The Best Buff Ever
Mossel Bay 2006 Buffalo Rally
WEDNESDAY 15th MARCH 2006:
Bags packed and panniers loaded, we left Cape Town just before lunch time in the most glorious weather. No wind, no rain, just sheer pleasure riding sunshine from every possible angle. A quick pit stop at Worcester then off once more to Robertson, Ashton and Buffelsjacht to re-fuel (the bikes that is, not ourselves as I vowed never to eat there again!). In what seemed no time at all, we were pulling into Mossel Bay late Wednesday afternoon and collecting our chalet keys from Reception. Number 20 was allocated to us as it was in 2005—a nice little place situated towards the very end of the campsite promising peace and quiet, a well fed front lawn over looking the ocean and undercover parking for the bikes. Out for dinner in the evening, knowing full well that this would probably be our only opportunity to do so over this incredibly busy Rally period.
THURSDAY 16th MARCH 2006:
Up with the birds on Thursday and off into the campsite area to get re-acquainted with the layout of the camping area, vendors stalls and ablution blocks. Not much had changed and it was most apparent that the grass had been recently cut (in our honour perhaps??). But even as early as it was on Thursday, bikes were arriving left right and centre, loaded to the hilt with camping apparatus not only for themselves but for other Club members too. As the day progressed, more and more folk arrived, now with bakkies and trailers promising to off load in the campsite and off course leave immediately. But this year it seems the Nomads were one step ahead of the four wheelers and totally banned cars/bakkies/trailers quite successfully. Two small but terribly effective courtesay busses from Santos Express Lodge Mossel Bay and Johnson’s Yamaha in the Strand were most welcome, darting in and out of the campsite offering to ferry in not only the motorcyclists but their luggage too. This worked extremely well besides having our own Nomads drive bakkie loads in too, vehicles rented by Nomads and those owned by visitors alike. This way, most folk were kept happy. A quick check on the ablutions was made, ensuring hot water, clean loo’s and most of all—electricity! So it rained most of Thursday? - but this did little to dampen the spirits of the Buffalo Rally enthusiasts!
FRIDAY 17th MARCH 2006:
After literally falling into bed on Thursday evening and grateful for a dry, sunny day, it was back into the campsite once again—now in search of Miss Buff. After liaising with Lizl, it was decided and agreed that we’d scout individually then meet just after lunch. Again, this arrangement worked successfully and between the two of us we managed to gather just over a dozen sheep to the fold. The end result was a bevy of beauties on the stage at eight with Peter Goodacre giving the low down on the girls to the appreciative crowd. Young Stephanie Fritz from the Strand took the title after strutting her stuff and oozing with confidence. Straight after the Miss Buff competition, the exotic dancers took to the stage much to the delight of the stripper supporters who received a good forty minutes of nubile nudity. Then of course it was time to let the band loose and for us the promise of a good night’s sleep after yet another long day. But unfortunately this was not to be—’cos in the wee wee hours of the morning, our neighbours the technical band crew came home to roost. And roost they did—loudly. Very very loudly. So after a couple of hours of broken sleep in was Saturday all too soon.
SATURDAY 18th MARCH 2006:
Back up to the campsite in preparation of the Mass Ride. Thousands of motorcyclists were revving their machines, donning their helmets, loading their pillions and heading for the main gate. At 11h00, the Mass Ride departed from Santos Caravan Park and gave the residents of Mossel Bay the sight they’d been waiting for. The route for the Mass Ride was up through Mossel Bay and KwaNonqaba, then the motorcyclists returned to the campsite after approximately one hours ride, stopping for the occasional doughnut and wheelie urged on by the applauding crowd. Once back in the campsite, the queue for the Nomads Shop was so long that it reached the main gate!! Everyone and I mean everyone wanted a Buff memorabilia to take home—stock flew out of the tent with folk buying bigger/smaller t-shirts than required just to have something to cling to. The afternoon offered competitions in the main ten which lasted an hour or so with good attendance and satisfied entrants walking off with cases of beer and sponsored vouchers. As expected, the afternoon flew by and it was time to gather the paperwork for the Saturday night Prize Giving. But for two Committee Members that just wasn’t meant to be. As Kevin Farrow rode his bike with John Lee as his pillion, a car parked in the area allocated for vehicles and trailers, shot out without looking and collided with the bike knocking both Kevin and John straight off. Helewese alerted radio recipients immediately and within seconds assistance was on it’s way. Getting an ambulance through the crowd proved a problem but with a little patience and a lot of persuasion, the medics arrived and whisked Kevin and John off to Mossel Bay Bayview Mediclinic. Kevin was released a little later in the evening with cuts, stitches, abrasions and bruises but John Lee had to remain put and was operated on the very next day for a fractured tibia (shine bone). Both motorcycles were taken good care of, with Rodney Reis transporting John’s to his house in Mossel Bay and Robert Todd trailering Kevin’s back to Cape Town. The Prize Giving went without a hitch and once that was said and done, the band played on till the early hours of Sunday morning.
SUNDAY 19th MARCH 2006:
Just enough rain fell to ensure dampness throughout all. Not particularly cold on Sunday morning, but a rain jacket was necessary and a cap was most useful. Talk about mass exodus—thousands upon thousands of motorcycles left the Santos Caravan Park with the Mossel Bay Traffic Department directing the traffic, and we appreciated that ‘cos it was pretty hectic to say the least. Now with most of the folk out of the camping area, it was time for the big clean up. Generally speaking, most bins had been utilized which made it a tad easier to get things into shape. Cleaners had been hired and prized into orange overall’s and without these folk we would still be there now!! So with the campsite in ship shape it was time to call it a day and head off to Little Brak for the evening.
MONDAY 20th MARCH 2006:
Woke once again to a hazy mist of rain, black clouds and a whole lot nippier than Sunday morning. Once out of Mossel Bay, the heavens opened enough to don a rainsuit. This weather persisted way past Albertinia, Heidelberg and Riversdale. But once in Ashton it cleared up somewhat, offering warmer, drier weather in Robertson and Worcester. We chose to ride over du Toitskloof Pass which was well and truly littered with loads of huge trucks, but nipping in between these vehicles meant a clear road home in just over four hours. Home sweet home at last. Having been away since Wednesday I longed for my own bed and it didn’t take long to try out the mattress!!! What a wonderful Buffalo Rally—this one has to go down in history. Try it next year, I guarantee you’ll LOVE it!
