Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

Lusaka - Kabwe - Kapiri Mposhi - Mulilima

You know a road is boring when you get excited by being able to ride through a toll gate without paying.

When you see a road side stall where everybody is selling the same thing.

Or, if you are chased by a security guard for trying to take photos of a Chinese development.

Or, once again, the sight of another bicycle overloaded with Charcoal.

Even a motorbike repair shop creates some interest.

 

[DASKOP]

I stopped at a gas station to get something to eat and drink and then took a photo of Matilda. The security guard got seriously pissed off because I took a photo in his direction. He is a security guard with a mask on, whatever could be the problem?

I just ignored him, had my pie and Coke. Then the chef, who happens to be a biker, came out to greet me, look at Matilda and get my opinion of his pie. It was actually very good. Little of a chat and it was me and the boring road again.

Some police stations with plenty accident damaged vehicles. And some newly damaged trucks.

 

[DASKOP]

Last section to the farm on the Silverlands road. Gravel at last. And then the farmhouse.

 

[DASKOP]

The farmhouse is situated just above a beautiful river setting, complete with some ducks.

 

[DASKOP]

11 June 2021

My hosts, Wikus, Betsy and their son George, Then there were the 4 youngsters and a young lady who did their home schooling.

After breakfast, George gave me his motorbike to explore the farm. Took a while to get used to the much smaller and lighter bike.

 

[Lem]

:sip:

net 'n boekmerk, sodat ek weet waarvandaan om verder te lees aan hierdie epiese reis  :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

Wikus and George, father and son, it hit me so hard that I will never ever experience this again in my life.

 

[DASKOP]

I felt like I just wanted to get lost in the forest and never return.

 

[DASKOP]

There is a trail through this wilderness, a trail you have to follow if you want to come out of the wilderness.

 

[DASKOP]

But, then you see life.

A bee, a termite hill, a butterfly visits you, you see human endeavour overcoming the wilderness.

 

[DASKOP]

You realise that you have to leave the wilderness and enter the realm of possibility. It is no more evident ever, than on a farm, and the Viljoen's story is the absolute epitomy of that.

 

[DASKOP]

Back at the farmhouse, children playing like they should be. No internet or social media pressure, no TV games, the opportunity to interact as human beings, not profiles. We may have advanced a lot, but at what cost? Our humanity?

 

[user 3169]

The last 2 pics are awesome!

I LOVE the pipe slide in the background.

They have so much more than any rich brat out there.

 

[DASKOP]

I think it is time for me to get some chickens. Neighbours will be impressed.

 

[DASKOP]

The last 2 pics are awesome!

I LOVE the pipe slide in the background.

They have so much more than any rich brat out there.

I agree, but there is more to the story. Some of these youngsters have experienced more horror in their lives than any child should, but I can only tell that story when I have been given permission to do so. The problem is that most of us go through life, oblivious of what REAL life is all about. I learnt ALL about the reality of life on this journey.

It was not easy, it broke me at times, but somebody had to do it.

 

[frankmac]

a termite hill

Those termite mounds are a favourite home for mambas especially if there's a nice big shady tree in the middle.

 

[DASKOP]

12 June 2021

I had George's bike at my disposal again, and I was going the find the site, up on the hill, where he was going to build his house and for his bride to be.

I found it, but lets leave it at that. That was a long time ago.

 

[DASKOP]

Hennie Pennie who decided to nest right next to the stove in the kitchen.

 

[DASKOP]

Tonight, I was going to be treated to a braai in the bush.

 

[DASKOP]

The Viljoen family is enviable in their absolute belief in God and Jesus Christ. Every meal is started with thanksgiving, every supper is ended with Bible reading and a discussion of the message. There is no wavering. It is an enviable position to me, under the circumstances, that you can have such a bullet proof stance, I really pray that I can someday get there.

Wikus said that there was something he wanted to show me and wandered off. He found it. It is called the Blood Tree. He showed me what happens when you cut the bark, to him it represented the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. It really looks like blood and there was more to it.

That is another story for another time and we returned to the fire.