I’m doing the headless-chicken thing !!
With every passing day, the list of things to do gets longer, rather than shorter ! I spend more time adding to my list than crossing things off… But it’s all part of the deal, right ?? Yeah… of course it is !! “It’s all good!” as Worldrider would say !!
Today I had to meet with MDS Visas to hand over the final batch of documents they needed in order to finalize the applications for my visas. I had to arrange copies of my Registration and Ownership papers, Yellow Fever Certificate, individual letters to 9 Embassies, advising them of my expected route through their countries, the border posts I intended to enter from and exit from… A letter from the bank was also needed to convince them I could afford to be running about the continent without a fixed income !! I tried to explain that I have discovered that being unemployed is actually a full time job !! They were having none of that though… !!
Then it was a 60km ride across to the centre of Joburg, down the infamous M1 South, to meet with Preston van Wyk of Xkulcha, who had more gear for me to try on, as well as a bunch of useful accessories which I will use on my trip. He has also arranged for a TV slot for me and the interviews and filming will take place over the next few weeks. He also arranged for me to attend the Maluti Rally at Clocolan in early March. I will already be on my way by then and will ride parts of Lesotho before I cross back into the Free State to attend this rally as a guest of Xkulcha… Should be a blast !! Get there if you can !! Meet the Xkulcha gang and check out their great range of rider apparel !
I then dropped in on my cousin Steve, who handed over a few stainless steel bolts we had ordered last week. These are for the special strengthening brackets which I had ordered from Bling King Bikes. Denver Biggs, the Wunderlich agent, advised me to add thes to the bike. Wunderlich have developed these to add extra support to the Top Box Carrier on the BMW 1200 GS, and considering the long distance I will be carrying my worldly belongings, the carrier will need all the support it can get !
Steve and I after work on the Big Fella was successfully completed...
Another 60km ride back to Pretoria to meet with Nedbank again, and then enumerable phone calls and emails to set up more meetings with some of my other sponsors, rounded off my day !! I am well knackered, Dudes !!
I am also in the process of packing up all my books and personal kit, and arranging to have it sent down to my folks in Uvongo for storage. (It was the cheapest option I could find !! Ha-ha !!) Thanks Folks !!
Looking back at the last few months, I realize that if I had a permanent job, I would never have got all the things done that I needed to do… I would have had to add a few more months onto my preparations, and that would have severely affected my plans to utilize the weather window in Northern Europe… But the weather these days is so unpredictable, that I may end up riding in snow anyway !!
Tomorrow it’s more of the same… Big Fella will get his branding at Kyama Printing, the Physio will have another go at my shoulder, and a few meetings with sponsors to arrange some last minute details for their marketing plans… Hectic…!!
Still, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick ! Or chasing my tail as part of The Rat Race ! My sympathies, Dudes !
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