I decided to keep a record of some of the text messages I sent and received whilst on my journey and the replies I received….
After my “test run” to Nata in November, I sent the following message to friends:
Nov 11th Chief Broken Arse home safe on iron horse! 964,3kms today! What a blast! Now me take triple firewater with ice, and soon visit land of dreams…
To which Renske Verwey replied:
Ah, Chief Broken Arse earns much respect from tribe members without Iron Horse!! Dreams will be good, glad you’re safe…
Hereunder are the updates I sent to various friends and family to advise of my current positions and the places I was going to and had come from…..
Dec 16 Pigg’s Peak S 25’. 59” – E 31’.15” 545kms …14000 to go! Piece of cake!
Dec 19 Uvongo S 30’. 51” – E 30’.23” Safe and sound. 801km stint into a headwind. I’m well knackered!
Dec 23rd S 31’. 37” – E 29’.33” Port St John’s, Wild Coast. Difficult riding today, high winds and a road that twists and turns like a demented snake…
Dec 24th Port St Johns to P.E. via Mthatha, Queenstown, Cathcart, Nico Malan Pass and Grahamstown. Driving rain all the way… I’ve had better days…. Xmas wishes to you all.
From V.: Dear Ronnie/Dad… Hope you have a good Christmas, and that your day is filled with peace, joy and Love. Van, Rox and Robz…
Dec 27th P.E. to Keurboomstrand. From bonfires on the beach to the honeymoon suite… Sun’s up on my left, to the world’s problems I am deaf…
Dec 28th Banks of the Bitou, 10 kids, some wives, lots of beer! Not too shabby…
Dec 29th V’s B/day. Memories, misty eyes… Heading west… Knysna, Swellendam Cape Agulhas, Caledon… Away…
Dec 30th In Riebeek-Kasteel for lunch, then Moorreesburg, then on to Paternoster, Velddrif… Sleeping in Piketberg or Clanwilliam…
Dec 31st Citrusdal, Clanwilliam, Klaver, Kammieskroon, Springbok, Pofadder and Kakamas…
Jan 1st Kakamas to Lutzputs 60km of sand, 39 degrees… Ek het my dinges los gesweet…
Jan 3rd Into the Thirstland…Lutzputs to Nakop Border Post, through Ariamsvlei to Karasburg and into Grunau for a break. Keetmanshoop next, then Mariental for the night. Temp 40 degrees…. Send ice please…. Ronnie
Jan 4th Ever North. Rehoboth and Windhoek to service the “Big Fella”. Rocketing up the B1, AC/DC’s ”Thunderstruck” blasting on the I pod…. Good stuff !
Rehoboth, the original “Wild West”. Engine and body cooling down. “Highway to Hell” filling my ears…
Jan 5th Windhoek for the weekend… R&R for the body, 10 000km service for the bike, then Swakop and Walvis Bay next week…
Jan 6th Der Beef Stroganoff mit ehne grosse noodlen salad van der Hochland Spar es Wundebaar! Mit Fanta Graffen afgewassen… Schoen, schoen… Gutenabend…
Jan 7th Rested and ready for the next leg… Okahandja, Karibib, Usakos, into the Namib Desert and on to Swakopmund and the Atlantic. 400km in the furnace! Should be fun!
Problems with software on the bike. Looks like a longer stay in Windhoek… Shit happens….
Jan 8th Swakopmund. Hard ride, wind and desert sandstorm. This is the far Western point of the journey. South and West completed, now for North and East…
Jan 9th Dune 7 Walvis Bay. Great Ride down the Coastal Highway, and into the Namib Dunes.
Jan 10th Swakop to Cape Cross and back 240 km’s on the “Salt Road”. Visited Errol and Sherry on the way back. All well on the Western Front…
From Charmaine… Your diary is brilliant!! I feel as though I am with you on this trip… You should get out of the furniture business and become a journalist!!
Jan 11th Last rest day today, then 12 days of solid riding through Caprivi, Zambia, Tanzania and down to Southern Malawi for a week’s R & R. Should test the mettle I think….
Jan 11th (To Robyn)Absolutely, it is Dune 7!! I did NOT climb it… I think my legs were sore… Yeah, that was the reason… That and the raccoon that ran away with my sunglasses…
Jan 12th Swakopmund, Arians, Usakos, Karibib, Omaruru, Kalkfield, Otjiwarongo and Otavi… 525k’s. Lunch, then Tsumeb and on to Grootfontein for a kip! Drawn ever Northward by powerful forces beyond my ken…
Jan 13th Ride to Rundu on the Angolan border postponed for today. Parts of the Caprivi flooding, might have to cross into Zambia from Botswana via the ferry at Kasangula. Zambezi River has burst it’s banks… Should be interesting…
Jan 13th New plan: Rundu, Divundu to Ngepi Bush Camp, south into Botswana, Maun then Kasane. Crossing the Zambezi with the ferry at Kasangula in Zambia and on to Livingstone. Should keep me busy for a few days…
Jan 14th Grootfontein to Rundu, then into the “armpit” of Namibia to Divundu, south to Ngepi Bush Camp. Rode through heavy rain for 125kms. Then down 4kms of the toughest dirt track ever… Amazing day… River cruise to top it all…
Jan 15th Sleeping in a tree-house!! Rained all night, brilliant sunrise over the Kavango River, walked 2kms to get signal, going back for breakfast, then a Makoro trip into the game reserve across the river…
Jan 16th Ngepi to Botswana border, then on through the Kalahari to Maun and Audi Camp. Down the Western Panhandle of the Okavango Swamps… Yiiha!!!
Jan 16th (To Roxanne) Hey Babe!! You’re back!! All’s well, just got into the Okavango Delta from Rundu in the Caprivi. Flooding on the Zambezi has blocked my route. I have to go the “Long Way Round”…
Jan 17th Chartered plane and flew around the delta with Allan. Great seeing so many animals from the air… Raining like hell, delaying trip to Kasane until Saturday. Chilling in camp while Allan takes another Makoro trip….
Jan 20th Maun to Nata, then Pandamantenga and on to Kasane in the far north, dodging potholes and aggressive elephants! Stressful 650km ride, but all well… Houseboat up the Chobe River to Salondella… Amazing experience…
From Renske… Ah, fantastic! You are my hero… Folks back in P.E. want to know how it’s going and where you are…So good wishes come your way…xxx
To Renske…Thanks to all… Weather the biggest challenge, forcing changes to the plan…supposed to be in Dar es Salaam today… 5 days behind schedule… but days are small things in a big life…. Zambia and Vic Falls today…
To Jenny… I’m fine I guess, some days are harder than others, but the sun always rises to bring on a new day, new challenges… Did you know that loneliness can find you, even when you’re hiding in a crowd…
From Joanne… Hey Champ! How are you feeling? How’s the ride been? I bet your arse is pounding! Maybe you can find some lass to massage it! Lots of love, us….
Jan 21st Kasane to Kasangula and on to Livingstone in pouring rain… No power in Zambia… Today I experienced the real Africa… Sissies steer clear…
From Brad: Ron, herewith details of Casa Guchi. Uli Meiners 00258 828686540 … Your accommodation in Moz. Call him when your dates are firmer..
To Charlotte… You ain’t seen rain like the stuff I’ve been riding in!! Visibility sometimes only a few metres…Nearly rode into an ellie that was crossing the road during a storm on Monday… Not sure who got the bigger fright….
Jan 23rd Livingstone, Kalomo, Choma, Pemba, Mazabuka, Kafue and into Lusaka… Hard ride, potholes Knee-deep…6hrs in the saddle… Enough pain for one day….
Jan 24th Left Lusaka at 6.45am for the 9 hour ride to Lilongwe, Malawi… Pouring rain, bridges down in places, potholes and mud, cattle and pigs… All rivers in flood. A day to remember…
To Allan… Lusaka to Lilongwe will take YOU 10 hour’s min….!! Leave very early… Can stay in Chipata if you don’t make the border… I was doing 140km/h for the first 300k’s, and then the bad section, 70k’s, took 2 hours!!! It took 9 hours to get here… No food on the way….
Jan 25th Lilongwe to Salima, on to Monkey Bay. Rubber duck out on the lake to watch the sun drop behind the Dedza Mountains. Awesome… Carlsberg’s, sliding down smoothly… This is my Africa…. Wish you were here…
From Jenny…Hellooooooo!! Sounds awesome. You’ve done really well!! Africa is stunning; I do remember how away you are from everyone, and everything you feel… Take care… Love Jen and Guy…
To Allan…. Dark Destroyer to World Rider: Wherethefuckareyou?
From Brian Downs Jan 27th: Hey China! Where are you and what are you doing?
To Brian Downs: Hi Brian! I have done the SA coastline from Zululand to Northern Cape, then Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and now in Malawi…. Going north into Tanzania and maybe Zanzibar, then south down the Mozambique coast. Back end Feb.
To Allan in Lusaka, Jan 28th: All well thanks…When will you be in Lilongwe? I need about 5 days to do the run to Dar es Salaam and back… Might leave Sunday, so time to kill here. Get across, Dude!!! People waiting to meet you here….
Jan 29th: Trapped in Lilongwe!! Over 250mm of rain in past 2 days… Planning run to Dar es Salaam via Dodoma and Arusha, and back to Lilongwe… 10 days should do it!!! Weather Gods permitting…!!
To Allan: Enjoying the ride to Petauke?? Will you make the border? I will ride to meet you there….
From Jenny: Hi Ron. Sorry about the weather, I heard there was a big cyclone on its way from Moz… Hope you have lots of writing paper…Hee, Hee….
From Allan: Dude, I am in Chipata – Bad day, lost my new spare rear tyre, flew off and I didn’t notice…. Sad and bad day….
To Allan: Hey Man, sorry to hear about your tyre… What time you leaving tomorrow? Meet you at the border… Don’t fill up in Zambia, petrol a third cheaper in Malawi….
Jan 31st: World Rider to dark Destroyer… Are you still alive??
Feb 3rd : Blowing Lilongwe for Dedza, Blantyre, Mulanje and the Zomba Plateau, then north up the lakeshore and into Tanzania on the weekend…
To Robyn: Hey Girl, just got into Zomba, southern Malawi… Long day, bum hurting! Love you to bits…. Missing you all….
Feb 4th: Leaving Zomba for Liwonde, Mangochi, Monkey Bay, Salima and Nkhotakota… Mist on the mountains, reminds me of Pigg’s Peak. Reached the 10 000km mark yesterday, 8 000km to go….
Feb 7th: Mzuzu, raining 9 hours straight now…Need to get to Karonga to get an early start for the Tanzanian border on Sat morning…
Feb 8th: To Brad: Hi Brad, sent a few sms’es asking how Linda and Kirsten were. Did you get them? Is everything Ok? Please let me know how they are.. Thinking of you all…
From Brad: Ron, Kirsten had a bad accident. Severely damaged spine.. Major Op, better now… Miracle. Weak but all working… Talk later…Brad
To Joanne: Hi Josi!! How was the reading of my saga?? Crossing into Tanzania tomorrow morning… How are things in SA?
From Joanne: Going strong!! Love the reading and pics. Miss you and can’t wait to see you again. Take it easy and be safe.
From Charmaine: Where are you? Need to mark my map. Are you in Karonga or Tanzania. There is lots of shit happening in the countries you are headed into…
To Charmaine: Karonga… Big T tomorrow…. Bring it on Baby!!!! The Dark Destroyer cannot be stopped…
From Charmaine: Joke on Carlos!! (The Jackal)
Feb 9th: To Peter: Hi Peter. We can’t wait for the tyre.. DHL it to Dar es Salaam… Need your email address to send you the details. Can you sms it to me?
Feb 10th: After losing Allan in Karonga, Malawi… “See you in Iringa… I’ll leave a light on at the MR Hotel….
Feb 10th: Mzuzu to Iringa, Tanzania via Mbeya and Makambako… 13 hours to do 700kms!! Border 2 hours, rain and potholes…all at night!! Arrived here 9.00pm… Town flooded…
From Charlotte: Glad to hear you are fine. We were beginning to worry about you. Come home soon, we are missing you! Travel safely…
Thanks Charl… Dar today… Turning south of Friday… Miss you too…
Feb 11th … Feb 11. 6.15pm… Dar es Salaam… Emotional arrival…not sure why… BUT I’M HERE!!! 11 860km of bum-numbing riding….
From Charlotte: Quite an epic journey so far!! Glad you arrived in one piece. Be careful…
From Guy: Well done… Fuck you are a brave man…
To Guy: Thanks Guy. Pushed myself to new limits… Different man coming home…
From John: Congrats… When do you plan to be back?
To John: Thanks John. Heading south of Friday. Back thru Malawi and Moz coast… End Feb/1st week March…weather permitting…
From Nick: Adrian say’s have a grass-cutta… Well done RB
To Nick: Thanks Nick. Had grass-cutta in Ghana… Once is enough!!
From Brian Downs:Fucking awesome!! With an achievement like that and having your balls banged around for 11 000km, I would be worried if there was no emotion…. Stay well my Bud…
To Brian: Thanks Dude! Beer when I get back!!
From Jenny White: YOU HAVE MADE IT!!! Now for the journey home…
From Karien: I’m sure you’re emotional…what a ride it’s been! Well done…
Feb 12th: Raining like hell… Leaving tomorrow regardless… Kilimanjaro Safari Inn, Mikumi Nat. Park…300kms…then Karonga, Malawi…800kms…big one… I’m more nervous about the trip home than the one up…. Weird…
To Peter in Malawi: Hi Peter… Rain followed us to Dar… Zanzibar no longer an option. Heading back tomorrow… See you Friday. Is that Ok? Do you have the tracking number for the tyre via DHL?
From Peter: No problem… Tell Allan his tyre should be at DHL in Dar on Saturday afternoon…
Feb 13th: Dar es Salaam to Mikumi… Toyed with elephants in Mikumi Nat. Park on the way thru… One chased me for about 200 meters!!! Heart palpitations!! In a room at the back of a hospital, 200km short of Iringa… Raining like hell… Bike and I dry…for a change!
To Allan: All well in Zanzibar?
From Allan: Real good , Dude!! Where are you?
To Allan: Mikumi, room behind the hospital that Woody told us about. Fucking great!!! Tsh 7000 incl. breakfast!! And they have power, Dude!! Rainstorm 10 min’s after I got here. Glad I didn’t try for Iringa today…
From Allan: Tsh 35 000… On the beach, ocean fantastic… Should be here…. Hired a Honda 250cc… Chilling…
Feb 14th: From Allan:Lunch at nice hotel. Now down to south part of the island… You?
To Allan: Stopped for biscuits and water. Rained hard from Iringa to border turnoff… About an hour from the border…
From Allan: Excellent!! Ride safe brother, and take it all in today…
Feb 15th: Mikumi to Iringa, Sao Hill and Makumbako. Then Igurusi and Tukuyu, Songea border post and out of Tanzania… Heading for Karonga now… Been a long day, 730km, much of it in rain…
Feb 17th: Ngara Beach “Resort”, south of Karonga, to Mzuzu and Kasungu… Now for Lilongwe before dark… Another long day, but no rain for a change…
To Allan: Feb 18th: Dark Destroyer to World Rider… The Pink Papaya, Chimoio Mozambique… Listening to Dylan…
From Allan: Good deal my man!! Be good, be safe and smile… In Dar with Bush… Miss you…
Feb 20th: Lilongwe to Dedza and into Mozambique… The final frontier… Ever south to Villa Ulongue, Angonia and across the mighty Zambezi into Tete… 40 degrees…in the shade!! Potholes like dongas…back mudguard snapped off…!!
From Roxanne: Oh gee!! Don’t break the bike now!! Hot here too…murder trying to do sports! Missing you…
To Roxanne: Miss you too… So much I need to say…but might never get the chance to… Love Dad…
From Joanne: That sounds rough! Keep it steady and keep it safe… Can’t wait for your return… How many kms to go?
To Joanne: About 3000 methinks… Heading for the coast south of Beira…palm trees on sugar white beaches… Naked woman frolicking in the surf…
From Joanne: Now that sounds like a destination of note!! I see you left the best for last!! So if you go quiet, I know you have got lost among the great scenery…
To Peter Kemp: Hi Peter. In the Pink Papaya in Chimoio… Took 10 and a half hours to get here! 768kms… Wrecked my back mudguard, hitting a huge pothole. Too tired to care… Thanks for everything…
To Allan: Give G Dubblya my best… Last leg to Vilanculos today, then a few days rest. Miss you too, Dude! Kenya still on? Take care… Stay in touch…
From Allan: Dude!!! You there yet?? Phone arrived today, gearing up ready to launch tomorrow!!!
To Allan: Just got in… Beautiful… Have fun setting up your phone… How was George??
From Allan: Amazing… You are nearly there, take it easy Dude… Rest up for the final run ahead…
To Uli: Hi Uli!! Leaving Chimoio for the run to ‘Culos… See you later…
From Allan: Just got and email from a woman who says she knows the guy who found my phone and my book!! What should I do? How do I reply? She writes good English…
To Allan: Amazing!!! Get her to send the bag to the nearest Chipiku store, care of Peter Kemp. Then DHL to Angie in the USA, don’t try and get it sent to you… You know how DHL works in Africa by now…!
From Charmaine: Cyclone Ivan on its way. Hits Moz tomorrow. People killed in Madagascar. Please be careful, don’t be on the road…
To Charmaine: Like rolling thunder, through wind and rain, I’m riding south like a hurricane…
To Uli: Hey Uli… Rio Save… Pissing with rain here… Should I wait, or ride through this shit?? Ronnie
From Uli: All clear down here!! BMW riders are supposed to be tough!!
To Peter Kemp: Touchdown Vilanculos! Rain brought me in…. No surprises!!
Feb 21st: Tete to Chimoio and through a massive storm to the Rio Save Bridge… Finally arrived in Vilanculos, tired and bedraggled… Sailing to Margoruque on a dhow to do some diving…
From Allan: Resting up Dude?
To Allan: Is the Pope a Catholic?
From Charlotte: Glad you’re heading south… When do you plan on getting back…?
To Charlotte: End of the month…
From Charlotte:Everything ok?
To Charlotte: Tough last few days…Storms and potholes…
From Charlotte: Sounds hectic… Please be careful, there are some of us who want you back in one piece… Lots of love…
From Allan: Just crashed… I’m ok, bike ok… Need to straighten bracket for the pannier and have x-rays of my fingers… bus cut me off on the dirt road to Mombasa, slid into a ditch… Going to Arusha tomorrow…
To Allan: Bad luck Dude!! Hope all is ok… wish I was there to help… Sure you ok? Can you ride?
Feb 25th: Vilanculos, Massinga to Maxixe and Inhambane Peninsula, then south into Manica and into Xai-Xai. Staying at The Honey Pot….
From Allan: Good God, that’s fantastic… Send me mail… allan@worldrider.com
To Charlotte: Can I make a booking at Casa Barnardo for Thurs night? Do I qualify for off season rates?
From Charlotte: Is that you Ronnie? If so then definitely… Can’t wait…
To Charlotte: It is indeed I!!! Bombing south tomorrow…
From Charlotte: Your bed is already made!! When can we expect you?
To Allan: Hey Buddy, Wherethefuckareyou?
From Allan: In Arusha, recovering from an eye infection… Trying to sort my ride through the Serengeti… Missing your organizational skills!! Worrying about northern Kenya… You?
To Allan: Leaving Vilanculos in the a.m. Then into Swaziland and back to Jhb on the weekend…
From Allan: Good God!! Then you start your new life…!!??!!
To Allan: That’s the plan…Be thinking of you while I execute the plan… Might need to check in with you for advice from time to time…
From Allan: You can call or text me any time, my man… Check out my website for mentions of you…
Feb 28th: Xai-Xai to Maputo, Boane and into Swaziland via Lomahasha border. Rain still dogging my trail… Pigg’s peak and on to Oshoek and back into the R of S A, for the final run to Jhb…
To Allan: Hey Dude!! Almost home… Last run to Jhb tomorrow. I’m on my SA cell now… Take care of yourself buddy… God willing, we will ride together again one day…
From Renske: Looking forward to seeing that beard… You’re coming to visit us, right??
To Renske:Absobloodylutely!!!
From Renske: Can’t wait…late afternoon? Enjoy the last bit…we love you!!
To Renske: Thanks… Will do… Emotional last few legs begin today… Farewell to freedom…
To Allan: Just got a “Oh my God” from you…. Have you fallen off your bike again??
From Allan: Not funny… Was just thinking of you winding down your journey and will soon be absorbed in “ordinary life”… In your own words…”Fuck me gently”…!!!
Feb 29th: 5.12 pm. The Eagle has landed… I Man, I BMW 1200 GS, 9 Countries, 12 Border Crossings, 76 Days and 16 825 kms…. Unforgettable memories…
From Charlotte: I am sure you can’t believe it’s over!! And the places you’ve been! Great seeing you. Thanks for stopping by here. Hope all goes ok now that you are back. Lots of love. Keep in touch…
From Britt: Amazing story and life!! Go Ronnie
From Joanne: OMG! Yippee!! You’re back! Can’t wait to see you and catch up!! You’ve had an amazing trip!!
From Guy: Well done! A great achievement…
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