Sometime in early 2007, I decided that prior to going back to grad school I would take an extended motorcycle trip. With a long history of both working too much and solo third-world traveling, I was committed to making that “one big adventure” happen instead of relegating it to the “shoulda coulda woulda” pile that seems to grow bigger every passing year.
This idea fermented until I decided I’d do an entire solo crossing of the African continent along the western coast - tip to tip. No guides, no tour groups, and no shortcuts through the least developed area on the planet.
In February I moved my life into a 5×10 storage unit, with just a wee bit of overflow strewn throughout my parents’ house (sorry Mom & Dad).
April 4th, 2008 was my last day of work.
On April 7th, I boarded a plane for Cape Town, South Africa.
Now with grad school put off until Fall 2009 (if ever), it’s one guy, one motorcycle, zero job, a slowly improving grasp of French, and one continent from south to north and then south again.
African Downshift is the chronicle of this trip - A written and visual reflection of what gears up when you downshift your life onto what you can carry on the back of the motorcycle.
Thanks for reading.
-Matt
5 responses so far ↓
1 lois // May 8, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Dear “rescued dog from the shelter” nephew,
Cape Town is fantastic, as you discovered. I want to go back, to parasail off Lion’s Head. At age 63 I walked to the top in 95 degree heat with a parachute on my back—only to discover that there was not enough wind near the top, and too much wind at the very top—one of life’s minor disappointments.
Circumnavigating Africa will bring many challenges over the next year, enable you to encounter many interesting people, too many of whom live in difficult circumstances, and create learning opportunities for you. I assume you plan to stick around some communities long enough to get to know the people and the landscape., and to use your formidable skills to be helpful.
Perhaps you have contacts, and have been in touch with other bikers who have traveled this route, so you have some idea of what to expect. Your relatives, friends, and especially your parents, will be thinking about you often, and will be reassured by your postings and photos (especially if you are in the photos) that you are okay. Surely access to the internet will be spotty when you are “on the road” (such as it is), unless you have a satellite connection, so I imagine there will be gaps.
Helen and I are immersed in organizing a local event http://bikenewton.org, related to the non-motorized variety of bikes. We just completed a solar hot water installation, and are waiting for the sun to come out. This is a beautiful time of year in Boston.
Love,
Lois
2 Jeff Freedman // May 9, 2008 at 6:25 am
I love this. Wishing you safe travels and all the best.
3 Reuben Steiger // May 9, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Matt,
I work with Jeff Freedman — your trip looks incredible and I’m looking forward to following your progress. I’ve spent a bunch of time in CapeTown over the years. What route are you planning to take as you head north?
Reuben Steiger
4 Corinne Lipman // May 27, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hi Matt,
We just returned from a very interesting trip to Turkey and Israel, and finally have a chance to read your blog. Very nicely set up!
I think about you daily (we miss our boarder
and am looking forward to following your adventures online.
Wishing you safe travels,
Aunt Corinne
5 mom // Jul 4, 2008 at 8:54 pm
By today you have probably left for Namibia. We are thinking of you constantly and sharing the website with the Geisers who are here for the w/e of the 4th. (they of course have been following it)
We are excited for you and want to hear what you are seeing and whom you have met on your way to Namibia.
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