The last day of 2008

I cannot imagine that today is the last time that I can tell myself that I've travelled across Africa this year. From tomorrow it will be last year.

Yesterday I received an email from a German journalist, Bettina Grachtrup. She wrote that 13 years ago I told her I would love to do three things: 1) To travel across Africa; 2) To write a book; 3) The third thing she had forgotten.

I wonder what was the third thing ....

It is time to end off my last posting of the year 2008.

Thank you to all my friends and relatives for a wonderful year!

Thank you to all those wonderful people all over the world who followed my trip on the internet.

Thank you to all the people who, without knowing me, sent me the most wonderful emails!

And lastly, "shukran" to all those wonderful people along my route who will never read this posting. You were wonderful. You made my trip.

Barak allah fekom! بارك الله بكم

Lodie

PS What is happening next year (2009) early May? I am off into the (un)known again! Watch this space.

Boektitel

 

Nee, Naboom2Germany is nie 'n goeie idee nie, ek soek verder.

Waterberg

Mooi mooier Waterberg.

 

Ek het vandag dié grondpad die eerste keer sedert my toer gery. Ek was baie vinniger op die slegte pad as die vorige kere. Dit lyk dus of ek darem iets op Naboom2Germany geleer het.

 

Ek mis die Afrikapaaie. Vandag se pad was baie soos die pad tussen Gonder en die Soedanese grens.

 

Ek is bly ek het nie 'n boere moer woer. Weet julle wat dit is?

 

Groete!

Boektitel

Goeie naand!

 

My boek oor my toer is byna klaar. Wat dink julle van so 'n titel?

 

I have nearly finished writing my book. What do you think of a title like above?

24 Desember 2008

To all the wonderful people in my life, my friends, my relatives, to those stunning people I've met during the course of Naboom2Germany, in your language:

 

 

Gesëende Kersfees

Rehus-Beal-Ledeats

Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

Merry Christmas

Fröhliche Weihnachten

Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Buone Feste Natalizie

Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!

Priecigus Ziemassvetkus

Linksmu Kaledu

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

 

 

Lodie de Jager

Kuiermense van ver

Ek het vandag twee baie welkome besoekers gehad. Martin van Jaarsveld (links) is uit die Kaap en kuier tans by Hennie Kruger (regs) in Pretoria. Beide is KLR-ryers. Hulle het Naboom2Germany op die internet gevolg en het vandag kom dagsê. Martin en Hennie, dit was 'n voorreg om julle te kon ontmoet!

 

Today I was privileged to meet Martin van Jaarsveld from Cape Town (left) and Hennie Kruger from Pretoria (right) . Boh are KLR riders and followed Naboom2Germany on the internet. They visited Naboom today and we had a lovely capucinno at Spif. Thanks for the visit!

Bosveld en bande

So lyk die KLR se agterband na 23 000 km.

Wat is die geheim?

Moenie deur die ratte jaag nie! Versnel egalig, rem egalig.

Die band is 'n Michelin Anakee.

Ek was vandag in Johannesburg. Ek is laatmiddag weg uit Pretoria terug Naboomspruit toe. Die bosveld was in die sagte laatmiddaglig mooi. Ek het gewens ek kon net aanhou ry en ry.

Afrika roep!

Ek wonder of ons altyd besef hoe bevoorreg ons is. Ten spyte van baie dinge.

Het jy al geregistreer om volgende jaar te gaan stem?

Waterberg

Hierdie Sondag was weer een van daardie mooi Waterbergdae. Ek en swaer Fanie het 291 km deur die mooi groen Waterberg gery. Die reën het ons langs die pad gevang, maar wie kla ooit oor reën in die bosveld?

 

Ek sit nou en doen voorraadopname van wat ek die laaste twee weke ervaar het: Ons eiesoortige Karoo, ons mooi kuslyn daar verby Gordonsbaai, die paradysgroen van die Oos-Kaap, en vandag ons pragtige bosveld.

 

Vanaand skink ek my koffiebeker vol koffie op dié stuk aarde wat ons "ons" land noem!

Allan and the beautiful Eastern Cape

Allan Booth and his wonderful family hosted me in East London on Friday night.

 

On Saturday Allan put me on his 2008 KLR and off we went, our pace much faster to what I got accustomed to across Africa..

 

Allan with his insider knowledge took me on beautiful tracks down to the Kei Rver.

 

The Eastern Cape is a paradise.

 

Allan, thanks for the use of your KLR, buddy. Next time I will show you around in the Waterberg.

 

Buffalo Motorcycles, East London

Allan Booth from East London was the initiator of the wonderful evening at Buffalo Motorcycles in East London, and Pierre le Roux, owner of Buffalo Motorcycles, sponsored my flight ticket down to East London.

 

Again I was struck by the interest of so many people in overland travelling. Africa not only touched my heart and soul this year, Africa also brought me into contact with so many wonderful, interested South Africans that believe in South Africa and are motivated to make a meaningful contribution to this our wonderful country.

 

Allan, Pierre, thank you so much!

Evening in East London

   

This Friday I will be in East London. The good people of Buffalo Motocycles (http://www.buffalomotorcycles.co.za/motorcycle-news.htm) invited me to meet some motorcyclists of the Eastern Cape and share my experiences of Naboom2Germany with them.

 

Ek sal nou my Engels moet begin oefen!

 

Will share with you some photographs next week.

Adieu!

 

I met Nicole and Uwe Filipi the first time in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. They were on their way south, and I on my way north.

 

During October they came to visit me in Naboomspruit.

 

Today we met for the last time in Hout Bay. Their year long journey is nearly over. Soon they will leave for Germany.

 

 

This is (wonderful) South Africa

 

This is Africa.

 

Lesson 1: Yes, you can take a taxi from O R Tambo to the station in Johannesburg. (Günther and Rosi with the driver in downtown Johannesburg)

 

Lesson 2: Trains in South Africa can be on time. (Photographs 2 and 3)

 

Lesson 3: You can travel by train in South Africa (and this is not the Blue Train or Rovos Rail, it is a Spoornet train!!)

 

Lesson 4: Yes, we have flowers on our Spoornet trains! (Photo 5)

 

Enjoy our glorious summer in South Africa!