GPS Day - 27th May 2007 Today will be a day to remember. The GPS outing started off well after a Wimpy breakfast following a route that we set out yesterday (Amir, Jorg and I) on motorbikes. The route followed the gravel roads past Rawsonville, then onto the Agtervinkrivier road and finally to the Franschhoek pass after a section through Villiersdorp. The gravel roads were dry and fairly hard and there was hardly any mud around..but looking at the roads I think a bit of rain could have turned the roads into a very slippery muddy track. The trip was to end with a picnic on the Franschhoek Pass. The planned picnic spot I wanted to use was not the best, but halfway down the pass between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp I found a really nice spot. The 4x4's left the Engen with the first coordinate whereafter they had to find the second, third, etc. The group were going rather slow and after waiting at the 'tea' waypoint for 45 minutes with only 3 vehicles arriving I thought it would be a long day. We passed through Villiersdorp and onto the pass. At about 12h45 the first vehicles arrived at the picnic spot and the last three vehicles took another hour and a half to find the spot. The 4x4 club members included 1 x surgeon and 2 x doctors. There were lots of bikes up and down the pass the whole time. Suddenly we heard a bang and as I looked to see what it was... I saw a bike and rider flying over the cliff. You can judge the distance and height, but I guess it was about 15 to 20 meters horizontal and 17 meters vertical. We had no cell signal so I drove up the road to call for help..that was another story and in the end Andy Brown a member from Villiersdorp got the emergency services out. Andy Faber grabbed some rope, Lars jumped into his Land Cruiser, Ian and Veronica and Andrew (doctor) raced to the scene - fifty meters away but on the other side of the gorge, quickly got the ropes ready. Bev another doctor in the group grabbed her bag and was lowered into the valley. I got back in 5 minutes from making the call and saw Bev working on the rider, Ian and Lars were helping us up and down on the rope, Andrew (doctor) had given us his medical bag and Andy Faber was helping get the riders possessions to safety. I got lowered down to help Bev (the best thing I ever did was Neil's bush medical course), Bev got two drips set up and tried to keep the rider comfortable. Emergency services arrived, three ambulances, two rescue vehicles, two police vehicles and helicopter. The rider was put into a Stokes harnass and carried out. He has a dislocated shoulder and some minor lacerations and should be out of hospital tomorrow. He was wearing all his riding gear. Points to ponder.... The picnic site was not my original choice but I decided to use it at the last minute. We had three doctors with us on the trip. Bev had all her equipment and drips with her. If the other 4x4's had been quicker we would have left the site and nobody would have seen him go over the cliff. Andy had a long rope in his vehicle. The rider landed on his back missing rocks by 300mm and the river by 1 meter. Coincidence - I don't think so! A very special thanks to some amazing people: Dr Bev who did an amazing job with the rider. Dr Andrew and Dr George Andy Faber, Andy Brown, Ian and Lars. and everyone else who was there. We have some really awesome members. Greg