Monday 10 January 2011

Exiting South Africa

As we pretty much just blasted on from Johannesburg it´s not that much to say about the days following the hay-days in Jo’burg. Not much can go wrong with a winning spirit, fresh horses and fresh riders after recovering from the obligatory break in time followed an overhaul and a month without riding.

Pierre had set us up with Brian in a town close to the Botswana border, Elisras, good stage for a late start day, which is not rare. This time it was due to the road out of town passed by a magic barn, full of cars under work by a skillful and enthusiastic carriage maker. It was one of those places freshmen would shun for getting work done while somebody that been around a bit would immediately catch the spirit of the place and let them restore your most beloved and long gone car body.

It was already over noon when we could tear our self free from the barn and said goodbye to Pierre and Junior Pierre (JP) on the highway. Further up in the jungle we found Elisras and Brian, which set us up in a camp outside town, with a T-bone steak each and a crate of beer. All we had heard about him in advance was that he was big, loved meat and beer and had an old motorcycle. The reception just underlined this to our big appreciation, what more can one ask for in life.

Brian was busy that night though, so he had set us up with another Brian, a travelling salesman that stayed in the same camp. The camp hosted a rough crowd of working class heroes, just like me so I felt immediately like back at work in the Indian jungles. As a rough working class crowd it was the normal past time; BBQ, or braai as they call it here, with some beer and brandy for dessert. A good gang, and especially Brian #2 and Shawn in the power tool business took well care of us and fed us with contact and info for the road onwards. For sure a typical South African ending on the final leg in Africa’s southernmost country.


Tormod





Ud af Sydafrika

Da vi stort set bare drønede afsted fra Johannsburg, er der ikke meget at sige om hvordan det gik efter de fede dage i Jo'burg. Der er ikke meget som kan gå galt når humøret er helt i top, og der er skiftet til friske heste, og til friske ryttere, som så småt kommer sig efter en måneds mc-renovering og følgende mangel på mc-kørsel.

Pierre havde sat i forbindelse med Brian i byen Elisras nær grænsen til Botswana – et passende stræk for en dag med en ikke helt så sjælden sen start. Denne gang var det fordi vejen ud af byen ledte os forbi en fortryllet lade, fyldt med biler under bearbejdning af dygtige og tændte folk. Det var en af de steder hvor almindelige mennesker umiddelbart ville undgå at få lavet arbejde; men dem af os som har været rundt og se hvordan tingene fungerer, ville omgående fange stedets atmosfære og lade dem bringe ens kæreste gamle bilvrag tilbage til livet.

Det var efter solen havde toppet dagens halvcirkel før vi kunne rive os løs fra laden, og sige farvel til Pierre og Pierre Junior (PJ) ude på hovedlandevejen. Længere oppe i junglen fandt vi så Elisras og Brian, som fik anbragt os i en lejr udenfor byen, med hver sin t-bone steak og en kasse med øl. Det eneste vi på forhånd havde hørt om ham, var at han var stor, elskede kød & øl, og havde en gammel motorcykel. Vores velkomst understregede blot dette, hvilket vi jo værdsatte, så hvad mere kan man ønske sig?

Brian havde nu travlt denne aften, så han prakkede os på en anden Brian, en handelsrejsende som boede sammesteds. Lejren her var hjem for en lidt rå flok 'working class heroes' ligesom mig, så det var ligesom at være hjemme på arbejde i de indiske jungler. For de her børster bestod programmet af det sædvanlige tidsfordriv; barbeque – som de kalder 'braai' her – med øl og brandy til dessert. En fin flok, især Brian d. 2. og Shawn fra el-værktøjsbranchen tog sig godt af os og fodrede os med kontakter og informationer for den videre færd. Absolut en typisk sydafrikansk måde at slutte det sidste stræk i kontinentets sydligste land.

Tormod











The owner of the magic barn








Last farewell with our new family in Johannesburg




Brian and his family in Elisras


Farewell with Brian#2, Shawn and the others at the camp in Elisras, thanks for the support!


Last fueling in South Africa

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