Hope & Joy stick together like Velcro !

WilddogsForum

[Protea Heights, Brackenfell]

A few days ago a thread started on Wilddogs for a crazy neighbourhood kid in Brackenfell who has a serious love for motorbikes.

When this little man, Dewald greeted his friends yesterday after school, one thing was for sure, he had no idea that coming back on Monday with the news of his weekend adventure would be one that is now a realisation.

As the excitement behind the scenes grew on the forum about “Velcro’s bike hunt” ( the ‘dogs’ baptized him with this name, and it has now stuck – like his passion for motorcycles), it became like a veldfire of hope and excitement that spread through the wilddogs daily feed, with updates of funds donated, contributed, riding lessons offered and riding gear supplied.

Being a novice to this forum, one thing I am sure of is that the diversity of people involved in this project is amazing. Riders operate under screen names yet the passion for outdoor living is exactly the same. This part of themselves they got to share with a little boy in the suburbs today.

It all came together today as the mass delivery was arranged for this afternoon, as the ‘screen named’ riders met at the parking lot of a shopping mall in Brackenfell.

Admittedly, my daughter had hijacked my helmet and jacket today again for the position of pillion, and I tagged along in the car. We met the faces behind the magic and left in a convoy for delivery of the motorbike to Velcro. Riding into the neighbourhood left an echo of droning engines behind as all the bikes parked on the open field in the centre of the crescent. Brett called Dewald closer to ask if he was fully aware of what was about to happen. I know we were all standing there with pounding chests, so the little man’s silence was probably an indication of him just listening to his own heartbeat pound in his throat as he was encouraged to remove the blanket off the 2 wheeled beauty tucked safely on the bike trailer.

The atmosphere was one of excitement, joy and hopefulness.

Well done Dogs! You guys and ladies are epic dreammakers of hope for an adventurous life! Today you not only handed over a motorbike and kit, you opened a boys eyes to a very different life of fun and adventure, by doing this, you also showed the rest of the world, that in all the chaos and negativity there is always something to be excited about, and there is always something to be hopeful about.

Keep dreaming big, because today it showed – dreams do come true!

Proud forum members!!

Black_hawk (@backroadriderZA)

Plainjane(@yellowclarity)

[C] Ceres serves it Sunny-Side-Up !

… So Seriously, why Ceres?

When you live in the Western Cape and your nose points to adventure and dirt road, you will almost, always find your way to a garage in Ceres to fill up before heading to Gydo Pass or Tankwa Karoo.

We travel too and through this beautiful town so often that we rarely give it credit for its endless rock mountain tops and beautiful orchards and friendly residents.

Did you know that Ceres was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, this does seem quite well suited considering the area is extremely fertile and some major producers of our fruit and vegetables come from this area. The orchards create flowing-like oceans on either side of the road. While you are enjoying the silence in your helmet. It’s like watching the discovery channel on mute with a window open.

Knowing that our solo trip to Vioolsdrift is just around the corner, opportunity for time in the saddle is becoming limited and now we have to make the most of every chance we get to sit, and sit, and sit and maybe stand now and again.

Heading to Ceres to spend the weekend with friends seemed once again an appropriate time to sit and sit and sit.

The weather was once again perfect as ordered. The sun proudly showed off as we headed over Du Toit’s Kloof pass and took the more scenic road through Slanghoek from there. This beautiful road also never gets old. It rides beautifully, and we all get tempted to put foot here, or extend the right hand wrist action a teensy bit more.

We stopped off at Calabash in Bains Kloof to have something to eat. After the fire in 2016, the restaurant still has some work to do, to be able to get back to a state of being fully operational. Despite the structure devastation, the pizza is still epic and the wet for the throat serves its purpose well indeed.

Enjoying the quick dash through the beautiful Michell’s pass we stopped at our home for the night in Ceres. Having good souls to share a fire and good food with makes any small town feel like home. We traded the bike gear for shorts and t-shirts and that was a perfect ending to another grateful day on our beautiful roads.

Sunday morning’s sunshine peaked through the blinds, and it was an open invitation to take on the mountains of Ceres. We enjoyed the fresh air and hills that the trail had to offer us on the 13km hike making our discoveries at the Ceres Koekedouw Dam. The dam water levels once again became a topic of conversation and concern. The dam is currently at 42%. Despite the despair of it all, I couldn’t help but be joyful in these moments, winter has been grey and very cold, and here I was served with a buffet of sunshine, beautiful views and blue skies.

We enjoyed a lovely brunch together, and got ready to make tracks again. It is always a somber feeling greeting friends we don’t see often enough.

Having a quick stop at the ‘’Hill billy’’ padstal on our way out over the ‘’white bridge’’ , I was too curious just to pass. This little padstal is a must if you love anything that is Karoo and Tankwa. It has little ‘’Akkies Vir Rakkies’’ as Carel would politely put it.

We chose the legendary Bain’s Kloof home, Mr Thomas Bain was really an artist of roads. Riding cliff side, it’s a canvas that accompanies the little white rocks on the tar.

Dropping into the valley near Wellington, the fire scars on nature’s skin is still there. The rain hasn’t been enough to wash away evidence of the burns.

Our last stop, is somewhat a of tradition for us. The famous Paarl de ville. This local pub restaurant is really one of our favourites. We ended off another good time and safe journey on the GS in good taste.

Heading back through Durbanville, Carel let me extend my right wrist on the throttle by taking his hand away. Over the intekom, I know he was talking about ”how to?’’, admittedly the reaction of the engine to the movement of my wrist was the only sound I was paying attention too.

Sold !

@backroadrider & @yellowclarity