In Pulheim by Dieter en Dorothée

Met Det en Nele (slapend :-)) by die Ryn.
With Det and (sleeping) Nele at the Rhine.

Dieter en Dorothee het 'n groot SA vlag vir my opgehand om te wys waar hulle woon.
Dieter and Dorothee used a SA flag to show me where they live.

Ek, Dorothee, Dieter en Pauline, hulle dogter. Haar vriend Christoph het die foto geneem.
I, Dorothee, Dieter and their daughter Pauline. Her friend Christoph took the photograph.

Hallo!

Nog 'n besoek by vriende, nog 'n keer staan ek beskaamd oor al die goedheid wat ek al op my reis ervaar het.

Ek en Det en Ivi, Fin en Nele het Saterdagoggend 'n lang ent in Dusseldorf gaan stap. Det en Ivi is twee skitterende ouers vir hul kinders. Terwyl Ivi met Fin by sy swemklas was, het ek en Det en die slapende Nele tot by die Ryn gestap. Nog 'n groot rivier op my huidige reis het 'n merkie agter sy naam gekry.

Ek het Satermiddag so kort voor twee by Dieter en Dorothée Moritz in Pulheim aangekom. Hulle is twee ou vriende van baie Botswanareise van vorige jare.

Vooraf het Dorothée geskryf dat ek hul huis maklik sou herken as ek in hul straat kom. Ek het, want van ver kon ek al die groot SA vlag wat voor hul huis gewapper het, sien.

Dieter en Dorothée was skitterende gashere en die aand het te gou verbygevlieg. Ons het nog tot laat DVD’s van hul reise gekyk. Die fotografie was werklik besonders.

Sondagoggend het ek my verslaap. Dit was salig. Dorothée het ‘n reuse ontbyt gereed gehad. Vir die soveelste keer die laaste paar dae het ek my hopeloos ooreet.

Ek was vreemd “sad” toe ek by die liewe Moritze weggery het.

Nou kom ek terug na my eerste sin. Hoe sal ek ooit al die baie mense wat vir my as 'n vreemdeling of vriend tydens my reis hulle huise / hutte oopgemaak het, vir hul gasvryheid kan bedank?

Ek glo nie ek sal ooit weer iemand wat by my huis vir kos aanklop, by die hek kan laat staan nie.

Van een van my grootste skoolvriende wat ek eeue laas gesien het, Roelf Kleynhans,het ek ook nou ‘n e-pos ontvang. Roelf, baie dankie! Sodra ek weer e-pos kan skryf, skryf ek terug.

Groete

Hello!

Another visit to friends, again I was left speechless by all the love and friendship shown to me.

Saturday morning Det and Ivi, Fin and Nele and I went for a long walk in Dusseldorf. Det and Ivi are passionate parents who really enjoy their children. While Ivi was with Fin at his swimming class Det, Nele and I walked to the Rhine River. Standing at this great river I ticked off another great river of this world seen on my trip.

I arrived in Pulheim at Dieter and Dorothée Moritz jus before two on Saturday afternoon. They are old friends for many years and together we did three Botswana tours during the previous four years.

Dorothée wrote earlier that when I would easily recognize their house. Riding slowly down their street I saw a big beautiful South African flight hanging from the window of a house. I immediately knew that I’d arrived.

Dieter and Dorothée were two excellent hosts. We had a great dinner and after that watched a few travel DVDs of some of their wonder journeys of the past. The evening was over too soon.

I overslept this morning. I needed that. Dorothée had a gigantic breakfast ready and we sat chatting for another hour or so.

I felt sad leaving there. When are we going to meet again?

Now back to my question of the first paragraph. How can I thank all those friends or strangers in Africa and Europe who opened their homes / huts to me during my long trip?

I don’t think I could let stand a stranger at the gate of my house if he / she asks for water / food.

I received an email from one of my biggest school friends I had, Roelf Kleynhans. We haven’t seen each other for many, many years. Thank you so much Roelf! I will mail as soon as I can.

Regards!

In Dusseldorf by Det en Ivi

Naand!

Ek het vandag twee emails gehad met vertalings vir die Poolse woorde. Dis toe nie die versugting van 'n vuisvoos Suid-Afrikaner nie. Baie dankie aan Marius Cronje uit Pretoria en Maniunia Spence van Stellenbosch wat vir my die vertalings gestuur het,

So lyk die vertalings:

Rowery = bicycles;
skutery = scooters;
ogród = garden

Ek het vandag weer in reen gery. Dit was goeie oefening vir die Kaapse winterweer wat binnekort op my wag. Sommige Duitse provinsies se skoolvakansie het nou begin. Op die A3 Autobahn by Keulen in 'n oostelike rigting het ek verby 'n verkeersopeenhoping gery wat baie kilometers lank was.

Ek kuier nou by Det en Ivi en hul twee kinders Fin en Nele in Dusseldorf. Ek ken hulle van vroeere besoeke aan Suid-Afrika. Die twee is dokters en baie hartstogtelik oor Suid-Afrika. Ons het vanmiddag lank in die lekker sonnetjie gesit en oor my Afrika-ervaringe gepraat. Hoe meer ek mense vertel oor wat ek ervaar het, hoe meer kom ek agter hoe die ervaringe my met so 'n groterwordende liefde vir Afrika en sy mense vul. Al is daar minder goeie regerings die mense soos ek en jy is goed.

Toe moes ek dink aan die foto wat ek in Siegen geneem het en wat ook hier bo is:

Ich öffnete endlich die Augen. Uiteindelik het ek my oë oopgemaak en gesien.

Dis wat ek ons almal in Suid-Afrika toewens: Dat ons ons land se positiewe kante ook sal raaksien, nie net die negatiewe nie. Dat ons regering eindelik sal besef dat regstellende aksie (affirmative actions) ook 'n einde moet kry, tot voordeel van ons land.

Dat 'n mens so ver moet ry om duideliker te kan sien.

Heerlike aand aan julle almal.


Good evening!

I received two e-mails today with the translations for the Polish words. It turned out not to be the groans from a disheartened South African. Thank you Marius Cronje from Pretoria and Maniunia Spence from Stellenbosch for sending me the translations.

The translations are as follows:

Rowery = bicycles;

Skutery = scooters;

Ogród = garden

I rode in rain again today. But it was good practise for the Cape winter weather that is awaiting me on my return to South Africa. Some of the German provinces’ school holidays started. On the A3 Autobahn at Cologne, in an easterly direction, I rode past a traffic jam that was kilometres long.

I am visiting with Det and Ivi and their two children Fine and Nele in Dusseldorf. I know them from earlier visits to South Africa. They are both doctors and are passionate about South Africa. We sat for a long time in the afternoon sun, talking about my Africa-experience. The more I tell people about my experiences, the more I realise how my experiences have filled me with a growing love for Africa and its people. Even if there are less good goverments people like you and me have to show what humanity is all about.

I took a picture in Siegen. It is the last picture above.

Ich öffnete endlich die Augen. Eventually I opened my eyes and saw.

This is my wish for all of us in South Africa: Let us see first the positive side of our country and not only the negative. I personally hope and trust that our government will eventually realise that affirmative action has to stop, to the best advantage of our country.

Amazing that a person had to ride this far to see clearer.

A lovely evening to you all.

Nog 'n dag se ry is verby.

Goeie naand!

Ek het vandag 'n heerlike kort rydag gehad, slegs 127 km van Langenselbold na Siegen toe. More gaan ek Dusseldorf toe en Saterdag Pulheim toe.

Ek het netnou e-posse kon aflaai. Een was van 'n ou skoolmaat van my, George Meiring. Hy noem toe dat hy oor die webblad van 'n ander skoolmaat van ons, Annamarie van Zyl wat nou in Australie woon, 'n e-pos gekry het. George het van die Naboom2Germany webblad gehoor van nog 'n ander klasmaat van ons Dalena (Rhode), wat weer by Estelle (Wessels), nog 'n verdere klasmaat van ons van die webblad gehoor het. Dan is daar nog Elize (Moir) en Krap Venter. Dit word 'n virtuele klasreunie in die kleine.

George het my uitgenooi by hulle te oornag op my rit terug Naboom toe. Daar is net een probleem, kollegas Lize en Suzanne, George-hulle woon aan die Tuinroete en dis 'n bietjie van 'n ompad. :-)

Die sokker gisteraand was groot feestelikhede. In Berlyn was daar 500 000 mense by die "public viewing" naby die Brandenburger Tor. As Duitsland Sondag die finaal sou wen, gaan die hele Duitsland in een groot straatfees ontplof.

Maar mense, is die sokkerspelers goeie akteurs! 'n Ligte stampie en die speler rol ineengekrimp van pyn op die grond. Ek sou graag die sokkerspelers wou sien as onse Beast oor die hele span hardloop!

Wie ken Pools? Ek het 'n advertensiebord in Pole gesien wat my eers laat glimlag het en toe skuldig laat ophou glimlag het. Ek sou graag wou weet wat dit beteken. Dit het op die bord gestaan:

Rowery.
Skutery.
Ogód.

Ek groet. Ons maak gereed vir vanaand se sokker, Spanje teen Rusland. En veral vir al die vriende en oud-skoolmaats wat nou in die buiteland woon en werk, warm Suid-Afrikaanse groete! (Ek en George se ouer sussies wat groot vriende op skool was, is ook nou in die buiteland, in die VSA en Engeland. Groete Ina en Elize!)


Today was a relaxed riding day. In golden sunshine I rode the 127 km from Langenselbold to Siegen. Tomorrow I go on to Dusseldorf and on Saturday to Pulheim.

I downloaded emails a short while ago. One was from an old school friend, George Meiring. He told me of how Naboom2Germany brought him in contact with a few of our other school friends. Dalena (Rhode) called him a few weeks ago and told him about the website. Dalena heard from Estelle (Wessels) about the website. George received this morning an email from one of our other school friends now living in Australia, Annamarie (Treurnich). And then there are Elize (Moir) and Krap Venter, also part of the Naboom2Germany community. It is turning into a virtual class reunion on small scale.

George invited me to spend one night with them on my way back to Naboom. There is only one problem. My dearest colleagues Lize and Suzanne, George and his family live on the Garden Route. It is ... a bit ... out of the way. :-)

Last night there were big celebrations in Germany after the football match against Turkey. In Berlin at the public viewing near Brandenburger Tor half a million fans gathered to watch the match and celebrate afterwards. If Germany is going to become European Champions on Sunday whole Germany will explode into one big street party!

But boy o boy, are these soccer players good actors. It is amazing how they could roll on the ground, paralized by pain, after a little contact with an opponent. How would they react if our Beast from South Africa would run over and through them? :-)

It is time to say goodbye, we are going to watch the next semi-final play soon. Especially to all the friends and old school friends living and working overseas, a warm South African hug to you! Especially to Ina and Elize, now in the USA and UK, God bless!

Sokkervreugde!

Duitskand het 3-2 gewen en speel Sondag in die finaal. 10 sekondes video van die vreugde op straat. Die greep is slegs 616 kb.

Ek begin nou al selfs te droom

Ons het vanaand lekker in die reen gebraai / We had a braai tonight, despite the rain.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag hang nog steeds bo die Duitse vlag in Langenselbold. / The South African flag is still hoisted in Langenselbold.

Ek voel soos die blommetjie op die voorgrond. Pap. / I feel like the flower in the foreground. Not so fresh.

Vanaand speel Duitsland teen Turkye in die semi-finaal van die Europa Kampioenskap. Vlae hang orals en 'n karnavalstemming heers dwarsdeur die hele land.

Ek het nog net 5 en 'n half rydae in Duitsland oor tot ek die fiets in Munchen afgee.

Ek begin snaakse drome te droom. Al my drome gaan oor Afrika. Laasnag het ek gedroom ek ry die laaste ent huis toe en orals langs die pad staan van die mense wat ek dwars oor Afrika ontmoet en wat op my 'n groot indruk gemaak het. Daarby het ek 'n groot heimwee ondervind na paaie en mense wat ek miskien nooit weer gaan sien nie.

Dis die sekere teken dat Naboom2Germany my lewe onherroeplik aangeraak en verander het.

Ek het oorweeg om miskien met die Trans-Karoo terug Johannesburg toe te ry nadat ek die fiets in Kaapstad gekry het. Ek het nou finaal daarteen besluit. Ek gaan die laaste 1 700 km huis toe ry. Ek sien uit na skaaptjops in die Karoo, spek en eiers soos net ons boeremense dit kan maak, roosterbrood op die stoof gemaak, en mieliepap. Regte mieliepap met melk en suiker. En elke aand, tot ek by die huis aankom, gaan ek vir oulaas oor die dag se ry op die webblad skryf.

Ek rek die lekker uit totdat dit nie meer uitrekbaar is nie.

Nou gaan ons sokker kyk.

Tonight Germany plays in the semi-final of the European Championships against Turkey. One sees German and Turkish flags everywhere. The atmosphere is laden with anticipation.

I have only five and a half days of riding in Europe left over before handing in the bike in Munich.

I have been dreaming strange dreams recently. All the dreams were about Africa. Last night I dreamt I was riding the last few hundred kilometers home. Next to the road were people standing, people that I have met during my tour and who made a big impression on me. I had a sad feeling of saying finally goodbye to those people and roads that, most probably, I would never see and travel again.

That is the best proof that Naboom2Germany touched and changed me in many ways.

I considered going back home from Cape Town by train, the Trans-Karoo, but decided against it. I am going to ride home the last 1 700 km. I look forward to Karoo lamb chops, bacon and eggs as only our people can make it. I look forward to the smell and taste of toast made on a stove, and maize porridge, mieliepap, with milk and sugar. And each night I am going to write about the day's riding...

Do you get the impression that I am stretching everything? It is true. I do stretch every minute and second left over.

Now we are going to watch soccer.

Have a great evening!

Wel gedaan Sib!

Sib het veilig en op skedule by die Noord Kaap aangekom. Vanaand kan ons ons glasies op hom lig vir sy droom wat hy geleef het. Dit sou die veertigste herdenking van hom en sy oorlede vrou se troudag gewees het.

By hom is sy dogter Liz en seun Nic.

Ou Bul, ons salueer jou!

Sib arrived safely and on schedule at North Cape. Tonight we can drink a toast on him for living a dream. On that day he and his late wife would have been married 40 years.

With him are his daughter Liz and his son Nic.

Well done Old Bull!

Nou begin alles te vinnig verby gaan!

Aan die einde van die groot toer het ek en die KLR nog die dag met die meeste kilo's ingesit: 691 km tot by my vriende Petra en Volker Schmidt in Neustadt. Dit was die langste dag in terme van afstand, nie in tyd nie.

Die langste dag in tyd was in Soedan, van Khartoem tot noord van Dongola aan die Nyl, 15 ure lank.

Petra en Volker woon in 'n baie mooi omgewing van Thuringen. Wat 'n fees vir die oog om deur woude en klein dorpies te kan ry, met 'n pad wat vir motorfietse gemaak is met die een draai na die ander.

Petra en Volker, baie dankie vir julle gasvryheid!! Geniet julle vakansie in Namibie binnekort!


Nearly at the end of my long tour I did the most kilometers within one day, 691 km. The ride was from Poland to my friends Petra and Volker Schmidt in Neustadt, Germany.

The longest day on the bike was in Sudan, however. It took me 15 hours to get from Khartoum to north of Dongola at the Nile.

Petra and Volker live in a beautiful region with darkgreen forest, beautiful villages in the Fachwerk-style, and a dream road for motorcycles with many bends.

Thank you so much for your hospitality! Enjoy your holiday in Namibia soon!