Life

Drives, stops, food, fuel. Where I've been this week.

1 Nov 2026Killarney Motor Show, Cape TownSpot 22, in before the gates opened. The Bedford was the AlterEgo pop-up for the day.31 Oct 2026Die Steakhuis, MalmesburyDinner for two: me and the Bedford. T-bone and chips for me, 77.5 litres for the van at R29.50 a litre. The van had the expensive meal.29 Oct 2026Wimpy at the Engen 1-Stop, N7, SwartlandBurger and chips at the first fuel stop out of Cape Town on the N7. Table Mountain on the way back.

2026

29 Oct 2026Monterey, a week too earlyWe were in Monterey a week before Car Week and had no idea it was coming.26 Feb 2026GiuliaTourer16 Feb 2026I find myself in the market for a motorcycleI find myself in the market for a motorcycle and the search (i use the term loosely) has begun. As has become a thing in16 Feb 2026Back in the DayBack in the day, I lived on a farm in Grabouw, so I bought a BMW 1100GS, to commute. I did 18000km in 6 months…on the or16 Feb 2026My Mental HealthDidn’t realise how good riding a motorcycle is for my mental health. Suddenly, the world feels much lighter. I remember

2023

22 Mar 20232022 Honda Africa TwinWell, that didn’t go according to plan. “No keyless and no quick shifter, that’s extra” Riaan quipped as he handed me th16 Mar 2023BMW 1250 RS Cycle TourBack in my Ducati Days, I reprimanded my mechanic for riding recklessly. He replied “anyone riding faster than you is ri12 Mar 2023AUDI A5 ConvertibleMy best Chauffeur dress…. Ignorance is bliss, at least that has been my philosophy (and coping mechanism) for the last 28 Feb 2023Wijnland Motor MuseumWijnlandAutoMuseum, worth a walk around! @wijnlandautomuseum

2020

21 Oct 2020TyreNoiseInspired by a meme from this morning, I had to add my limited opinion to the matter! It always amazes when clients ask m21 Oct 2020GSXR750 SuzukiHmm. Perks of the job, they say. Not entirely my cup of tea, but quite impressive nonetheless. 160kph in second gear, im23 Feb 20202020 CDBA Day 4CDBA Reflections Not one for organized events, large crowds or riding in dust, I have to say I really enjoyed this past 22 Feb 20202020 CDBA Day 3CDBA: Day 3. Well. As days go, that was pretty out there! Absolutely sublime morning riding into wilderness over Montagu21 Feb 20202020 CDBA Day 2CDBA Day2: Louvain Guest Farm Lovely to see how entrenched Louvain Guest Farm are in the well being and development of t20 Feb 20202020 CDBA Day 1CDBA - Louvain: Day 1. Liaison. How to make it rain. Let Clinton Pienaar pay the bill. This is a business in the making.4 Feb 2020Namibia 2, Day 4Namibia 2. Day 4. Hometime In my experience, the outbound journey is infinitely more exciting than the return, despite c3 Feb 2020Namibia 2, Day 3Namibia 2, Day 3. Firstly, I neglected to mention it was Riaan Swart 5th anniversary with us at KTM Cape Town. Thanks fo2 Feb 20202020 Namibia 2, Day 2Namibia 2, Day 2. Not much to report today, besides another little meltdown by the General over the accomodation bill be1 Feb 20202020 Namibia 2, Day 1Namibia 2. Day 1. 850km. My kind of day. Turns out Riaan Swart will be welcoming a baby into his life within the next mo26 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 9: The EndAnd so ends the quiet before the storm of 2020. As usual dinner at the infamous Joe's Beerhouse in Windhoek, didn’t disa24 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 8: I ThinkSlow day in Africa. When you have to turn the music down to see where you are going in the sand. Mystified how we arrive23 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 7: Skeleton CoastA tribute to my parents, particularly my father, who always spoke of visiting the Skeleton Coast and Richtersveld (which22 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 6: PuncturedWhen you have been told not to swim in the river because of crocodiles, Andre Viljoen, packing your bag with your back t21 Jan 20202020 Day 5: Rest DayChecked in for 2 nights, explore the area. Reflect, walk, swim, sleep, beer, repeat. All things we don’t usually get to 20 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 4: Why I rideIn a recent article Harley Boss requested Journalists to “sell the motorcycle lifestyle” rather than “explaining the pro19 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 3, LiaisonLost In my thoughts, taking in the farm sounds, sipping my morning coffee, the silence is broken by the piercing shrill 18 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 2, Etosha PanWake up after second sleep, ask logistics what that strange sound? I think I left that thing out that made the coffee ma17 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 0. We haven’t left yet!As we arrive at the check in counter, logistics realizes she has brought her expired passport. Thankfully we allowed to 17 Jan 20202020 Namibia Day 1. LiaisonWelcome 2 hours of solitude, after a rather frantic start to the day . Staring out the window at the Namibian desert, im

2019

31 Oct 2019Scalpel - WP Apex UpgradeEventually got to compare my Scalpel, with its upgraded WP Apex Suspension, back to back against the stock version over 16 Sep 2019EURoadTrip2019 SalzburgAlorra, not much to say about yesterday’s ride. Planned to leave at 6am and breakfast in Venice en route to Mattighofen,15 Sep 2019EURoadTrip2019 MotoGP SanMarinoFun day under the Italian Sun!!! Slept like a rock, with two more power naps before breakfast of champions overlooking t14 Sep 2019EURoadTrip2019 - Austria to ItalyLump in my throat as I bid the boys farewell. They head home while I get some me time... Decisions decisions, where to f13 Sep 20192019 KTM Factory Tour Day 5Day 5, that’s a wrap. Actually it’s a burger. Feeling returning to my finger, took a last blast around Mattighofen, spee12 Sep 20192019 KTM Factory Tour Day 4Day 4. Austrian Cultural Experience.... Eventually found a suitable keyring for my “keyless” key. Ended up visiting the 11 Sep 20192019 KTM Factory Tour Day 3Day 3 started slowly meandering around the village killing time in inclement weather... until the WhatsApp came through 10 Sep 20192019 KTM Factory Tour Day 2Fun Facts!!! Factory Safety Check includes Security Test. Only 1 out of 4 passes this test on the first time. (at least 9 Sep 20192019 KTM Factory Tour Day 1Take a break, go to Europe in summer they said! Get away from the rainy weather, people you know, crazy taxi drivers, th2 Aug 2019KTM 790 Duke gets Carbon RimsSpoiled the Scalpel with some BST Carbon Rims. After a week of rain, I jumped at the opportunity to sample these bad boy19 Jun 2019Oudtshoorn - Cape TownGlamping over, we headed out toward Kango Caves and down to Groenrivier, Calitzdorp and Zeweweekspoort. All in all an ep18 Jun 2019Port Alfred - OudtshoornGreat day in the saddle, lost in my thoughts, missed the baviaans turnoff, took the Langkloof alternate road and met my 17 Jun 2019WaveCrest - Port AlfredSlow start to the day, soaking up the sunrise sipping my cappuccino. Problem with new generation bikes, their range is s16 Jun 2019Port St Johns -WaveCrestDay 2: Day of Avoidance, long tiring day in the saddle avoiding dogs, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, horses, bulls, people, d12 Jun 2019Porsche DayWe decided to take the Flatnose and 996 for an outing to clear our minds and get some video footage. “Pure emotion”, fir31 May 2019Fuorilegge (Outlaw)From Replica to Outlaw. Upon closer inspection, turns out one of the sodium filled exhaust valves had failed, which is a25 Mar 2019KTM 790 Adventure, A Dealers (biased) Perspective.Introducing the KTM 790 Adventure S & R, a bike I have been waiting for since KTM discontinued their legendary single, t4 Mar 2019MotoGP-Qatar 2019I can confirm, 30 hours in Doha beats a 9 Hour layover at the airport, hands down. Especially when it includes an epic o

2018

8 Nov 20182018 Dainese Archivo - GalleryIn pursuit of a set of leathers for my Scalpel, I visited Dainese Factory Shop in Vicena, secretly hoping for a Factory 7 Nov 20182018 Museum Nicolis - GalleryMore photos coming soon.22 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - Modena to InnsbruckAt the risk of sounding melodramatic, no emotional PDA’s (public display of affection) allowed in our house. The first, 22 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - Mattighofen212km of unrelenting rain today. Soaked to the core, no coffee breaks, just ride! After some slipping and sliding, switc20 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - World Ducati WeekBlast from the past, great memories of WDW2002 come rushing back. 790 Duke stood their ground in a sea of red, loud & pr19 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - MotoRanchSlow start to the day after an epic night out. Seems Pedro cracked a nod to the Kravitz after party! Chilled, literally,18 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - Lenny in LuccaLeft Saint Raphael for Lucca, via Nice & Monaco. Taking an hour to cover 14kms, we popped back onto the Autostrada to co17 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - Saint Raphael800km of the 1100km liaison covered today, destination Saint Raphael, via Paris and Lyon, for dinner with the Doc! After14 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - PortsmouthLovely lunch in the beautiful town of Portsmouth. Hotel parking lot filling up with exotica! Room service snack dinner w12 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - BrooklandsYesterday we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in the quaint little town of Shepperton (on the Thames) catching up on laundry11 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - AlfaholicsSpecial day at the much anticipated Holy Grail, Alfaholics! Unannounced we received a warm welcome and tour through the 10 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - Aston MartinBike theft, a real problem in the UK, called for proper measures! Full Monty Breakfast means just that. Still digesting 9 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - UKLast year I learned to trust the GPS, besides a few early turns (my own fault), it has been reliable. Until yesterday. R8 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - BelgiumAt breakfast we met manager Taryn, a South African whose husband (both from Cape Town) is a driving Instructor at RSR Pe7 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - StuttgartPouch fitted, we left for Stuttgart, via Munich Airport, destination Porsche Museum. I have new respect for Navigational7 Jul 20182018 Porsche Museum - GalleryMore photos coming soon.6 Jul 2018EURoadTrip2018 - MattighofenSo I watched “The Bike Show” this week, the first time ever!!! because they reviewed my current favorite bike, the 790 D26 May 2018Universal Products Porsche 356 ReplicaHad this idea in my mind to build an "Outlaw" Porsche 356 Replica, so took the opportunity to pop into Universal Product24 May 20182018 KTM Dealer Conference and 790 Duke LaunchAction packed day at Kyalami at the 2018 KTM Dealer Conference & long awaited KTM 790 Duke Launch. Turns out JHB can be 23 May 2018KTM 390 Duke, A Bike for all occassionsAs a dealer, a KTM dealer, I struggled to understand the 390 Duke positioning. Legally too much for under 18 and too lit12 May 2018Kicking Tyres at Webb & SonsPillioned with Ray today to Webb&Sons to check out their fantastic restoration projects and facilities. Some really spec

2017

1 Dec 2017Aston Martin AMRTaking delivery of a new AMR. From Aston Martin website: DISCOVER Extreme excitement Vantage AMR epitomises everything V12 Nov 2017Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile Di TorinoAnd that, my friends, concludes our Italian Automotive Cultural Roadtrip and EICMA 2017. If fuel runs through your veins10 Nov 2017MV Agusta Factory TourThe GPS warned me that the Moto Guzzi Museum only opens at 15:00, so I rerouted to MV Agusta assuming the Museum would b10 Nov 2017Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile - GalleryLast day in Italy, quick stop at the National Museum of The Automobile in Turin, covering the evolution of the Automobil9 Nov 2017Alfa Romeo MuseumAnd so our cultural tour of Italy continues. #whataday #bucketlistticked https://youtu.be/MBOSUBeGGvM More photos coming9 Nov 2017Alfa Romeo Museo - GalleryMore photos coming soon.8 Nov 2017Lamborghini Museum - Senna Tribute GalleryMore photos coming soon. Lamborghini Museum with unexpected, but very special, tribute to Ayrton Senna.7 Nov 2017Meet the familyIntroducing the KTM 790 Duke and its bad brother in the making, KTM 790 Adventure Prototype. #readytorace #goodtimes #en7 Nov 2017Ferrari Museum - GalleryVisiting Italy for EICMA 2017, popped down to Modena to visit a few Museums. First visited Ferrari back in 1999, not muc7 Nov 2017Ducati Museum GalleryBack in the day, when we owned Ducati Cape Town, we were privileged enough to visit Italy and Ducati regularly. Our sinc5 Nov 2017Bologna - Ducati - VeniceAfter our first visit to Ducati in ten years, we explored the back roads to Venice. More dual way single track. Very Ita4 Nov 2017Pagani3 Nov 2017Lamborghini1 Nov 2017790 Reasons to attend EICMA 2017I have not been that tired since PE days. The first leg of our day flight to Milan, landed in Dubai at midnight. Up sinc19 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, TyredYesterday Namibia fed us Lemons, so we made Lemonade. We also made a public service video of it, "Changing tyres by Comm19 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, Adventure 101Today was text book "How not to Adventure Bike", precisely the reason we do "Adventure Bootcamps". Something small escal19 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, Tough CallThis post requires background for context. Amanda (not on this trip Johnny, relax, you did not miss anything) and I have19 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, Joe's BeerhouseAbsolutely gob smacked by Joe's Beerhouse in Windhoek. Nothing like I expected, larger than anything Ive ever seen with 18 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, GrootbergDelayed start to the day while we waited for Duneworx Yamaha to open, so I could fit a new tyre. Good thing as laundry w17 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, Sandmonster bites.A beautiful morning rudely interrupted by the sand monster claiming one of our party. Fortunately he is ok, but on his w17 Jul 2017Namibia 2017, SwakopmundTurns out Ed has a broken upper arm, but is safely back in Cape Town with his family. His bike will return to Cape Town 26 Jun 2017Namibia 2017, Destination Epupa FallsWhen traveling, first priority good Coffee. Best vehicle, @VW Transporter with 2 Adventure Bikes Day 1, Namibia 2017. Le26 Jun 2017Namibia 2017, Shakedown. Literally.So day one lived up to its expectations. Last year we lost a gear lever, this year an alternator inspection cover. But w

2016

17 Dec 2016Lesotho 2016, Roof of Africa AdventureEvery year we support up to 15 Riders at The Roof of Africa in The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Thanks to the economy we4 Oct 2016Namibia 2016, Southern Namibia Adventure27 Aug 2016Mclaren P570sWhen Ray mentioned in passing that he would have a Mclaren P570S for a day and I should join him, I smiled nodded and th21 Jun 20162016 ICE Port Elizabeth (Inner City Enduro)20 Jun 20162016 Winterberg National Enduro Port Elizabeth11 Jun 2016Franschoek Motor Museum - GalleryMore photos coming soon.

2003

6 Nov 2003Introduction to Namibia 2003