First Member From Africa ??!!

[R1150R in Africa]

Have just registered and was wondering if I am the first member from Africa (still claiming to be living in Johannesburg, South Africa but on contract in the @ss end of the world - Lagos, Nigeria, 3 years now !!)

It's so good to see so many familiar names (AND humour) on this site !! I look forward to being part of this forum. I'm like a little boy with a new toy, like a late Christmas present !! :D

[Bones]

Gary,
Indeed, I am sure you are our first member from Africa! Welcome. Glad to have you aboard. Ride safe and welcome.

Jeff

[Acacia]

Welkom heet!
Ek is ook uit SA - maar now in die USA (Texas)!

Good to have you on this board!


Acacia

[fganger]

Gary,

Great to have you aboard, I used to enjoy your riding tales. Africa is one of the few parts of the world I've not been to. My wife, Bonnie, has many tales from her time spent in the Peace Corps. She is sleeping right now, but I recall she worked in Gambia - "The thorn in the side of Senegal."

Are you still splitting your time/life between home and your work in Nigeria? Too bad, except for the money that is.:D

Frank

[DarthRider]

Welcome aboard Gary!
We need someone on here who is stuck in the ass-end of the world.
Balance, don't you know.
I liked your African ride tales too.
Never been to Africa but I know a crazy rich guy in Amarillo, Texas who has a zebra named "Spot". Really...

Dave

[R1150R in Africa]

Acacia,
I just KNEW I'd get a reply from you !! In fact I thought we might have a "discussion" as to whether you could lay claim to being the first "African" member !!! Hoe gaan dit ? When last were you back in SA ?

Frank,
Unfortunately, yes, I am still travelling back and forth between SA and Nigeria. It is a lot better now that my family has joined me up here on Lagos but I'd still much rather be back at home full time in Joburg where my R is. We spend about 3 to 4 months here and then we go home for 2 to 3 weeks holiday. Problem is we are actually getting used to it (as well as the money that comes with being an expat !!). Anyway, it's not forever.

As a matter of interest I had an opportunity to ride a Hayabusa this holidays. One hell of an experience but I would never ever swop it for my R1150R. Like someone said - I can ride my R at almost 100% of my ability and get the most out of my bike. With the Hayabusa I would only ever be able to use 75% of what the bike could do safely. Over that I would be out of my skills range and in an area where I wouldn't want to be but just could not resist trying every now and again ! :rolleyes:

Anyway, good to be chatting to all of you guys again. Makes my life in Nigeria that much more bearable ! :)

[Deans BMW]

Gary, welcome and glad that you are aboard.

Stay safe.

[geechie]

... and good to have you, too. We're mostly all like kids with a new toy at this point.

Have fun!

George

[R1150R in Africa]

Thank you Darth.

Well it seems that a lot of you haven't been to Africa yet. Well my invitation still stands. If any of you ever get the urge, you have a house, with swimming pool, to stay in in Johannesburg. When we are in Nigeria it stands empty except for a friend who looks after it for us, and if we are back in SA then a great reason to come and stay with us. Beers are on me !!

There are a couple of places that hire bikes in JHB so you'd have to do that !! Great riding country. Imagine a trip down to Cape Town along the scenic routes (a trip of +/- 1300km's on the highway one way; a lot more on the scenic route). We will also have to do the wine route in the Cape area but I think that will be better done on a bus with someone else driving !! I still haven't done this Cape Town trip on my bike but plan to on my R1150R on one of my trips home soon and if it happens to be with a couple of my US mates well........what a pleasure !! :)

[Acacia]

As I said above -good to have you on board!

As to who was the 1st African? Does it really matter? I have been a part of the initial 'founders' group who began the discussion last year for the new site, so I am one of the early ones - probably in the early 5-10? Just glad to be in a forum that celebrates the love of riding and all things that might be associated with it.

I was born in Pta, lived most of my adult life in Jhb/Sandton, did graduate studies in the US in the '80's, and immigrated in '90. So, to be politically correct, I am now a European African American! My bike has no clue what is on its back!

My mother lives in Pretoria and brother an his family in CT. I do visit occasianally.

As for riding/roads there - I have promised to tell tales on this site of my many rides there, such as, down to CT and back on a 100cc twin Yamaha (did that 2X) via the Garden Route.(3000 mile round trips!). How about Pta to Craddock - 604 miles (966km) in 11.50 (day light hours) on that little machine?

Brian

[Promethean]

Goeie Môre! Hoe gaan dit met jou?

I guess that's all the Afrikaans I know courtesy of a couple of colleages from Pretoria, SA
:)

-Abhijeet

[Acacia]

Dit gaan goed -dankie - maar dit is nie more now nie, dit is amper die aand!

That said to the man chained between two rocks!

Wonderfull to have this eclectic mix of roadsters!

Brian

[fganger]

Gary,

I recall a person, from Doug's Site, who used to have a "Pat Saying." As best I can recall it was; "Pictures, we need pictures."

Frank:)