Prelude

Here we are, the time has finally arrived and tomorrow morning we are off on the second annual Polar bear run. I must confess to being rather excited about the trip, last year it was a great bunch of guys and this year Des has included WAGS, we'll see how that goes.
I had my new tire fitted this afternoon and the big red machine is all gassed up and ready to go, tonight we are going to do our packing because we have to meet in Velddrif at 0700, that's just over 30kms away so we will leave just before 0700 - it's going to be a bit fresh!

I enjoy this build up to a trip, sorting out what we will need and doing the packing. Ok it's only an overnight stay so my half of one pannier case should be plenty of space even though a lot of warm clothing must be packed. Hopefully Janet will manage with one and a half panniers and the topcase!

Altogether the trip is about 470kms, breakfast in Ceres after about 220kms and a beer stop in the historical little village of Matjiesfontein after about another 135kms. That village is pronounced My-keys-fon-tane try that fast!

Last year on the final 110km stretch to Sutherland, one of the guys didn't feel too well so we all pulled over in a lay-by for a break, there was only another 40kms to go so we weren't in much of a hurry and Graham pulled a bottle of wine and some cheese out of his case and we sat and relaxed in the warm winter sun.

Here's Graham opening the wine and already the guys were closing in! Look at that lovely background of Karoo bushveld.

Des has apparently now expanded on this and has planned a cheese and wine "party" at this lay-by so it will be very interesting to see how that goes. There will be a braai again at the hotel and last year the Karoo lamb chops were out of this world, after breakfast there will be an awards function and then we will mount up for the ride home. As I said in my previous post this is going to grow into a really good annual event and in my next post I will tell you all about it.

Stay safe and stay on two wheels!