In lieu of the slight possibility of a detour, my current goal is to depart on a solo motorcycle trip by the end of this month to take me through “much of” Africa. I have a broken rear frame to weld, a carburetor boot to replace, and a few pieces of rather expensive filming equipment to find and buy before then.
This is the inaugural step on a personal path to trace my roots, the first day of class on being a student of Africa, and day 1 of an experiment to test what I reckon might be in store for the future of this paradoxical continent.
But first, let’s catch up a bit
How did I end up in South Africa on the verge of a journey taking me North across the continent?
Aside from the fact that I had always wanted to spend a proper amount of time in Africa (since being born in Cape Town and growing up in Canada), the seed for this particular trip was planted while living on a boat on Vancouver Island, British Columbia soon after the onset of the 2020 pandemic. Like many of us, this was an introspective time that ultimately lead to a big shift in my lifestyle.
While on this dry-docked boat, owned by my friend’s then lighthouse-keeping sister, I was savoring my time back in Canada, making good use of a new meditation technique I had recently picked up in Hong Kong while living in neighboring Shenzhen, China. I was teaching English at a public school at the time and decided to join a Vipassana 10-day meditation retreat/training course during the Chinese New Year holidays.
It was in the middle of this zero technology, zero communication course that the pandemic hit. Little did I know that, while being entirely consumed within my inner world, the outer world was in the midst of some sweeping changes.
Hence why I was soon displaced to living on a boat back home, sorting out the next step of my life. Living in China was a very structured existence, so this was a welcome time to amble about barefoot without the need to fast-forward to the next appointment.
It was during this kind of convalescence that the idea of Africa arose. The message was clear: time to prioritize Africa. I wrote in my journal “Africa 2022”, giving myself two years to make it happen, and off I went with whatever in the meantime.
I thought I would pass the time during the initial lockdown by crossing off a bucket-list item in purchasing a 1998 Kawasaki KLR 250cc motorcycle, which I did, but this turned out to be no minor decision. It turns out that “whatever in the meantime” soon meant packing up my “new” dual sport to cross the country to Newfoundland and work in a lighthouse. This, however, is a story for another day, which I’m sure will be alluded to in future posts.
Long story short, I made it to Newfoundland (it took two motorcycles, two summers, and it was incredible), I fell in love with motorcycle camping life, started working as a freelance writer, lived in both Halifax and Montreal, and started a business. By the end of it all, it was clear that Africa would be by motorcycle, and that I could likely weave my writing into the endeavor.
South Africa
I have since added a few more themes to the journey, but, as of March 2023, my money was saved, my affairs were in order, and all that was left was to buy my ticket to Johannesburg. The rest of my planning would best be dealt with at my new base of operations in Western Cape province, South Africa.
Alas, though technically a year behind schedule, today I find myself near Africa’s Southern tip. I can’t really say what to expect for upcoming posts; yes, I’ll keep you updated on the adventure and share more backstories, but who knows what will happen?
I hope to share some helpful tips for like-minded adventurers and at least some entertainment from the inevitable highs and lows along the way. For anyone curious about bitcoin, I’ll be opening that can of worms in due time. Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas!
G
Sounds interesting Gerrit.
Looking forward to follow your blog !