Today was a different kind of ride, but really enjoyable.
It was different in that it was almost all tar, big, and for a charitable cause. I am not sure exactly how many bikes there were, although I would guess somewhere around sixty, and at a minimum entry fee of R100 per person, I would imagine that the ride collected not far short of R10k for the two charities – the Highway Hospice and the SPCA.
I believe these poker runs are quite common in the cruiser and superbike world, but this is the first one I have ever heard of.
So how did it work?
We met at BMW Umhlanga, where we registered and drew our first card. The cards were stamped with the dealer stamp, and we had to mark our names on the card to stop card trading amongst ourselves. We then had to make our own groups, and collect our remaining four cards at, Inchanga Hotel (on the comrades route near halfway), The Travellers Rest Hotel in New Hanover, the microlite airfield in Balito, and the last card at the finish at Hooters back in Umhlanga. At the finish the hands were judged as per five-card poker to determine the winners.
MadDog and I had plotted alternative routes for legs 1 & 2 to take in a bit more scenery than simply slabbing it along the freeways. At the start we recruited some like minded folk – two 1200GSs and a 1150 and traveled along with them the whole trip of just under 300Km
The route we took was as planned on:-
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=65021.0
The seemed to be a joint effort between BMW Umhlanga and the BMW club, and as a result the pack was about 70% Beemers, and strangely only about ten of the bikes seemed to be roadies, with GSs by far the dominant models.
A few weeks ago I posted a question asking where all the F800Gss are. I know the answer – they are all out there on Beemer club runs on the tar !!
ot:
In fact there were three F800s at the start who were keen to join us on our scenic route, but when they discovered that we had to ride 6Km of easy gravel they politely declined. ???
Did I win a prize? Hrumph ! My hand was a useless mix of number cards and the ace of diamonds.
What I did learn today is that a social ride on tar can be great fun, and I also learned that the Tenere 660 is quite capable out there with the big guys on the open road.
A couple of pics – not many photo ops on this ride.
The road down to Nagle Dam.
The Mgeni bridge below Nagle dam.
The twisties on the way up to Bruin’s Hill.
Cane country near Bruin’s Hill
Approaching New Hanover.
Me pointing out the way to the prison to my mates!
Gathering for breakfast at the Travellers Rest in New Hanover. Lovely place and I have only ever just ridden past the town. Next time I will stop again!
One of the many examples of German influence in the area’s architecture.
The R614 on the way back to the coast. Nice road. Great surface and few potholes.
A bit of gravel near the microlite landing strip near Balito.
madDog and I drawing our useless fourth cards.
The bikes start to gather at Hooters in Umhlanga.
Our waitress was gorgeous.
Prize giving and formalities.
It was different in that it was almost all tar, big, and for a charitable cause. I am not sure exactly how many bikes there were, although I would guess somewhere around sixty, and at a minimum entry fee of R100 per person, I would imagine that the ride collected not far short of R10k for the two charities – the Highway Hospice and the SPCA.
I believe these poker runs are quite common in the cruiser and superbike world, but this is the first one I have ever heard of.
So how did it work?
We met at BMW Umhlanga, where we registered and drew our first card. The cards were stamped with the dealer stamp, and we had to mark our names on the card to stop card trading amongst ourselves. We then had to make our own groups, and collect our remaining four cards at, Inchanga Hotel (on the comrades route near halfway), The Travellers Rest Hotel in New Hanover, the microlite airfield in Balito, and the last card at the finish at Hooters back in Umhlanga. At the finish the hands were judged as per five-card poker to determine the winners.
MadDog and I had plotted alternative routes for legs 1 & 2 to take in a bit more scenery than simply slabbing it along the freeways. At the start we recruited some like minded folk – two 1200GSs and a 1150 and traveled along with them the whole trip of just under 300Km
The route we took was as planned on:-
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=65021.0
The seemed to be a joint effort between BMW Umhlanga and the BMW club, and as a result the pack was about 70% Beemers, and strangely only about ten of the bikes seemed to be roadies, with GSs by far the dominant models.
A few weeks ago I posted a question asking where all the F800Gss are. I know the answer – they are all out there on Beemer club runs on the tar !!
ot:In fact there were three F800s at the start who were keen to join us on our scenic route, but when they discovered that we had to ride 6Km of easy gravel they politely declined. ???
Did I win a prize? Hrumph ! My hand was a useless mix of number cards and the ace of diamonds.
What I did learn today is that a social ride on tar can be great fun, and I also learned that the Tenere 660 is quite capable out there with the big guys on the open road.
A couple of pics – not many photo ops on this ride.
The road down to Nagle Dam.
The Mgeni bridge below Nagle dam.
The twisties on the way up to Bruin’s Hill.
Cane country near Bruin’s Hill
Approaching New Hanover.
Me pointing out the way to the prison to my mates!
Gathering for breakfast at the Travellers Rest in New Hanover. Lovely place and I have only ever just ridden past the town. Next time I will stop again!
One of the many examples of German influence in the area’s architecture.
The R614 on the way back to the coast. Nice road. Great surface and few potholes.
A bit of gravel near the microlite landing strip near Balito.
madDog and I drawing our useless fourth cards.
The bikes start to gather at Hooters in Umhlanga.
Our waitress was gorgeous.
Prize giving and formalities.
