Subject: Moto-hugs from Katrin and Ralf
Hello to all our friends on the road!
Some of you have not heard from us in a BIG while!!
Where should I start then...????
Ralf and I travelled happily from North- to South America.
After 1 year and 3 month, we finished our journey in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, in august.
We took our time going thru the Central-part and because of our
slow speed of travelling, it was already wintertime in the southern part
of Chile and Argentina and too cold for us to go down to Tierra del Fuego.
Maybe next time?!
While havening such a good time on the road: having met all you wonderful
people
at first place, going thru stunning landscape and nature, admiring the
different people
cultures and way of living (especially under very poor conditions), visiting
historic places
in all these countries, we got infected by the "travel-virus"
(besides of the dengue fever in Ecuador).
This virus spreads out in the whole body very fast and infects the brain the
most.
You do not feel homesick, you do not miss your house, car, phone, TV, bed
(which is being sold anyway;0)) and you just cannot stop travelling anymore!
That is the reason why we are in South Africa right now =0)
After extending our planed: "one year from Alaska to Argentina" anyway,
we went back to Germany in September to get everything sorted out
for another year on the road.
The plan: Thru Africa back home to Germany.
And here we were in Cape Town end of September,
one of the most beautiful cities we have seen so far.
We want to say thank you for your great hospitality,
sharing house and food with us, giving us a home being on the road,
help and advice, motorbike-travel-tips and GPS dates,
spending time together, camping, cooking, laughing, drinking, having a fun
time!!!!
You guys are special and just WONDERFUL! THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Most of the time we got help when we needed it and
It is fascinating how it works out so well?!
It is good that we travel slow, so our guarding angels can fly and keep up
with us.
(o.kÉ.most of the times..)
Almost all times we were lucky and happy campers in all 13 countries.
Besides that, to find good motorcycle-mechanics is a problem!
Places we found (besides of some talented private people) and highly
recommended:
Partly Dave´s
BMW/VW Shop
Vernon, B.C. Canada
BMW "South Sound"
Tacoma, Washington
"Moto Angel"
Medelin, Colombia
"Dessert-Racing"
Lima, Peru
BMW "Atlantic-Motors"
Cape Town, South Africa
Spending a lot of money, not receiving a professional work done
(on gearbox , clutch, fork-sealing,dust-caps...),
we had big hassle afterwards,
spending more money on other mechanics repairing the shi..!
Sorry, but we cannot recommend:
BMW in Panama City, Panama
Neither "Clinica de Moto" in Quito Ecuador,
Nor "Dakarmotos" in Buenos Aires, Argentina
I shipped my F 650 from Buenos Aires to Cape Town,
almost having a nervous-breakdown!
To all the motorcyclists on earth: DO NOT ship your precious bike by boat!
Air-fright it and will be happy and everything is going to be A LOT easier
while just paying a little more.
Enough from that part of travelling.
Ralf is building up a little homepage, so you can follow us thru this
continent,
when ever you feel like doing so. It is in working-process and hopefully
ready soon.
There you will find some tiny stories about us exploring the eastern cost of
Z.A.
and pictures. We were there for over 4 weeks, living (while in Cape Town)
with Ricky, a very nice guy crazy about flying.
He set a world record taking his micro-light around the world
(www.safreedomflight.com )!
We met in Lima, while he was on his next expedition,
on a Honda 250cc, from Argentina to the United States.
South Africa is a beautiful, rich country,
where you can enjoy the European standard (food and hygienic-wise),
delicious wine, good roads, besides adventures trails thru mountain areas,
from camp-spots to ***** lodges, amazing landscape, wildlife and friendly
people.
We enjoyed it very much, but we had to keep on going,
if we want to make thru the Sarah without being grilled.
Next was and still is: Namibia!
While travelling further up the border, I had an accident.
The gravel-detour-road 10 km before the tiny village "Aus" became
a dead end for me, so far. With about 60 kph. I hit a long, sandy spot
and my bike started to swing around heavily.
I hate that feeling but tried to stay calm and do the right thing:
I hit the throttle and tried to stabilize the dancing bike.
Unfortunately I failed, lost control and came off with about 70.
While hitting the gravel road and sliding the last couple meters on my
belly,
I was really scared that my motorbike would come after me and I feared the
impact.
Luckily it did not happen!
There I was, lying in the dirt, Ralf way ahead of me. I faced my precious
bike,
3 meters behind me, with her engine still running. The left pannier came
off,
half of my belongings all over the place, including broken wind-screen,
broken indicators, mirrors and a totally bent pannier-frame.
Holy shit I thought, my bike is broken, I cannot move my left foot...our
Africa trip...I ruined it!
I crawled towards my F and hit the kill switch, silence.
I felt so lonesome this moment, in the middle of nowhere, a mess around me
and
my foot that hurt. I cried and waited...
I did not have time for many tears because a minute later or so a truck
approached and stopped.
The helpful driver picked my things up and we tried to get the motorcycle
from the road.
Damn, I could not walk and there were funny noises coming from my ankle...
I rather sat down and waited. A couple minutes later there were a bunch of
road-workers
and vehicles around me. The time before Ralf returned was endless for me....
My bike and all the stuff on a pick-up truck including me as the passenger,
off we went to the "clinic" in the next village.
People were so helpful! Sister Poppy was very friendly and gentle.
She arranged an ambulance from Luderitz, which came two hours later and
brought me to the
hospital. Another hour and 3 x-rays later, the Doc put a cast around my left
leg.
I fractured my fibula, luckily not complicated he said and I "just" need the
cast
for about 6 weeks.
But things changed when we came to Windhoek this week (luckily I got a lift
and my bike, too)
To make a long story short: I had to go to hospital, been operated on my
left ankle,
having screws and a bolt in it and a cast for about 7 1⁄2 weeks =0(
Yeah...thatŐs the story about Namibia so farÉ
Now I sit here with this plaster on me, giving me troubles to limp to the
toilet.
Well, shit happens...
When I get better in a bit, we think of renting a car and exploring Namibia
on 4 wheels. Maybe a saver option for me anyway?!
Big moto-hugs to all of you,
save travels for the ones on the road,
keep the throttle open, but watch your bones ;0)
Katrin and Ralf
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