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U l y s s e s E a s t R a n d

Newslysses Issue: 406 May 2013

Meet every Sunday for a breakfast run departing from Bimbo’s, 5th Avenue, Northmead Benoni, at 8:15am

Chairperson: Llewellyn Collins Cell: 082 940 4983 E-mail: wells@hotmail.co.za

Vice Chairperson: Allen Burger Cell: 082 459 4959 E-mail: allenburger@vodamail.co.za

Andrew Potgieter Cell: 082 881 2936 E-mail:andrew.potgieter@power.alstom.com

Ulysses East Rand on the Web:www.ulyssessa.co.za/pages/chapters/gauteng/east-rand.php

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Planned Rides :(This will be mostly longer rides.)

Month Date Venue Area

May 19 33 on High Modderfontien

26 Ndlovu Lodge Pretoria East

June 2 Piatto’s Alberton

Other rides of interest: (from various sources like Bark Essay!)

May 18 Wheels in the sky day jol/rock fest R50 entry Lady Luck, Ermelo Road,Springs

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Backfiring from the chair: The Ulysses National Rally at Loskop Dam

Finally the time came and it was all systems go, Anita and I had booked our spot at Ruby River

Lodge months ago. Not to be anti-social or any of the other rumours going around, but because I

wanted a Jacuzzi. Anita was very concerned that she may not have studied enough, as she was

writing her exam on Monday. I very quickly reminded her that this had been planned months ago,

and I certainly was not going to be in the Jacuzzi all on my own. I pulled the bikes out and decided

to oil the chain, and there it was, a seriously bald patch on my tyre! I felt for sure that I was going

by car. A phone call to Bike Hyper Tyre in Boksburg put my mind at ease, Roelf informed me that

although he did not have the tyre in stock he would personally go and collect one from the supplier

and have it ready for me, all I had to do was go straight to the shop. His wife was not too happy

though as they were about to leave for a long weekend away, the first one in months. One hour

later, Anita and I were on our way to the rally!

While I am on about good service, we have just had Anita’s bike serviced at Smith’s Motorcycles in

Kyalami, all I can say is go and meet Norman and check out his workshop. A clean well organised

workshop say’s a lot about the people that work there! It is the best service and workmanship I

have experienced in a long time.

We decided to take the N12 out to Middleburg, have lunch at the Wimpy there and then go on to

Loskop Dam. The only problem experienced along this route was the road works on the Highway and

the stop and go between Middleburg and Loskop. We passed Andre along the N12, who was on his

way to a site in Middleburg.

Settling in at Ruby River on Thursday afternoon, we dropped our bags and then headed to the dam

to meet the rest of the East Rand Ugly Buggers. The rally attendees from da’ Oos Rand were:

Allen and Susan

Les and Joan

Harry

Paul and Miranda

Shane and Sally

Gansen

Graham

Peter and Eve

Nick and Patsy

Lionel

Andrew and Erica

Anita and Wells

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The days were spent drinking, eating and kuiring with very little riding taking place. For those of us

who stayed at Ruby River, there was some very interesting Night Riding! The rally in my opinion was

a success and judging by the remarks on the Ulysses SA facebook page, I am not the only one that

thinks so. Congratulations to Pretoria for a job well done and congratulations to our very own Erica

for the fantastically designed program!

There still seems to be no progress on the chapter who will host the next rally though, it might be

Durban, but no official announcement has been made. I think us East Rand guys and dolls should

think about hosting one in the near future. Some whisperings in agreement have been heard, maybe

two years from now. Other whisperings were centred on doing some charity work; the two

mentioned were the maternity ward at Oliver Tambo Memorial Hospital and the SPCA. An evening

out to the Barnyard is also on the cards!

The route taken back was via Dennelton and Verena, past Bronkies and Bapsfontein finally reaching

Boksburg. This road has been vastly improved and allows for runs to Cullinen and Ndlovu to resume.

I will stop my ramblings and rather let some pictures do the talking!

Till we ride again,

Wells.

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Captains Log: Sunday 5th May 2013

Jack Frost arrived with a bang accompanied by a skraal and biting wind as we huddled in

the sun outside Bimbo’s this past Sunday. Snow on the Maluti’s you ask? Yep, the wind

certainly confirmed this. The main group were headed for Lake Avenue Inn on the Vaal at

Denneysville but sensing that down South would be even colder, four sane elderly

gentlemen opted for a shorter ride North to Stone Cradle this morning.

The intrepid riders who arrived at Bimbo’s were:

Llewellyn Suz Bandit 1250

Rob BMW 1200RT

Mike O’D & Lucia Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

Mike C BMW 1200GT

Gansen Honda 1300 Pan Euro

Douglas Black Honda 1000 RR

John Honda VFR 1200

Nick Honda VFR 1200

Lionel Honda 1000 F

Trevor Triumph 1700 T-bird S

Graham Honda 1800 Gold Wing

Clive BMW 1600 ST

Nico (visitor) ?????? (did not see his bike)

Clive (visitor) ?????? (did not see his bike) Forgotten rider added

I seem to remember that there were 14 bikes and 15 riders in total so I have forgotten

one rider off the list. My apology, it was too cold to register all 14 into my frozen brain it

seems. As the big group left, we also set off up Pretoria road towards Bapsfontein.

I have just had heated grips fitted on the T-bird and was keen to try them for

effectiveness. The inside of my hands were kept warm but the outside still froze in the

wind. Halfway to happiness I guess. Anyway, I also discovered that the jacket I was

wearing was not keeping the cold out so I was really feeling sorry for myself as we

approached the Baps crossroad and I sailed on through. I quickly registered my mistake

and did a U-turn around the traffic island with young Graham in close pursuit. After this

blatant transgression, Mike C took over the lead and without getting lost we arrived at

Stone Cradle and were ushered into a small dining room where a magic Buffet brekky had

been set out.

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Mike enquired about the price which is normally R95 per head. R65 for the Bikers was the

enthusiastic reply. Hoo – ha! A real comprehensive and high quality breakfast. Oh yes it

was delicious also.

One of the dishes was Beef Trinchado which was absolutely out of this world! I availed

myself of multiple helpings together with cheese & onion quiche and poached egg Benedict!

With only the four of us at one table, Graham gave an account of the shenanigans that

went on at the Africa Bike Week down South at Margate by the sea.

A very large gang of Harley riders arrived but were friendly and didn’t bother us.

We left feeling well satisfied and took on the ride home via the R21 which is a road

surface my T-bird loves!

Anyway, until next week when I’ll see-ya (disappearing) in da mirrors.

Twisty Two.

Captains Log: Sunday 12th May 2013

Talk about a bleak outlook! The weather on Sunday morning was decidedly overcast

and cold at 6 degrees in Benoni and to crown it a heavy mist had descended making

riding with a helmet, nothing short of hazardous. I eased my way quietly through

the traffic towards Bimbo’s and found big Rob to be the only person waiting there

for a ride this cold and damp day. Within a few minutes we were joined by Grant

who emerged like a wraith out of the mist. Apart from Mike C & Ivor who are

riding somewhere in Namibia, the rest of our crew were at the Ulysses National

Rally or still in bed. So the riders & bikes were:

Rob BMW 1200RT

Trevor Triumph 1700 T-bird S

Grant Honda 1000 RR

The mist was very wet so we decided just to ride out to Bapsfontein, across to

Kempton Park and to dine on the finest cuisine that the R21 One-stop Wimpy could

offer us. The effect on my visor from the mist caused me to ride with it slightly

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open and the ensuing wind-blast was wet and extremely cold. Frozen eyes, is a new

one on me!

The mist eventually lifted a little at Bapsfontein crossroad and we were able to

raise the speed bar a couple of notches, taking to the R21 at the Tembisa bridge.

Wimpy brekkies are always good and washing it down with Mega-coffee added to

the distinction. After the meal, Rob and I clapped Ken’s corner and returned home,

now in bright sunshine, enjoying the ride.

Until next week when I’ll see-ya (disappearing) in da mirrors,

Twisty Two.

Lake Avenue Inn – 5th

May 2013

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15th

Ulysses National Rally - 2013 L

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More pics to follow with next issue!