Ommie Dam Brêkkie - 30 May 2008

The Route:


Date: 30 May 2008
Route: R21N Engen One Stop to Harties and back to Midrand.
Distance: 151km
Riders: André M, Avon, Carl, Craig, Daan, André W and Jan.
Bikes: DL1000, RT1200, CBR1000RR, GSXR6, GSF650, KLR650 and KLR650.

A few weeks ago some deviant got the idea that the guys with bikes at work should go for a "smoke break" at Harties. Over time the idea developed (we are an IT company after all and we develop, it's what we do) to a breakfast at the Hartebeespoort Dam.

So, we made our excuses (some good and some even true) to our bosses and it was game on!

This morning at 06:30 I left the house in Bapsfontein and met up with the RT and the CBR at the R21N Engen One Stop about 20 kilometers up the road. After a quick hello and a smoke, we hit the road via the R21 highway and the N14W highway to the Total Petroport just short of the R512 to Lanseria Airport. The ride was busy as we were in Pretoria peak traffic, but still enjoyable and sort of, uneventful. No deviant cars or irritating cops anywhere.

At the garage we met up with the GSXR6. We shivered together for a few minutes before we left again. We were seriously freezing our important parts off now. In fact, at one point one of the guys seemed to be doing some really immoral stuff with the Fireblade's Acropovic exhaust. This I was told was purely to get some heat into his frozen hands. At every opportunity, I made a grab for the RT's heated grips.

A few kilos past Lanseria Airport, at the Home of the Chicken Pie we picked up (nope, not a chicken pie!) the GSF650. We did the last bit through Wakkerstroom with some nice twisties. In this area some cager in a Golf tried to pack Avon into his grill, but Avon managed to avoid the Golf and its, less than careful driver. This bloke was 66% over the barrier line in a corner on a blind rise.

We rode on to the Wimpy where we joined the two KLR650's already there. Their owners looking all bright eyed and bushy tailed, due to the fact that they have already poured some warm coffee into their bodies. I was ready to dunk my feet in some coffee! Memo to self: Self! GET BOOTS!!!! (Got them at AMID the next day!)

We wasted no time and poured coffee down our throats by the gallon. Thank the great god of fast food for Wimpy's amazing foresight in having MEGACOFFEE on the menu! We all had a lekker Wimpy brêkkie before we hit the road again. The group now consisted of seven riders, all from the same employer doing the "On Any Sunday" thing on a Friday.

We briefly stopped on the dam wall for a phodie opportunity (see Avon's pics at the end of the ride report), sniffed the Harties Dam Water (I have smelt sweeter smelling sewerage farms) and ducked through the tunnel. We then headed back to work enjoying an awesome, ride.

The Blade, the Strom and the RT with the KLR's in the background, arriving at the salt mines. (Photo: Karen Smit)


So much for productivity. Who cares about productivity when the old farts are on the prowl!? (Photo - Karen Smit)


Great fun was had by all on what could also be called the "Stokkiesdraai" Ride! WHOOOHOOO! AAI LAAIK BAAIK!

Thanks to Avon Vosloo for the following pics:

C....c....c.....c....cold!


Carl getting close and personal with the Blade's exhaust


Ah!? So that's how you mount a top box.


A nice silhouette on the Hartebeestpoort Dam's wall:


Craig decides that although the view is great, the smell of the filthy water is the just the motivation to get back to work:


Avon and his BMW RT1200 arriving back at the salt mines: