Root of my Roots

When you kick off your shoes and put on some pedals, you will find that anything is in fact possible! 

You may have an old rickety bike.

You may camp alone in soggy fields.



You may spend far too much time hanging out with sheep.

But eventually you will arrive.

You too can find your windmill!

⇩⇩⇩ Here's my journey ⇩⇩⇩

Go ADVENTURE now!

Definition of adventure

1. 1a :  an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
   a book recounting his many bold adventuresb :  the encountering of risks
   the spirit of adventure
2. 2:  an exciting or remarkable experience
   an adventure in exotic dining They were looking for adventure.
3. 3:  an enterprise involving financial risk
   wanted to pay off her debts before embarking on any new financial adventures

When was the last time you stepped out of the front [or back] door with absolutely no idea where you were heading? 

When was the last time you felt your stomach churning for you had no idea what you were doing?
When was the last time you were so excited you [almost] weed yourself?

Don't you think it's about time you went on an adventure?
You know, a journey of unplanned, unexpected, unfathomable epicness... 

But what if I'm not ready?

You'll never be ready for a real adventure, it's part of the definition.
Yes take some precautions, make sure you have water and toilet paper.
Don't stress.
Remember to breathe.
And then, once you've successfully tricked yourself into believing you're ready, run out the door.
Most of the stuff you think is important, you won't even need.
Trust me [I'm a gypsy]!

I started my last cycle tour without a bicycle.
I started walking, and I let it find me on the way.

You may not be as [seemingly] prepared as the next chap, but they're probably thinking the same about you!

Can you spot the subtle differences between the other cycle tourists I met along the way and my set up?

But where will I sleep?

Wherever you want!

Seriously, the world is your bedroom!

Take a tent. Find a haystack. Sleep under bridges
Couch Surf, Squat, use Tinder
Beaches, caves, trees, fields, barns, stranger's homes and gardens...
There will always be somewhere for you to rest your weary head.

And if the above list fails, there are always hostels, palaces, and hotels.

A Lekeberg lake, Sweden

A fragrant field of manure, Sweden

A friendly farm. Germany

A forest lake, Sweden

In a field of flowers, Sweden

Living it up on a pile of hay, Northern Germany

In a field of wind turbines, Germany

On some vacant lawn of a wealthy upper-class suburb, Sweden

What if it rains?

It will.
You will dry.

What if I get lonely?

When you head out on adventure there may be times you feel completely lost and alone.
You will often wish that you had someone to talk to, to share experiences and challenges with.
But throwing yourself out of your comfort zone and into the mercy of the world will lead you to some of the most fantastic humans you can[t] imagine.

These legends at iRecycle (Stockholm) gave me laughs, kitted me out with a bicycle, and coated me with hope for the adventure that lay ahead.

My first flat tyre led me to meet my new Iranian friend and a BBQ and a trance party and pizza.

There will be other adventurers of the road too!

And you never know when it might be a friendly refugee or an elderly person [or both] that will take you in for fika (Swedish tea time)

You might run into old friends along the way

Or you may be accosted on the side of the highway and be forced to party and laugh and sing with strangers.

A friendly stranger may see you struggling and simply pick up your 50+ kg bicycle and carry it up the stairs for you.

What happens if something goes wrong?

It will. 

And normally quite badly. 

You can prepare for everything, but there will ALWAYS be something you never thought of. 

There might be tears and a bit of spilled milk/ blood/ or self-shitting, but things going wrong are proof that you are in fact on an actual adventure.

Besides, you need the bad times to remind you how awesome the good really is.

What if I get lost?

This is when adventures are at their best!
You are often far away from where you ought to be, but you will find you are always exactly where you need to be.

 

What about money?

What about living?
Seriously, you really don't need much to explore.
It's up to you how comfortable you want your trip to be.
You can budget for hotels and fine dining restaurants.
But you can also free camp and cook your own [delicious] meals.
Travelling by bicycle or by thumb are basically free.
But you can also take cars, motorbikes, buses, trains and private planes...
You could spend millions.
But you can also survive seven weeks on $13.70 (tried and tested)

What if I don't need an adventure?
Don't be ridiculous!
Everyone needs an adventure.
Everyone needs to be challenged.
Everyone needs to push themselves to realize what their bodies are capable of.
If you don't ever leave your comfort zone, how will you grow?

Take the first step.
Start your adventure NOW.
You will find what you need along the way.

If you're still not convinced, watch this:

Lesotho for Lunch

A one way ticket to Bloemfontein. Yes, I know what you're thinking...  

But it was good stuffing my measly supply of gypsy essentials into my pack again. 

It felt right stepping out of the front door and taking the hike down the road to the bus station. 

Good Friday is as "good" a day as any for thirteen and a half hour bus journeys. 

Adventure beckoned and once more I needed to heed it's call!

You're probably wondering what adventures could possibly lie in Bloemfontein? 

But did you know that they have a 24 hour disco bar at the tourism office? 

Did you know that Leon Schuster was born there?

And did you know that Lesotho is only a brick throw (two[ish] hours) away from the bustling  Town?

I had [sort of plans] plans. 

I had [kind of] a mission. 

I had a crazy adventure into unknown worlds ahead of me.

And then my mother phoned from China and reminded me that Easter was about family.

[And Jesus also of course]. 

So there I sat in Bloemfontein at 2am with the big questions ploddering about in my head:

Why do they have a 24 hour hour bar disco at the tourism office which also doubles as the bus station?

Why was Leon Schuster born?

But mostly I was wondering where to from here??!?

I'd planned to try and spend some time exploring Lesotho and maybe even venture into Swaziland before eventually heading to Johannesburg to surprise my granny for her birthday. 

But the family would all be celebrating both her birth and that of my cousins over Easter dinner...

I did what any of you might do in my situation.

I jumped into a taxi to catch a bus to the border. 

My brand new South African passport needed some stamps.

I needed a cultural experience.

I followed a friendly lady into a share taxi and explored the markets of Maseru before I clambered onto a bus to the next major town.

The conductor forced us deeper in to merge with the back of the already over-crowded bus.

A human mosaic of colourful blankets and vivid emotions. 

I eyed the rolling hills and tiny villages and building supply shops as more people were added to our human mangle.

Mountains. Goats. Potholes. Puddles. Smiling faces.

A few hours later we stopped.

Lunch.
Maluti.

And then I walked to the border and cleared out. 

I begged for a small portion.
The regular servings could feed a family for a month.

The police pointed me in the right direction, but I was only the third person looking for a minibus taxi to Johannesburg that day and if I was lucky we'd leave before dark.

I walked down the road and started hitching.

I felt bad about hitching after mum had sworn me never to do it in South Africa.

But if mum wanted me to be with family at Easter, there was no other way.

I got a ride to Senegal. 

But before you get too excited, it's actually spelled "Senekal" and that place is is not all that exotic.

From there I got a very entertaining education on the South Africa I did not know as we bounced along a potholed road to Vereeniging (not all that exciting a spot either).

I tried to make friends on the minibus taxi to Jo'burg but nobody paid me any attention.

I wanted to know where exactly we were going? 

I wanted to know there was a way out of downtown Johannesburg in the dark. 

I wanted to know I'd be safe.

But 'safe' became a distant notion.

Monica turned around and whispered to me that she would help me, but it was not safe to talk to people on taxis. The man next to me agreed and told me how the gangs of Jo'burg now operate. 

A man at the back told me never to question anybody anything, because then you owe them. 

You walk like you know where you are going, even if you do not have a clue. 

At almost every corner are touts who want your money, your luggage, and [of late] your dignity. 

And then the whole taxi got involved with helping me make a plan to get to my granny.

As we stepped off the taxi I had a whole load of new friends, but I was not allowed to talk to them. 

Looking more touristy than ever

[With my backpack and rainbow gypsy pants]

 I was to follow them a few blocks to another taxi rank 

but pretend like I did not know them. 

Their helping me would get them into all sorts of trouble. 

This was one ride for me, but a regular commute for them.

I was not allowed to greet anyone. 

I was to stare straight ahead and walk with purpose.

They nodded to the Alexandra taxi and I climbed on.

"Balfour please" I called to the driver.

"I'll hold your bag" said the friendly man next to me.

I declined.

"Do you know the area?" he asked later.

"Yes." I replied, feeling bad for being short.

When we passed Balfour Park, I asked my friendly neighbour if I was remembering it right.

"Yes." He replied and then demanded five rand for the information.

I laughed, asked the driver to stop at the next convenience store and called Ouma.

And then there was family.

And [stinky-two-day-travelling] hugs.

And then a shower.

And then less stinky hugs.

There was an Easter egg hunt.

And church.

And more [even cleaner] hugs.

And laughing. And celebrations. And a feast.

Mum was right.

Family is the best way to Easter.

But Swaziland for Supper?

Thursday?

Who's coming with me?

The Good Life

You need a change of job. Or maybe just a job.

You need to lose weight. And build muscle.

You need more friends. Less enemies.

You need more hours in a day.

You need less distractions.

More adventures. More money to afford adventures. More leave. More time.

Hell, you need to find the one. Your life partner. That person that will complete you. And, of course, adventure with you.

You want to be rich. Or at least richer.

You want chocolate.

MORE:

Free time. Laughing. Hugs. Singing. Dancing. 

Love. 

Sunshine. Yes. Wine. Good coffee. Unsuspected random acts of kindness. 

Tears of joy. 

Chilli. 

Exercise. Giving. Challenges. Music. 

Hammocks. Cowbell. Trust. 

Epic.

LESS:

Worry. Pain. Suffering. Wasted time. Crappy TV. 

Hate. 

Guilt. Blobbing. Social Media. Loneliness. 

No. Pirates. Unfriendly sharks. 

Zuma. 

Diets. Regrets. Boredom. Gossip. Crappy pop music. 

Rules. Red robots. Fillings. 

Inflation.

Stop wanting more. Stop thinking about all the things you need. Focus on what you have.

The good life starts when you stop wanting a better one.

Find your Passion. Find your Purpose.

“The two most important days in your life are the day that you are born,
and the day you find out why.”
- Mark Twain

I guess I've got a lot to look forward to then...
I don't have a clue why I was born, but I'm quite glad that I was.
This world is a terribly beautiful place and I would have hated to miss out on it.

A good friend recently taught me to make inverse bucket lists so that instead of simply talking about all the amazing things you're one day going to [maybe] do with your life,
you make a list of all the great things you have already accomplished.
Not for anyone else, but so that you can recall them, and remember the things they taught you.
That way you don't have to think and plan too much.
You just have to jump at opportunities and say “YES!”.
And if you don't, your list stays empty.

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all”
- Helen Keller

I'm sitting in my new room in my new house in my old country and older age contemplating.
There's quite a lot to contemplate.

But as another year draws to a very rapid premature end, I need both red wine and reminiscence and re-evaluation. [And you may think this sentence wrong, but I have two kinds of wine].

Looking back, it's quite easy to feel like a failure, to look back at regrets, failures,
and the bad hair days of 2016.
Personally I'm an optimist.
It may sound like a pleasurable happy thing, but when it comes to making plans and setting out what you want to do with your life, it's quite easy to get carried away.

This year:

I set off to finish my circumnavigation. I gave up just before the end. I failed.

I attempted to find gainful employment. I quit twice, before getting paid. I failed.

I hoped to visit many many new exciting countries. I made it to three. I failed.

I was hoping to work out what I'm on this planet for. I'm even more confused now. I failed.

I thought it might be nice to finally meet the one. I failed miserably.

My life going up in flames [literally]

But the list of things I did accomplish is far longer.
And as far as I'm concerned the only set new year resolution I had was: “Survive 2016.”
I'm doing pretty well on that front.

How did you find 2016?
 What did you accomplish?
Who did you meet?
What did you do?
Who did you become?
How do you feel about all of that?

I got back to South Africa at just the right time to watch the world wind down.
People appear to be in a state of limbo-ed complacency as they count down the days till
Christmas leave.
It's been good to listen to people talk about what they want to do differently next year.
It's been good to remember why I chose a life of professional gypsyism.
It's reminded me even more about what I don't want to do with my life!

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is,
maybe you should set up a life you don't need to run away from”
– Seth Godin

But still it is good to work. It is good to toil.
It's good to break a sweat and feel like you've accomplished something,
that you've led a life worthy of your calling.
Remember life's not meant to just be average!

“When I stand before God, at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left
and could say “I used everything you gave me” “
- Erma Bombeck

And they will know us by the Trail of Bread...

 

You know that feeling you get just before you begin a new chapter??

When you hear adventure calling your name and the beckoning is so loud that you have to heed it... even though you're not quite sure where it will take you and what you will find when [if] you get there...??

When you're thrillingly terrified... And you can't sit or relax or even think for fear of what it is that is about to pounce at you??

After 9 years of incongruously traipsing this planet, I'm amazed that I still get the jitters; that exhilaration still pulses through my veins... Actually I suppose it's the bewilderment that keeps me doing this. Yes, I should have it down. I should be mentally and physically prepared and set and... this should be a walk in the park... But still the flutterbys swarm my intestines and well...

...Well yes, it's back into the vortex of sea I go... 

And this time I'll be crewing on my smallest sailing boat yet, a Beneteau First 25; which, as the name suggests, is a "mega yacht" measuring in at a whopping 25 feet (7.62 m). Mono hull.  

I'm still trying to work out my explanation for my choice of vessels (there were a plethora of bigger, flasher, faster boats to choose from and an array of kind and funny and adventurous skippers), but I've learned enough in life to follow my instincts. 

And sometimes you just know something's right. It's infinitely more important to be on the right boat with the right crew - regardless of the destination - than anything else... Boat hopping is as extreme as hitch hiking gets: There is nowhere to just hop off, it's a flipping long way before you get to refeul and replenish, and you don't get bathroom stops... 

Fortunately this time, as I reassured  my mother this morning, we actually even have a toilet aboard.

Although I still maintain that this is the world's best toilet!!!

In fact it's a pretty interesting mix of cultures aboard: The boat (Yacare) and the skipper (Raphael) are French. The first mate (Cocotino) is a young coconut tree. Then there's me, the African. And my first mate, the trusty (little bit crusty) Teddy Teddison. 

To top that we also have yogurt, wild yeast and other foody cultures we'll be cultivating and experimenting with as we continue to cross the Pacific. And, with the lack of fridge and freezer, we'll be forced to be regularly producing sour dough and fermented milk products... 

We may even leave a trail of bread crumbs for you to follow. 

You ought to be able to tell who's who in this picture...

There will be stars. And sea. And whales. And dolphins. Mermaids, and flying fish.

There will hopefully be time to read and write and draw. 

There will be French... a language I don't speak [yet].  

But here we go again... Goodbye Fiji and thank you for a flipping phenomenal time!!!

...Next stop, The Solomons [probably] with it's crocodiles and pirates and malarial mosquitoes and volcanoes... 

Yes, here we go again.

Ahhh, the excitement!!

Losing Yourself in the World

Lake Tagimaucea, Fiji

Where would you be sitting right now if you'd said "yes".

What would you be doing? 

Who would you be?

Wilson's prom, Australia

I had everything to lose. [Or at least I thought I did].

I lived in a perfect home with amazing housemates {and even owned some of the the furniture]. 

I was semi-self-employed with more random, yet exceptionally fun, work contracts than the amish have children.

I had great friends, and my family was just down the street. 

I was young and free and, by my own standards, I was a success.

Drinking toxic floats with a brother.
Joburg, South Africa

But did I want to travel the East coast of Africa with some of my besties? YES!

Was I prepared to move out of my perfect home? 

Not really.

Could I sacrifice 3 months of my life to do it?

Probably not.

Was I willing to leave other people to look after my work contracts?

No way!

Did I have the money to do it?

No chance!

The safety and beauty of the homelands

Dietary alterations, Malawi

I'm not sure why I did it.

I'm not sure how I broke myself free from the comforts of life.

I was young. 

I was naive. 

I had determination and adventure. And a brand new backpack.

The world was mine for exploring!  

It wasn't an easy descision, but it was the best descision I ever made: I said "Yes."

Cliff jumping, Aling Aling, Indonesia

Every jolt of every bus, ferry, truck, and car  knocked wisdom and sense into my life. I changed from a Joburger to a citizen of the world. I had no idea how intoxicating wanderlust could be and before I  knew it; I transformed from a tourist to a traveller: a student of Earth.

Ijen volcano, Java

Kudat, Borneo

Stone Henge

I found myself lost in some of the most beautifully remote places on Earth. Every day was a chance to reinvent myself. Every day bought with it new lessons, new cultures, and a new [dirtier, scruffier, more care free] me.

Perth, Australia

I started chasing challenges. I found myself setting unrealistic goals. If something was deemed "impossible" I would try it. If a destination was "too difficult to get to" I'd aim for it. I stopped taking busses and started travelling by thumb, bicycle, horse, motorbike, sailing boats... I forgot motorbike, sailing boats... I forgot about deadlines. I forgot about comforts. I forgot about time.

Kioa, Fiji

Pnom Phen, Cambodia

New wheels, Cambodia

Suddenly I wasn't a scrawny, naive 22 two year old anymore. The [meant to be] three month trip had somehow spanned 9 years.

I still live out of the same backpack (although you can barely recognise it now). The contents have been overhauled countless times and there isn't even a remnant of fancy outdoor gear left. My body is a mangle of souvenir-scars tattooed on by the greatest artist of all: adventure herself.

The first significant scar acquisition, from falling into a volcano in Kenya

Today I'm sat in Fiji, a somewhat tropic paradise ravished by a recent cyclone.

I'm about as far away from South Africa as I could possibly be - but looking at the smiles of the people around me. 

The welcoming spirit.

The generocity.

The sense of humour.

The hugs, and the acceptance... I'm home.

Nawakalau, Fiji

Yes, if I'd stayed behind I might have a big corporation, I may be a home owner, I might even have a family of my own... Hey, I could be president (if Trump, Jacob, and Keates can do it, anybody can!)...
Instead i have a dismal bank account and almost nothing in the way of material possessions, but traveling taught me so much... in fact it made me rich.
Man am I glad I said "Yes"!

Still the most disgusting place I've stayed (that's poo dropping down the walls behind me) and it was a "luxury hotel". Kazakhstan