LEH. 23 TO 27th August 2025

Have been held up here due to the rain and snow in the mountains and passes. So have just hung out in the room most the time and ventured out for food and beer. Finally  today Wednesday 27th the rain has stopped.

Was without internet for about 22 hours and the ATM'S  are not working today and there have been no flights in or out of here for four days. Some motorcycle tours had to abandon their bikes on the pass due to the snow. We were so lucky to not have stayed at Morriri Lake and come back to Leh when we did. 

HOME. 3MARCH 2025

Rode the dirt road from Springbok to Clanwilliam and went the back route through Ceres and Bain's  Kloof into Paarl and then N1 to Simon'sTown.  Met the family and stayed on my bike and we went to Cape Point to finish it up, Mark, Debbie and Charmain. 

     114 670 KMS

     655 DAYS

     79 COUNTRIES 

MOROCCO TO CAPE TOWN   27054 kms.

1751kms in Peugeot 205 in Mauritania 

Bmw 800 GS now has 167 109 kms. I bought it second hand with 14000kms on. 

Thanks to all the people that helped me and put me up in their homes and fed me. The people I met and became friends with is one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences, the kindness of people in every country is unimaginable. Travelling is more about than visiting places, and on a bike solo you meet so many more of the local people than you would in a car. The less they have the more they offer is what I found and has opened my eyes. Now to pay it back.

INTO SOUTH AFRICA DAY304 793km

AUS NAMIBIA 🇳🇦 TO CLANWILLIAM SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦    ALMOST HOME

Changed my route four or five times today, had I stuck to my plan I could have been home today.

 I use to be indecisive but now I am not so sure.

I was like 3 kms from Vioolsdrift Border and turned around and went along the Orange River for 140kms to Noordoewer Border. One dumb reason was it is bigger and they would know about a CDP which I needed to complete. About 100kms into South Africa I remembered about my CDP !  Now will have to do it in Cape Town. Got to Springbok and took  the R355 a beautiful dirt road for 240kms, and had the hottest temperature so far on the West Coast at 38* C. Passed two cars thee entire way and then missed a turn and ended up in Van Ryan's Dorp and then continued on to Clanwilliam and at the Clanwilliam Hotel.

    Orange River with no water.

   Crossing the Orange River, Namibia on the left and SA one the right.

    Police  checking out my duplicate driver's license I made and wanted to know why it had been cut and made smaller, did not pick up that it was not the Originally, but lectured me on altering an official documents. Then he didn't  like my attitude cause I challenged him, am so done with people with badge.

Waited two hours for my meal only to be told they don't have anymore lamb chops. I had the reception call the manager to get back to the hotel and then we had a confrontation and I didn't hold back, hadn't eaten all day and can't hear someone tell me they are sorry, so I lit into her more than I should have, maybe. 

Another New Zealand family also waited two hours and got there food, invited me over and shared their food with me. 

So it's the last night of my long trip and look forward to getting home tomorrow .

AUS DAY303 341km 1st March 25

SOUSSUSVLEI TO AUS - HIKE BIG DADDY 1hr 23 minutes.

Did the Dune Tour again. 

Slept in the ablution section of the camping structure because the wind was blowing so hard and didn't want to pitch my tent as I had to be up at 5:30am, but didn't get much sleep.

Hiked Big Daddy and it was a perfect day, no wind and blue skies. Only got back to lodge around 2pm and I left straight away for Aus. The roads were a little rough all the way to Betta, hit a sand patch and down I went, all good in nice soft sand. From Betta it was another 200kms but the road was in good shape for the most part and could do 100 kmph all the way.

Staying at the Barnhof Hotel which is beautiful and clean and everything works and is spotless, owned by a German. Had tasty pork chops and cold beer.

   BARNHOF HOTEL

SOSSUSVLEI DAY 303 347km

SWAKOPMUND TO SOUSSUSVLEI   

28 FEBRUARY 2025

    

    Got it finally welded in Swakopmund

    Sesriem campsite

    Dinner at the lodge