The monthly breakfast runs

I really enjoy the club scheduled monthly breakfast runs, the first Sunday of every month sees us gathering, usually at Juffroushoogte farm restaurant for a cup of coffee before the start. I personally feel that club members should get together and ride as often as possible, this solidifies the camaraderie and keeps the club together as a family. These runs however are not limited to club members and we welcome other riders, whether club affiliated or not who wish to join us for the day, indeed last Sunday's run had four visitors, three of whom were past members of the club.

Fourteen people on eight bikes gathered for last Sunday's run and as the weather is definitely improving we decided to go for a slightly longer ride this time, still only just short of 130km to "Opikopi" restaurant in Porterville. I usually phone the restaurant on the Wednesday prior to the run to alert them that their establishment has been selected - (You lucky restaurant, you.) but I am obviously not able to tell them how many will be in the party, this I can only do on the Sunday at 09h00 "Kickstands-up"

This is usually quite acceptable because they then have an hour to an hour and a half before our arrival to prepare. On one occasion a couple of years ago, it was February, our breakfast run attracted 29 bikers! When I phoned the place at 09h00 the manager said to me "Oh no, sorry that is too many people and we are busy!" this was unacceptable and I said to him; "We are on the way, I am bringing 29 hungry bikers, make a plan." and off we went. Well they did make a plan and we ended up having a very good time, that manager must have panicked a bit!

We headed up the R45 with the ambient temperature at a lovely 18,5 celsius and very little other traffic. I kept the speed down to around 130kmh because we had a couple on a smaller bike riding with us. I was really enjoying the ride, my BMW which is now 13 years old and has done more than 135,000 kms was feeling really good, powerful and responsive and sounding great - damn I love that bike!

We swung a left onto the 22km stretch that leads into Moorreesburg and then pulled into the Caltex service station, a couple of the guys needed petrol, a couple needed a smoke and anyway it was "tea" time.

Tea break next to the service station

Leg stretch chatting with Laureen

A brief struggle to open the bottle

Heine and Gerda pour the tea

Tea with a smile

Everyone enjoying a cuppa

From there it is 30km along the N7 to Piketburg, a very pleasant stretch because of the light traffic on a Sunday and also because the road is in excellent condition, then 25 km into the small town of Porterville which is also the home of our annual Polar Bear run sleepover venue.

We lined the machines up outside the "Opikopi" restaurant and went inside, we had not been to this one before but Laureen had seen it advertised and suggested it. It is a pleasant place, seemingly an old house converted with a large "stretch" awning out front making it into quite a large venue.

A large, pleasant venue

Seated, checking menus

Good conversation

Home made chicken pie

Some had breakfast, some like me ordered from the lunch menu, my home made chicken pie and chips was pretty good, washed down with a couple of cold Castle lagers.

We took a different way home from Piketburg 62km to Velddrif under a leaden grey sky, the air got cooler, would we get wet? It was still a lovely ride but by the time we lined up outside "Vis Vlekhuis" in Laaiplek my bum was decidedly sore, need to do some longer trips! 

One for the road there and then we split up, everyone heading for home. What a lovely morning on the bike with like-minded people, the round trip had been less than 300km, I didn't set my trip meter but I think we'll have to increase the distance slightly as the weather improves.

Next Sunday is Biker church at 08h00 and usually another breakfast run somewhere, in the meantime stay safe everyone.