Upon waking up on this morning the skies were cloudy, and rain was predicted for the Peninsula. Soon it was time to head off to Damelin, with the rain suits in the pannier box, where they have been for the past year. Going past Century City, there was a bit of rain on the screen of my bike, going over Koeberg Interchange the rain had stopped and the roads were starting to dry.
There were quite a few bikes already at Damelin and I greeted everybody. At 08h00 I briefed the riders on the route and the restaurant. As this was going to be a very short ride there was no real rush to put on helmets, gloves and start up our bikes.
We left Damelin, turning left onto the N2 and proceeded up hospital bend and onto Nelson Mandela Boulevard towards Cape Town. This section of the roadway was quite wet, so we proceeded slowly and cautiously towards the city. We took the off ramp towards Hertzog Boulevard, turning right into Christiaan Barnard Street. The right turn filter arrow only allowed 3 cars and the first two bikes through, so I stopped further down the road, waiting for the rest of the pack to join us. Soon the rest of the pack joined up with us and we continued with our trip. Out onto F. W. De Klerk Boulevard [old Table Bay boulevard] or the N1, staying in the left lane taking the Marine Drive ramp, proceeding through Paarden Eiland, past the Milnerton flea market, with low lying mist in the area. Over the railway bridge and onto Otto Du Plessis Drive into Milnerton and turning left into Wood bridge island and then turned right into the parking area at the golf club and Maestro`s restaurant. There was lots of parking on the left next to the boundary wall. We were very early as the restaurant was not open as yet. Waiting outside was Helewese and Val, who had arrived by car as Helewese is still not allowed to ride on a bike after her operation. She will be going for physio therapy this coming week and she will be fit to ride to the Buffalo Rally in April.
I phoned the restaurant and they then opened for us and we all proceeded upstairs to the restaurant. Once inside we were handed tickets that read cold buffet and hot buffet. It worked as follows. If you were going to have both cold and hot buffet you went to fetch your cold cereal, yoghurt, and fruit and your ticket would be signed by the chef in the cold column, then when you went for your hot buffet the chef would then sign in the hot column.
By now it was raining quite a bit and there was nobody sitting outside on the balcony. We all settled down at our reserved tables and then it was time to start dishing up for ourselves. If anybody did not have enough to eat it was their own fault, as there were a few who did go back for more food. Coffee was included in the price of the buffet meal. Cappuccinos were an extra R27.00 for those who did not want coffee. The price of the buffet was R110.00 including the tip, which was well worth it.
Soon it was time to settle the bill and head off to our respective homes. Fortunately, the rain had now stopped so it was a dry ride home for those who stayed close to Milnerton. I only hope that those members who stay in the South and Hout Bay got home dry.
A huge THANK YOU to Mandy for handling the payment of the bill, as this is a thankless job.
Once again, a certain member failed to notify me that he was going direct to the venue. Please advise me if you are going direct to the venue. My cell phone number is as follows: 072 5409 470. My cell number is at the bottom of page one in the Nomad`s magazine. I always check my cell phone upon arrival at Damelin for missed calls and sms.
There were 21 members, 5 visitors, on 17 bikes and in 3 cars.
Thank you to all those who attended todays ride. It is really appreciated.
The next club ride is on Sunday, 17th February 2019. This is the Chairman`s champagne breakfast ride and is going to the Orchard farmstall as you turn of the N2 into Grabouw.
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