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  4. The mud before was a bit of child s play - opening up to a world of multiple levels of pain

The mud before was a bit of child s play - opening up to a world of multiple levels of pain

Mon, 16/03/2015 - 12:00

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Pascal and Sylvain's bike journey from Johannesburg to Paris via Central and West Africa.

  • Isiphango - Pascal and my Mother examining Pascal's bike
  • Isiphango - Pascal is checking the bike - big moment!
  • Last checks on the KLR - done. Reqdy to go !
  • In Lusaka
  • Deep in discussion with Roger - our new Swedish rider friend
  • Chilling on the road
  • Vic Falls - what a sight !
  • Farewell Party - Joburg
  • First day of riding
  • Road to Bostwana
  • Before depart
  • In Botswana
  • Road to Bostwana
  • Pascal in full gear
  • Sylvain in full gear
  • Map up to Ndola
  • Vic Falls from another angle
  • Hitting the mud in DRC - from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa
  • The mud before was a bit of child s play - opening up to a world of multiple levels of pain
  • On a ferry in DRC
  • In DRC - some of the excited, surprised, scared (sometimes) kids whom we encountered in most the villages we came across
  • More muddy roads in DRC - we're between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa
  • A bit of muscle often very much needed - still in DRC
  • River crossing in DRC
  • Spending the night at a Catholic mission on the way - nice welcome
  • Getting the bikes on one of the many boats doing the Kinshasa - Brazzaville crossing
  • Pointe Noire beach in Congo
  • Still on the road to Gabon
  • Brief rest - strange how getting closer to an objective (the border in this case) always seems like one is going backwards...
  • In Gabon - about 100km from the Equator
  • On the way to the Gabon border
  • Crossing the Equator
  • Equator - personal touch
  • Fron Kumba to Mamfe - Cameroon
  • 70 odd km from Mamfe
  • Roadside view in Cameroon - 1
  • Roadside view in Cameroon - 3
  • Bridge on Kumba - Mamfe road - Cameroon
  • Officially in West Africa - in Nigeria between Port Harcourt and Benin City - on our way to Lagos
  • Taking a side a roadside break in Cameroon
  • Bridge across rqin forest in Cameroon - close to Nigeria border
  • Roadside view in Cameroon - 2
  • Some maintenance on Sylvain s bike in Lagos - a great thank you to Ogbonnaya for his great help in sorting this out
  • Meeting up with some great people in Lagos. Best of everything and see you soon
  • Some maintenance on Pascal's bike in Lagos
  • Address for some videos of the trip - enjoy and thanks Olivier for uploading them
  • Outing in Togo - a bit of an issue with the bike
  • Cape Coast Beach - Ghana - on our way to Ivory Coast
  • Always a solution ! Disks from the gear box need to be changed - no problem and you re good to go.
  • In Togo - outing with the Togo Moto Club
  • Cape Coast - taking in the view on our way to Ivory Coast
  • Cotonou city - from the main bridge
  • Beach in Cotonou - Benin
  • Stepping into history in Grand Bassam - Ivory Coast
  • Just outside Bamako at Le Campement
  • In Assinie - laguna side 1
  • Just outside Bamako at Le Campement - other view
  • In Assinie - Laguna side 2
  • Heading towards the Mali / Senegal border
  • Last one - still in Assinie - beach side
  • In Bamako - rue Princesse
  • In Mali - on the road in the South heading to Bamako
  • Downtown Abidjan - Ivory Coast
  • In Assinie - on the way to the other side of the laguna and the beach area
  • Passing through Joal (birthplace of Sengor) - overlooking the ile des Coquillages
  • Now in Senegal - more than 13000k into the trip - spending the night in Koumpentoum
  • In Nianing - 70km from Dakar - nice peaceful town before we start heading North to St Louis and Mauritania
  • Heading to the Senegalese coast - Baobabs on the side of the road
  • In Dakar - Yoff - the city is as nice as ever - great to be here
  • Faidherbe bridge in St Louis in Senegal - on the fleuve Senegal. One of these must see places
  • A feel of the Saint Louis vibe - Senegal
  • A little sightseeing in Dakar - Goree Island
  • Coastal road heading to Tan Tan - Morocco
  • Tinerhir city - Morocco
  • Into the desert - Zagora area - Morocco
  • Desert view in Northern Mauritania
  • Crossing the Tropic of Cancer - Morocco
  • Heading into the middle of Morocco from Agadir
  • Riding in the Cirque de Jaffar area - some passes are above 2000m - big change from the desert - heading to Fes and then Tanger
  • From Nouadibou - Mauritania
  • Vino and tapas in Sevilla
  • Chefchaouen - Morrocco
  • In Tyrosse with the family - will be in Paris on Sunday the 7th of June
  • Arrival in Tyrosse - South Western France - hanging out with the family
  • Close to Al Hoceima in Morrocco - the Meditarrenean !
  • Chefchaouen - Morrocco
  • 20km from France crossing the Pyrenees
  • Beach close to Larrache - Morrocco
  • Goodbye Africa - hello Europe
  • Now in Spain - in Sevilla
  • Chilling at one of the many cafes in Larrache - Morrocco
  • Still in Chafchaouen in Morrocco - very nice place to hang out
  • Larrache in Morrocco - about 80 km south of Tanger
  • In France ! Little stop over at St Jean Pied de Porc
  • Moving North - in Toledo - Spain
  • Arrival in Paris !!! Huge welcome from family and friends. Thank you all for your outstanding support throughout the trip

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Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
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ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
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Switzerland: Aug 14-17
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Important: For more information on what World Nomad's policies cover, read this page

Grant says: ALWAYS read the policy CAREFULLY to be SURE you are covered on your motorcycle. There are exceptions and variations depending on home country, where you're going and a lot of other things. For example, UK residents are not covered for motorcycle touring! "No Touring or where a motorbike is the main mode of transport. No Personal Liability Cover."

READ THE POLICY AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT - BECAUSE IT DOES!


World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
ARR Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Horizons Unlimited 1987 - 2025

All text and photographs are copyright © Grant and Susan Johnson, 1987-2025 or their respective authors.

All Rights Reserved.

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