Living the Dream Solo Around the World Trip
- Thread starter schalk vd merwe
- Start date
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Crossed-up
Pangaman
Loving it. All the best going forward.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Yes I also loved it Thanks MateCrossed-up said:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Yes Ideally you luggage should not go past your back wheel and the best weight is about 35 KG. In my case I had about 50 kg and a top box past the back wheel. Also your luggage should be as low as possible for sand riding but with all the mistakes I still made it through Africa X 2-Cheers my PelLukasB9 said:
Duster
Race Dog
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
- Messages
- 1,398
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Naboomspruit, Limpopo
- Bike
- Yamaha Super Tenere
Nice Schalk, ek geniet die saamry. Dankie vir die deel.
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2010
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- Location
- I would rather be in Great Brak...
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
I have got to get up to Malawi ... looks great.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Plesier my maatDuster said:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
You got the right machine for the trip. Just do it and Malawi is not far.Ian in Great Brak River said:
gwild
Race Dog
As always enjoy this thread. Jy maak my jaloers. Enjoy keep them coming
Amazing stuff Schalk, very inspiring. I love the way you write and the photos. Much respect and admiration for following your dreams, reading this thread was a joy, a peep through the window to a world that awaits each of us, so much promise. I am really sad that you couldn't make it to Europe especially after 13000 km with 2000 km to go. Good luck with the book (pass it on to Yamaha) and hopefully that multinational sponsorship comes sooner than you expect. I am looking forward to the next leg of your journey and will keep posted.
Sent from my SM-P601 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-P601 using Tapatalk
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Plesier my maatgwild said:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Thanks my man for the kind words. Life some times work out different from how we plan it. Turning back made it more tough but more adventure. I would not have seen Rwanda and Uganda if I did not come back again. Getting the money for the next leg of the trip will also be part of the adventure. All the best.Habangana said:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Dit lyk my jy is 'n avontuurlustige meisie. GroeteHappyfeet said:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Zambia
After crossing into Zambia I went to the little town of Lundazi. There were just two banks with ATM’S right across the road from each other in town. With not a cent in my pocket I tried the one on the right hand side of the road fist but the story was the same as in Malawi, my Visa card could not communicate with my bank in South Africa. I then walked across the road to the other side to the Zanaco Bank but it was the same story. I think maybe because the town is so remote and close to Malawi that they use the Malawian network cabling hence the lack of communication between my card and my Bank. A Zambian man by the name of Kalombo Muluba then came up to me and told me that he works for the bank and if he can assist me. I told him my predicament and he told me to try the other machine, the story was the same. As there were just two hours of sun light left I ask him if there was a guest house or hotel in town which will take my credit card so I can stay overnight and then I could try and use my card again the next day at the ATM. He said I must follow him and he will go and take me to a guest house. I followed him but just stopping outside I could see that they would not have credit card facilities. Old Kalombo then told me there is only one way and that is to get to Chipata which is also a border town to Malawi 180km lower down south. I said to him my friend I got no money and my fuel tank on the bike is empty. He says how much do I need? I said 10 litre of petrol will get me there. He then said I must go and wait at the petrol station and he will go and get some money from home quickly. I waited about five minutes for old Kalombo and he then returned with some money. They filled 10 litres of fuel and I then asked him his bank details so I can refund him once I have money again. Old Kalombo would have none of that. As I am a person that does not like to receive something for nothing I insisted. He eventually wrote his bank details and phone number and email address down on a piece of paper. Angels like these has crossed my path more than once during my five month trip through Africa and I will elaborate a little more on this subject in my book that should be out within three months. The right person at the right time at the right place. I discussed this subject with Herman Zapp before as well and I said to him, how do you repay someone who you might not ever see again? His answer was that it works in a circle, if someone is good to you then you again help the next person, kind of paying forward. As Herman and family have been travelling around the world for fifteen years already I think he knows what he is talking about and I take note from such a person.
Still with not a cent in my pocket and indebt now I hit the road to Chipata 180km away. The road was nice and having enough fuel now I push a bit to try and make it to town before dark. Coming to the T junction at Chipata I turned left into the main road and to the first ATM. Putting in my card into the slot and waiting for the machine to verify my card I sent a little prayer to heaven. Heaven answered and the most beautiful sound at that moment came out of the machine as it was counting the Zambian Kwacha’s.
I felled like the riches man on planet earth and went to the Protea Hotel to check their rates. When they quoted me about R 800 a night I realized I was not the riches person on earth and I asked them if they know of a cheaper place. Now I suppose that is not very polite to ask someone if they know of a cheaper opposition but the Zambian people are fantastic and a humble nation and the guy gave me the name and direction of a hotel up the road.
The whole main road was under construction and at first I missed the hotel but after enquiring again from some locals I found it. The hotel was elevated quite a bit above the main road and at about R 250 a night bed and breakfast it turned out fantastic value for money. The staff helped me to carry my huge amount of luggage to my room. There was even a car port where I could park my bike under with 24 hr security.
The next morning I left my luggage at the hotel and went to the Zanaco Bank to deposit old Kalombo’s money. I decided to pay double the amount of money that he had lend me into his account. After I was already in Johannesburg he still send me an e mail to enquire if I had a save journey. A real Angel of Africa.
After the bank I went back to the hotel and loaded up and hit the road going towards Lusaka. The road was under construction and there were endless road works. The one moment you were on tar and then again on the detours. Sometimes it was a dusty detour with the powdery sand and other time it was nice and compacted. Whichever way suited me as my bike could handle most conditions with its knobblies on. The Chinese take no nonsense as they build roads of 300km at a time and in no time in Africa.
Two hundred kilometres from Lusaka I started to look on the GPS for a campsite as the sun was already low on the horizon. I saw Lake Side Camp Site on the GPS and I wondered if that was the same place that my son and I stayed at five year previously on our way to the Equator. It was about seventy kilometres away. The area was beautiful with lots of mountains and bush and curved roads, a real biker’s paradise. As I reached the spot on the GPS and turned right and low and behold it was the same place. I enquired about the teacher owner that was staying there before. The property had a little thatch roof house where the teacher stayed before and to the left a new brick building where two other teachers now stay with the dam in front. They told me that the previous owner moved away. I was prepared to camp but instead they offered me the bed of one of the teachers. I decided to rather sleep on my own self inflating mattress on the floor. The two teachers helped me to move my bike into the same room where I was going to sleep. The sun was setting and they cooked me some goat meat and pap, vegetables and an egg. Their pap was very soft and after they dished up for them self I put more Maze meal in the pot and made it like we do here in SA. They are self-sustained and grow their own maize and the charcoal is also sourced from the locals. The one teacher went to buy me some cold ones and the evening was just Africa perfect.
The next morning early I hung my solar shower bag over a branch in a tree with a rope and with the water that was heated on a charcoal fire I had the nicest shower and shave. Then the two teachers were off to go and teach and I was off to go and adventure some more.
On one of the mountain passes I came across yet another truck accident. It was a South African Unitrans truck and I think the driver must have been killed as the top part of the cab was destroyed and the truck was lying in a concrete trench where the storm water normally runs. It looks like the truck was running away down the mountain pass and the driver pushed it against the chopped out rock face in order to slow it down. Frightening stuff.
I was 128 km from Lusaka and decided to have breakfast in Lusaka the capital of Zambia. Lusaka is a neat City and as enter I looked on the GPS for a place to eat. I almost could not believe it but there was a Wimpy. What did we do before GPS’S? The Wimpy was in the same shopping centre as Woolworths and other South African shops. I had a good Wimpy Coffee my favourite and bacon and eggs.
I then filled up and hit the road towards Livingstone. The road was nice and I got excited as every kilometre now is one closer to home. It was a cold day and I put my rain suite on to warm me up a bit. I stopped in a small town called Choma to try and buy some Zambian stickers to put on my bike. In Africa there is never a shortage of help for a fee of cause. The guys drove in front of me with their taxi to a small printing company. Arriving there they did not have but they can make for me and to top it all they can even make the stickers of the countries that I could not get. The stickers are basically the National flag colours of every country. In Africa everything is possible and I am also that kind of person and that is why I thrive in Africa. Africa is in my blood. They took a little bit longer to print than what they promised but after one and a half hour I was in possession of my valuable cargo. Valuable as after I stuck the stickers of the 12 countries that I travelled through on the side covers of the bike that night it almost immediately started to open doors for me.
As I lost one and a half hours of riding now and could not make Livingstone any more I stopped over at a ranch type of a motel. I had a nice chat to another tourist that night and a good dinner and everything was just getting better the closer I was getting to home.
The next morning I was off to Livingstone where I exchanged my Zambian Kwacha for Botswana Pula not wanting to have a repetition of earlier circumstances.
As always the border crossing was no problem and I bought my ferry ticket to venture across the Zambezi.
Comments will be appreciated. Next up Botswana the land of the Elephant.
After crossing into Zambia I went to the little town of Lundazi. There were just two banks with ATM’S right across the road from each other in town. With not a cent in my pocket I tried the one on the right hand side of the road fist but the story was the same as in Malawi, my Visa card could not communicate with my bank in South Africa. I then walked across the road to the other side to the Zanaco Bank but it was the same story. I think maybe because the town is so remote and close to Malawi that they use the Malawian network cabling hence the lack of communication between my card and my Bank. A Zambian man by the name of Kalombo Muluba then came up to me and told me that he works for the bank and if he can assist me. I told him my predicament and he told me to try the other machine, the story was the same. As there were just two hours of sun light left I ask him if there was a guest house or hotel in town which will take my credit card so I can stay overnight and then I could try and use my card again the next day at the ATM. He said I must follow him and he will go and take me to a guest house. I followed him but just stopping outside I could see that they would not have credit card facilities. Old Kalombo then told me there is only one way and that is to get to Chipata which is also a border town to Malawi 180km lower down south. I said to him my friend I got no money and my fuel tank on the bike is empty. He says how much do I need? I said 10 litre of petrol will get me there. He then said I must go and wait at the petrol station and he will go and get some money from home quickly. I waited about five minutes for old Kalombo and he then returned with some money. They filled 10 litres of fuel and I then asked him his bank details so I can refund him once I have money again. Old Kalombo would have none of that. As I am a person that does not like to receive something for nothing I insisted. He eventually wrote his bank details and phone number and email address down on a piece of paper. Angels like these has crossed my path more than once during my five month trip through Africa and I will elaborate a little more on this subject in my book that should be out within three months. The right person at the right time at the right place. I discussed this subject with Herman Zapp before as well and I said to him, how do you repay someone who you might not ever see again? His answer was that it works in a circle, if someone is good to you then you again help the next person, kind of paying forward. As Herman and family have been travelling around the world for fifteen years already I think he knows what he is talking about and I take note from such a person.
Still with not a cent in my pocket and indebt now I hit the road to Chipata 180km away. The road was nice and having enough fuel now I push a bit to try and make it to town before dark. Coming to the T junction at Chipata I turned left into the main road and to the first ATM. Putting in my card into the slot and waiting for the machine to verify my card I sent a little prayer to heaven. Heaven answered and the most beautiful sound at that moment came out of the machine as it was counting the Zambian Kwacha’s.
I felled like the riches man on planet earth and went to the Protea Hotel to check their rates. When they quoted me about R 800 a night I realized I was not the riches person on earth and I asked them if they know of a cheaper place. Now I suppose that is not very polite to ask someone if they know of a cheaper opposition but the Zambian people are fantastic and a humble nation and the guy gave me the name and direction of a hotel up the road.
The whole main road was under construction and at first I missed the hotel but after enquiring again from some locals I found it. The hotel was elevated quite a bit above the main road and at about R 250 a night bed and breakfast it turned out fantastic value for money. The staff helped me to carry my huge amount of luggage to my room. There was even a car port where I could park my bike under with 24 hr security.
The next morning I left my luggage at the hotel and went to the Zanaco Bank to deposit old Kalombo’s money. I decided to pay double the amount of money that he had lend me into his account. After I was already in Johannesburg he still send me an e mail to enquire if I had a save journey. A real Angel of Africa.
After the bank I went back to the hotel and loaded up and hit the road going towards Lusaka. The road was under construction and there were endless road works. The one moment you were on tar and then again on the detours. Sometimes it was a dusty detour with the powdery sand and other time it was nice and compacted. Whichever way suited me as my bike could handle most conditions with its knobblies on. The Chinese take no nonsense as they build roads of 300km at a time and in no time in Africa.
Two hundred kilometres from Lusaka I started to look on the GPS for a campsite as the sun was already low on the horizon. I saw Lake Side Camp Site on the GPS and I wondered if that was the same place that my son and I stayed at five year previously on our way to the Equator. It was about seventy kilometres away. The area was beautiful with lots of mountains and bush and curved roads, a real biker’s paradise. As I reached the spot on the GPS and turned right and low and behold it was the same place. I enquired about the teacher owner that was staying there before. The property had a little thatch roof house where the teacher stayed before and to the left a new brick building where two other teachers now stay with the dam in front. They told me that the previous owner moved away. I was prepared to camp but instead they offered me the bed of one of the teachers. I decided to rather sleep on my own self inflating mattress on the floor. The two teachers helped me to move my bike into the same room where I was going to sleep. The sun was setting and they cooked me some goat meat and pap, vegetables and an egg. Their pap was very soft and after they dished up for them self I put more Maze meal in the pot and made it like we do here in SA. They are self-sustained and grow their own maize and the charcoal is also sourced from the locals. The one teacher went to buy me some cold ones and the evening was just Africa perfect.
The next morning early I hung my solar shower bag over a branch in a tree with a rope and with the water that was heated on a charcoal fire I had the nicest shower and shave. Then the two teachers were off to go and teach and I was off to go and adventure some more.
On one of the mountain passes I came across yet another truck accident. It was a South African Unitrans truck and I think the driver must have been killed as the top part of the cab was destroyed and the truck was lying in a concrete trench where the storm water normally runs. It looks like the truck was running away down the mountain pass and the driver pushed it against the chopped out rock face in order to slow it down. Frightening stuff.
I was 128 km from Lusaka and decided to have breakfast in Lusaka the capital of Zambia. Lusaka is a neat City and as enter I looked on the GPS for a place to eat. I almost could not believe it but there was a Wimpy. What did we do before GPS’S? The Wimpy was in the same shopping centre as Woolworths and other South African shops. I had a good Wimpy Coffee my favourite and bacon and eggs.
I then filled up and hit the road towards Livingstone. The road was nice and I got excited as every kilometre now is one closer to home. It was a cold day and I put my rain suite on to warm me up a bit. I stopped in a small town called Choma to try and buy some Zambian stickers to put on my bike. In Africa there is never a shortage of help for a fee of cause. The guys drove in front of me with their taxi to a small printing company. Arriving there they did not have but they can make for me and to top it all they can even make the stickers of the countries that I could not get. The stickers are basically the National flag colours of every country. In Africa everything is possible and I am also that kind of person and that is why I thrive in Africa. Africa is in my blood. They took a little bit longer to print than what they promised but after one and a half hour I was in possession of my valuable cargo. Valuable as after I stuck the stickers of the 12 countries that I travelled through on the side covers of the bike that night it almost immediately started to open doors for me.
As I lost one and a half hours of riding now and could not make Livingstone any more I stopped over at a ranch type of a motel. I had a nice chat to another tourist that night and a good dinner and everything was just getting better the closer I was getting to home.
The next morning I was off to Livingstone where I exchanged my Zambian Kwacha for Botswana Pula not wanting to have a repetition of earlier circumstances.
As always the border crossing was no problem and I bought my ferry ticket to venture across the Zambezi.
Comments will be appreciated. Next up Botswana the land of the Elephant.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
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