Deneysville Museum Outride

....... and now for the weather report.

Over to Derek van Dam! “Severe storms accompanied by heavy rains are expected over the whole Gauteng and catchment area. The Vaal dam is at 98% level with 4 slush gates still open. Flooding is predicted for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Residents on the banks of the Vaal river are warned to be on the lookout for flash floods and debris. The Klip and Suikerbos rivers are especially dangerous as they are not controlled by slush gates and have broken the river banks.”

Further news:

“The minister of Roads and Infrastructure has revealed that the cost of pothole repairs is estimated at 4 million Rand per month” The road repairs are slow and hampered by continuous down pours.

It is 7h30 Sunday morning. The clouds are grey and fluffy over the Southern Suburbs. Gold Rand has a breakfast run to Deneysville with a visit to the Motorcycle Museum.

We have all the elements ganging up against any rider. Roads and weather! It looks grim...

The view over Boksburg is dull and the clouds are dumping their heavy loads. Joh’burg City is covered with heavy rain and low cloud. This is not good! Getting to Boksburg will require going through a curtain of rain most probably flooding Gold Rand as we ride.

“Breaker, Breaker, anybody out there?...................................................

Yes, there were brothers & sisters having coffee and preparing for the out ride at Gold Rand. They were determined to share the day with the rain Gods....... and this they did successfully!  Jerry, our road captain anticipated that the weather was going to be the cause of a very small run. Boy, was he ever so wrong.

The pack departed from Boksburg heading out to Heidelberg. I could hear the thundering rumble as the pack approached Heidelberg. First there were only 5....... my jaw dropped to see that there were 10,15, no... 20 bikes. These were not fair weather riders, (No offense Albe).

We took a relatively quiet route in the direction of the Vaal Dam, with slightly grey skies. Once nearing Deneysville, the  road condition took a turn for the worse, Potholes Deluxe. The Pack Finally arrived at a very “Promising” gravel road, but we made it to safe parking a few meters further.

The seating at the venue was wonderful. We had a whole loft area to ourselves with a smaller smoking room on the side. The meal was an interesting buffet, & I use the term “buffet” loosely. You dish up whatever you feel like, and only pay for what’s in your plate. Typical breakfast items were on the menu, Eggs, Bacon, Toast, etc.

Once we were ready to leave, the weather had not changed a single bit, still grey skies all the way. Due to the parking being on gravel, many of us needed a little push, and possibly a pull to get our machines reversed. Thank you to everyone who grabbed a bike by the forks and gave a good shove.

The pack stopped at the Vaal Dam wall to take a couple of pic’s (not included). A few of us got phone calls left right and centre from loved ones to inform us of snorkelling weather further down the road. So.....  those who had rain suits pulled them out and wrapped up. Those who didn’t just rode on and had a good shower. A particular LOH Officer looked like she was ready for a vacation in the Arctic Circle with so many layers on, but only to discover later that her rain suit had sprung a leak. She was certainly blessed by the Rain gods’.

We made a final stop at Heidelberg where a few riders refuelled, and pushed on home.

All in All, a truly fun and exhilarating ride, but then again there is no such thing as a boring ride

Late Sunday afternoon the grey skies brighten a tad just to reveal yet another onslaught of black ominous clouds from the South.

Next week we will ride again. The weather must improve. The fair weather boys are getting anxious. The wife’s are growing agitated of our moans and groans of the impending weather conditions and loss of mileage. We need to hit the road. We need to see our friends. We need to get the rubber burning and the pipes rumbling. We need the open road.

We Live to Ride and Ride to Live.

We need the Gods’ to smile upon us and grant us blessings of sunshine. May we pray to be blessed and guided for save returns from all our rides. Thanks for a well organised and safely executed ride. I am sure all our riders will turn up for the next ride. You best prepare for it!

Albe Naude, Photographer and Historian

Assisted by Terence Uys who reported on the ride and supplied group photo

End...