I was privileged to be asked to host a weekend away for Triumph Pretoria over the Freedom Day long weekend. Given that riding a motorcycle is about as free as you can get in the crazy world in which we currently find ourselves, it was rather appropriate that this was our weekend of choice.
We met up on the Saturday at 8:30 AM at Triumph Pretoria for a bit of a meet and greet and riders briefing (Not to forget one of Damian’s excellent coffees). These events are not restricted to Triumph riders only, so we had Len and his daughter Angelique, on a BMW 1200 GS LC, and Brian, ace up on his 1260 Ducati Multistrada bringing some variation to an otherwise Triumph party. Don and Marietjie were on a magnificent new Triumph 1200 Explorer, Fritz and Lindie were Triumph 800 XCX mounted as was our group TikTok star, Eddie. Flying the Tiger 900 Rally Pro flag were Chris and Karen, and Irene and me.
Meeting the group it again occurred to me what an amazing common denominator motorcycles are. Here we had a diverse group from various walks of life, glued together by a passion for two-wheelers. Trips like this can be hard going, with riders of different skill levels and riding preferences who can sometimes make travelling as a group challenging.
We rode out onto the N4 with me leading the group, keeping a staggered formation astern. I put my speed control on 130 and it was soon apparent that the group was gelling nicely. Driven by a grumbling tummy I pulled into the Sergeant Pepper AngloBoer restaurant off the Balmoral turnoff. Being out in the country it was not inundated with people and the tranquil surroundings made for pleasant chit-chat. We strolled through the adjacent Boer War Concentration Camp Cemetery, appalled at the cost of innocent lives, or the so-called “collateral damage” of war. Then it was breakfast time, sitting outside and enjoying the splendid weather, a bit like Goldilocks’ porridge, not too hot or cold but just right! The food was excellent and well-priced. Please do yourself a favour, and give them a try, you will not be disappointed. With hunger banished we were back on the bikes, soon despatching Witbank and Belfast.
Having sampled the Boer War flavour of AngloBoer, we stopped for a leg stretch and chat at the Bergendal monument on the edge of the escarpment after Belfast. I shared some Boer War yarns while we strolled around the monument commemorating the brave young men of the Staatsartillerie who chose to fight to the death in what was always going to be a one-sided affair. Outnumbered by more than three to one, the Boers escaped to fight another day, but for the small group of gunners who were done with running and chose to pay the ultimate price. The British too suffered badly from the extremely accurate Boer rifle fire which forced them to withdraw and finish off the Boer resistance from a distance with their artillery pieces. A lone Boer sniper held up the British advance for the whole following day, shooting across the valley with extreme accuracy before slipping away.
We hopped back on the bikes and cruised to Milly’s for a quick loo break before remounting and riding down the stunning Elands River Valley past Waterval Boven and Waterval Onder and on to Ngondwana sawmills where we refuelled for the next day’s riding. It was by now a hot and humid 32 degrees, so it was very pleasant to ascend the mountain to our overnight stop in a cool Kaapsehoop. The road was damp in patches from rain that had swirled past literally minutes before our passing. We kept an eye out for the feral horse herds that frequent these mountains but without luck.
We got settled into our comfortable accommodation at Angel’s Mist Guesthouse, where we were welcomed by our host Abrie. We had the afternoon at leisure, giving newcomers to Kaapsehoop an opportunity to explore the quaint little village. Changing out of our riding gear we had a cold one on the deck at Angel’s Mist then strolled up to Nagkantoor, the ever-so-funky pub at the top of town run by the renowned investigative journalist, De Wet Potgieter. We chilled there for a while before dining at the restaurant adjacent to Angel’s Mist, with some folks opting for Pizza. It was then early to bed as we had a good ride planned for the following day.
True to form we woke up to a mist-bedecked Kaapsehoop. The forecast was uncertain with rain almost a certainty according to the weather apps, however by the time we had done breakfast the mist had lifted and we rode out on slightly damp roads. The route I chose was meant to be engaging and enjoyable, not ruined by potholes.
We turned towards Sudwala caves, then took a right up the mountain towards Rosehaugh and then left towards the junction with Long Tom pass. The weather was smiling at us. We traversed dry roads sweeping and undulating through spectacular mountain scenery. After stopping at the replica Long Tom cannon sight for pics, we strafed the Pass to the lookout at the top then retraced our steps and continued to Sabi and then Pilgrims Rest, where we stopped for a drink and some sightseeing.
I rode along revelling in the riding and thinking how well the bikes that we were riding coped with the conditions. The longer travel suspension and decent damping allowed us to enjoy the ride despite the fact that the roads are quite rough in places. We loved the ride and the stunning scenery. A brisk pace allowed for huge enjoyment yet with a low risk of any mishaps. The original plan to stop at Harry’s Pancakes was shelved when we saw the queues, opting instead to return to Kaapsehoop for the MotoGP.
The bikes all had similar-sized tanks so we could make one, rather than multiple stops for fuel. A couple of KTM 1290 Adv R pilots who had pulled into the guesthouse chirped that our bikes were “clean”, intimating that we should have ridden dirt as we were, by and large, on adventure bikes. “Each to their own” as the saying goes.
The same attributes that make Adventure bikes work in the dirt make them very relevant tar road bikes. Especially when that tar is bumpy or potholed. Rapid tar travel requires a different skill set which should also be appreciated. The wind protection, suspension travel and comfort of the current generation of adventure bikes make them especially relevant. Perhaps we will do a dirt trip down the road. Chris and Eddie, amongst others, will definitely be up for that.
We enjoyed the MotoGP, toasting Brad’s success and also being treated to some yummy cake, courtesy of Lindi, who was celebrating her birthday. We freshened up before enjoying a slap-up dinner at the Hotel Cum Guest House opposite Nagkantoor. Oxtail and Lamb curry were popular choices and went down singing hymns!! It was a pleasure dining with like-minded people, sharing anecdotes from their biking experiences. We walked back to our digs in a soft misty rain, making it all the more pleasant to climb under the duvet for some well-earned rest.
The next day dawned typically misty but by the time we had breakfasted and packed the bikes it had lifted and we left for home under leaden skies. I chose to ride the Schoemanskloof road to Machadodorp. This road has been recently rehabilitated and makes for spectacular riding. Unfortunately, the traffic on the last day of a long weekend was a bit heavy but it made the riding more engaging.
I was leading, with Chris and Karen in close attendance. Don and Marietjie were following the two 900 Rally Pros on the big 1200 Explorer Rally Pro with the rest of the crew running line astern. I would run up behind slower traffic, prod down twice on the quick-shifter and gas it past, with Chris following suit. Don would simply pull the pin on the giant Tiger and, staying in top gear, let the ample power of the big triple launch him past the traffic.
The weather was cool and overcast, perfect for riding briskly, with the moist dense air making the bikes feel particularly perky. I had Irene’s heated seat on low so she was snug as a bug. These Tigers are open-road weapons of note! Slick, smooth and refined, with supple suspension that keeps them planted but also smooths out road irregularities. We ran in a speedy train to the Ultra City, where we stopped to down a welcome coffee and say our goodbyes.
Eddie, our resident bearded expressive, as was now customary, took the final group pics. Judging by the animated banter, it seemed as if a really good time had been had by all. It was almost a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to new friends and go our separate ways. God willing we will get to do it again.
Riding home I was already thinking of possible future routes. Brian made a point that he enjoyed the fact that, for him, it was a carefree weekend, not having to worry about a thing, knowing that it was all planned and taken care of, right down to fuel stops. Everyone rode with savvy, enjoying riding at a brisk pace but not allowing the “red mist” to descend. We all returned home having made new friends, ridden spectacular roads, been blessed by enduring no rain, had no mechanicals and best of all got home safe and sound.
