Sunday afternoon.

Hi,

The BMW R1200R had it's 20000km. service last week. I was in for a little surprise, R3221-70, about a R1,000-00 more than expected. The biggest surprise was four spark plugs @ R180-00 each. One consolation is that the motorcycle is going really well, feels wonderful.

We did some riding this weekend, no new roads to report, spent the majority of our time in the Franschoek and Paarl area on Saturday, such a beautiful part of the Western Cape. We also had a ride this morning, went for breakfast at La Cucina in Hout Bay, excellent, if ever in the area try them their food and the selection is really fantastic.

The bad news, I had a little side stand moment yesterday afternoon when parking my motorcycle in the garage. We parked the Bonneville and then pushed the R1200R behind it, I thought that the side stand was fully extended but must have slipped backwards as I pushed it into the garage. The good news is that I managed to get my body in the way before it hit the ground. I have got a sore back and side, small scratch on the tank for the R1200R from the Bonneville's number plate and indicator but no major damage to either motorcycle. I will visit the panel beaters to see if they can remove the scratch with rubbing compound. A lesson well learnt, never assume that the side stand is fully extended without checking to ensure.

Lion's Head from the Seapoint side

Ciao, have a great week,

Clive :)

Horizontal rain, wind and cold, it's winter in Cape Town.

Hello,

The last three days have been wet, windy and cold. You can call me a sissy but I have to confess that my motorcycle has not been out the garage since Saturday. I could try and justify that I have been busy at work and I have, but had the weather been fine I would have found some time to ride.

The Liesbeeck River.

The above photograph shows the Liesbeeck River which flows through Rondebosch, Cape Town, the area where I live and work, captured at 10h00 today. This river is normally a mere one metre wide trickle, today it was flowing really strong and at times was close to the top. The one blessing is that Cape Town is beautiful in winter as well.

Have a great Wednesday and hopefully I will soon have some new photographs from a ride to share with you.

Ciao, until next time,

Clive :)

Friday, looking forward to the weekend and a big thank-you to all our readers.

Hello,

How communications have changed. I can remember surface mail, airmail, the telex machine, the fax machine, life before television and even before mobile telephones.

I started writing this to share with family and a small circle of friends, life, motorcycle rides, the discovering of new and interesting places in and around Cape Town and the Western Cape of South Africa and a few thoughts on Marketing, Consumer Behaviour and Entrepreneurship.

What amazes me is that in two short months this blog has attracted readers from Russia, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, France, England, Ireland, Canada, the USA, Brazil and of course South Africa. Thank-you to each and everyone of you for taking time out to read the posts, please feel free to comment and to share your thoughts and feelings, especially those of you who live in those exciting, far away places. It would be great to hear from all of you.

Giveaway, built by Dime City Cycles - Visit Silodrome to find out more and to enter, link on the right.

Beautiful Triumph Scrambler - Visit Silodrome and Dubai Bikers for more, link  on the right.

Don't get stuck in the mud this weekend, looks like rain down our way.

Ride some interesting roads this weekend.

The above four photographs appeared on Silodrome, Dubai Bikers or BMW Motorrad South Africa, please visit their websites and their Facebook pages for more, our thanks to them.

Ciao, until next time, have fun,

Clive :-)

One day to ride in Cape Town and Surrounds.

Hello,

In the event that you only have one day to ride in Cape Town, this is the ride that I would recommend.

• The Whale Route. Start early, the sun comes up at +/- 8:00 am during the winter. From Cape Town to Gordon's Bay and keep going until you reach Botrivier. Have a bite to eat at the Botrivier Hotel, great food and exceptional value for money. If it is your plan to ride this road on the weekend it is important to start early to beat the cars indulging in some slow sightseeing. You will encounter many motorcyclists along the way. A beautiful scenic ride on a great road.

The Whale Route.

• Botrivier to Villiersdorp. Get back on the N2 and head for Caledon and Greyton, +/- 15km's before Caledon lookout for the turnoff (left) to Villiersdorp. You will find this section of the trip very exciting, quick with some good bends to navigate.

• Villiersdorp to Franschoek. Now to Franschoek via the Theewaterskloof Dam and the Franschoek Pass. You are going to love riding this pass. Stop at one of the Coffee Bars or Bistros for something to eat and enjoy what I think is the prettiest town in South Africa.

Theewaterskloof Dam.

Up from the dam.

Down into Franschoek.

• Franschoek to Stellenbosch via Helshoogte. On your way to Stellenbosch via Pniel and Helshoogte. Another exciting part of the ride.

On top of Helshoogte.

• From Stellenbosch back to Cape Town. Depending on where you are staying choose either the N1 or N2 whichever is the most convenient to get yourself home. You have had a great day's riding.

Back to Cape Town - Table Mountain.

Ciao, hope that you have a great ride, until next time,

Clive :-)

Father's Day and Youth Day both on the 16th June in South Africa

Hello,

Today is both Father's Day and Youth Day, I say Father's Day wins. To Natasha, Roxy, Chris and Greg, thanks for the good wishes and the lovely wine. I will think of each one of you whilst I enjoy and think back on all the happy, crazy things we have done over the last thirty-one years. Tash and Greg I hope that you did the Hosken dash on the beach today.

Besides the wind we have reasonable weather today, Thea and I went to La Cucina in Hout Bay for breakfast. We had the best kept secret on the menu "Welsh Rarebit,"  thanks Thea it was lovely. Well we had a ride, went over Chapman's Peak (the most scenic road in Cape Town) and back home via Ou Kaapseweg. Back to Hout Bay for a barbecue this evening and home tomorrow.

Chapman's Peak

A spot of wind today

Happy Sunday, ciao until next time,

Clive :-)