Living the Dream Solo Around the World Trip

[schalk vd merwe]

Dis darem nou 'n adventure in die ware sin van die woord.

Dit begin so voel nou. Nou in Khartoum Sudan. Sal weer update wanneer ek wi fi het.

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Schalk, what are the Zapp family plans ... how do they intend to leave Egypt?

Safe trip.

Cars are allowed in the tunnel under the Suez. So they will take a ferry from Asdot in Israel to Turkey. It is only bikes that is a dirty word in Egypt. Thanks God I am out of the place and in Khartoum now.

 

[schalk vd merwe]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

 

[TVB]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

Agree with you Schalk, traveling on bike through Africa is money well spent!
I will have to go up at some time (not all the way) and spent like 2 months just in Uganda and come down again.
DS Riding in Uganda is just wow, and the many great lakes and fishing - 2 of best worlds!
Ride safe Schalk!  :thumleft:

 

[Airguitar]

This is an epic journey, Schalk. You've been through sume stuff!
I was also wondering why you couldn't put your bike on a cargo plane out of Khartoum to Rome. Even from Addis Ababa. (Saudi Cargo is not expensive) ?

However you have improvised and made a new plan. This is what adventure biking is all about. Having to deal with the unexpected. You've already done more than most of us couch jockeys!
:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[schalk vd merwe]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

Agree with you Schalk, traveling on bike through Africa is money well spent!
I will have to go up at some time (not all the way) and spent like 2 months just in Uganda and come down again.
DS Riding in Uganda is just wow, and the many great lakes and fishing - 2 of best worlds!
Ride safe Schalk!  :thumleft:

That is the plan to to go through Uganda and Rwanda on the way down. I have travelled the 4 big lakes before but not the other side of Lake Victoria yet. So that will be an new experience to me

 

[schalk vd merwe]

This is an epic journey, Schalk. You've been through sume stuff!
I was also wondering why you couldn't put your bike on a cargo plane out of Khartoum to Rome. Even from Addis Ababa. (Saudi Cargo is not expensive) ?

However you have improvised and made a new plan. This is what adventure biking is all about. Having to deal with the unexpected. You've already done more than most of us couch jockeys!
:thumleft: :thumleft:

A lot has happened sins and I was typing the new up date for two hours now in order to post it later when I have wi fi again and then everything disapeared off my screen when my diary touched the keyboard. My laptop is on auto save and I am no computer fundie.

 

[schalk vd merwe]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

Agree with you Schalk, traveling on bike through Africa is money well spent!
I will have to go up at some time (not all the way) and spent like 2 months just in Uganda and come down again.
DS Riding in Uganda is just wow, and the many great lakes and fishing - 2 of best worlds!
Ride safe Schalk!  :thumleft:

I met a guy from Capetown Uwe Schmidt on a BMW 1200 on the way up and he spent 2 months just in Ethiopia and I think thats the way to go but because of my age I have to travel a bit faster, the world is a big place.

 

[TVB]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

Agree with you Schalk, traveling on bike through Africa is money well spent!
I will have to go up at some time (not all the way) and spent like 2 months just in Uganda and come down again.
DS Riding in Uganda is just wow, and the many great lakes and fishing - 2 of best worlds!
Ride safe Schalk!  :thumleft:

I met a guy from Capetown Uwe Schmidt on a BMW 1200 on the way up and he spent 2 months just in Ethiopia and I think thats the way to go but because of my age I have to travel a bit faster, the world is a big place.

Schalk you are right, but I must admit although I would love to see the rest of the world I already realized that I have or had too many dreams and (for me) had to make it more reasonable. They say money can't buy happiness but if traveling makes you happy like some of us.....well then it means that money can indeed open doors. Unless I win the lotto (which I don't even bother playing  eepwall: ) my dreams will be limited to how far my financial status can take me.....and at this stage it is not really far at all. So I think you get my drift, and then I am still walking the earth with my head turned towards the sky......I have skydived for a number of years and now I still need to paraglide. It is great to be an adventurer, but is also not cheap! I was lucky to work in many African Countries, renting motorbikes and got to explore a bit. I am not a man to return to a Country, as I always believed I would rather see more, but Uganda (and believe it or not) and the DRC have grown on me quite a bit. Enough to want to spent more time there on the bike, and then Rwanda is one of the greatest countries to do paragliding from! So yes......life to some of us is painfully short 

Cheers Schalk!

 

[schalk vd merwe]

I am in Bahir Dar again next to Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Will do RR again when I have time again. Pushing South day by day

 

[YamaV]

Hi Schalk

Sterkte met die trip!

As jy so lank tik aan 'n report moet jy oorweeg om google docs te gebruik, indien jy nie alreeds so iets gebruik nie!

Ons wil nie he jou ride reports moet verdwyn nie!

Google docs auto save en as jy dan wil post, copy & paste jy dit net hier.

Groete

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Hi Schalk

Sterkte met die trip!

As jy so lank tik aan 'n report moet jy oorweeg om google docs te gebruik, indien jy nie alreeds so iets gebruik nie!

Ons wil nie he jou ride reports moet verdwyn nie!

Google docs auto save en as jy dan wil post, copy & paste jy dit net hier.

Groete

Ek gebruik Windows dit werk nog altyd baie goed, seker maar net n mishap. Ry more van Addis Abeba 

 

[schalk vd merwe]

I am sure you have your reasons why (as I am sure you have checked), but why not leave from Der re Salam or any other port on the way?

I rather spent the money on traveling through Africa again on a bit of a diffrent route than fork out 3000 US $ just to get across one ocean. Africa will always be special although very tuff to cross. Remember it started with the idea of what lies across the next hill. After traveling so many miles Dar Es Salaam to jhb will feel like n breakfast run. It is also a little bit off the route I am taking back

Hi Hillman flying is also an adventure. I have been flying Microlights for 20 years now but paragliding is still on my list


Agree with you Schalk, traveling on bike through Africa is money well spent!
I will have to go up at some time (not all the way) and spent like 2 months just in Uganda and come down again.
DS Riding in Uganda is just wow, and the many great lakes and fishing - 2 of best worlds!
Ride safe Schalk!  :

I met a guy from Capetown Uwe Schmidt on a BMW 1200 on the way up and he spent 2 months just in Ethiopia and I think thats the way to go but because of my age I have to travel a bit faster, the world is a big place.

Schalk you are right, but I must admit although I would love to see the rest of the world I already realized that I have or had too many dreams and (for me) had to make it more reasonable. They say money can't buy happiness but if traveling makes you happy like some of us.....well then it means that money can indeed open doors. Unless I win the lotto (which I don't even bother playing  eepwall: ) my dreams will be limited to how far my financial status can take me.....and at this stage it is not really far at all. So I think you get my drift, and then I am still walking the earth with my head turned towards the sky......I have skydived for a number of years and now I still need to paraglide. It is great to be an adventurer, but is also not cheap! I was lucky to work in many African Countries, renting motorbikes and got to explore a bit. I am not a man to return to a Country, as I always believed I would rather see more, but Uganda (and believe it or not) and the DRC have grown on me quite a bit. Enough to want to spent more time there on the bike, and then Rwanda is one of the greatest countries to do paragliding from! So yes......life to some of us is painfully short  

Cheers Schalk!

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Will leave Addis Ababa Saturday 21/08/15 for the border to Kenya. It will take me 2days to get there. Should be in Nairobi in 4 days time where I will service the bike and do a RR update

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Do you have an ETA in SA?

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Do you have an ETA in SA?

less than a month but will give a time and date when I get closer

 

[Vis Arend]

Do you have an ETA in SA?

less than a month but will give a time and date when I get closer

Ek laaik die time frames, nie in dae nie maar in maande.  :lol8:

 

[Nicknod1]

If you need any help in malawi let me know,bed,food,beer,whatever.thats of course if you coming this way.fyi if you intend to go out malawi via mulanje into Mozambique the road is pretty awful for about 100 Kms.its being rebuilt lots dust detours etc.
Let me know if you need help.

 

[schalk vd merwe]

If you need any help in malawi let me know,bed,food,beer,whatever.thats of course if you coming this way.fyi if you intend to go out malawi via mulanje into Mozambique the road is pretty awful for about 100 Kms.its being rebuilt lots dust detours etc.
Let me know if you need help.

Hi Nicknod1 please PM me your details. I am coming through Malawi and I think I might take you up on your offer. Should be past the Keynia border by tomorrow night from Ethiopia

 

[schalk vd merwe]

Do you have an ETA in SA?

less than a month but will give a time and date when I get closer

Ek laaik die time frames, nie in dae nie maar in maande.   :lol8:

Hi Vis Arend ja hoe sê ou Tolla vd Merwe, die bike is so stadig hy het nie 'n speedo nie maar 'n almenak