Cape 2 Cairo 2 Cape Blog

AGE: 24

MARITAL STATUS: Single

PROFFESSION: Student – I am currently studying a Masters in Engineering (Wits)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES: I started riding motorcycles in August 2009

WHAT RIDING EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU GOT: On and off road riding, mainly on my BMW 650 Dakar

I have done a number of trips, on tar and off road, the furthest of which was to Malawi in December 2010

WHAT IS THE FURTHEREST YOU HAVE RIDDEN IN ONE DAY: ±1900 km from Jhb to Windhoek With Tours for Africa in Nov 2010

WHAT ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL HAVE YOU DONE ACROSS THE SA BORDERS:

I have done a number of trips cross border:

Lesotho – Sani Pass - Katse – Jhb (Oct 2010)

Jhb – Windhoek – Through the Caprivi – Vic Falls – Jhb (With TFA) (Nov 2010)

Jhb – Zim ruins – Tete (Mozambique) – Cape Maclear (Malawi) – Tete – Jhb (Dec 2010)

Jhb – Mutare (Zim) – Inhambane – Maputo – Jhb (Jan 2011)

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BOOK ON THE CAPE TO CAIRO 2011:

While still at school, I had dreamed of an adventure of some sort, the first thing that came to mind was to cross Africa on a motorcycle. I had no riding experience, in fact I had never even ridden or been on a motorcycle, but I knew that I wanted to, badly. After seeing the Long Way series, I knew that this was something that I had to do. The dream lay dormant for a number of years when one day a friend of mine from varsity piped up and saith that we should do something special and memorable once we graduated (at the end of 2010). This was mid 2009. Neither of us had any riding experience, but we had a dream and the determination. We both bought bikes and began a long journey of planning, researching and preparing for our life changing journey. Unfornately, as so often happens in life, people and plans change. This life changing trip was for a number of reasons becoming less and less of a reality, until I was the only one left planning a Cape to Cairo trip for December 2010. In the mean time, my dad, Les Berman, had started riding again after a break of more than 20 years. We decided that since that friend of mine had decided to postpone his C2C trip, we should not waste the plans already made and do a C2C together. In the process of planning for a C2C, we inevitable came across Ray and Cytech. When the rumours of a TFA C2C started, we both made the decision on the spot that we would be part of the trip. This is a dream to finally be realised for bith myself and my dad, and we are only too grateful to Ray and TFA for providing the platform to allow this once in a lifetime opportunity a possibility not only for us individually, but for my dad and myself to be able to do it together.

WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE LIFE CHANGING UNDERTAKING YOU ARE EMBARKING ON:

I am incredibly excited about the prospect of crossing Africa. As I have already said, it has been a dream of mine for many years. I am also incredibly grateful to have tho oppurtunity to do it with my father. Having completed a number of trips across our borders, I am accutely aware of the impact that a trip such as this can have on one. If nothing else, leaving our homes and daily ruitine to travel and not only see, but experience Africa north of our borders gives one incredible perspective. Perspective on life, the way we live, the excess we live in and the false reality that is presented to us daily as the norm. I am preparing myself, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally to embark on this life changinging experience, being prepared to come back a diffenrent person having being impacted by wealth of culture and personality that is Africa.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS:

On the first trip I was so very fortunate to be a part of with TFA in November 2010 to Namibia and Zimbabwe, I was unsure as to exactly what my expectations were. I soon discovered that the reality of motorcycle travel through Africa was far from any expectations I may have had. I found it challenging to adjust my mental approach to the demands of daily motorcycle travel and needed to create a new approach and fast. I soon found a stratey that fitted not only my own character and personality, but also that of the group. Once I had made that shift, I was blow away at the bonds that were beginning to form between group members and the shared menories and experiences will remain with me for life. The sense of acomplishment that I was left with upon retunning home was truly unexpected. I know that the trip up Namibia in November is only a prelude of what is to come on the Cape to Cairo trip. The greates memories I have of motorcycle tracvel in Africa are all without exception some of the toughest and most challenging times, that test ones character to the limit and beyond at the time. Looking back at those times, however, I racall with fondness the days, and nights spent in the baking sun and pouring rain, I cannot help but smile as I am transproted back to those faraway people and places that have forever impacted my life. After a moment of fond rememberance, I cant help but think ahead to my next African adventure.

WHAT ARE YOU FEARING THE MOST AND WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE:

From my experience of the few cross border trips that  have done, and also after having had issues with my bike on two separate trips, I am most concerned about the wellbeing of my bike. I am aware now more than ever how fragile our motorcylcles can be and how important it is to look after them first and then ourselves.Without your horse, the rider goes nowhere. I have experienced too many times the feeling of helplesness over an ailing motorcycle. I am confident that those experiences have forced me to be more prepared and to take extra care in the preparation of my motorcycle for the trip. I have also seen that I couldn’t but change my attitude towards the bike from expecting it to take all and any punishment I could throw at it to one of nutring it and looking after it. After all the more I take car of my bikem the more it takes care of me. I trust that I have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that my motorcycle will take me up to Cairo and safely back down to caoe Town. My greatest concern about the trip is that I not be able to complete this life long dream due to a faulty motorcycle.