T hrown I nto
T he
U nknown
I
n early summer of 2016 Linas
and I, Asta, decided to put
our so-called normal lives on
hold, quit our jobs and set
off on a journey that many
dream about, but few actually
make – a motorcycle trip around the
world. Having travelled quite a lot in
Europe, touching the top of Africa in
Morocco and experiencing quite a bit
of Asian hospitality in Turkey, Geor-
gia and Azerbaijan, we were not new
to motorcycle travels or camping and
exploring the world on two wheels.
But the idea of throwing ourselves
into the unknown of unfamiliar con-
tinents thousands of miles away from
home with only an engine fixed on
two wheels to rely on, was as exciting
as it was daunting.
We spent long hours carefully
studying maps of the world. Then we
sat down reading numerous thrilling
reports from other riders, from ev-
ery continent. Then we listed all the
exciting places we‘ve dreamt of visit-
ing and finally, the plan was born: we
leave Lithuania mid-October of 2016,
take a short ride through a numbingly
cold Europe, but beautifully decorated
in autumn colours and then we chase
TRAVERSE 15
summer to South America. From
there, in spring of 2017 we would get to
North America, then Asia, and finally,
before returning home mid-2018, we
would ride through Africa.
We had fears and doubts about rid-
ing through Colombia and Mexico,
both seemed very unpredictable and
dangerous too, but most of all we were
worried about what’s in store for us in
Africa. That was one of the reasons
we scheduled Africa into the second
half of our adventure ride around the
world.
It seemed to us that some specific
experience and knowledge was nec-
essary, to be able to “conquer” the
vast, complicated and wild Africa.
Even though we were aiming to ride
through the most developed, most
visited and most touristy south-east-
ern region of this continent, one of
our very good non-rider friends who’d
spent three weeks in Tanzania said,
“I cannot imagine how you two will
tackle that African traffic on your mo-
torcycles…” a comment, which did
not add any confidence to our already
frightened souls as we were making
the final preparations for what was
to be the most challenging project we