BMW Bike Fest Oudtshoorn

I was somewhat concerned to go to Oudtshoorn as I have never covered such a long distance on the bike. I registered in January and was really looking forward to the weekend, but again a bit of respect for the distance. Our group consisted of 5 bikes and a pillion. Richard Hussey was the ride leader and we had a pleasant ride to Colesberg. Dinner was great and the affordable prices for both food and drinks was a pleasant surprise.

The next morning we left Colesberg for Oudtshoorn and en route we encountered many bikers on their way to the Buff in Mosselbay. It amazes me to find bikers riding high speeds with hardly any riding gear, however, its their choice. It is also interesting how many bikers are driving without numberplates or numberplates which are partly covered.

We were welcomed in Oudtshoorn in sweltering heat, although the locals reminded me that the 36 degrees was quite cool as it was 46 degrees the previous week. The Bike Fest was well organised, many thanks to all involved in organising a great weekend. The dinners and entertainment was of a high standard and the routes were excellent.

I tremendously enjoyed the opportunity to experience the hospitality of Oudtshoorn, the opportunity to spend a weekend with fellow Beemer passionates from across Southern Africa, and the scenic routes.

It is rumoured that the event would again be hosted in Oudtshoorn in 2011. Let us hope the 2011 date would not clash with the Argus and the Buff which would enable many more of our club's members to attend a wonderful weekend.

Lastly I have overcome my respect for long distance rides.

So where are the pictures?

DaveS wrote:So where are the pictures?

+ 1

Here they are!!

A few pictures of the Bike Fest as provided by JCT.

Richard and Geoff taking a break in Willowmore


Jamstreet


Dinner time


NG Kerk Prince Albert


Meiringspoort


JCT called this one 'The Heads at Knysna'..


Thanks for the pics and glad you enjoyed the trip!

Admin kept some for exclusive use in 'other' media....

Seems like the Buff group missed them at Knysna Heads.

Thanks for the post JCT, and now that you're not a long distance virgin anymore, keep those ride reports coming!

Thanks for sharing !
Looks like you had great weather !

Seems it was a nice ride and the weather was more than fine - will seriously think about this ride in 2011.

Nice weather was the order of the day at Oudtshoorn.
Saturday had a threatening thunderstorm. but it rained elsewhere in the region.

Returning from the Bike Fest, I was riding with Attie Booysen and his pillion Annalien de Wet.
We brunched in the Wimpy in Graaff Reinett and were setting out again when I noticed a thunderstorm in the area of the mountain passes that we would travel. I suggested we should wait a half-hour for it to pass, but Attie was keen to continue to get past Bloemfontein before stopping for the night. Had I been leading a larger group, I would have listened to my own apprehensions.
Against my better judgment, I agreed as we were only two bikes.

I WAS WRONG!

On the N9 between the Naudeberg Pass and Lootsberg Pass we were hit by first heavy rain then by HAIL
- varying from pea size to around 20mm diameter!
We had little choice but to shelter at a picnic spot under a tree - NOT the place to be with lightning striking around!
But we dared not venture on the road...
There was other traffic and the road was covered by a layer of round ice cubes lubricated by water.
It was extremely slippery.
The slightest braking or avoiding manoeuvre could easily have brought us down.
With other traffic on the road and in very low visibility, that would have been highly dangerous - even fatal.

It was very unpleasant having to just sit there on our bikes with ice rocks beating down, lightning striking around us - and rain getting in everywhere. I regretted my decision to continue and I will not repeat it again.

People, please learn from our experience...
As we were kitting up to set off, a local lady said:
"Wees asseblief baie versigtig oor die pas in die reen!"
She was right!!

A half hour or an hour longer in the Wimpy would have seen the storm pass completely.
It would have been a lot more comfortable than out there where we were!

More importantly, it would have been a lot SAFER !

Glad the three of you got through that one safely.

Yes that is true - at least you could turn off and find shelter - a number of years back we were en route towards Bloem on the alternative route from Barkly East and ran into a similar storm.

Being a secondary route there was no bridge, overhang or other shelter available - luckily the storm roughly from behind and our visors where somewhat protected from the hail.

Funny experience seing these massive hailsones bouncing of the bike at speed as we tried to outrun the storm - eventually succeeded about a 100km further.

I tend to agree with Richard - if one can wait out a storm/bad weather it is indeed best to do so. Rather lose sometime in waiting than to run into unsafe weather. Believe roughly the same happened to Deon and Basiliki on their way back from the Buff in 2006.

Just to add a few lines to what has been said by Johan and Richard about the loooonnnnngg weekend which was so well organised, from the various routes and options to travel to the local fare and drink on both Saturday and Sunday night. Not forgetting Saturday evenings gathering at Kleinplaas where catering was done by Kobus se Gat, a large man in the mould of the late Toller van der Merwe who added much laughter and humour to the gathering together with the music in true KKNK spirit!

The accommodation at Protea Riempie Estate was very comfortable and the swimming pool an absolute blessing at the end of each days ride! Thanks to all concerned for an enjoyable weekend amongst like minded friends. Glad to hear everyone arrived back in one piece.

Looking forward to next year.

GeoffB's pictures from the weekend.

Excellent pics - how about adding a few headings to the various pics that one can know who and where these pics were taken.