In search of Father Jack.

[Drumacoon Lad.]

So here below are the paintings on the canyon wall. I call them paintings now and not art, as these paintings were not art as we know it. The paintings were connected with religion or wishes to have a good hunt, etc. The paintings were a bit feint compared to those I'd seen near Clanwilliam and there had been some chalk marks, which I'm surprised had not been cleaned off. However, the paintings are still significant and I was delighted I had come to see them. There was no one else around and I had time to look carefully. These paintings are around 2,000 years old and it was a privelage to see them, what ever they mean. I could comment on each, but I'll let you look and see what they mean to you.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Still in Lesotho and a few views along the road as I ride by. Blankets are a big thing here and a couple of colourful ones in these shots. It was explained to me that a blanket is given to a boy at his initiation ceremony into the tribe and he keeps this blanket all his life and wears it on special occasions. When he dies this same blanket becomes his shroud and he is buried wrapped in it. The 2 ladies, both with babies on their back are wandering back from the shop.

The other scenes are in the town. This man is weaving and selling these straw hats, sadly no room on a motorbike. The stripped motorbike is a Suzuki 200, when I expressed some curiosity they tried to sell it to me. Lastly the farm implements, these are brand new horse drawn machines, a plough, harrow and a sowing tool. I'm amazed to see these machines being sold new and wonder where they are made. As a kid some of the local small farmers used tolls like these, horse drawn, but they were rapidly replaced by tractors.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Before leaving Lesotho I had a task to perform and open the parcels and cards which came with me from UK and have bounced around in the back of a motorbike for a month. They survived intact and the bike crossed an international border, into SA, adorned with a new mascot for the day and an owner one year older.

I celebrated of course with a local steak while overlooking the Orange river. The couple of beers I had that evening didn't warrant a bottle of Re-Versalife Morning Recovery but I've ordered a crate for possible future use!

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

In SA I was staying again at Tania's excellent B&B in Aliwal North because I wanted to have one more go at seeing the meerkats. Tania's while family had taken to the task and Tania had made sandwiches and cooked special cup-cakes. We first drove along the river but the only thing we saw was a hoopoe(no picture) and these Southern Red Bishop birds. Too early for the picnic so we went to another site and saw meerkats. Some running away and one in the distance. We tried one more site and then felt it was time for the picnic, which was delicious! A great family who made me very welcome.

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[barak666]

Happy Birthday, Jim....great place to celebrate it...!

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Happy Birthday, Jim....great place to celebrate it...!

Cheers Barak, my birthdays seem to happen on trips. Spent one in the middle of the Sahara. Woke up and opened my cards in a Bedouin tent!

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

It might shock some folk to know but updated on here aren't always done on the day the action happens. However I'll describe today, right now.

Firstly, I left Aliwal North yesterday and headed south east, to see some of QwaZulu-Natal and to book my flight home in Durban airport. It took a while to dawn on my that I was getting cold on the bike and had to put another layer on and add overmittens to my fingerless gloves. It took a while for feeling to return to my fingers. The ride was pretty uneventful apart from the gusty wind which nearly had me off at one point. I found accomodation half way to Durban.

This morning I set off but needed the overmittens again and proper gloves underneath, the weather really had changed. The cold weather was worst at altitude and I was up quite high today and yesterday, but warmed up as I descended towards the Indian ocean in the afternoon.

Approaching Durban airport if was unsure where I'd park and was advised Pick-up would be best as they have a free 20 mins scheme. So I parked up and went off unsure where the Ethiopian desk was. I asked around and was told they don't have a desk now, it was closed recently. Oh good! This meant I'd have to book my flight in Joburg.

It was late afternoon and grey clowds around so I decided to ride a couple of more hours towards Joburg to reduce the distance for tomorrow. Coming down towards the coast, earlier in the day, was fine but climbing up from the coast was tough. It was hard on the bike with the incline but hard on me because there were so many slow trucks. They sometimes were spread across each of the three carriageways. The extra ingredient were the mini taxis and fast cars so you needed to keep very aware of what was around you. I probably spent more time looking in the mirror than looking ahead. This lot was keeping me fully occupied and then to spice it up the rain came for the last 15 km. When I arrived at the B&B I was almost shivering with cold. My accomodation is an old railway carriage and the rain is still pounding onto the roof. I know they want rain because of the drought but they can have it next week when hopefully I'll be gone home.

Below is my railway carriage for the night and a couple of views along the way. No doubt the sun will be splitting the stones tomorrow!

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[Johan]

Why do you have to buy an air ticket at a desk at an Airport and not by phone or over the internet?

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Why do you have to buy an air ticket at a desk at an Airport and not by phone or over the internet?

When Simon and I planned the trip starting in Congo, we thought we would end in Joburg, so booked return tickets from there. In fact Namibia and Botswana proved so interesting I ended the trip in Windhoek and flew back from there. I explained to Ethiopian Airways that I was not using the ticket and they agreed to hold it for me for a year, but to activate it I had to visit an office. This I did today and now have a flight booked. So now you know Johan!

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

So to bring this up to date, I rode 500km up to Joburg a couple of days ago, went to the airport to find out I needed to visit ths main Ethiopian office 35km away to book my ticket. On these trips logistics can be the most frustrating issues. With some trepidation I set off this morning to the main office. Negotiating the Joburg city traffic on a slow bike took a bit of effort and a watchful eye. There were a few near misses, mostly when people tried to overtake without moving to the next lane. However the GPS took me to the exact place, it had a gated entrance, parking outside the building and an efficient lady who processed the ticket. So now I'm booked to fly back to UK on Monday. On these trips I like to have a flexible end date because it is difficult to know how long it will take.

I'll reflect on the trip over the next few days and do a closing update. This is not the end and I'll hopefully be back in March, to pick the bike up and continue north to Tanzania.

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[Johan]

Did not know airlines would do that. Good to know.

 

[Pieter Fearless]

So to bring this up to date, I rode 500km up to Joburg a couple of days ago, went to the airport to find out I needed to visit ths main Ethiopian office 35km away to book my ticket. On these trips logistics can be the most frustrating issues. With some trepidation I set off this morning to the main office. Negotiating the Joburg city traffic on a slow bike took a bit of effort and a watchful eye. There were a few near misses, mostly when people tried to overtake without moving to the next lane. However the GPS took me to the exact place, it had a gated entrance, parking outside the building and an efficient lady who processed the ticket. So now I'm booked to fly back to UK on Monday. On these trips I like to have a flexible end date because it is difficult to know how long it will take.

I'll reflect on the trip over the next few days and do a closing update. This is not the end and I'll hopefully be back in March, to pick the bike up and continue north to Tanzania.

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Hi Jim. Glad you are safe in Joburg. Have an awesome flight and good frstive seaon at home.


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[Ash]

Fanks for your updates Jim..
Stunning simply stunning..

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Cheers Guys, was a great trip!

A couple of things to add. I was fortunate to stay with an old IBM colleague for my last days in South Africa. Geoff and his wife Shiela made me very welcome, true SA hospitality. My time with them coincided with the Rugby World Cup final. I watched the game with Geoff and his neighbours.

I found it quite moving to feel their support for this team, captained by a black guy, born in a tough area in the Eastern Cape. The team exuded a sense of unity and I believe the hope is that unity could be a metaphor for more than rugby in a country that would benefit from some positive energy. I know English supporters are disappointed in the result, and they had a great victory against the All Blacks, but in truth, they could perform at that level in the final and match the stunning display by the Springbok team. It was a privelage to watch this final with South Africans.

Those who have been with this story since Windhoek will remember the 3 day delay with our luggage which impacted the start of the trip. Well Simon and I are not shy at complaining and this resulted in a promise to upgrade our flights back to UK. We were never convinced this would really happen and when I arrived at Joburg airport today, there was no agreement for the upgrade. However, after about an hour of urgent email and phone calls to Ethiopian Airways in Windhoek, the agreement finally came through, So I'm in Addis Ababa now, on my way home in Business class. Doesn't seem quite right, for a motorbike adventure ride, but I am enjoying it anyway. Once again, thanks all, for the interest, comments and support.

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[harry]

Thanks DL, its been a very interesting read

 

[Roadrash Rider]

Thanks DL, its been a very interesting read

What he said, really enjoyed catching up with your exploits, enjoy the next stage of your journey, thanks for taking the time to share

 

[Tinytim]

What he said, really enjoyed catching up with your exploits, enjoy the next stage of your journey, thanks for taking the time to share

...and also what "he said" from me too.
Oh, and as Ash says "stunning" to go with that. Thanks.

 

[Rich C]

Yes thankyou for the time its taken you to share this. Enjoyed being along for the ride from a distance..

cheers

 

[barak666]

Excellent report, Jim...hope you had a good journey home. I look forward to the rest of your travels....

Phil

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Great report! Business class flight home? Result!