Oak and Vigne Greyton
Sunday 2nd April 2006
Venue
Oak and Vigne *****
Club Captain
Graham Johnson
Tail end Charlie
Carl Koch
In Attendance
12
All photographs of this event can be viewed at:
http://www.nomads.org.za/
Yes Graham Johnson, this message is for you. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but us Nomads – well there’s a different kettle of fish for you. If you think for one minute that we believed the surprise ride would leave Damelin at 07h00, you read us wrong!!! Um on second thoughts, perhaps you’re not so daft after all, seeing that eight Nomads actually arrived for this very early morning ride, and on time nogal!!! Ja, getting up early is no problem in our household but as the days draw in and become lighter later, it’s just too lovely to stay put under the duvet. So rising at 05h00 to leave at 06h00 to arrive at Damelin for 07h00 seemed to be the order of the day – if you had a breakfast ride on your agenda. Filling up with fuel on the morning of a bike ride is now getting to be quite a habit for the residents of number seven, which explains one thing. Too damn lazy to fill up after a day in the saddle on the previous outing!!
I do have a confession however, I really tried hard to ignore the morning alarm but after it persistently going off for the second time, I realised the clock had won hands down and it was time to rise and shine. This has to be the very best time to travel on a motorcycle, not a soul on the roads, what an absolute pleasure. Nomads arrived in dribs and drabs at Damelin having arrived just minutes after Club Captain Graham. Next to arrive was Peter Goodacre, then in quick succession – Ludy and Helewese, Mike and Jenny, Graham Aldis and Devin and Lisa.
The route was as follows: Leave Damelin, along the N2 to Somerset West, over Sir Lowrey’s Pass, through Grabouw along the R321 over Theewaterskloof. Just before Villiersdorp turned right onto the R43 and then back on to the N2, turning left on to the R406 all the way to Greyton.
Quite simple in theory, but in practise this proved to be just a tad different. For as we slowed down to enter Somerset West we approached a huge road block manned by our men in blue . . . . and they meant business!! Very very smartly, Carl and Graham Johnson were the first ones through the road block and managed to ride through after flashing their smiles and their drivers licence. But alas alack a day, when it came to the rest of us, it was a grilling that lay ahead. We were ushered one side and asked very politely to dismount and produce the evidence that they requested – the motorcycle licence disc, a SABS number plate and horrors!!!! – a valid drivers licence. Well at this point, it would have been a lot wiser or cheaper perhaps to just have turned around and gone home – but too late she cried, as Devin and I declared that our valid drivers licence was indeed not on us, but in the wrong place . . . at home. Now that was absolutely no good to man or beast which left us with fines of R500.00 and R400.00 respectively. Devin received a fine just a little heavier than me due to his number plate having “fallen off”. Graham Aldis received a fine too for travelling with a number plate showing a tiny bit of CA “whatever”, ‘cos there were hardly any numbers visible. This too had apparently just this minute broken off! Ah, but now for the biggie. Peter Goodacre was asked just how come his motorcycle licence and number plate didn’t match. Hhhmmm, a couple of numbers here and there out of sequence, what’s that all about? Without further ado, an ever helpful traffic official mounted Peter’s Kawasaki and off he went to the impoundment lock up, a leather clad Peter now a passenger in a car without his motorbike. Well after a brief chat to Graham Aldis, it was decided that Graham would rescue Peter and pillion him back to Cape Town in search of another number plate. The remaining Nomads would continue on their journey, muttering and spluttering over the aforesaid events.
A good forty five minutes later, it was back on the bikes and time to tackle Sir Lowrey’s Pass. Not so terribly early anymore, the wind had come up and I could gauge this by the movement of Lisa’s jacket tassles which were now hanging on for dear life. I stuck to the left lane and rode with baited breath until I was up and over the pass, looking forward to a wind free ride to Greyton. Graham was kind enough to stop at the Grabouw Farm Stall where parking and ablutions are plentiful. The journey to Greyton was absolutely fabulous with wide sweeping roads, pleasant weather thank goodness and still minimal traffic.
Greyton is a super little place that’s great to visit for a morning or afternoon. Any longer than that would have me knitting – and goodness knows I’m rubbish at that!! Oak and Vigne Restaurant is situated in the centre of this tiny town and is very well appointed. Super staff, extremely varied (if not a little pricey??) menu and plenty of parking for the bikes. We sat at a large reserved table on the patio which catered for our group. Offering a little shade and a ray of sunshine, coffee was the first order of the day served in small white porcelain cups accompanied by tiny ginger snaps. Breakfast was ordered and arrived on well garnished warm plates, baskets of toast with jam and butter just kept on coming along with more and more cups of coffee.
This small tourist attraction town offers a number of novelty shops, second hand antique outlets, fresh farm produce and a wonderful array of home-made articles. The ladies took a stroll through the shops and returned empty handed to a relieved bunch of husbands champing at the bit to leave Greyton. Breakfast was over and it was time to leave.
The road home took us via Villiersdorp and through Franshoek – once is enough over Sir Lowrey’s Pass thank you.
The journey took a tank of fuel there and a tank of fuel to get home, but what a super day out. We arrived home at 14h30 and bar being fined for a no show licence, we had a lovely time. I do think from now on however, Graham’s breakfast rides are going to leave a little bit later in the mornings. Oak and Vigne is a fabulous venue and I would highly recommend it. Thanks Graham, a very good day out.
So what d’you think Peter Goodacres fav song is now – Jailhouse Rock? I really am sorry about what happened Peter, but boy oh boy did it liven up the conversation at the breakfast table – what it is to be popular!!
