Angola, it's not like they said.

[Scribble]

sjoe...  looking forward all the more to meeting you guys at the bash some beers on me thanks for an amazing story

 

[Lootch67]

That's it - I'm not doing a ride report of our Kaoko trip. The bar has been set WAAAYYY too high! Thank you very much for a amazing report!

 

[Grondpad]

MJ en Co,  Wow wow wow wow. thanks for sharing, big respect!!  O0

 

[SGB]

That's it - I'm not doing a ride report of our Kaoko trip. The bar has been set WAAAYYY too high! Thank you very much for a amazing report!

No, that is the easy way out!  Skryf please!  ???

 

[dusty]

Thank you for sharing your amazing adventure, but I think that you could write a ride report on going to the shop for bread and milk and it would be just as entertaining.  ;D ;D

 

[briv]

Riveting..riveting  ;D ;D I'l save the skaapfillets for you guy's at the bash 

 

[Kev]

Guys, I was truly moved by this report... on so many levels. I do not have the right words that can descirbe that. So all I will say is, "Thank You".

 

[Plothond]

I cannot say more than the others and have not commented much on this thread

Yet, I can assure you that I followed each installment in awe and all the comments with great interest

Thanks for great reading and a wonderful report.

... and how we elevate people, and in this case the writers and participants in this trip, yet, you are all ordinary people, just like the rest of us.
What an inspiration to us all, that this type of adventure is achievable by anyone with the fantastic resolve and committment you displayed.

Well done 

 

[Goose]

I cannot say more than the others and have not commented much on this thread

Yet, I can assure you that I followed each installment in awe and all the comments with great interest

Thanks for great reading and a wonderful report.

... and how we elevate people, and in this case the writers and participants in this trip, yet, you are all ordinary people, just like the rest of us.
What an inspiration to us all, that this type of adventure is achievable by anyone with the fantastic resolve and committment you displayed.

Well done 

I can only agree with above statement!!!

BUT please... oh please send a copy of your RR to Charlie & Ewan.... firstly to show them what a real adventure is all about... and secondly to inspire them for their new "LWU" ride!  8)

 

[Metaljockey]

Amazing report.

How did Fred get that swollen foot back into his boot every day?  What boots did you use for this trip?

He used BMW Santiago boots. They open nice and wide but he obviously couldn't fasten the one. After a couple of days it had worn his skin through in places.

Finally, 14 days after he broke the ankle, and back in South Africa, he was operated on and the lot gets screwed back together.

He is still on crutches but the cast should come off this week. His left knee that was injured on the last day is still giving him grief, but the x-rays don't show any obvious problem, so it will probably just need some time to settle down.

He is not discouraged though and have done short rides already. He will be fine.




As for the bikes, all were more or less modified to take luggage only . Otherwise they were all standard and all of them made the trip without any major damage. All of them had to be stripped down totally though, due to the sea riding thing. Almost all had some sand or water still captured in the suspension bearings and or wheel bearings.

I have been very critical towards the 640 in the report. That was how things were at the time though. It is thoroughly unpleasant to ride something like the doodsakker on a bike that cannot be allowed to stall. In the end I only had a fully functional bike the final two days of the trip.

The fact of the matter is that there were only two issues. One, the choke; I don't rate this as a problem, it can be sorted out easily on the road. Two, the battery; this has nothing to do with the bike. It was a battery problem only. The reason the new battery that I bought in Tombua died within the first 250km, is that it was not the sealed type and the battery box in the 640 lies at an angle. So the overflow allows the corners of the lead plates to protrude above the acid line. That's my stupidity. I should have foreseen that.

And let's not forget, the 640 is the only bike that had a kickstart. If any of the other bikes had been in the same situation, we would have had real problems.

My problems with the 640 did have one good result. From now on a multimeter will be standard in my toolkit on long trips. If we had just been able to diagnose the problem the first time it broke down in the desert, it would have removed all the mental stress for the balance of the trip.




As far as the all the kind comments  posted goes, I would like to say thank you. Thank you to all. I do not write these reports with the intention to receive flattering comments, but I know the comments are posted for me and my buddies' benefit. It really means a lot to us when we see you enjoy the trip as much as we did.

... and how we elevate people, and in this case the writers and participants in this trip, yet, you are all ordinary people, just like the rest of us.

Well said, none of us are exceptionally skilled riders (excepting  when I'm drunk, then I'm fcking quick). We are just a couple of guys that have the opportunity to ride in exceptional places and meet exceptional people. And make no mistake, we are very aware of how fortunate we are to be able to do so.

Like someone's signature line says: "carpe the living shit out of the diem"

That's it - I'm not doing a ride report of our Kaoko trip. The bar has been set WAAAYYY too high! Thank you very much for a amazing report!

Like hell you won't. I've been looking forward to that report for too long.

 

[Metaljockey]

even if you don't write a book (which you should) would you consider making a mamoerse pdf with even more pictures that we can download?

Thanks a million for sharing your experience with us

An ADVrider have already done so. Here's the link https://www.4shared.com/file/27666139/f93973b7/Angola_Trip_-_updated.html.

I don't know how long it will be hosted so use it now if you want.

 

[michnus]

even if you don't write a book (which you should) would you consider making a mamoerse pdf with even more pictures that we can download?

Thanks a million for sharing your experience with us

An ADVrider have already done so. Here's the link https://www.4shared.com/file/27666139/f93973b7/Angola_Trip_-_updated.html.

I don't know how long it will be hosted so use it now if you want.

Funacide said he is prepared to host it on his site.

 

[Mark Hardy]

Down loaded and saved, too be read anytime in need inspiration.

Once again Thanks for the report guys.

 

[funacide]

I have uploaded the file. Enjoy the read guys. File is 18Mb in size. Here is the location:

<a class="topictitle" href="https://wilddog.net.za/images/angolatrip_mj.pdf">Click Here for Angola Trip in PDF Format</a>

 

[killboy]

Absolutely awesome guys!!! You are legends!

Hope all will heal well!

 

[Ratel]

Only one question remains: Where to next ;D

 

[Nardus]

Only one question remains: Where to next ;D

Now that is a good question .......... !

 

[Clockwork Orange]

MJ, Michnus Nardus en Hennie.....! Dit was nou a lekker trippie ne. Brilliant stuff all of you and fantastically written report. Looking forward to hearing more of this over a couple of beers next time I am in EL

 

[iep_kruger]

wow,,,,,i only got to read this report today and im gratefull i did,,,whenever im somewhere  struggling on my bike i will think about this report and draw strength from your courage and endurance,,,,well done

 

[Mike B]

I have just finished reading this report, its been 3 days, but it has left my soul refreshed and lifted my spirit which has been hammered of late. With a tear in my eye and choking sense of awe I read the last passages. I feel humbled and privileged to have experienced your odyssey with a sense of passion and feeling that has left me inspired.

I have had the privilege to have traveled Africa, I agree that the conflict was not what we thought it was and the people certainly not what they where made out to be.