Africa with Charley Boorman

Alright...let's get this RR going. After 36 hours of traveling in coach, I finally arrived in Cape Town...worn, battered, stiff, and with a headache from all the great South African Pinotage wine. I anxiously ran to baggage claim, just hoping and preying that all my riding gear made the journey as well. I was ecstatic to see my bag in one piece, with my zip tie still on the zipper. I collected my bags and looked for my transportation, which was arranged by Motoaventures. To my surprise, there was a driver waiting there for me who loaded me and my gear into a Mercedes C class. What a nice way to start off my adventure!

We were all staying at the V and A Waterfront hotel in Cape Town. I quickly checked in (very nice rooms BTW) and ran down to the bar to see if anyone had checked in yet. I heard the group before I saw them. After some intros, we had a few beers, then off to a pub for some more beers. People had traveled from all over for this trip...USA, Canada, Australia, Tasmania, Israel, UK, and Kuwait and Africa.

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Downtown Cape Town

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V and A Waterfront Hotel

What a great night. We all had a few too many beers, but the next day was our own. We were free to explore Cape Town and pick up our bikes at Cape Town BMW. I walked over with my buddy Jimmy to go pick up my bike. I originally signed up for a 1200 GS because the GS Adventure was not available. I got a call from Su the night before asking if I would like to have a GSA for the trip at no extra cost. Apparently, BMW was transporting the bikes down for the trip and the trailer carrying all the bikes flipped. They only had GSA's available. We hadn't even started the trip, and four bikes were totaled!! I was just stoked to have a GSA to ride!!

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Pick a bike...any bike

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I had one of only 5 1200 GSA's. Sweeeeet! I am not going to miss my F800GS!

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One of two Land Rover support vehicles.

We met Charley, his tour manager Billy, and John from Motoaventures that day. They were running around and setting up the bikes with Garmin Zumos and tank bags. Charley was very talkative and just plain cool as shit! From that moment on, I knew this trip was going to be epic! We had our first group dinner that night, and then off to bed to get ready for our first big riding day!

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This is the parking lot at the V and A hotel. We took over the lot!

Soooooooo IN!

This is the same tour I mentioned in my "Moto-Tours: Who and Where" thread at Post #19, http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=562972

ktm950se

You make my dream real (for you)! I will follow or I will shut down... Totaly in!

At that price, you couldn't have been too stressed over the economy...

Great vids.

what a great way to explore Africa and my partner and I would do what you did in a heart beat if we had the money!

Gloabalpilot, where did you make make that training day video, looks like it is somewhere around Cave Creek? By the way, I spent 3 weeks in Capetown in around the V & A Waterfront, beautiful place.

Looking forward to the rest of the RR, truly an epic trip.

Seems like a great trip.
I am eagerly in for more as me & wife are heading that way for a much more sober trip this December.

Go ahead this must be stunning !

Yeah, what they said . . . IN.

I shot the video on a dirt road just North of Bartlett Lake, just east of Cave Creek. Beautiful place to ride with endless miles of trails!

The rider ended up with six fractured vertebrae, internal bleeding, and a major concussion! It happened right in front of me. We had to use a sat phone to call the support vehicle. The rider was transported to a Namibian Hospital. Story to follow soon.

I figured I could either invest the money back into the market and lose the majority of it, or I could blow it all on an adventure that was priceless...easy choice really.

priceless adventure that you will remember forever.....

That's a good point GP4; some dividends are non-monetary and will last a lifetime.

+1

You have my wheels turning now. RawHyde Adventure training this year .... Africa next year?

I am inspired!

Cant wait for more.....

Okay!

Damn you. I'm in and envious.

jibs

Great start!