Lunch at West Coast Hacienda

We started our day off well again with our bottle of bubbly in the spa bath nice and early, before it got too hot. We had the usual discussions about whose glass had more in it! A very pleasant start to the day.

As previously arranged we got on the road at 09h30 and after refuelling we met Frank in Vredenburg, he was waiting in the shade of the service station forecourt as by then it was already 27 degrees, we could tell it was going to be another hot day.

We got on the road straight away and blasted out along the road to Velddrif, through Dwaarskersbos and out along the narrow, rather bumpy road that leads through to Eland's Bay and Lambert's Bay. In spite of the heat it was a very nice ride, I was thoroughly enjoying my self, revelling in the intense pleasure of a powerful, responsive machine eating up the miles as it surged through the corners and along the straights speeding towards the shimmering distant hills around Eland's Bay.

As we weren't in any great hurry we pulled off into a shady spot after about half an hour so that Frank could have a smoke. We had been cruising at about 130kmh as there are quite a few potholes in the road and it's narrow, with no run off area. Around here is where we saw 31 degrees on the thermometer.

It's always nice to have a bit of a leg stretch and a chat alongside the road but soon we were on the way again, next stop the Eland's Bay hotel for quick, cold beer.

A popular place with bikers, we have been many times before and the beer was good and cold and very welcome. From there it is a short ride through Liepoldville to the West Coast Hacienda just outside of the little hamlet of Graafwater and Marius has a unique way of indicating that his place is biker friendly;There is a very nice pub with a brand new pool table, Johan beat me two games to one! There is chalet self catering accommodation for up to 20 people and the food was very good, I had a pork spare ribs and chicken wing combo and Janet had a chicken shnitzel which she really enjoyed. Well worth a ride out for you Cape bikers, it is just past Graafwater if you come out on the N7 and turn down towards Lambert's Bay from Clanwilliam, Marius is also a biker give him a call on 0790365000.

The ride home was just as good with a slight breeze to keep us a bit cooler than on the way up, altogether a 275km round trip, just enough for a lazy Sunday outing and well worth doing again sometime.