Our first Rally Report: Paradise Rally '09

[Misty]

Saturday morning and off we were to experience our first rally, Paradise Rally. We had no expectations, as yes, we have heard all the various accounts of what a rally is like, but we wanted to experience it our way and that’s just what we did.

It was fairly cold when we left JHB and by the time we hit Dullstroom it was a welcome relief to stop for a nice breakfast and coffee at The Log, where true to its name a lovely log fire was blazing. Although it was very tempting to stay right there, we hit the road again all the way to Graskop.

We arrived at 12h00 and offloaded at the Guest House we were staying at, Dar Amane – which was a little haven amongst all the rally on-goings, and somewhere I would really recommend for a romantic stay over with exceptional personalized service!

www.daramane.co.za/

We headed down to where all the excitement was – The Strip (or well that’s what we called it) – there were a great collection of bikes all over the place, and this to me was the highlight of the rally, to see such a variety.

 

[Misty]

Down the length of the strip was the dedicated area for wheelies, burn outs and people “strutting their stuff” so to speak – or well this is how we perceived it, being a first time rally participants. And yes, although there were no barriers on the sides (which I’m sure wouldn’t have made a difference in people standing in the road, as there were people even sitting on the middle barrier taking pics!), no real “Marshalls” or “control”, etc, and without going too much into the controversy around all this, I felt that the authorities did their best in controlling the crowds (even saw them twice refusing guys down the strip without helmets) and that at the end of the day it is made clear that we all attend at our own risk…

Some pics of the day and what we saw… oh yea, gotto mention the WD’s we “bumped” into – we saw Eventually on the road just outside of JHB and as we were walking the strip we hear this “Hey you WD’s” and who else but Excalibur (and where was Leo we thought?!) and Da Tazzman had his GS on display, couldn’t really miss the little black paws all over his bike – sorry no pics of the bike, our camera ran out of battery for the eve’s events (although maybe on purpose…)  :biggrin:

The evening we met up with some friends, or well a couple that were bombarded by Mal & Dee’s friendship on their last trip to Limpopo, who were also at the Rally and then we headed off to the main tent for the Prize giving and entertainment. Again, sorry no pics here

 

[Misty]

Got a lot more piccies

 

[Misty]

More...

 

[Misty]

Yup more...

 

[Misty]

And more...

 

[Misty]

Last ones of the Sat before camera battery decided to not work anymore… and two pics of the unfortunate bike…

 

[Misty]

And then all too soon, as always, it’s the next day and time to make our way back home. We were sent of with a hearty breakfast, waved the town goodbye as we made our way back via a few roads we haven’t travelled on before. Also stopped for a little stretch of the legs at the church in Roossenekal where we played around with the camera just for fun.

Arrived back home at 16h00.

 

[Misty]

That's all Folks 

 

[Fugly]

Nice pics! What happened to the Honda?

 

[Misty]

hmm... ja he was the dude that hit the barrier while doing a wheelie & lost control... dont know the full story though...

 

[Dakota]

Nice one Misty

Glad you met up with the buddies  :thumleft:

 

[Malibu]

Lekker!  :thumleft:

You gonna do a Rally again?

 

[kevin]

Lekker!   :thumleft:

You gonna do a Rally again?

Was lekka yes - will do again

 

[Bakkie]

nice pics thanks  :thumleft:

 

[Misty]

thx guys

@ Mal, well I wont say I would go to every rally out there (just too much other riding to be done), but yup, will go to one or two here and there again

 

[kevin]

It was an experience - probably the best part of the rally is the ride there, then settling in with a few beers to watch the "sports" and the people - all kinds of characters - and their bikes, and then some socialising etc!!! and, well, that is the rally... not to be compared with other bike events such as those organised by the manufacturers. I'm not sure if its true but someone told us on the weekend that the profits from the sale of dop at the rally beer tent goes to charity?

 

[Buller]

This picture summarises pretty well my opinion about rallies (and why I don't attend them):

 

[Rieks]

Thanks Misty! Now i also know how the bike looks that crashed into the barrier .. the barrier crashed into a guy and girl travelling down .. and the guy on the bike crashed into a wheelying MX rider.

 

[Zeff Cowboy]

Nice pics....

Lyk lekker