Two Australians riding through Africa, 2006-2007

Oblivious to the news around us, we recieve emails from family & friends stating there are serious troubles in the capital of the democratic republic of Congo, Kinshasa. We find out there have been violence & shooting, where many people have been killed. Brazzaville & Kinshasa must be the 2 closest capital cities in the world, divided only by a river. Locals tell us days before, they could hear gunfire from across the river but they all reassure us its all settled now & hence the ferry is still running. So off we go.

I am half woken by a low humming buzz, i open my eyes to see that the sun hasn't broken the skyline yet as its still very early in the morning. I recollect that last night, we found a camp past a sign that sais 'entry prohibited', right next to the dense Gabon rainforest. I see a fly on top of our tent but am not bothered, so fall back to blissful sleep. Minutes later, I am awoken again by the same buzz, but it's somewhat louder. I take a closer look, realising the buzz is not the byproducts of flies but bees! They are increasing in numbers, and fast.

The long awaited country of hot showers, green grass, petrol stations & delicious STEAK STEAK STEAK! As soon as we cross the borders after days of potholed roads, our bottoms are blessed with smooth endless tarmac and we fill gorge ourselves on culinary treats.

When I thought hitting civilisation makes things easy, boy was I in for a treat! The detour into Zimbabwe was to get myself a new passport as I had filled mine up to the brim. Along the way we had to subsequently lift visas to put them over existing stamps to free up some pages, along with begging police officials to stamp in every nook & cranny on my passport. We even resulted in colouring in the Queen's head on a one penny coin, flipped it over & stamped it onto a unofficial page in my passport! (of course to say that its certified by the Queen and it worked).

Beautiful Himba lady in Kaokoland, Namibia

Himba dinky on the bikes

Its been a butt crunching 39,323 kms in 9 months from London to Capetown but we finally made it to The Cape of Good Hope safely

Yeee hhaaaaa

Signal hills curvy roads in front of table mountain after we climbed it

After spending over a month in Capetown revitalising the bikes at Tim's Motorcycles shop, engine out for new rings in the Africa Twin, new forks and stocking up for the next leg of Rob's trip up the east coast, we head east along the Garden Route.
Tims' Motorcycle shop in Capetown where we became locals

Rob along the Garden Route...place to spot whales

We have been amazed at the generous hospitality of the many a south Africans we've met along our travels. People we hardly know, kindly invite us into their home, cook us delicious meals and force good beer and wine down our throats! Rob and I can't wait for an opportunity to return the favour one day in Australia.

Sadly so, it's the end of a epic journey for me. What a roller coaster of an adventure it's been, I never thought that I would embark on such a trip having never rode a motorbike before (learnt 3 wks prior to leaving in London). But it's been absolutely amazing and am so glad that I made the decision to quit my job and just go for it!
So to all you out there who are not sure whether they can do it or not.. Just try it, anyone can do it if they really want to.

Help Rob continue his motorbike journey home!!!

SADLY SO, AFTER TRAVELLING FROM LONDON TO CAPETOWN VIA WEST AFRICA, ROB HEADED BACK UP EAST AFRICA AND AFTER 37 COUNTRIES, ROB TRAGICALLY GETS HIS BIKE STOLEN IN DUBAI!

HE IS NOW STRANDED WITH NO BIKE, AT A COMPLETE LOSS AS HIS DREAMS OF RIDING BACK TO AUSTRALIA ARE SHATTERED! HEART BROKEN, I AM TRYING TO GET HIM A NEW BIKE, SO HE CAN FINISH WHAT HE STARTED.

GO TO www.hardwayhome.blogspot.com and help Rob get back on the road to Australia.