Willy Doerheit, a keen motorcyclist and at that time a hectic city slicker, spotted a patch of land 15km before Barrydale on Route 62. He found it to be the ideal place to start up his business, a biker’s theme stopover pub ‘n grub including accommodation with nature’s tranquility at your back door. In December 2006 the Karoo Saloon   opened their doors to the public, run by Willy and his wife, Joan. Accommodation facilities for 24 people are under construction and will cost about  R 100/person/ night. Their menu speaks of simplicity but taste is what it’s all about – pizzas, toasties and a great breakfast. Willy and Joan also have an extended family, who keep the kids entertained, like their two Potbelly pigs, Pork & Chop, their parrot Scrumps and their Bull Terrier, Titan. In 2005 Willy and Joan also initiated the Slangkop Rally in conjunction with Lion’s International to raise funds for the underprivileged. Contact Willy on 0827875981.

A road winding through the countryside with a few mountain passes thrown in, a group of bikers and a fantastic end venue is all any biker can ask for.  So with a recipe like that, what could you expect other than a road trip that will be remembered by all. 

It all started with someone suggesting that the Karoo Saloon past Montague on Route 62 was worth a visit. A couple of phone calls and emails later and the plans were set in motion.  The Skull Riders, a bunch from The Taken and from The Strollers and all our other biker friends crossed our fingers for good weather since it was winter.  Here in Cape Town when we have winter you know it’s winter.   Willy had invited us to kuier at his Karoo Saloon and sleep over for free  since he wasn’t quite finished building the accommodation building. He offered rooms with beds, his bar was stocked, he had DSTV for the guys to watch the rugby and he had arranged a potjiekos competition with a few of the locals as entrants.   We counted down the sleepies in anticipation. 

We gathered at the N1Stop early bells Saturday morning and stopped at the Trout Farm on Du Toit's Kloof pass for our first stop, then on to Robertson to refuel and a wettie at Bourbon Street. Some of the guys rode faster than others and English Lady and I found ourselves alone, somewhere in the middle of the pack as we rode into Worcester. The inevitable happened, we got a bit lost and did a little detour through the town.  No biggie, we are used to this happening to us so we just diced each other at the robots through town.  This helped me focus on the road and drown out her screeching laughter at us getting lost.  We found Robertson on our own and I gave myself a Mickey Mouse badge.  Theo’s bike unfortunately gave engine problems and he had to leave it at Worcester and had his first experience as a pillion on a superbike.   

The trout farm

Du Toit's Kloof

Nearly bedtime

Brewing a potjie

All refreshed and refueled and we were off to Montague where we hooked up with Willy, the owner of the Karoo Saloon.  He escorted us to Avalon Springs for our last stop.  I was wondering how a bunch of bikers were going fit in since I heard the place was upmarket but Willy knew the owner of the place, also a biker, and he’d arranged free entry for all of us.  We stayed a while before flying through to his farm which was 45 km further and that’s when the party started.   

The Saloon had a welcoming vibe with free shooters at the door and the potjiekos competitors were spread out on the lawn in the sun.  Some of the guys watched the rugby, some mingled, some chilled outside enjoying the sun as well as the company of the Witches Brew Potjiekos Team who were dressed for the part in sexy witches’ outfits.  Grumpy got so excited about the place that he decided to bury his bone under a tree.  

The witch's brew...

The three prezzies did the judging of the potjiekos and the witches walked away with 1st prize for spirit and décor.  Little beknown to us, the potjiekos entrants were asked to judge the bikers and later that evening free tequila shots and bottles of wine were given to all the winners.  

English Lady - the donkest female!

During the day Willy had pizza and Springbok pies for sale to keep the guys from starving and also sold braai packs although some of us took our own braai meat.  The highlight of my evening was the 78 year old frail granny who was game for a laugh.  She decided she wanted to sit on one of the bikes and gave up her walking stick so that the guys could help her onto Mark’s huge Boulevard.  She posed for photo’s in a skull cap, her black shades and Zoey’s colours but the house came down when Mark started the bike for her and she gave the guys the finger, that is, after we showed her which one to stick up.  Now that’s what I call a spunky granny. 

More locals joined us to party the night away and Willy’s cool sound system had some of us doing moves which were more suitable for younger bodies, or so I discovered the next morning when the screws and pins in my knee needed to be realigned.   

We had to wait for our bike seats to thaw out cos they were crusted over with ice and English Lady had to wait for her jacket to defrost since it was stuck to the lawn.  After coffee it was off to Montague to Die Stal for a hearty breakfast before heading home.  I let hubby ride my bike home since I felt sorry for him, what with his bike parked at the garage back in Worcester, while I caught a lift on Willem’s Boulevard, my first experience of riding on a cruiser.  It wasn’t so bad, I take back all the digs I give him about his woosie bike.  We collected a trailer and headed back to Worcester for Theo’s bike before we could rest our weary bodies but when my head hit the pillow I was already wondering where our next trip could be. 

Pietie, the best pomp aka Skullies doing what Skullies do best.

Willy and his wife Joan were excellent hosts and they went out of their way to make sure we had entertainment and enjoyed our day, in fact it felt like we were at a private mini rally.  It really was a road trip that required another holiday to recover.  I can’t wait for the next one

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