|
Introduction
About a year ago my dad and I sat down to plan an epic biking adventure based on my late grandfathers World War 2 exploits. My father, as well as 2 of his friends, will only be joining me for the first ten days of the four-month trip.
The aim is to follow the route traveled by my grandfather up to Northern Kenya, including ten other African countries, as documented on the sheath of his service issued British army machete. I will be on a small TVS 160cc bike!!
I am also planning to use this trip to raise awareness and funds for the kids dying of malaria in Africa as a result of the lack of funding for mosquito nets. This is a cause very close to my heart, as I am involved with Missionary Ventures who head up this initiative. The plan is ultimately to write a book based on my findings and adventures along the way.
Now, of course I can hear you saying, “What! Alone on a TVS?” Of course! I say! The idea of doing it on a smaller bike and not my…Yes, you heard it; Africa Twin was simply to add to the adventure side of things.
The TVS is in fact an unbelievable bike capable of doing in excess of 120kph with an average of 40 km/L. I was hugely fortunate to be given a bike by Simon at TVS. It is really refreshing to see an importer put such trust in his brand, that he is willing to put his flagship motorcycle right in the limelight with an 18000km epic journey through some of Africa’s toughest terrain. Not just that, he has given me a bike but he will be kitting out to the max as an adventure touring little beast, with tyres, box, crash bars and more! None of this should come as a surprise however, as TVS sell on average one million units a year in India and over 100 000 units in central Africa, with amazing warranties it must be said! Watch out South Africa, your commuting and traffic problems are soon to be solved!
Along with the awesome help offered from Simon, I have to give a nod to the guys at Axo Sport and Scott motorcycles in Montana who have helped out in more ways then I have space to mention.
The guy’s from Axo Sport have come on board as full kit sponsors for the trip. I initially approached them for a couple of t-shirts and when Lynette from Axo delivered my goods I almost toppled over! Not only do I have cool t-shirts to wear but also some of the highest quality riding gear I have ever seen! I received boots, jacket, gloves, socks and much more! How great are these guys! Just the attitude we need in our awesome industry!
Send Off Party
On the 17th of July the guys from TVS held an event at Zwartkops Go Kart track for my send off party and I would be leaving the next day from Pretoria on my epic 18000 km bike journey around parts of Africa. TVS dealers and family and friends came to the event and got involved in the TVS short circuit racing that was put on by the sponsors of the bike TVS. We all had great fun, and the following day I was ready to leave. ( See photo’s of the event below )
African Odyssey Trip – Phase 1
ADVENTURE – a definition:
a risky undertaking of unknown outcome
exciting or unexpected events
This is how Collins dictionary describes “adventure”. In the modern idiom it is akin to staying in a hotel without room service!
When I studied the names written on the scabbard of my grand fathers World War II machete, something stirred deep inside me! Oupa too, was 26 years old when he led the newly formed S.A, Provost Corps (Military Police) to war. Leaving on the troopship “Dilwara” from Durban Harbour on 17/7/1940 he was embarking on the greatest adventure of his life.
So it was that almost 70 years later, I rode out of Pretoria on the 18th of July 2010 to conquer Africa (or part of it anyway).
This is where TVS enters the fray. Flattening the continent on BMW’s or KTM’s or Whoever’s finest, doesn’t really fit the Collins description of adventure in the true sense does it? What if I jumped on a motorcycle with the engine capacity of two egg cups, built and sold in huge numbers in India but relatively unknown in South Africa? Now, that would be an adventure!!
With the engine spinning at 7000 rpm (still about a thou from the redline) and 96 km/h on the digital speedo, Bela Bela was soon behind me and I rode through to Vaalwater into the Bushveld proper. My Dad and two of his mates, Willem and Dries, rode the first week of my big trip across Botswana with me. Two Honda Trans Alps and a BMW 800 GS idling along in the wake of my amazing little TVS: What an incredible jol! For the first time ever we could actually “tour” in the real sense! The relaxed pace allowed us to look around and see game like never before. Warthog families, Kudu, Ostriches, Sable antelope and giraffe abound in the bushveld and the ride to our first fuel stop in Marken was magic! Not much later we crossed the border at Martins Drift and set up camp at Kwa Nokeng Lodge in Botswana. A memorable evening was enjoyed by all and we went to bed revelling in that special camaraderie that accompanies biking buddies on a road trip.
The little TVS was growing in stature as we settled into our relaxed travelling pace. It literally perked up noticeably as the kilometres mounted. The fuel consumption improved from 28 km/L to a pretty consistent 35 km/L plus. This is unbelievable, considering the load of rider and enough camping gear and kit to be self sufficient in Africa for 4 months. Two kilometres of deep sand track to our camp spot at the Khama Rhino sanctuary threw a new challenge to the heavily laden bikes, as it always does! More than a couple of close encounters of the falling kind made the cold beers all the tastier. Like true African travellers of old, we sacrificed two superb fillet steaks (silly cheap in Botswana) on a lovely “hardekool” braai and sated our hunger in style. We turned in early as day three was a 500 km plus ride around the Makgadikgadi Pans and past the Orapa diamond mine to Maun in the beautiful Okavango Delta.
Yikes! Ice on the saddles! Isn’t Botswana supposed to be warmer at this time of year? The sand soon got us up to temperature as we battled to the main road and set off for breakfast in Letlhakane and then on to Maun. Photo’s on the Pans reinforced the vastness of this continent as the game little TVS and its escort of wannabee adventurers moved steadily on. Maun, on the south east fringe of the delta, is experiencing the highest flood levels for over 30 years! There is something very special about abundant water transforming a parched landscape! Sitting at Island safari camps under huge indigenous trees, sipping cold beer and watching a fish eagle hunt for his supper put an awesome cap on an incredible day! What a blessing to live in Africa!!
One of the benefits of bike touring is the time to ponder. Alone with your thoughts and riding on autopilot – you really have quality ”think time”. In real “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” fashion, it occurred to me that the obstacle to adventure is mental and not financial! If the will is big enough you can do it! For the cost of a set of panniers and a topbox and a Rallye II BMW jacket, you can buy and equip a TVS for touring.
Rather than drop into the common old mindset “ one day when the kids are big “ or “when I can afford it”, JUST DO IT!!!!!! Your petrol saving from commuting by TVS will buy the bike and fund your road trip – seriously! Oh, so its an image thing? You know what is really perverse? My little TVS draws more attention when parked out here in faraway places than all the other bikes put together! GO FIGURE THAT OUT, CHARLIE BOORMAN!!
Planet Baobab, Kalahari Surf Club – perched on top of a huge ant heap and opposite a huge pink anteater, the sign welcomes you to a veritable oasis. Built amongst a forest of majestic Baobab or “upside down trees” as the bushmen call them, the Planet Baobab Lodge and campsite is not to be missed. The friendly staff compliment the unique styling to create ambiance. Dries, who would be leaving us to return home the next day, treated us to bungalows so we could just chill, not having to do the tent thing. Another amazing night under African skies!
The rising sun warms the Baobabs into an awesome pinkish glow. With this backdrop we packed the bikes for a 400 km ride to Kasane. Here, a new chapter of my Odyssey unfolds. I will say goodbye to my Dad and Willem and cross over on the Kazangula ferry to Zambia. It will then literally just be me and my now really trusty TVS …………….. who knows what adventure awaits?
Next instalment…..
You will be able to follow Dave’s journey as it unfolds on Facebook over the coming months as he will be sending his story’s and pics as he travels on route. You can join the facebook group using link: TVS/AXO SPORT AFRICAN ODYSSEY.
Any information about TVS bikes you can visit website: www.tvsbikes.co.za
|
