RAT Jhb run to Fouriesburg 6th - 8th September

[DaveB]

I did a quick squiz around the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.


I then went on to the Fouriesburg Country Inn where we were staying. They did a lamb on a spit for us on the Friday evening and it was lekker (very good).




I washed it down with some nice Pinotage and got a little pie-eyed.

 

[DaveB]

We had breakfast on Saturday morning and got ready for the ride.





Unfortunately the accident occurred soon after we set off so the day was obviously disrupted. I lost interest in proceedings and decided to get on my sickle and go for a ride. When the roads in the region are like this and there is only extremely light traffic, I think it's easy to see the attraction.

 

[DaveM]

Nice area great photos thanks

 

[DaveB]

As the 1899-1902 Anglo-Boer War was drawing to a close, Paul Kruger was the president of the South African Republic (the Transvaal) and he fled before the British swept through. He ended up, for the rest of his days, in exile in a town in Switzerland called Clarens. The town in E. Free State, created in 1912, was thus named after that Swiss town in remembrance of the mighty Boer leader Kruger, who by that time had been dead for 8 years.

Anyway, that's a brief write-up on our Johannesburg RAT weekend. Here's wishing the two riders involved in the collision speedy recoveries.

Dave.

 

[DaveM]

Thanks Dave I always enjoy your ride reports and the history you share in them

 

[DaveB]

I'm tired now- tomorrow I'll add a bit on the events that took place at Surrender Hill.

The effects of some of those events can still be seen today, over 100 years later.....

 

[DaveM]

Thanks that would be COOL

 

[Silli]

Nice post Dave, as always. I even learned a few things.

 

[DaveB]

We had the following bikes on the trip:

1 Bonnie
1 America
1 Tiger 955
2 Thunderbirds
2 Trophy SEs
2 Sprint STs
2 Tiger 1050s
5 Rockets
5 Explorers
2 Tiger 800s
8 Tiger 800XCs
A BMW & a Varadero

If that's not spot on it's pretty close.

There were no Daytonas, Speedmasters, Street Triples, Scramblers or Speed Triples.

 

[DaveM]

Well that is a nice selection of bikes that were there

 

[CarlS]

Dave, thanks for the pics. I always enjoy your ride reports. Looks like the 800XC's were well represented!

 

[DaveB]

They're as common as muck!

 

[avion]

great pics dave. Hope you managed to get your head cleared mate.

Pity about the the accident early on during the weekend. Still sounds like you had a good break though.

Must go for a Brekkie run sunday, and you can tell me about it.

...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

 

[DaveB]

Hope you managed to get your head cleared mate.

Sheesh, when I first read that I thought you meant from the alcohol.....

But, no, you meant regarding the loss of our work colleague. Many thanks for the sentiment. Yes, the weekend away did help in that regard, but it did feel a little strange because I felt a little bit guilty being out there on my bike doing what I enjoy best. I believe that the weekend did help to highlight the value of life and to put things in to some sort of perspective.

 

[CarlS]

I am glad that you are feeling better.

 

[Erik721]

Looks like it was a very nice trip Dave,
And you gave yourself the best medicine, if it wasn't for good mates and my bikes, i would
have been in the loony bin by now!

 

[DaveB]

Cheers mate.

We'll do the best we can to keep you on the 'outside'!