This show has a good old cast of miscreants, many of whom you’ve met before. Allow me to introduce:
Everybody’s favourite: The Midget 
Four feet tall and full of muscle, sort of like an old Men at Work song. Rides an opinionated DR called Buttercup (more like hangs on the reins, wild-eyed, for dear life). By far the quickest in our group.
Camelman (a.k.a. the Night Mechanic / @MechanicalCamel )
Soul rider, storyteller, most likely to keep his head when those about him are losing theirs. Inventor of things like Coyote water bottle holsters, and now known to work overnight miracles on ailing 690s.
English / @Professor sprocket 
Absolutely guaranteed to bring any mechanical item to its knees. In the most remote country possible. But so incredibly, warmly charming that absolutely everybody loves him. You may cry, but you certainly will laugh. Dramatically and finally sworn off anything with a KTM badge. Now on a DRZ400.
The Professor / @isiTututu 
The newbie… invited for his incredible knowledge of rocks, his dashing good looks, and as a last ditch attempt to bring some sanity to the entire venture. So committed to the adventure he risked everything - sold his pristine, barely used 990R and struck out into unknown territory on his first small bike - a rallyfied 690.
And me
I make the maps. And if Jesus is riding Damaraland right now, I absolutely guarantee you he’s on a KTM 500.
Like watching roosterkoek rise around the campfire, this story is going to require a little patience. We’re a desperately disorganised bunch. But if you stick with us, I can promise you all of it: a little love, a little war, some violence, a healthy dose of fear, and a swirling mix of cowardice and bravery.
No good story makes do with just the main characters. And right off the bat I have some people to thank. I’m not going to necessarily say why just yet - you don’t want me to spoil the story.
This really is quite an incredible community. Two people in particular I had never met reached out and gave wonderfully generous help right off the bat.
First, a special thank you goes out to Skim/Jimmy who heard my bleating and offered up his trailer to get our bikes up there. What a warm and kind offer - thank you so much!!!
And then to Hardy de Kock. If you know him, you’ll know that he is an extremely busy man who achieves almost Herculean things, and yet you’d never have guessed it the way he spent hours talking to me on the phone. He exudes obvious passion about his beloved Kaokoveld. For the routes, the advice and much, much more - thank you! Great to meet you in Windhoek.
And then to two complete strangers who you shall meet much later in this tale: Dave and Thelma Wassung. They’re 75 and they cruise the remotest parts of the desert alone in a Fortuner 4x4 without a winch, high lift jack or even a GPS! Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
And now… let the chaos begin.
Topic: Travels through God’s own motorcycle country (Read 41621 times)
