Braai and scooters

"Sunday mornin' coming down" - the bloody rain that is! "The beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert." (Thanks to one of my favourite artists, Kris Kristofferson for those words.) No riding today, it's just too miserable and I haven't even had a chance to wash the big red machine after last weekend's wonderful ride. Today is just going to be a stay at home and watch movies day. Janet is roasting a rolled loin of lamb for lunch, smells good already!
During the past week we were home early from work and it was one of those calm and warm evenings that we often get at this time of the year so I decided to do a braai.

First I prepared my vegetables; thinly sliced potatoes and butternut with chunks of courgettes, I placed them all on a large sheet of tinfoil (shiny side inside) and sprinkled liberally with olive oil, aromat, ground black pepper and mixed herbs and then sealed the package well.

As soon as I lit my fire I placed the parcel on the grid, I kept raking coals under it and rotated it often to distribute the heat evenly. The parcel was on the heat at least half an hour before I put the chickens on the grid. It is also best to carefully turn it upside down on the grid after a while to really distribute the heat evenly, try not to tear the tinfoil.

Next I "spatch-cocked" two whole baby chickens (the bigger one was mine!) and rubbed them well with peri-peri oil, sprinkled with aromat, garlic flakes and herbs and placed them over the coals. Chicken needs to be turned over often to ensure even and thorough cooking without burning, not many people like their chicken medium rare, we certainly don't!
This was dinner, the vegetables are similar to vegetables roasted in the oven but they have a much better, sweeter flavour when braaiied in tinfoil. Really enjoyable with a couple of glasses of cold Sauvignon Blanc.

And now for something completely different; Dick sent me these photographs and I have said in an earlier post that I am not a fan of scooters, but you really have to admire the work that went into these and the sheer artistry involved;Just look at the size of the saddle on this beauty, you could sleep on that!

Amazing paint job!
All lit up.
Another amazing paint job, and really stretched out!
Another really stretched scooter with a fabulous paint job.
Cool rider!
Amazing work has gone into all of these machines, incredible!

Stay on two wheels friends - in two weeks, on 2nd October we have the first "Ink and Iron Show" in Capetown, this has been going on in Jo'burg for a couple of years and they have decided to bring it down to the Cape so there is something for us to look forward to and I will tell you all about it.

Fantastic Eendekuil weekend

Janet arrived back from Durban just before 4pm on Friday and we managed to get out on the road just before 5pm, she had time for a beer (I offered her a cup of coffee!) and to pack her pannier case and we headed out. Don't you just love a biker chick?

It was a lovely ride, there was a bit of a strong wind to start with, but we soon rode away from it and it took us just over an hour to do the 133kms to the Eendekuil Hotel and that was in spite of the 64km stretch from Velddrif to Piketburg which we had to do at 100kmh because it is such a bad road. Actually it was because of that stretch that it took so long to do only 133kms!

The sun had dropped down over the mountains as we roared into the parking area at the hotel, it was getting slightly chilly as we joined Dick and Janet who had already established themselves on the veranda and it didn't take us long to get a beer and get ourselves into a relaxed state.

We had a couple of drinks, met up with another biker; Rick who was on a KTM 990 Adventure who joined us for the evening. It was during dinner that Rick learned that I was carrying 25 fresh oysters in my top case and he decided that he was going to tag along with us the next day, in fact his exact words were "I'm going to keep that red BMW in my sight all day!"

We had a very pleasant evening although everyone went to bed a lot earlier than I did, I should have had Frank with me - but then again, maybe not! After a really good breakfast on Saturday Dick and Rick rushed off to Clanwilliam along the N7, at first I was keeping up with them but then I slowed down and said to Janet; "They are going too fast, I want to just cruise and look at the scenery." she was happy, that was exactly what she wanted to do so I dropped our speed and we sat relaxed in the early morning sunshine and enjoyed a relatively slow 74kms and met up with our friends at a service station just outside of the town.
From there we rode together (after Janet had managed to score some cardboard cups from one of the takeaway shops) up to the "Pakhuis Pass", this is one of the most amazingly picturesque areas that I have ever seen. The last time we had rode along there the road had been tar for only about ten kilometres out of the town so we had turned back with no idea how wonderful the area is, it had previously only been accessible to the 4x4 drivers and off road bikers, now it has been opened up to us road riders as well and what an spectacular ride it is! The rock formations are unbelievable!
We stopped in a shady area and considered opening the oysters then but we could see the road stretched out ahead in the valley and decided we just had to carry on to the end, maybe there would be a better spot! There wasn't but the ride was fantastic,
It was worth it just to ride to the end of the tar road, about 30kms further and then turn around and ride back.
All the time it was getting hotter but we didn't notice, the new tar stretch was fantastic and there was no traffic, just a few other off road bikes travelling through from Calvinia to Clanwilliam.
By then we had decided to return to our shady spot to open the oysters and drink some of the wine, Rick was still hot on our heels!
I couldn't get enough of the absolutely amazing scenery, Janet did a great job with the photos, I think she volunteered because she was worried that I was going to try my usual method of engaging the cruise control and taking pictures with one hand on that winding road!
We soon got back to our original shady spot overlooking the valley and pulled off for a break, it was about eleven o'clock, time for a snack and something cool to drink.
Here you can see Rick on the KTM just in front of me, he couldn't believe that he had met up with someone carrying a bag of fresh oysters in the middle of the bush!
We sat in the shade on a mountain eating fresh oysters and drinking dry white wine out of the cardboard cups which Janet had managed to acquire and thinking "What the hell could be better than this?" Rick was saying things like; "Never in my wildest dreams................!" as he slurped another fresh oyster.
Later that evening, after a couple of beers at the "West Coast Hacienda" where I had a nice chat with the owner; Marius, and a good ride back to Eendekuil it was time for dinner. Chicken and lamb, rice and vegetables.
and I could go back as many times as I wanted! I did. That meal was for the unbelievable price of R50, about 7USD or 4,5GBP, in fact the whole weekend; two nights accommodation, two dinners and two breakfasts and all of our booze (which was quite a lot!) cost us less than R1,000! A real bargain. Dick and I had quite a good party that night, we found out how to work the disco set up and the two of us sat listening to music and talking crap........it's a guy thing! After another good breakfast the next morning we were ready and raring to go.
We rode towards Piketberg, and then just outside of the town we took the road that leads up to "Bo-Piketburg", an incredibly winding, narrow road that climbs steeply up the mountain to a lush farming area where proteas grow wild alongside the road and farms are nestled in the unbelievably beautiful folds in the multi-hued countryside. We followed the narrow, winding ribbon of tar through the freshly scented farmlands, revelling in the sheer beauty of the area. We were travelling at about 30kmh waiting for the tar to end but wanting to carry on until it did in case we missed another enchanting vista.
All too soon that road did come to an end, at a farm gate and we stopped for a break. It was sublime, a beautiful day in a spectacular area and reluctantly we decided that it was time to head back.
We retraced our path back to the pass and soon we were looking down over the town of Piketburg, a spectacular pass and a wonderful ride and we still had more than an hour to go!
The BMW and the KTM head off down the mountain pass.
I couldn't resist another photo on the road home, this time Janet wasn't sleeping! Dick was behing me and we still hadn't managed to shake off Rick on the KTM! It's amazing what a bag of oysters will do!
We said our "Goodbyes" outside of the town and split up, Janet and I went to one of the local hotels on the beach for an ABF (Absolute Bloody Final) before heading home, it had been a wonderful weekend.

I now really want to go back to the hauntingly beautiful "Pakhuis Pass", I want to park the motorbike and wander amongst those magical and mystical rock formations, then I want to go back up to "Bo-Piketberg" and take another of those winding farm roads to its eventual farm gate and take lots of photographs to show you how beautiful our area is. We will do this very soon, watch this space!

I really recommend the Eendekuil Hotel to you Capetown bikers, R180 bed and breakfast! You can't beat that and Magda rides a pink R1200GS!

Home alone, learning to cope.

As the saying goes; "The best laid plans of mice and men........", I unfortunately had to cancel my plans to take part in the BMW rider accademy track day on Sunday. Janet got last minute notice that she had to go to Durban on Monday for the whole week and that left us with things to do on Sunday, I have booked a place on the next track day, whenever that may be. You will have gathered from this that I have been left alone to fend for myself for the whole week! This is just not right, I am used to being taken care of.

I think I have done alright so far, this was my dinner on Monday; Sirloin steak marinated in olive oil with Aromat and garlic and sauteed potatoes, mushrooms and onions.
Then for Tuesday night I prepared grilled Karoo lamb chops sprinkled with Aromat and Lemon Pepper with a creamy garlic sauce and roasted vegetables.

Wednesday night Frank and I went out to the Seafood Shack in Velddrif for a very good meal and tonight I am going to a braai with some friends, all taken care of!

Janet gets back from Durban tomorrow and she is going to have to get out of the car and onto the back of the motorbike! She assures me that this is fine, she is looking forward to the trip and said that if she is tired she will have a sleep.

We are off to the Eendekuil Hotel tomorrow for the weekend, we are meeting Dick and Janet there and will spend Saturday and part of Sunday riding around looking at the flowers, I'm sure there will also be a bit of time for eating and drinking!

It's that time of the year when the spring flowers bloom in the Western Cape, bringing tourists from all over, so we decided we will make like tourists in our own area. I am really looking forward to spending the weekend on the motorbike, as is my friend Dick. It should be a good one, the weather forcast is favourable so the flowers should be showing, I will let you know all about the weekend in my next post - enjoy yours!

Gypsy Jokers fun day - a pictorial essay

Saturday 4th September dawned a bit grey and cold but as the morning progressed the weather started clearing nicely and by midday the sun was shining brightly through the patchy clouds, warm enough to encourage the bikers arriving for the Gypsy Jokers fun day to gather outside.

Danny had set up the entrance table just inside the door to welcome the visitors and to relieve them of some of their money. Janet bought one of the tee shirts!
The barmaid was kept busy as the guys headed in for liquid refreshment. It was nice to have an attractive young barmaid behind the bar instead of Danny.
But because it was such a nice day a lot of the people opted to stay outside for a while longer.
When they saw me pointing the camera and I shouted "Hey, how about a greeting?"
This is what I got .......... bikers!
Here is a view of the inside, this is where Frank and I play pool just about every Friday afternoon, a nice, tidy pub with a good atmosphere and good people.
There was the usual biker shennanigans taking place outside, this guy wanted to take his bike into the pub and do a donut but Danny convinced him that it looked much better outside!
Soon the first of the lambs was ready and I carved it up for the hungry mob, there was also a potato salad and a green salad.
Throughout the afternoon I had cooked up four big pots of mussels and these were placed out on a table for the people to snack on so there was plenty of food.
Some Cape friends enjoying their meal.
Two young biker brothers tucking into a plate of roast lamb and salads.
As it got darker, and cooler outside the crowd moved inside and started getting into party mood.
Danny and the donut man, hey that sounds like a book title! This is the guy who wanted to do a donut inside the pub.
A biker jol just would not be the same without the pretty young ladies would it? We had plenty.
Happy faces at the bar, bikers know how to party! It wasn't long before the lamb was reduced to a skeleton, here Dawie tries to get a bit more meat from it!
A small group of people put a great deal of effort into making the day jol a success, and it was a success for the people who did bother to attend, but unfortunately it suffered through lack of support from both the Capetown bikers and the local ones. Is it just a general apathy on their part? Could they just not be bothered to support a local party? Very few clubs were represented and there are hundreds in the area, I'm afraid that Danny might not have done very well and will probably be reluctant to do it again. I'm afraid though that this happens all too often in the Western Cape, we've seen it before and no doubt we'll see it again - oh well, we had a jol.