Springbok Rally 2006 . . . . well nearly!!
by Gill Koch
Now here’s one rally I’d really been looking forward to. Not an oversized rally with just enough folk milling around that one could recognise and identify with from previous years. But with the purchase of my new bike last year, although the luggage fitted, the brackets didn’t which meant a trip through to Donald at Mike Hopkins Cape Town who ordered the necessary hardware. So with this new fandangled rack securely fitted, the Ventura double pack luggage simply slips over the top and is fastened at the bottom.
Come Friday morning we were fit and ready to go. Mounting the bikes at just after nine we decided to try another route—just for a change of scenery. Still heading off however on the N1, over the du Toitskloof Pass and into Worcester. But instead of turning right and riding through Robertson/Ashton/Montague, we went on through to the Hex River, de Doorns, the beautiful Koo Valley finally arriving at Montague.
No-one short of owning a crystal ball could have predicted the incredibly heavy traffic including loads of trucks plus the road works with stop and go intersections? This not only delayed our journey substantially, it meant we would really have to get the throttles working in order that we arrive at de Hoek for 16h00 gate duty.
Throughout the entire trip up until Montague, Carl took the lead until we pulled into this little town to fill up with fuel. As we left Montague however, Carl waved me ahead and looking back in my mirror I could see that he had pulled over to the side of the road, either to adjust his I Pod or change his gloves? After a good while however, there was no sign of Carl who seemed to have disappeared from the Western Cape!! Eventually just short of Barrydale, I pulled over and decided to wait for my partner. Checking my mobile I found two messages, both from Carl saying that when I overtook him at Montague he noticed that my luggage was no longer on the back of my bike! He immediately did a U turn and rode back some 70km’s in search of the missing luggage and bracket. Fortunately I was able to reach Yvonne who was travelling in her car and I explained the situation to her. In the meantime however, I rode on further to Barrydale and parked off on the side of the road.
Loads of bikes passed me, waving and hooting en route to Springbok Rally which now seemed to be a life time away. Eventually and I mean eventually, I received a call from Carl telling me that the luggage had either been picked up or had rolled into the bushes in the reality of never being found again.
I took a slow ride back towards Montague meeting Carl along the way. We debated whether to ride back to Oudtshoorn and do some shopping there, we could buy clothes/towels/stock but had no luggage space to put it into.
I deem myself to be a fatalist and accept that certain things just happen for a reason. But this was one reason I simply couldn’t fathom out? - our kit had disappeared which meant—no Springbok Rally. We rode back home and arrived at exactly 17h00. Thanks to those Nomads who did our gate duty and hope you all had a great time!!
