I don't feel like copy and pasting that into Google Translate... but I am going to say, 950... I'm assuming the "2 dudes on a bike" stigma doesn't apply in Africa like it does here in the States.
In Africa, there are no rules Oh, got drunk last night and this happened: Also, I am at a place called Port St Johns and it is beautiful.
Hmm. "Beautiful" . . . . Port St. John's vs. Half-bearded-Fiddy. Hmm . . . It's Port St. Johns by whisker!
Man, I had a hell of a birthday, I have trouble with the T3D image uploader so here it is on imgur: (sorry nidex, I still don't know how to ride a motorcycle! and the guy on the 1000cc with street tires had a hell of an adventure with us offroad)
New blog from one of the most fun weeks yet: http://scottsnextadventure.blogspot.com/2012/07/excursion-to-port-st-johns-and-amapondo.html (I'll let my previous post serve as the teaser photos )
1) I've only been in Botswana for a few days and already I think it has the friendliest people I've ever met. 2) It seems that every female under 30 is trying to marry me or something. 3) I met a crazy local guy and we ate caterpillar and drank beer together. So here is my new bike and the story so far: Bought it, rode for about 20 feet and the chain fell off and got jammed. Random dude helped me fix it and showed me how to adjust the tension and I set off again. Everywhere I go people shout 'humber!' which is what they are called out here, and tell me it's a bike for old men in the village while laughing at me, especially when I tell them I want to ride it solo across Botswana. Yesterday, I went out again to explore, and a bolt fell out and got lost, meaning I had to walk home, with more guys chatting me up about the bike and telling me how to fix it. Today I pushed it around for about 3 hours trying to find a certain bike shop, then sort of got kicked out of the mall when a local guy I was with carried it carried it through the mall with me. Found the shop, but it was closed. I ended up visiting the near by police station, where I left the bike and will pick it up on Monday when the repair shop opens. Yes, this is going to be an adventure.
A bike's a good idea. But is the route going to be safe enough? They might sell the same bike to every white guy that comes through town!
Botswana is a very safe country, mostly empty as well, the whole place has only 2 million people! it seems like a pretty good place to cycle through as well, at least according to this article http://www.worldbiking.info/wordpress/2011/04/top-5-reasons-to-cycle-botswana/ But man I'm having fun out here, meeting so many people. Today I'm going to a rugby game with some other travelers, next week I'm planning on going to a heavy metal show! Last evening I was hanging out with locals at an outdoor pool table at the bus station chatting. We had problems with a crazy glue sniffer, and then a drunk who got really agressive, but the other locals always take care of them. Also I met a Dutch guy who is traveling to every country in the world and making a book called Streets of the World, check out his website here http://www.streetsoftheworld.com/
Sheesh 950. Unreliable truck, unreliable bicycle. You sure know how to pick 'em. Just giving you shit of course. Maybe. I suppose it's kind of cool having the locals help you with your busted Debo bike, good way to start conversation and make friends. By the way you talk about it, seems like people either enjoy helping each other out, or have nothing to do. Maybe both? I admit I haven't checked the blog in awhile. Will do that shortly. edit: The bike is called a Reliable?! BAHAHAHAHAHA. That should give it away right there, man. Like tires called "Goodride"... really aren't good rides. Nahmean?! If you gotta put the thing that is assumed in the name when you purchase a product, you know that it is exactly NOT what it says.
My bike broke again two days ago LOL, but really all that is happening is nuts come off. I think i need some Loctite or something. That bike is going to take me all the way across Botswana, you just wait and see
Yah, I meant to take it to the shop yesterday and today but spent all yesterday replying to discussions about my metal pictures on reddit yesterday, and all today writing THIS NEW BLOG POST : http://scottsnextadventure.blogspot.com/2012/07/thanks-for-good-times-south-africa.html Well it's official, I'm inland and in the freaking desert of Africa, bye bye ocean, it's been good
Yeah, lock nuts would be a good idea. Loctite is an alright idea but I wouldn't do it, just because if you ever have to take the nuts off again it will be a bitch, considering 950 probably has very limited tools on this journey.
