Naboomspruit

Na 20 000 km het ek laatmiddag veilig op Naboomspruit aangekom.



My laaste rydag was soos die res van die week: Koud en bewolk. Alles het nou outomaties gebeur: Die pak van die fiets, petrol ingooi, en daarna die langpad. Ek gaan die KLR se dreuning mis. Die leefstyl van 'n langpadswerwer is nou verby.

My last day in the saddle was like the rest of the week: It was cold and cloudy. After four months everything happened automatically: Packing the bike, filling up with petrol, tackling the road. I am going to miss the sound of the KLR. A lifestyle of roaming over continents is over.

Ek het Ray en Donovan van CyTech besoek om hulle die resultaat van al hul harde werk te wys. Ray het my baie welkom laat voel en sy gelukwensing was opreg. Ek het met musiek in my siel na ons koffiedrink daar weggery.

I visited Ray and Donovan of CyTech to show them the result of their hard work. I appreciated Ray's sincere congratulation on the completion of my tour. I really felt good when I left there.

Tannie Stompie en oom At van Wyk is twee van my besondere vriende met wie ek al baie aande deurgebring en tot laat in die nag goeie wyn gedrink en groot filosofiese wyshede (of dwaashede) kwytgeraak het. Tannie Stompie het vandag 70 geword en ek het 'n kort verrassingsbesoek gebring en 'n lekker bord sop geeet. Oom At is die skrywer van talle boeke. As ek net sy skryftalent kon geskaak het ...

At and Stompie van Wyk are two very dear friends of mine, with whom I spent many long evenings with good wine and long discussions. Stompie celebrated her 70th birthday today and I paid her a surprise visit. The soup was a life-saver in the cold! At van Wyk is a talented writer with many books to his credit. If I only had his writing talent...

Dan, die grootste verrassing. Kort voor Naboomspruit het ek 'n hele klomp motorfietsryers langs die pad sien staan. Ek het eers gedink daar was 'n ongeluk, veral toe hulle my tot stilstand wuif. Dit was toe Andre Joubert van Naboom wat 'n klomp motorfietsryers uit die dorp bymekaar gemaak het om in die yskoue weer buite die dorp my in te wag en die dorp in te begelei. Andre en al die manne en dames, baie baie dankie!!! Ek het so iets nooit verwag en ook nie verdien het nie.

Then the biggest surprise. Before I got to Naboomspruit I saw a number of motorcycles next to the road. The riders waved me to slow down and stop. I first thought there was an accident. It was no accident however, but Andre Joubert from Naboomspruit with a number of his friends who came to welcome and escort me into to town. Andre, a heartfelt "Thank you" to you and all the gent and ladies. I never expected such a welcome. Thank you again!


Die lawaai van die motorfietse toe ons die dorp inry, het my hoendervleis gegee. Die mense wat my welkom geheet het, is van links na regs Juan Kruger, Willie Swart, Vossie Vosloo, Piet Roos, Johan Jansen, Chris de Beer, Johan Botes, Herman Joubert, Andre Joubert, Irma Joubert, en ek.

The roaring sound of the motorcycles as we entered the town gave me goosebumps.

Die laaste verrassing was toe my vriende Johannes en Liezel Cronje met kleine Leane, al die pad van Pretoria, net na my gestop het om my welkom te heet.

The last surprise was the visit of Johannes and Liezel Cronje, and Leane, all the way from Pretoria. Thank you guys, we are going to have a great weekend!


'n Slotwoord vir vandag. Toe ek die aand in Marsabit in Kenia my bedjie so bekyk met die stinkende toiletgat langs die bed, die stort, die wasbak sonder afvoerpyp, en al my goed wat nat op die grond le (kappie :-) omdat ek die wasbak vol water en wasgoed se prop uitgetrek het, het ek my eie skoon badkamer gemis. Toe ek netnou in my bad gele het, was ek bly om weer tuis te wees.

My final words for today: Long ago that night in Marsabit, Kenya, as I sat on my bed with the stinking toilet hole next to the bed, the shower, the wash basin without pipe, the floor soaking wet with all my stuff wet as well (I pulled the plug without realising there was no pipe fitted to the basin) I missed my own clean bathroom so much. Tonight after a long hot bath I realised I was glad to be back home again.