Zambian Joyride

[Douf]

Originally Posted by metaljockey

Mutinondo River to civilization

We get our things loaded up and as Hennie swings his helmet onto his head his eye catches something sitting in the earwell.

A scorpion!!!!

Another excellent report! Many folks have called this report inspiring, but as far as I'm concerned, it's so far beyond anything I would even consider, the only thing it inspires in me is awe! I found myself constantly worrying for your safety just reading it, especially at the point where you encountered the lions and then kept riding through the limited visibility bush. I started making a mental note of all the injuries/mishaps I and my fellow riders have sustained merely on the benign excursions I like to think of as adventurous, and consequently wondered if you have any similar kind of collective running total?
Fwiw the scorpions back in your home country would appear to be a little more extrovert, as this little guy from the western cape (who spent a night as a room mate with one of my traveling companions) demonstrates...



Respect.

Douf

[quicktoys2]

That was so AWESOME . thanks for sharing another one of your fantastic ride reports.

Your style of writing and your pictures places me along side you on your adventures ... I love it.

Soto

[Dickyb]

Originally Posted by larrytoby

SWEEEEET! If I ever get back to South Africa I'll look you up.

If I ever get there I'd probably settle for a go on Peanut's little bike and leave it at that. Meeting up with your loved ones, a class ending to a remarkable tale. Thank you for the adventure.

Cheers,


Dickyb

[swamp_donkey]

Originally Posted by Cornfed

Most excellent! Thank you for taking the time to write this up...

Wow.

This guy looks like a fake one you'd see at Disneyland or something...er, uh...only...it's real!

That is cool and sad at the same time.
The short tusk are indicative of the elephants plight in Africa due to poachers.

Err, unless it is a juvenile.

[Bonsai Elephant]

Originally Posted by Douf

What is it about sharing your bed with scorpions in Africa?

[NomadRip]

Outstanding read as usual

MJ must have the highest concentration of 1st-time posters of any set of threads here (Mine was in Angola).

I am not surprised at all that the lions ran when they saw you coming.

[mookymoo]

Originally Posted by swamp_donkey

That is cool and sad at the same time.
The short tusk are indicative of the elephants plight in Africa due to poachers.

Err, unless it is a juvenile.

Actually, Botswanan elephants typically have shorter tusks due to deficiencies in minerals in the soils found there. You will see them eating dirt in places - to supplement their intake - what they have found is like a natural deposit.

When I was there (a few years ago now) the Okavango & Zambezi area of Botswana & Zimbabwe, if anything, suffered from over-population of elephants. They were causing a great deal of deforestation near rivers and water sources...

As always, a top ride report

Originally Posted by neduro

I'm really glad you did! Thanks for taking the time and effort, it sets the standard for me around this place.

+1

[Digger Deep]

Guys a truly excellent report..........great report from a part of Africa I havent seen first hand

[KingRat]

Simply outstanding.

[spotch]

Awesome report!

The only part I didn't get was this:

I am generally against outside aid but I must say, these wells make a huge difference to the quality of life of the people living here.

Totally lost me! The outside aid for disease treatment and prevention alone is a phenomenal benefit, not to mention infrastructure stuff like the well you drank out of!


Oh, and as for the guy asking what he could do to afford a bike, maybe you could have told him to grab some friends and set up a service at a deep river crossing. Ferry crossing assistance is a centuries old profession! I mean it sucks for travelers to have to pay for the service that generous people sometimes give for free, but like you said there aren't a whole lot of ways to make money in that country!

[Foot dragger]

WOWIE! That whole report was truly outstanding! That Spider looked big enough to fry up for breakfast,probably taste good.

I always wonder if an 800 twin or 1200GS is the size of bike for dragging through water and technical terrain. I guess its all in what your used to riding. Seems like wheel bearings would go south quickly in continual deep water/silt/mud.

The pontoons were a brilliant addition to the story! Thanks for the effort typing the story up,made my day.

[InTheDirt]

Great Read! However, I too am wondering about the choice of bike for this trip. Obviously, not everyone has the ability to pay for this kind of trip, nor afford any machine they choose. I can understand the BMWs if that is what you already had. However, after seeing the kinds of mishaps along this trip, and a great many others, it fails to convince me that these bikes would be my first pick. For pure simplicity and reliability, I would've gone for an air-cooled, no frills, off road proven XR600. But that's just me!

Once again, great read!

[oakey134]

Wow, that was nothing short of incredible, I could only dream of having the balls to do what you guys did. I am new to adventure riding but it was reading stuff like this that gave me the bug. Thanks for sharing it was truly enjoyable.

[Adios Pantalones]

Ok, Here we go...

This response is proporly enhanced by Mr. Laphroig... I wiil let the typos stand.

MJ and Hennie, you two are fucking studs.

MJ, you can write like a mutha fuka which is cool for all of us!

You got both Baldy and Vermin to chime in on the same RR, you can't get more cred than that! (street creditbility) (honest mojo) (killer bitchen coolness) (muy bueno) There, that c shold cover a few dialects!

Nicely done, the best is the contrast from your utterly knackered pic to you with your wife! Pricelesss!

[COscooter]

Absolutely amazing...just read it from start to finish....missed nearly all of the hockey game

I am truly humbled by what you accomplished. Thank you for sharing!

Off to find the Angola thread.....