Flexibility is the Watchword of Adventure Travelling (11/04/00)

So here is a brief update on the situation.

First there was the SNAFU with our bikes. It took us from start to finish, 13 days to get our bikes through customs with the proper paperwork issued.

Happily, Steph and I are both in possession of Carnet de Passages (essential docs for crossing borders) and our motorcycles!

Along the way, I needed to get my Tempory Resident Permit extended which involved a separate bout with the bureaucracy. This time it was the Department of Home Affairs. When I write the book about this later, I think it will be a comedy!

Also along the way, I discoverd that my video camera broke in transit. Sorry folks, it looks like there will be no post-trip video online. But, the way things are going (see my Cape Point journal entry), soon every tourist spot will offer its visitors the ability to send video home--no need to schlep your own equipment.

We had planned to leave town on Friday, November 3, but Steph has still been feeling under the weather. Nothing too major, but we decided to wait until she was really feeling full strength before taking off.

So, we have had to face some challenges, but we are eager to do some exploring and share our experiences with our friends.

After talking with many experienced travellers and Africans, we are considering cutting back our trip significantly. Many conditions have changed significantly in recent years, and the recent outbreaks of ebola in Uganda and cholera in South Africa have also come into play.

Given the delays we have already endured, we realize that crossing Africa will involve so many factors beyond our control, that we simply may not have the time to achieve our original goal.

Nevertheless, we are learning a lot about the culture here, and are still having a great adventure!