Charley Boorman in Africa, day 1

Posted on 16 August 2010

For the next sixteen days, 25 motorcyclists will be traveling 5000 kilometres through three countries on an adventure of a lifetime with well-known biking celebrity Charley Boorman of Long Way Round and Long Way Down fame. Also along for the ride is British comedian Ross Noble, also an offroad motorcyclist of considerable skill.

Early spring weather played along with this distinguished cast by producing clear skies and a gentle breeze as twenty-five BMW GS1200s rolled out of the Cape Town’s waterfront, and off on the first leg of the trip to Cape Point via Chapman’s Peak Drive.

The Peninsula gradually unraveled as Charley and Ross led the pack, stopping here and there to chat to well-wishers as the rest of the party caught up. The large pack of motorcyclists gradually dispersed into smaller, more compact groups, most bristling with the latest onboard video and helmet cameras. There certainly won’t be a shortage of digital material from this trip with ostriches, a troop of baboons and penguins getting the star treatment in less than half an hour. Such is the variety of wildlife in this part of the world.

Cape Point was bustling with post World Cup tourists as the sights were quickly taken in and photographed. Then off again for a quick lunch in Rooi Els. Daylight dribbles through your fingers quickly in the early springtime here and you have to make the most of the moment but keep a weather eye on the time.

Offroad skills were tested briefly on a 25-kilometre stretch to our accommodation in Franschhoek. It was enough to whet appetites but not enough to cause too much concern.

We’ve managed three hundred kilometers under our belts today, with similar mileage tomorrow, although most of this will be more tricky and technical offroad sections into the Cederberg Mountains.






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