Zambian Joyride

[dieterj]

:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

 

[Bhos]

MJ and Hennie, great RR!  Joined this site just to post this message. Writing from the U.S. and heard about this on the Expedition Portal. It would be incredible to visit SA and do a ride.  Keep it up and thanks, truly inspiring!

 

[Metaljockey]

You are my NR1 buddy for xtreme trips like this. ( Hereby do i confirm that i am not under the influence of drugs upon writing this. )

Sheez Hennie, I didn't know you were the sensitive type.

 

[Metaljockey]

MJ, from what i gather is that Hennie did not have this stretcher, is there any reason for this, or was the one you took along a prototype?

Looks like a nice bit of kit  :thumleft:

Yes, it was field trials for the prototype. Apparently I wasn't supposed to make it public, caught Michnus on the backfoot.

 

[Metaljockey]

MJ  - this RR is what it is all about (for me). The challenge and the reward - physical and mental hardship and the obvious elation where you just have to make a plan even when there is at first no easy answer – fantastic. The combination of all the components of your trip experience coming together, in a very well conveyed RR with the perfect combo of pics and commentary has us all chomping at the bit.

I read your discussion on the 800 (and the x) which is an area of interest to me. I would appreciate your opinion - I am also of the VERY Shortlegged variety. For those of us short ***** – what would your bike of choice have been for this trip?

With your “pack as light as possible”, was there anything you could have left or should have taken with?  Also would you share your full packing list between the 2 of you.
MJ & Hennie Brilliant stuff - TM

As to what bike - I don't know, whatever bike suits you. We had to carry quite a bit of fuel in places, but having done the trip and knowing where to find fuel, it could have been done with less.

The packing list is in XL spreadsheet form and too long to put on here.

We took two hammocks with and this time they did not get used at all. What mine did was get wet on day one and stayed wet until we were back in Botswana. Soaked cotton adds quite a bit of weight. The only other thing that did not get used was my riding jacket, halfway through the first day I had to take it off and from there on it was luggage. It was just too hot to use, every day was in the mid thirties.

 

[Metaljockey]

MJ back to the bikes,would anything heavier than the 800 be to much to handle the type of terrain you guys rode ie the 800 was as big as you would go on such a trip.And is the 800 a tough bike as far as handling the constant offs.

No, I would have no objection to doing this trip with the 1200. It was not that it was undoably technical, it was just continuously technical.

If we looked after ourselves a bit better, it would have been a lot easier.

So I guess you would work a bit harder, but really, this trip could be done by any DS with a committed rider.

There were a lot of offs, but the 800 only twice went down hard. Yes, it is quite hardy, you have to remember, bending parts can be bent back, broken parts cannot. Case in point - if a Dakar falls on it's gear lever, the lever bends, if a X-Challenge falls on it's gear lever, the motor has to be split.

 

[Metaljockey]

MJ and Hennie, great RR!  Joined this site just to post this message. Writing from the U.S. and heard about this on the Expedition Portal. It would be incredible to visit SA and do a ride.  Keep it up and thanks, truly inspiring!

Thank you Bhos. Appreciated.

 

[Dewie]

MJ, from what i gather is that Hennie did not have this stretcher, is there any reason for this, or was the one you took along a prototype?

Looks like a nice bit of kit  :thumleft:

Yes, it was field trials for the prototype. Apparently I wasn't supposed to make it public, caught Michnus on the backfoot.

thanks for that MJ, and enjoy the Yamaha launch  :thumleft:

 

[APO]

Somebody call National Geographic - that trip deserves to be on TV - epic stuff.

 

[TornadoF5]

MJ & Hennie

Well done to you both and all up to you for utilizing your lives in the way a lot of us dream of and maybe some of us one day will take the inspiration from this to break out from out shackles and go for it!

Thanx again

 

[fat b]

I absolutly love reading your RR's , great writing style , thanx for sharing this special experience with us !  :thumleft:

 

[tok-tokkie]

Thanks MJ.
You write extremely well.  That was a lot of work (as you alluded to).
The locals are always part of your report.  Your respect and empathy for them always shines through.

 

[express]

B E F O K !!!

 

[roxenz]

Somebody call National Geographic - that trip deserves to be on TV - epic stuff.

Seriously MJ, you guys should consider doing one of your trips on video.  I'll miss your photos (they're good) and especially your lean, dry writing style.  But video may bring another dimension (don't censor the language!) and may just be sold to one of the doccie channels on TV.  Do consider it.

Thanks for another brilliant RR!  :biggrin:

 

[Succi]

Somebody call National Geographic - that trip deserves to be on TV - epic stuff.

Seriously MJ, you guys should consider doing one of your trips on video.  

+1000  :thumleft:

Like The Long Way Down . . .  Just better ...  :biggrin:  No backup vehicles and all ... Real adventure  :mwink:

 

[Andy 950]

I want to go to Zambia!!

 

[Jughead]

Awesome MJ!!

If you ever consider doing a video, can I come along to operate the camera?  :biggrin:

 

[Adventure rider for life!]

**** is al wat ek kan se ek voel ek wil op my adv klim en begin te ry!!!!!


Awsoen awsome!!!!!!!

I am not worthy!!! dit is hoe a bike trip moet wees!!!!

 

[GreenMamba1974]

thanks metaljockey and hennie! 

another amazing, inspiring read!!!!!!!!!!!!

:thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Gee eS]

Its been said before but I just have to say THIS IS AN AWESOME REPORT!!! Tank you very much :thumleft: