Waking up on this Sunday, the weather was perfect for riding. Bright blue skies, warm yellow sunshine and no wind. So, it was off to Damelin to meet up with the other members and three [3] visitors who had volunteered to assist the club with the orphan ride. Thank you to Pierre Wubbeling for obtaining these three extra bikes/riders. Certain members had put their names on the riders list and then they failed to arrive on the day. I also had three cars to transport the regular pillions from the Marsh homes to the Roeland Street fire station. Fortunately, there were not more regular pillions as the one car had brought along three extra visitors, so it could only take one regular pillion.
We departed Damelin at about 08h40 and rode onto the N2, M5, taking the off ramp to Milner Road past the War Memorial Red Cross Children`s Hospital to turn left into Norton Road and entered the property of the Marsh Homes. The children were eagerly awaiting our arrival on the grass section opposite where we parked our bikes. On instruction from Helewese and Mandy they were then allowed to cross over and pick their bike that they wanted to ride on.
Having informed our new junior pillions on the safety rules of riding pillion on a motorcycle and found helmets to fit heads from extra small through the whole range to extra-large, we mounted our bikes with the new pillions and set off for Cape Town.
Exiting the home`s property, we turned left onto Milner Road, travelling as far as Kromboom Road and turned left into Kromboom Road and again another left turn onto the M5. At the N2 we took the off ramp towards Cape Town. At hospital bend we took the left lane onto the old De Waal Drive, staying in the left lane until the Jutland Avenue Bridge, where we turned left into the parking area of Roeland Street Fire Station. Dismounting our bikes, helmets and jackets were placed in the three cars for safekeeping.
Then it was into the lecture room for a demonstration of the clothing and equipment that a fire officer is required to wear, when attending to a fire. There was also time for few questions from the adults and children. The group was then split up into two groups for different demonstrations of the equipment that is carried on all the fire trucks. There were two fire trucks that drove more adults than children from the back yard, down the side of the fire station and round and around the front of the fire station, returning to the rear yard of the fire station. I am sure the adults enjoyed the visit to the fire station more than the children did.
With all the demonstrations and joy rides in the fire trucks completed, it was time to collect helmets and jackets and mount our respective bikes and depart for McDonald`s in Green Point for lunch. The route consisted of riding down Roeland Street, turning right into Plein Street in front of the Houses of Parliament. We then turned left into Strand Street and proceeded to Buitengraght Street, down to Helen Suzman Boulevard, round the York Road circle and into the parking area of McDonald`s. We all sat outside, and burgers and cold drinks were ordered. Once everybody had had their lunch, it was time to mount our bikes and return the children to the Marsh Memorial Home
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Fire Chief Ian Peters, a Nomad`s member, who arranged the visit/demonstration at Roeland Street Fire Station and another big THANK YOU to the riders and regular pillions who gave up their Sunday ride to entertain the children. Thank you to the three car drivers who also gave up their pillion seat for the day.
I also want to THANK the Nomad`s club for paying for the lunch at McDonald`s.
There were 24 members, 7 visitors, 20 children and 2 carers. 20 bikes and 3 cars.
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