A bit of rain proved that the choice to use Aerostich www.aerostich.com Darien Suits and Combat Touring Boots was a wise choice. Pictured above was Dr. G at an early pit stop in Botswana, happily acknowledging that his private things, like passport, money, and pleasure stick had remained dry after driving for ½ hour in a heavy rain.
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Exiting Namibia and entry into Botswana was quick and easy. The entrants were given 30 days free entry on their USA passports, but each was required to pay 200 Rand (about $15.00 USD) for a road tax. Both were often asked by border guards and Customs officers (not immigration officials) when they saw the USA passports, what they thought of their new President elected only weeks before. Dr. G would try to dodge the question with, “Hey, did Harold Stassen win?” which usually drew enough of a blank from the inquiring persons to allow him to walk or ride away without having to engage in a political discussion.
Having been to this part of the world several times before, Dr. G shared some of his road learnings with Livermore, cautioning: 1) Don’t engage in political discussions, 2) Don’t engage in religious discussions, 3) Don’t flash your money around, 4) Don’t speak fast. Speak slowly when talking with the locals, enunciate your words and don’t throw the person you are speaking with any curve balls by using American idioms, 5) Don’t hand anything to anyone using your left hand as that’s the one they know is for wiping your personal exhaust port after doing your ablutions, and 6) Don’t forget what the Tech Team in Cape Town told you, “Don’t talk to strangers.” Dr. G closed his lesson on political and cultural correctness with, “That’s my advice, you can take it or leave it, that’s your choice, but don’t forget the old saying, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Pit stops were fun, a chance to rub/stretch and flex the Soft Butt buns, and the gas attendants were curious and friendly. During one long stretch, Soft Butter # 9 limped into the petrol station with ½ liter left in the tank, or about 10 kilometers (six miles). The lady attendant pictured above laughed when she was told how empty the gas tank was, and said, “You’ll not like walking in this hot sun if your run dry.” Dr. G pointed to Livermore, who does daylight walks, and said, “He’s the hiker, I’m the biker, so I will stay and protect the motorcycles while he walks to the next town.”
This post first appeared on RTW Adventure Motorcycle Tour Rally, please read the originial post: here
