Locked and Loaded !!! Ready for a Journey of a Lifetime....
I finally had everything packed and loaded onto the bike by 7.00am this morning, and I left home to make my way through Pretoria to pay a last visit to some of my sponsors. First on the list was Marius from Caberg Helmets and Bike Zone, where I took some photographs and then headed to Kyama Printing, to collect a few more sponsor stickers to update the branding on the bike. Rakesh came out to the bike and after the obligatory photo-session, asked if he could say a prayer for me in Hindi, to wish me a safe journey. I sat astride the Big Fella, head bowed, while Rakesh said a short prayer. I was very touched by this and felt a tightness in my chest, as I shook hands with him for the final time and rode out of his premises.
Marius from Caberg and Bike Zone...
Tarryn and Rakesh from Kyama Printing.
Just before I entered the road, a large black cat ran across the driveway, narrowly missing the front tyre… While I was waiting for the lights to change just a few hundred metres away, an ambulance came roaring up the road, lights flashing and sirens wailing… While I am not normally a superstitious person, these two “signs” had me thinking for a while, I can tell you….!!!
Next stop was at GPS4AFRICA, where Pauli Massyn and I had a cup of coffee, while he bustled about with another client’s motorcycle. He also found time to make a few more final adjustments to the GPS and plug a small hole left in the pannier, where I had switched the hinges around… After an hour of small talk, I was itching to get away and my farewell from Pauli was an emotional one… We shook hands and hugged each other three or four times, promising to stay in touch. With misty eyes, we said our final farewells, and with a wave and a long blast of my hooter, I left Pauli standing in his driveway, shaking his head and waving goodbye…
Pauli Massyn of GPS4Africa... He and the Big Fella have become firm friends...
I rode on to Silverton Midas, where I needed to change a pair of gloves I had got from them the week before. Francois came out to look at the fully loaded bike and after another round of handshakes, I promised to see him at the Maluti Adventure Rally in a week’s time, where we would take a few photos with my other sponsor Preston, of Xkulcha – Extreme Lifestyle Apparel.
I eased back into the traffic and made my way down the N1 toward the R21 Junction, and down to Benoni to see Aldo at Touratech. I had decided at the last minute to attach a safety bracket for the Garmin 660 to the bike, as I am very prone to leaving the GPS on the bike while I am off it. The old Garmin had a locking pin that made a “smash and grab†event unlikely, but the new one has no such locking device. It is therefore easy to remove the GPS with just one push of a button…. I had called ahead and ALDO was waiting for me. We set about attaching the bracket while the minutes ticked quietly by… Aldo presented me with a Touratech Multi-tool as a going away present, and I left him with my Zumo 500 bracket which I hope he can sell on my behalf sometime soon.
Aldo of Touratech, South Africa. A last piece of equipment goes onto the Big Fella...
I had planned to be in Swaziland by mid afternoon, but this was now impossible… I was ready to roll out of Touratech by 1.30pm, and idled in the direction of the N12 while I considered my options…. I finally decided that an early start tomorrow morning would be preferable, and turned north for Pretoria and home… It was a weird feeling walking in the apartment without seeing all my gear scattered around… I hauled out my laptop to recheck my lists and answer last minute emails, all the while glancing about me and hoping that I had not forgotten anything…
I had considered the possibility of not being able to get to Swaziland today, before I left home this morning, so wasn’t overly disappointed that I ended up back where I had started earlier… It was a chance to get a good night’s rest, after all…
© GBWT 2010
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