EDITORIAL
TRAVERSE :
Vale Jens Becker
I
never met Jens Becker however , his name is legend amongst the adventure / overlanding community . Happenstance had it that Jens and I were in the same part of Australia at the very same time , coincidence could ’ ve brought us together . It wasn ’ t to be .
Our group of riders , returning to the South Australian town of Marree , were shocked to hear that a rider had been severely injured on the famous Oodnadatta Track , not far from the community and just two days after we had been there . It hurt , we ’ re a community , he was one of ours . We had a beer for the rider and wished him well with the understanding that he had been airlifted to hospital .
Just over a week later the horrific news hit my email inbox , the rider on the Oodnadatta Track had died , the rider was Jens Becker .
Jens is someone of who I had heard , someone who ’ s travels I had followed , someone who I had never met yet greatly respected . Before the worldwide motorcycle travel community outpoured its grief , I felt my own loss .
I have been on the Oodnadatta Track numerous times , and on this occasion it was no worse condition than any time prior . Questions of how and why mattered little , we ’ d lost one of our own , a wellrespected , loved , motorcycle traveller . At 55 , Jens was someone still young enough to enjoy the passion of motorcycle travel , he was someone still exploring the world .
I never met Jens , yet still feel his loss . I ’ m saddened to know that an international visitor lost his life in one of my favourite places on Earth . I ’ m saddened for the motorcycle travelling community , I ’ m saddened for Jens ’ family and friends .
We have a moving , heartfelt tribute to Jens by a travelling companion and overlanding friend , Sam Manicom later in this issue .
Leigh
TRAVERSE 5