Africa with Charley Boorman

[bloochdog]

Originally Posted by globalpilot4

I just had to include this in my ride report. This clip is absolutely insane!!! A mountain biker is completely annihilated by a buck while riding in Africa. I hate to think what this animal could have done to a GS!! My mate GSDOG was on a ride recently in New Jersey when his riding partner struck a deer and broke his leg. Freak accident!

That red hartebeest was truckin!

[Seattle Jimmy]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

My only crash was in the deep sand at 0:40, on the return route from Vic Falls to CPT. Nice video and RR

Hey Bob-That was also my only off..Deep sand +missed shift and decel =face plant
Hope the down trip was as much fun as the way up!
The Klim gear is worth every nickel. It works perfect in all conditions.

[Seattle Jimmy]

Originally Posted by soph9

is the you in the Traverse suit? We wear the same gear!

Nope that is me
The Klim gear is bullet proof! (kind of)

[LumpyOne]

Never paid much attention to Africa RR but when I saw Charley I was suckered in. Great video's and writing! I am able to feel the adrenaline already, keep it coming!

[globalpilot4]

My roommate, GSDOG, and I awoke early to get a jumpstart on the 500+ km riding day. We had arranged to get an early start with two other riders, Adam and Jimmy. After six days of riding together, the four of us had really bonded. We all had similar experience levels off road, we all liked to travel at a similar pace, and we all were just having the time of our lives on this trip.

I am not big on riding in large groups, and this tour allowed for us to break off into small groups and explore at our own pace. I felt like I was out for a ride with just a few of my mates, rather then on a tour. I must say that at the end of each riding day, it was so incredible to get together with the entire gang and rehash the days ride. Each riding group came away with a different interpretation of the days ride. Sometimes this was due to a different pace, and sometimes it was due a different route all together. Either way, I enjoyed listening to everyone's stories at the end of the day.

I am really going to miss this lodge.



I wanted to stay for another night and just soak up this incredible experience. I wanted a day to just process all that I had experienced thus far...but, we had to press on.



Unfortunately, I did not take a lot of photos of today's ride. Today, I was just in the mood to ride and take a lot of mental pictures as I rolled along. To me, taking a photo is bittersweet. On one hand, I love to look back on a trip and look at all of the amazing photos of the landscapes and riders. It preserves that moment in time forever. On the other hand, I really hate to interrupt a great riding session by stopping and dismounting. I love being in the zone when I ride...that feeling of intense pleasure, relaxation, and clear mindedness that comes from miles and miles of gorgeous Namibian roads and stunning golden grasslands. This is why I ride, and today... I was really in the zone.



I did take a lot of video however. I will process it and throw together another clip when I can.

We had a section of roads today that were extremely challenging. They were not technical, but they were covered in loose, corrugated, rutted gravel. You had to constantly recalculate your line, and adjust your speed accordingly. I found that the faster you go, the more the bike steps up on a plane and skims over the ruts. This required a steady speed of 120 to 160 km. This also made for some white knuckle moments as the bike was constantly fluctuating underneath my pegs.

We had one rider who had a good off today. The bike was repairable, but unfortunately the rider took a bit of a hit and had some major bruising that required a day off in the saddle.



After 500 km of riding through the stunning golden grasslands of the Namib-Naukluft Park, we arrived at Le Mirage.









This place was unbelievable. Here I was, out in the middle of remote Nambia, staring at a fickin castle. There was nothing else around. It was like a stunning Oasis...only it had airconditioning, and a pool, and of course a bar filled with ice cold Windhoek Lagers...the nectar of the Gods here in Africa.



Adam and I decided to go out for a hike in the hills behind the resort.



I got some great sunset photos.







We ran into this little nasty bugger on the trail. His coloring was so vivid. We stood there for awhile just watching it dig. We have these in Arizona, and normally I would just smash it if I found one in my house. But, here in Namibia, I was just content to just take a photo a let it carry on with its miserable little life!!





I was wearing open toed flip flops so I decided that it would be a good idea to get off the mountain before it got too dark. Later, we realized that the area is covered with Horned Viper Snakes. Next time, I will wear my riding boots.

Dinner was amazing that evening. We had a five course dinner in the grand dining hall. This is how you eat when you roll with Charley! I have been eating and drinking everything on this trip, except for the tap water, and I have been fine. People told me before I left to avoid salads, and local game meats, and this and that. I threw caution to the wind and just enjoyed everything I could sink my teeth into.

Tomorrow, we blast off for Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, where we will have a much needed day off. I cannot get enough of this country!!

[Beesarider]

Hi Global,

We did stop a couple of times that day, my old body needed a break from the battering those corrugations dished out. Hope you don't mind me dropping this picture in here, I think it shows the state of the road pretty well !

Loving the RR and looking forward to your next post.

[b0mb3r]

just found this ... fantastic

if there is one place in the world that i want to ride ... youve been there u lucky git

[Patrol]

Best RR in ages. Nicely done. Glad to hear Charley is as good a guy as he seems.

[globalpilot4]

First of all, thank you for all of the positive feedback on this ride report so far. This forum has provided me with endless amounts of inspiration to get out there and explore, and I hope to provide the same inspiration for fellow riders. Second, I have put together a sweet little video showcasing some of the roads during the first part of my ride in Namibia. Sometimes a photo just doesn't cut it!

[soph9]

did you guys ever have to have full luggage on your bikes or did the support vehicle carry everything?

[TouringDave]

Just found this amazing RR, thanks for sharing guys!

Charley Rules!!!

[ArmyMedic]

I wanna play. When is the next trip?! Good fun! Loving the report.

[globalpilot4]

We never had more than a tail bag on the bikes. The two support vehicles carried our gear to and from the lodges. Charley calls this "glamping"...glamorous camping!! It was a nice treat, bit I did miss having everything I needed on my bike. I felt naked without my panniers, tent, therma rest, stove, etc.

[VikB]

Originally Posted by ArmyMedic

I wanna play. When is the next trip?! Good fun! Loving the report.

http://www.motoaventures-touring.com/

On the left top side bar there is a link for up coming tour dates.

['05Train]

Insanely jealous here. Glad to hear that Charley's as cool in person as he seems on his shows. Love to ride with him someday.