Two on a Tenere

11/08/2015

Kobus: I'm back in Nairobi after the solo ride. Luna-belle and Heidi are still on holiday until later this month...

Yesterday was spent (mostly) on trying to get my bike gear clean and the GoPro video files transferred from the little travel notebook to the Mac. Video uploads will follow in a couple of days' time!

According to Google Maps, 'Two on a Tenere' covered about 5,250km between Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Despite doing Nata to Francistown (Botswana) on the back of a Land Cruiser at night, because of ceased wheel bearings, the odometer on the bike showed more or less the same distance. Probably because of little side trips, like the one to Livingstonia and me getting us a little lost in Harare looking for Greg & Seranne's house :-)

23/07/2015

It is done! Just over 5100km, 6 borders, 1 bee sting, one puncture, a stator replacement, a set of wheel bearings, 3 spokes, a few late nights, beautiful scenery, incredible sunsets, rough tracks and smooth roads, fantastic people met along the way, and absolutely amazing support from all of YOU!

I am humbled by the companionship and love of the little person who sat behind me and sang almost all the way. Thank you, Luna-belle for the most incredible journey and sharing your experience with me. I am SO honoured to be called 'Daddy' by you!

23/07/2015

"Hey Joburg,
Long time no see!
Do you still want to be friends??
'Cause I still want to be yours😎
Lots of love,
Luna-belle"❤️❤️❤️

23/07/2015

Just had lunch and are about to head out for the last leg and reach in Melville between 4 & 5pm. 185km to go!

22/07/2015

Six border crossings later, the happy reunion: my wife and my princess!

22/07/2015

This was our last sunset in Botswana. What a stunner! And then...

At 21:55 - having avoided cattle, donkeys and bus drivers who could hold their own in Nairobi - Luna-belle and I slipped into SA, a mere 5 minutes before closing time at Grobler's Bridge Border Post (South Africa side)!

And 200m down the road Heidi waved her cellphone so I could see where Luna-belle's big surprise was waiting 😎

Spending the night as a FAMILY a stone throw from the border.

One day's ride left to... Xai Xai in Melville!!!

21/07/2015

Look, Heidi, she's practicing for when the trip is over 😉

21/07/2015

Luna-belle found this one and thought it was spot on. In stead of a shortcut we'll take an extra day 😉. Although I guess getting a lift to Francistown could be considered a shortcut.

21/07/2015

Next adventure: wheel bearing ceased at Nata, Botswana and it's a public holiday 😂😂😂.

Will get a lift to Francistown & get bearing from Bearing Man there. Then replace & aim for Gaborone/Lobatse before sunset. And cross into SA on day 16 of the trip.

Luna-belle is a bit sad about postponing our arrival by another day, but she's OK. The smile is back already - hanging out at the Wimpy that has wifi 😉

21/07/2015

The first time we have eaten at Wimpy so far... Everyone tuck in!!!!!

21/07/2015

Vic Falls!

20/07/2015

Dad doing his thing to get us going again.

20/07/2015

Dad doing his thing to get us going again 👀😎😂😜😱

20/07/2015

20/07/2015

Kobus: when we saw the first bit of the falls Luna-belle said, "O, Daddy, thank you for bringing me to this awesome place. When I see it it's so beautiful that I feel I can cry!" I'll have oil under my finger nails for two more weeks but it doesn't matter one bit!

20/07/2015

Amazing time in Vic Falls!!! EVERYBODY deserves to be here😋

20/07/2015

FLTR: Kuda, Kobus, Luna-belle, Danny (rear) and Zeb - Team Yamaha, Hwange! Ready to Roll!

20/07/2015

All our hard work FINALLY paid off!!!
The bike is fixed and now it is time to pack / kit up and then we are ready to hit Botswana via Vic Falls!!!
Thank goodness we had a spare stator
Just going to fill it to the brim with petrol before we leave...

Hooray! Yipee! Hallelujah! Hip hip Hoorah!

20/07/2015

After 3 - 4 hours of hard work IT PAID OFF!!!!!
The bike is working and we are almost ready to rock and roll!!!
Thank goodness we had an extra stator
Dad is just going to fill it up with petrol and then we're of to Botswana via Vic Falls after kitting up and packing!!!

Hooray! Yipee! Hallelujah!

20/07/2015

Long time no see Chomp!!!

20/07/2015

The previous yogurt photo had the lid on which means that it was closed... However now it's all gone 😎!!!

20/07/2015

In the operating theatre. Stator on the right in the foreground. About to start the transplant!

20/07/2015

Healthiest breakfast in thirteen days!!! So glad for some fruit and yogurt😎😎😎at last👀😍

20/07/2015

Multimeter confirms the stator needs replacing. Zeb Laubser is on his way to pick us & the bike up and then their auto electrician at their workshop will double check the readings - electricity is not my speciality... With a little luck we'll be on the road before noon and in Bots tonight. But ket me not get ahead of myself here 😉

20/07/2015

In the army, Lt Prinsloo always stopped trying to kill us, only to watch the sunrise. So, while checking resistance readings with Lamek's friend's multimeter early morning, I stopped to get this! Yes, it's sunrise, NOT sunset 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

20/07/2015

Let the games begin!

19/07/2015

What an eventful day! It started with three broken spokes on the rear so out came the cable ties and a shifting spanner in lieu of a spoke key. With that done and my hands showing the evidence of the Scott Oiler's diligence and the efficacy of OMO, we headed for Vic Falls via Lupane, Halfway house and Hwange. Good thing we filled up in Bulawayo, because Lupane & Halfway House were dry.

Saw a fuel sign as we got to Hwange, slowed down to make a U-turn & the engine cut out. And that was it. Tried to kickstart for a while but nada.

Someone then called a super helpful local diesel mechanic, Lamek. He picked up the bike, took us to the shops, to buy stuff to shut up our stomachs, then a good place to stay and a petrol station to buy oil. And at 10pm he even pitched up again with a multimeter that he went to borrow from a friend/colleague! Best guess after basic troubleshooting is that I'll have to fit the spare stator tomorrow. Can't do it now because Luna fell asleep with her head on my stomach 😂 and I'm knackered too. And Greg Blignaut (Harare) hooked me up with a friend of his who has a workshop here so I won't have to do it in the dusty parking area behind the Baobab Inn.
Luna did our laundry, I communicated with Joe (Nairobi) about exactly how to do the work tomorrow and now it is bedtime.
Luna-belle is taking it all in her stride - no complaints and very helpful. She even sorted out all the stuff in my pockets and the tools!

19/07/2015

Sunset in Zimbabwe!!! Enjoy☺️

19/07/2015

"Washing clothes is not a picnic at all... Most of my attempts failed - although I did not give up!!!" 😋 Luna's post

19/07/2015

Kobus: We're (stuck) in Hwange for the night and I have some work waiting for me. These are my three 'pics of the day'. More detail about today's adventure a little later 😉. The jury is still out on why the bike won't start but I have a fair idea and a likely solution. Hold thumbs!

19/07/2015

Looking forward to reach the Falls today. Now, how do I get Luna-belle to wake up?

19/07/2015

This blanket caused us some trouble last night ;) Its static-electricity shocked us silly.
Eventually we chucked it off - as you can see😀 - Luna-belle