Africa: Not losing all your kit within 5 minutes.
 

I am off in a couple of weeks to Cape Town, and in between Lincoln and there, I heard there's a few borders.

How do you manage to get passed around all the various huts and stamp collecters without getting everything on your bike pinched within 30 secs of leaving it? I only have fabric panniers, but they're probably a bit much to lug around with me everytime I need to go stamping and signing.

My limited experience of borders tells me that all the most dubious characters in a country gather there, and leaving a bike unattended is asking to lose everything that's not bolted down.

In the Middle East, there seems to be a sort of code of honour, where you can ask one of the more senior looking people hanging around to look after your belongings, and he will take it as a matter of pride to ensure nothing goes missing. Can you do this kind of thing dans Afrique?

Apologies if this is a silly question. May be some last minute jitters making me act like a knob!

Cheers,

Birdy.

hi try a Pacsafe there are a few sizes ebay mite be worth a look .

Once you are up the border semi-official guides can indeed get their mates to guard your stuff. I've too little experience doing this alone to tell you how to spot the right guy, but they seem to get better the nearer to the border the uniformed types let them work. They usually expect some sort of payment, so try and make sure it's a couple of Euros not a Kidney and your first born child before you take them on.

You've also got to try and think like a slightly light fingered African passerby (if there is such a thing). What's worth a kicking off the local plod (or you), what can be pocketed with little fear. A knife, food, bungeed on fuel can etc. might fall into the latter category. You don't really care if someone has your apple but will be stuffed without the knife or can. Your Camera and GPS fall into the first category, but could tempt people who think they can outrun you. No one really wants your tent. On this basis you split your load into what you keep with you in a grab bag (GPS, Camera, cash, docs etc.), what you cover with pac safe/chain on with bicycle locks (Jerry can, tent), what you keep out of sight (knife) and what they can have if they really want it (half eaten bag of salt and vinegar, P-bottle etc.).

Last minute jitters don't make you a knob, they make you normal and therefore likely to have a smoother and easier trip due to taking a little care where it matters. Enjoy yourself.

Andy

Hey Birdy,

Depends on the border, but most are not too bad as there are a lot of people wandering around and the many eyes act as somewhat of a deterent.

If you really get a bad feeling or don't like where you have to leave your bike, look for someone to watch over it.

Most times though you can park your bike in an obvious spot and that greatly lessens the risk.

Toss the stuff that you can't lose into your tank bag (carnet, rego, samera, gps, etc. ) and take that with you.

The rest of your gear should have locks on the pannier zippers and as long the duffle, spare tire, and gas container have a few bungies strapping it on, it will look like a lot of work and time for a thief to root through and steal your smelly socks.

Have a great ride.

Where does the tank bag go on a Honda C90?! :tongue_smilie:

Reckon you'll find a way... looking forward to the ride reports very much!
:clap:

Lol, C90? Sounds like a great adventure, if he travels light enough he can just carry the bike rather than leaving it in dodgy places:)

It will have definite safety advantages in other areas though, there are more than a few hotel lobbies and courtyards that he will be able to deftly pull the bike into rather than leaving it outside. All good fun.:thumbup1:

Seriously though, I can't imagine a less ostentatious overland vehicle. The phrase 'hidden in plain sight' springs to mind. If available, you could park it beside the next McBoorman's latest GS with all the trimmings, or one of those German campervans that seem to get to the most unlikely places (at least in W Africa)...

Awesome replies, thanks people.

My luggage is a pair of throwovers, a backbox with my basha and dossbag in (no tent,) and a grab bag in between my legs.

The grab bag will contain my important docs, camera and carnet, which are the only things of great value (well the camera is a cheapo, but it is probably of great value to someone who earns less than that in a year.)

I tend to keep things pretty well lashed away, thanks to spending the start of my adult life being thoroughly institutionalised!

I suppose even if someone did rifle through my panniers, what are they going to get - socks and shorts? Not irreplacable.

I do have to carry extra fuel (90 mile range otherwise) so I will just have to make sure that is well strapped down.

I hope the C90's lack of ostentation does ease my passage, it should certainly make me slightly less of an obvious ATM than some other bikes.

Thanks muchly

Joel

PS. thanks for the compliment about the ride reports - book in all good stores Jan 2010. ;) :scooter:

Hi Joel, I spent some 10 months riding from Capetown up to Cairo. I rode alone and had company only when crossing from Malawi into Tanzania (two Brits I met along the way). I had a soft tank bag but no one ever tampered with anything. If you're still concerned, through a simple bike cover over your bike- it really does keep curious people from exploring your bike! Safe ride! Dave.

You have to write a book, it is definitely your forte.....

Hope to see you before you go!
:scooter: