TIA

After dozens of hours in the air and nearly just as many on layovers, Papa Ish and I have finally arrived in Cape Town. The cool winter night was certainly a welcome change from the intolerable humidity and heat that we experienced in D.C. After leaving the airport we rented a car, which means I will eventually have to reteach myself to drive on the left side of the road. My dad volunteered to drive tonight and I certainly got a kick out of seeing him turn on the windshield wipers every time he meant to change lanes.

For the next three days we will be staying at a friend’s place in Somerset West as we prepare for our journey. Tomorrow we will pick up the motorcycle and amass all the necessary paperwork including updated ownership papers and international motorcycle insurance. I may go peruse the rolling hills and vineyards of Stellenbosch to kill some time before meeting with old friends that evening. We also have yet to get our Yellow Fever vaccinations, an absolute necessity in order to enter a few of the countries listed on our itinerary. Come Monday we will be off through the coastal roads to Hermanus and then deeper inland toward Nelspruit, eventually hitting the Mozambiquan border.

For now, though, the hour is late and I must force my body to adjust to GMT+2 time. I am excited to wake up and see Somerset West in the daytime and pictures are bound to follow. As Leonardo DiCaprio’s character says in Blood Diamond, “TIA” (This is Africa).

Progress

As our departure date draws near my father and I find ourselves realizing the full extent of this journey. No odyssey comes without its challenges and that rings especially true as we prepare for it. The major preparations and purchases have been made, thanks to my dad. Now we must deal with the logistical aspects that anchor our dreams in reality. Within the next two weeks we will sort out all these details and take final measures–then the adventure begins. I, being a novice motorcycle rider, must educate myself in the art of maintenance and eventually take a few lessons on off-road riding. My father and I will then pace our trip with some flexibility and sort out accommodations/camping. It isn’t all planning, charting, and studying however; our minds continue to day-dream of lush greens, brilliant blues, and the earthy reds and browns that await us. Anticipation is rife and possibilities abundant. Africa beckons.

The Prime Directive

I am 61 and a college professor getting his Ph.D. from the University of Stellenbosch this year in Sustainable Development. As a gift to myself for this achievement and as a present to my son, Reese, 26, for his graduation with a Masters in Education from the University of Northern Colorado, we have planned the father/son adventure of a lifetime. We are riding my motorcycle from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to follow the Great Migration of the Wildebeest. Our journey will take us from South Africa to Mozambique to Malawi to Tanzania and back through Malawi, Zambia, Namibia and home to South Africa. Please follow us on this epic adventure as we make daily blog posts. Our adventure starts on July 9 when we leave Seattle, Washington, USA headed to Cape Town!