Living the Dream Solo Around the World Trip
- Thread starter schalk vd merwe
- Start date
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Hi Guys will start reporting shortly again. In the mean time. A lot of people have asked me over the last 3 years if I would be interested in leading an Africa tour where guys come on their own bikes. Initially I said no as I thought it would kill my hobby but I think I am ready now. So if there are interested let me know. The tour will have to take place between January and May 2019. After that I will be back on my solo trip again for stage 3 of my ARTW trip. The questions are thus then.
1/Do the interested guys want a trip with back up or just bikes?
2/ How far and how long a tour up into Africa?
Let me know if anybody is interested.
1/Do the interested guys want a trip with back up or just bikes?
2/ How far and how long a tour up into Africa?
Let me know if anybody is interested.
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schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
zook said:
Hi Abri sorry was besig. Gaan die week verder report en hopelik die storie to op datum bring.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Sorry guys things has gone wrong on my PC. I am going to see a PC expert this week and will report further after that.
TVB
Grumpy Mutt
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
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- 21,763
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- Brits - North West
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schalk vd merwe said:
Als reg, ons sien uit na die volg deel oom Schalk! :thumleft:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Back Again
Hi Guys I suppose everybody has wondered what has happened to me. Well a man is not a machine although I sometimes think I am till reality kicks in. Remember when I was in Egypt I fell off the bike and damaged my right shoulder. With the sore shoulder I decided to ride back to South Africa. Now three and a half years later the injury came back to bite me. 8 months ago the same pain came back. I knew from day one after the fall in Egypt that it was a Rotative Cuff tear. That is when the muscles tear off the bone on your shoulder. I went to see the same surgeon that did the left side for me in 2014. After some scans it was decide to do the opp in two weeks’ time. So on 21/02/2019 they did the opp. It consists of a camera that gets put down in your arm. The muscles then gets pulled back to the shoulder bone. An 8 mm hole gets drilled into the bone and the muscles get inserted into the hole and then plugged. The whole operation gets done through 3 small cuts on top of the shoulder. Recovery would take 4 months before I am allowed to ride bike again, which would be just in time to continue my around the world trip. The date then to leave RSA would be around the 8 th of June 2019. So here goes the story and let us see if I can complete Europe and the Scandinavian countries before I leave.
Slovenia and Creotia.
Traveling from Italy towards Slovenia was a pleasure the Sunday morning. In the back of my mind I also had the idea to stop somewhere in the afternoon to watch the MotoGp. I entered Slovenia and the roads were nice with sweeping bends. I traveled through some beautiful country side and the little towns had some lovely cozy restaurants. I started to enquire where I could watch the MotoGp. At the 3 rd restaurant I was lucky and the timing perfect. It was just before 2 PM and they set the TV up for me while I was having a beer. Another local joint me and we chatted about our favorite riders.
After the race I hit the road again and entered Croatia. As I entered the city of Pula uncle Google helped me to find a beautiful but very large campsite right next to the Adriatic Sea. They allocated a site to me slightly elevated above the road. Everything was just perfect. Later that afternoon a young couple also on a bike came to set up camp next to me. I went over to introduce myself. They were Ada and Michal from Poland. We very quickly became good friends. We stayed 2 days. The day we left it started to really pis down with rain the moment we had our bikes loaded. We then went to sit in a restaurant which was inside the camp site. We had coffee and some more talking while we waited for the rain to subside. After about an hour we said our goodbyes and hit the road while it was still raining. I went into the city center to go and take photos of the Pula Colosseum there. A lot of history in this part of the world. After that I hit the road towards the city of Rijeka.
Hi Guys I suppose everybody has wondered what has happened to me. Well a man is not a machine although I sometimes think I am till reality kicks in. Remember when I was in Egypt I fell off the bike and damaged my right shoulder. With the sore shoulder I decided to ride back to South Africa. Now three and a half years later the injury came back to bite me. 8 months ago the same pain came back. I knew from day one after the fall in Egypt that it was a Rotative Cuff tear. That is when the muscles tear off the bone on your shoulder. I went to see the same surgeon that did the left side for me in 2014. After some scans it was decide to do the opp in two weeks’ time. So on 21/02/2019 they did the opp. It consists of a camera that gets put down in your arm. The muscles then gets pulled back to the shoulder bone. An 8 mm hole gets drilled into the bone and the muscles get inserted into the hole and then plugged. The whole operation gets done through 3 small cuts on top of the shoulder. Recovery would take 4 months before I am allowed to ride bike again, which would be just in time to continue my around the world trip. The date then to leave RSA would be around the 8 th of June 2019. So here goes the story and let us see if I can complete Europe and the Scandinavian countries before I leave.
Slovenia and Creotia.
Traveling from Italy towards Slovenia was a pleasure the Sunday morning. In the back of my mind I also had the idea to stop somewhere in the afternoon to watch the MotoGp. I entered Slovenia and the roads were nice with sweeping bends. I traveled through some beautiful country side and the little towns had some lovely cozy restaurants. I started to enquire where I could watch the MotoGp. At the 3 rd restaurant I was lucky and the timing perfect. It was just before 2 PM and they set the TV up for me while I was having a beer. Another local joint me and we chatted about our favorite riders.
After the race I hit the road again and entered Croatia. As I entered the city of Pula uncle Google helped me to find a beautiful but very large campsite right next to the Adriatic Sea. They allocated a site to me slightly elevated above the road. Everything was just perfect. Later that afternoon a young couple also on a bike came to set up camp next to me. I went over to introduce myself. They were Ada and Michal from Poland. We very quickly became good friends. We stayed 2 days. The day we left it started to really pis down with rain the moment we had our bikes loaded. We then went to sit in a restaurant which was inside the camp site. We had coffee and some more talking while we waited for the rain to subside. After about an hour we said our goodbyes and hit the road while it was still raining. I went into the city center to go and take photos of the Pula Colosseum there. A lot of history in this part of the world. After that I hit the road towards the city of Rijeka.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
TVB
Grumpy Mutt
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
- Messages
- 21,763
- Reaction score
- 7,097
- Location
- Brits - North West
- Bike
- Honda XL650V Transalp
I trust that the operation is a success and that you can continue riding and living your dream around the world Schalk! :thumleft:
Thanks for updating the thread, one of my favorites!
Thanks for updating the thread, one of my favorites!
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Tom van Brits said:
Hi Tom thanks my man. Yes thanks the opp is a success. I saw the surgeon on Tuesday and he is very happy with the progress. About half way now to recovery and the biggest punishment Is to walk with a sling and not being allowed to ride bike. My Physio fights with me every week. she says I do too much.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Instead of going through the city of Rijeka I took the fly over and worked my way back towards the sea. I traveled all along the Adriatic Sea and what beautiful scenery. Hi up on the mountains I stopped to take some photos. Another biker also stopped and we started to chat. He eventually also bought my book. As I said before, in SA I sold my book for R 250 and in Europe I sold it for 25 Euro which translates to R 375 with the exchange rate. It helps a bit as the rand is so weak against the Euro and you spent big bugs in Europe. Fuel R 25/ litre and sales tax 26 % in most countries.
That afternoon I found a nice camping site at a small place called Povile. The camp site is called Autokamp Punta Povile. Because there are so many German tourists in Croatia most people also speak German. I pitched my tent with a beautiful sea view. I asked at the office if there is a restaurant nearby and they pointed me across the bay within walking distance. I did not feel like another night of self cooked Macaroni and cheese. I then walked all the way along the beach to the “Bristo Konoba Lucija” restaurant.
It was a real cozy restaurant and I found out that the owner also own the campsite across the bay. As our money is worth nothing there I decided to only order a starter and a glass of wine. At about 8 pm a Croatian band started to play. The band consists of 4 young members. One plays the Piano Cordiant, another Chiloe and 2 guys on acoustic guitars. They all sang their traditional music in Croatian. It was the most beautiful music and I wanted to record it on my phone but then the battery went flat. I then rushed over to a couple at the table next to me and asked them if they speak any English. Sure they said. I then asked them to please record the band for me as my phone has gone flat. No problem the gentleman said and went to take a video of the band for me. After the video he invited me to their table and ordered me another glass of red wine. He introduced himself and his wife as Helmut and Ingrid Brandt from Vienna in Austria. He then WhatsApp the video to me. We chatted nicely and Helmut asked me what I am doing the next day. I said I am traveling down the coast. They then ask me if I don’t want to travel with them to the biggest Island in Croatia the next day. I immediately accepted their offer. Helmut said he would pick me up the next day. They then left to go back to their boat.
I in the meantime I stayed behind to listen to this unbelievable nice music. I later learned that it was the restaurant owner’s wife birthday. Eventually I was the only outside guest left behind and all the other people were friends of the couple. They eventually offered me coffee and cake on the house. I stayed till two o’clock that morning. Then the band serenated the couple to their house playing all the way outside and up the stairs to their house. The band has played right through from 8 pm to 2 am without a break. I have never seen something like that in my live.
The next morning Helmut was there to pick me up. They got a two bedroom cabin cruiser with a toilet. The shower is on the deck. The boat has got a powerful inboard motor. We sailed across to the island to the little town of Vrbnik. It must have taken more than hour at quite a speed. Arriving there again we looked for a restaurant with a sea view. We had lunch and some more good red wine. Hemut again paid the bill and refused any contribution from my side. We then sailed north and we went swimming in a nice quite bay. Then it was across the Adriatic Sea again back to the main land. Hemut gave the steering of the boat over to me. Back at the jetty it was already sunset and Helmut took me out for dinner again. Ingrid who he calls his Springbokkie ( she is much younger than him) then stayed in the boat. Again Hemut would not let me pay anything. After dinner he dropped me off at the campsite. He then invited me to visit them at their house in Vienna in Austria when I pass through there. At leased I gave them a copy of my book.
That afternoon I found a nice camping site at a small place called Povile. The camp site is called Autokamp Punta Povile. Because there are so many German tourists in Croatia most people also speak German. I pitched my tent with a beautiful sea view. I asked at the office if there is a restaurant nearby and they pointed me across the bay within walking distance. I did not feel like another night of self cooked Macaroni and cheese. I then walked all the way along the beach to the “Bristo Konoba Lucija” restaurant.
It was a real cozy restaurant and I found out that the owner also own the campsite across the bay. As our money is worth nothing there I decided to only order a starter and a glass of wine. At about 8 pm a Croatian band started to play. The band consists of 4 young members. One plays the Piano Cordiant, another Chiloe and 2 guys on acoustic guitars. They all sang their traditional music in Croatian. It was the most beautiful music and I wanted to record it on my phone but then the battery went flat. I then rushed over to a couple at the table next to me and asked them if they speak any English. Sure they said. I then asked them to please record the band for me as my phone has gone flat. No problem the gentleman said and went to take a video of the band for me. After the video he invited me to their table and ordered me another glass of red wine. He introduced himself and his wife as Helmut and Ingrid Brandt from Vienna in Austria. He then WhatsApp the video to me. We chatted nicely and Helmut asked me what I am doing the next day. I said I am traveling down the coast. They then ask me if I don’t want to travel with them to the biggest Island in Croatia the next day. I immediately accepted their offer. Helmut said he would pick me up the next day. They then left to go back to their boat.
I in the meantime I stayed behind to listen to this unbelievable nice music. I later learned that it was the restaurant owner’s wife birthday. Eventually I was the only outside guest left behind and all the other people were friends of the couple. They eventually offered me coffee and cake on the house. I stayed till two o’clock that morning. Then the band serenated the couple to their house playing all the way outside and up the stairs to their house. The band has played right through from 8 pm to 2 am without a break. I have never seen something like that in my live.
The next morning Helmut was there to pick me up. They got a two bedroom cabin cruiser with a toilet. The shower is on the deck. The boat has got a powerful inboard motor. We sailed across to the island to the little town of Vrbnik. It must have taken more than hour at quite a speed. Arriving there again we looked for a restaurant with a sea view. We had lunch and some more good red wine. Hemut again paid the bill and refused any contribution from my side. We then sailed north and we went swimming in a nice quite bay. Then it was across the Adriatic Sea again back to the main land. Hemut gave the steering of the boat over to me. Back at the jetty it was already sunset and Helmut took me out for dinner again. Ingrid who he calls his Springbokkie ( she is much younger than him) then stayed in the boat. Again Hemut would not let me pay anything. After dinner he dropped me off at the campsite. He then invited me to visit them at their house in Vienna in Austria when I pass through there. At leased I gave them a copy of my book.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
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