Meeulanders MCC annual Dart Run

This event was started many years ago as the Meeulanders Mcc's main annual fund raising event and has been run with varying degrees of success over the years. As with everyone we feel the financial squeeze and also, as happened last year, the calendar of events is often so full that bikers have to make choices as to which ones they can afford to attend with events on every weekend. This year we brought the dart run forward a whole month in an effort to avoid the busy calendar but also because the weather at the end of October last year was almost unbearably hot.

Saturday dawned slightly overcast and definitely cooler, it promised to be a lovely riding day as we set out for the venue - in our bakkie! (Ute, pick-up) This because we had to carry all of the prizes, the banners, my gas cooker, pot, three bags of fresh mussels and various other necessary paraphernalia. Later in the day I was to be envious of my brothers on their bikes, but not on  Sunday morning when we left our accommodation in Saint Helena Bay, it rained heavily and a cold wind was pumping from over the sea and we were warm in our bakkie!

Members gathered at the start venue; "On Ice" in Vredenburg early to get set up and all pulled their weight to ensure the day would be a success.

First entries Megan and Miaan from Capetown

Megaforce arrives in number

Widows Sons from Capetown

Alex and the Mohicans arrive

It was extremely gratifying to see the number of bikers who arrived in support of our event and we Meeulanders thank each and every one of you, you made the day a success. We got the first dart throw organized quickly so that people could have a drink and eat a boerewors roll before we moved on to the next venue.

I will not post all of the dart throwing photos here but suffice it to say there was a lot of comment and banter from the onlookers. In order to ensure that the competition is not won by experienced dart players the board is not at regulation height at any of the venues, the first dart was thrown at a board on the floor propped against a step, at the second venue it was on a chair and players had to use their left hand (or their right if they were "lefties"). I have posted all of the photos on my "Braais, beers and bikes" facebook page so if you are interested, please go and "like" the page and have a look.











At the third venue, Route 45 bar at Plaasmol it wasn't any easier and some people took quite a long time to hit the board!

From there they rode through to "Wielhuis pub" in Velddrif for the fourth throw and after that it was a short ride to "Noordblinder pub" in Saint Helena Bay for the last dart, prize-giving and after party, and what a party it turned out to be.

The final dart throw was a killer and some took ages just to hit the board, here Meeulanders Vice Pres gets a bit of help while he tries to throw.

Once every entrant had thrown their last dart the scores were tallied, in the meantime the braai fires were lit to cook the chicken and burger patties and I was busy with two large pots of fresh mussels. Our local D.J. "Weskus Kallie" got the party rocking and it turned out to be a party of note!

Bikers know how to party and the west coast bikers are no exception. Prizes were handed out for best, second, third and worst dart scores for men and women. First entrants men and women, the best represented club trophy went to the local Megaforce Chapter with the Mohicans coming a close second.

Many bikers had arranged accommodation nearby, many rode back to Vredenburg or Velddrif, we had arranged accommodation for Meeulanders across the road.

Here is a picture of the "last men standing" and I'm not sure what time this was taken, left to right; Andre the owner of the Noordblinder Pub where the party was held, Vice Pres. Murray, Uncle Frank and me.

This was the sight that greeted us the next morning when we went back for breakfast, Frank sleeping on a bench in the pub - I have many photographs of him like this after rallies and dayjols.

We had a good breakfast and then headed for home, feedback from those who attended has been very positive, the event was a great success thanks to club members who worked very hard to ensure that it was. Click on these pictures to see them full size and if you are interested in the rest of the pictures please visit my facebook page of the same name.