened.....hope she's fine!

I think we will finalise the departure point (Bapsfontein?) and route tomorrow morning.
Will post the detail.

Right, here we go:

Seems as if some of us (Dave, Wahl, etc.) will leave tomorrow from Total (John Vorster at +-07:30am) meeting the rest (Johan/Johan, Trudie etc.) at the Bapsfontein garage (4 way stop) at 8am.

The planned route is:
Delmas-Devon-Balfour-Grootvlei-Villiers-Frankfort-Tweeling-Reitz-Bethlehem-Fouriesburg-Ficksburg-Clocolan-Marquard.

We will be staying in the Marquard Hotel.
(See http://www.cylex.co.za/company/marquard-hotel-15488009.html).

NOTE: Not all the roads in the vicinity of Grootvlei will get you onto the N3. The coordinates for the Grootvlei ramp onto the N3 is: S 26 48 21.9; E28 27 32.6 which is 26km from the Villiers Engen.

Oh bother, said Pooh...
I have to leave for Namibia tommorrow morning.
Enjoy, everybody!

So, we met at Bapsfontein at 08h00 sharp on Saturday and did the loooong way round to Marquard, some 540km later.

Myself & Trudie, Wahl, Johan Mijnhardt & Dave, who did most of the organising. With Dot still in Chicago it can get quite lonely at home

Which turn-off to take?


During a leg-stretcher; Shall we take the 50km detour via Golden Gate??


En route the bikes required some washing - a la JR

Dave needed only a tread rinse


Wahl could do with cleaner spokes...


These guys obviously learnt how to do it at Jan Staal se plaas

Johan got on a bike the first time over 60 some months ago, and also do it gracefully



Ja well the 800ST was in real need for an all-over soak - so too the rider


and my RT turned out to be the cleanest after that crossing!





Caught them two red-handed during a fuel stop

With some witnesses looking on. (Must go back to obtain their statements )





Arriving at the beautiful Marquard Hotel. Still in renovating mode



The staircase to the rooms


The passage on the 1st floor


The compulsory pub visit. The Lions beat the Griquas and are in the Semi's! Unbelievable, UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dave watching the game


We all went for a sight seeing tour of the town, albeit a bit less ATGATT as required, but then the coppers were off duty at the time, old chap!

Johan doing it in G-mode. This is happening all the more often on S-trips


Setting up a pose for the inevitable picture at the town entrance

Dave can we have your version please?

Next mornig after breaki the road home, most of the time in a soft drizzle, was over just too quickly...

Lovely - tj, that water crossing is a classic!

Thank you very much - It was a very nice overnighTer

Wow guys !
Another sucessful outing !
Sorry I missed out.
Would have been cheaper than staying at home.
A quick visit to Bavaria on Sat morning for 2 new tyres,an extended Warranty on the bike ( and almost a new bike )
Thanks for the report back !!
Looks like a place worth visiting in the near future.
I see Wahl was convinced to go along. Are you also coming on the boat trip to Namibia? PLEASE !!

Thanks Dave and Johan M for organising such a nice trip. Thanks Whal for joining and Tj for being the sweep.

Can we pleaeaease do it again???

I think that TJ is still suffering from information overload and will let him correct the few errors in his post....

Maar so tussen die Drakensbergers wat verdwaal het naby Villiers hier is 'n paar fotos wat nou-nou sal volg...

Some more photos...




Op die Stoep restaurant where we had some drinks, left to go back to the hotel, came back for dinner (walked) and had some more drinks.


Very friendly people the locals - everyone chats and greets when they arrive and leave. Sometimes things get a bit blurred though!


This mornings view outside the hotel




Some of the furniture in the hotel






Thanks all for a good overnighter (the spelling in the title was correct! JCM - jy het net vuil gedagtes - sies jong!!! )

....but I like the sentiment!!

Need to do an overnighter again in the near future.

Great stuff! Looks like this is a "dorpie" to put on the to-do list. Great water crossing pictures As a rule of thumb - go as slow as possible... and only as fast as necessary

tj wrote:[/b] Dave watching ordering a drink.

Fixed - the 'game' on the other side of the bar counter was not worth watching!

deonp wrote:Wow guys !
,an extended Warranty on the bike!!

Off topic:

Since when is an extended warranty on bikes available?

If so. Please start a new thread on this very important information!!

DaveS wrote:Some more photos... (the spelling in the title was correct! JCM - jy het net vuil gedagtes - sies jong!!! )

....but I like the sentiment!!

.

I suspect Admin had a finger in this pie?!?!

Wahl has it correct:" OvernighTer"

Lovely little town.. Thanks for the report.
Great example that one doesn't need a long weekend to go riding!

Good one guys.

Thanks for sharing!

oh yes, that 800ST went through the water crossing on a mission