Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[Stones]

Marius,
Although I am a few pages behind at the moment I have followed your ride report from the beginning on a daily basis.
Through your writing and photos I have become quite part of your trip and the emotions you experienced.
There is one question that came to my mind some time ago which I did not want to ask yet for fear of being out of line.
However it would put the whole experience a bit more in perspective as a whole.
  Is Brandon's mom still around and was she part of your and Brandon's lives?
My humble apology if it is something you did not want to share but somehow I miss it as part of the picture in understanding.
Your story has moved a big part of my inner being.

 

[zebra]

OK, I chatted to Marius earlier, he thinks he will now leave around FRIDAY, which gives us a day or two to assist him:

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
We can supply you Flying Brick Crash Bar bags, Retail is R1095 a pair incl; we will charge you cost at R766.50 a pair.

2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
We have ONE COMPLETE RING (spare 'trigger' not avail separately from Agents), R515, we will supply this at cost: R360.50.

3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
Right = 46 63 7 694 710 Available from BMW for just R210, vat incl, we will courier it up and supply it to you at no charge.
(we are having it couriered across town from Stellenbosch today, to meet your deadline)

4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.
We can supply a Go Gravel headlight AND oil-cooler protector at R920 Retail, would charge you cost of R645. It has FOUR permutations: Orange + Orange, Orange + Clear, Clear + Orange, and Clear + Clear!
or a DIFFERENT option: acrylic only velcro-on double protector, for R695 retail, our cost will be R486.50 - but we strongly prefer the Go Gravel metal AND acrylic protector.

To conclude, I THINK a WD or two would like to sponsor you, Marius, so we will have ALL FOUR products available to send away TODAY with the Courier Guy, to meet your FRIDAY deadline (since Thurs a Public Holiday), and Flying Brick will cover the courier costs for the 4 parts, and the windscreen part...over to the WD's...

[member=16902]Dondermerwe[/member]

Cheers
Chris & Team
021 510 6455
0722117725

 

[zebra]

Before I continue with the RR, I need some help, I know the web is there, but you get a lot more done when someone knows someone. And I have until Tuesday next week to get it all done. I am not looking for charity, just help, please.

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.

These items are not readily available in PE, and you can ask the question, why wait until the last minute, well, I did not know I was going anywhere, but now I am. I am going to circumnavigate Lesotho, which I have traveled through 3 times, now I am going around, all the way and then maybe do the same for Swaziland. Who knows?

[member=2935]zebra - Flying Brick[/member]

What will the cost be for Item 1-4 ??

PM sent, thanks
Chris

 

[DASKOP]

Before I continue with the RR, I need some help, I know the web is there, but you get a lot more done when someone knows someone. And I have until Tuesday next week to get it all done. I am not looking for charity, just help, please.

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.

These items are not readily available in PE, and you can ask the question, why wait until the last minute, well, I did not know I was going anywhere, but now I am. I am going to circumnavigate Lesotho, which I have traveled through 3 times, now I am going around, all the way and then maybe do the same for Swaziland. Who knows?

[member=2935]zebra - Flying Brick[/member]

What will the cost be for Item 1-4 ??

PM sent, thanks
Chris

Thank you Chris, reply sent.
Marius.

 

[DASKOP]

OK, I chatted to Marius earlier, he thinks he will now leave around FRIDAY, which gives us a day or two to assist him:

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
We can supply you Flying Brick Crash Bar bags, Retail is R1095 a pair incl; we will charge you cost at R766.50 a pair.

2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
We have ONE COMPLETE RING (spare 'trigger' not avail separately from Agents), R515, we will supply this at cost: R360.50.

3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
Right = 46 63 7 694 710 Available from BMW for just R210, vat incl, we will courier it up and supply it to you at no charge.
(we are having it couriered across town from Stellenbosch today, to meet your deadline)

4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.
We can supply a Go Gravel headlight AND oil-cooler protector at R920 Retail, would charge you cost of R645. It has FOUR permutations: Orange + Orange, Orange + Clear, Clear + Orange, and Clear + Clear!
or a DIFFERENT option: acrylic only velcro-on double protector, for R695 retail, our cost will be R486.50 - but we strongly prefer the Go Gravel metal AND acrylic protector.

To conclude, I THINK a WD or two would like to sponsor you, Marius, so we will have ALL FOUR products available to send away TODAY with the Courier Guy, to meet your FRIDAY deadline (since Thurs a Public Holiday), and Flying Brick will cover the courier costs for the 4 parts, and the windscreen part...over to the WD's...

[member=16902]Dondermerwe[/member]

Cheers
Chris & Team
021 510 6455
0722117725

Thank you so much Chris.

An update on the legal and other info regarding the Brandon Bosch Foundation.

1. It has been registered at CIPC as an NPC (2021 / 868038 / 08).
2. There are currently 3 Directors, but we are increasing it to 5 Directors.
3. It has been registered at SARS (9418565207) and we are in the process of applying for Section 18A Approval.
4. Both the draft Constitution and Memorandum of Incorporation have been drawn up and are being reviewed for finalisation.
5. All the other required entities (Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Legal Council, Accountants, etc. will be appointed early in the new year.
6. The email address for The Foundation is [email protected]
7. The website will be finalised this week.
8. A bank account has been opened for The Foundation.

If anyone would want to contribute to this cause, the banking details are:

Acc name: The Brandon Bosch Suicide Prevention Foundation NPC
Bank details: ABSA Chq 41-0257-1147
Branch No: 632005
SWIFT Code: ABSAZAJJ

Donors can send details to the email address above.

I thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.
Marius.

 

[DASKOP]

Before I continue with the RR, I need some help, I know the web is there, but you get a lot more done when someone knows someone. And I have until Tuesday next week to get it all done. I am not looking for charity, just help, please.

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.

These items are not readily available in PE, and you can ask the question, why wait until the last minute, well, I did not know I was going anywhere, but now I am. I am going to circumnavigate Lesotho, which I have traveled through 3 times, now I am going around, all the way and then maybe do the same for Swaziland. Who knows?

[member=2935]zebra - Flying Brick[/member]

What will the cost be for Item 1-4 ??

[member=7510]Bike_Buddies[/member]

Heinrich, I just received an email from Chris at Flying Brick, and all I can say is thank you for your generosity in covering the cost of the other items.

You have blessed me, the memory of Brandon and I know you will be too.

Marius.

 

[DASKOP]

Marius,
Although I am a few pages behind at the moment I have followed your ride report from the beginning on a daily basis.
Through your writing and photos I have become quite part of your trip and the emotions you experienced.
There is one question that came to my mind some time ago which I did not want to ask yet for fear of being out of line.
However it would put the whole experience a bit more in perspective as a whole.
  Is Brandon's mom still around and was she part of your and Brandon's lives?
My humble apology if it is something you did not want to share but somehow I miss it as part of the picture in understanding.
Your story has moved a big part of my inner being.

Hi Stones.

No offense taken.

There are many details which I have not included in this RR. You need to understand how difficult it was for me to even start this RR, to make that initial decision to broach a taboo topic and bare my soul on a public platform. You have no idea how many times I was so overwhelmed that I wanted to give up, to just stop, but to me this is not just a process of healing, but an opportunity to honour my son, and if I give up, it would mean that I am doing the direct opposite.

I was a single father. Brandon's mom and I were never married, but she was always a part of his life and he spent holidays with her in JHB. We are friends and still in contact, and as his grieving parents, we support each other, and will continue to do so.

Marius.

 

[DASKOP]

28 July 2021

Early morning at Solitaire. From here, destination Helmeringhausen.

 

[DASKOP]

Matilda was packed and ready to go.

I checked, Brandon's sticker no 8, put up on the 21st of May, was still there.

Sticker no 60 went up just below that of Uwe Schmidt.

 

[DASKOP]

This photo was taken just outside Solitaire.

I am posting it on it's own, because, as I opened it, it was to me a physical representation, with the sun's rays shining down on Matilda, of all the blessings I had received up to that point, those which I am still to share with you, and those I am currently experiencing.

God's grace is more than sufficient as He channels His blessings through amazing kindhearted people to who I am an absolute stranger.

 

[DASKOP]

I was constantly surrounded by the beauty of Namibia.

 

[Stones]

Thank you Marius for sharing.
I am so happy to hear that.
Now I can focus again on following your ride report.
You have so much honoured Brandon just by sharing your love for him and for each other and by sharing your healing process.
It is my wish that The Brandon Foundation will touch many lives in the future the way you intend to.
Tobie

 

[Bike_Buddies]

Before I continue with the RR, I need some help, I know the web is there, but you get a lot more done when someone knows someone. And I have until Tuesday next week to get it all done. I am not looking for charity, just help, please.

1. A new set of Wild at Heart crash bar bags, mine were slightly damaged in a fall and the sun did the rest of the damage.
2. The connection mechanism of my tank bag which disappeared somewhere in Zambia.
3. A simple connection piece for my windscreen, BMW want to charge over R2000 for a whole set I do not need.
4. A headlight protection screen for a 2011 GSA.

These items are not readily available in PE, and you can ask the question, why wait until the last minute, well, I did not know I was going anywhere, but now I am. I am going to circumnavigate Lesotho, which I have traveled through 3 times, now I am going around, all the way and then maybe do the same for Swaziland. Who knows?

[member=2935]zebra - Flying Brick[/member]

What will the cost be for Item 1-4 ??

[member=7510]Bike_Buddies[/member]

Heinrich, I just received an email from Chris at Flying Brick, and all I can say is thank you for your generosity in covering the cost of the other items.

You have blessed me, the memory of Brandon and I know you will be too.

Marius.

No stress [member=13165]DASKOP[/member]  :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

In Namibia, the surrounding vistas change continuously and you are constantly tempted to stop for a photo.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

So good to see so many places in Nam again. Thankx.

 

[DASKOP]

I was really enjoying this stretch of the road towards Helmeringhausen and the photo opportunities were endless.

 

[DASKOP]

I got to the Sesriem / Sossusvlei turn off and decided to go and have a look.

 

[DASKOP]

The road to Sossusvlei.

At the T-junction, Brandon's sticker no 61 was put up before I headed in the direction of Sesriem / Sossusvlei.

 

[DASKOP]

Furry Meerkat, Furry Meer Cat, Furry Meer Hare Cat?

 

[DASKOP]

At the Sossusvlei entrance, I was refused entry, see the sign, despite the fact that I indicated that I just wanted to drive to the canyon lookout point and come straight out. Rules are rules, so I had to turn back.

But not before sticker no 62 went up.

I stopped at the gas station and inquired about the road to Duwisib Castle, but was advised against it as the road was apparently in a very poor state, so it was back to the C19.