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when my mate , Big Mike , and I were offered the use of my dream bike for a week . Go test it , go break it , go get dirty . Have some fun . The very model I would choose if I ever again would take on a massive cross-continent expedition . The Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition . It ' s all right there in the name . The only issue , the week for which we had the bike offered to us , was slap bang in the middle of our rain season and the roads we planned to travel , would be a mix of mud , soft sand , sharp and slippery rock plus a good mix of mountain passes that would have to be navigated . It was time to see if the bike I had dreamed of and was now a reality , was up to the task . Not only to do the job , but to carry a big man , a blind man and whether we would still be smiling after a couple thousand kilometres in the saddle .
I packed my thermal long johns and an extra pair of gloves , knowing the whole while , that I would be the pillion rider and feel the frustration of not taking control with every meter covered . I would of course console myself with the fact that it is better to be out there than not , even if on the none heated , non in control , back seat of my dream ride . It also helped that the very ride was to explore what I believe to be one of the most spectacular regions of Southern Africa .
The Overberg is an area that starts about fifty kilometres from Cape Town to the east , it stretches over an area of around 12,200 square kilometres encompassing a mix of farmland , mountains , rivers , and the southernmost tip of the continent . There are wine farms and whales can be spotted all along the spectacular coastline during the season we were riding . Road conditions would vary from perfect asphalt to single track that would not be out of place in the middle of Malawi . There is no better area to traverse that can simulate my journey ten years earlier . The main difference being that this time , the wheels were a lot larger , a lot more capable and best of all , having recently built our new home in this area , our ride was to be in my new backyard .
The issues ? I am on the back , not in control . Always a challenge for a control freak like me . I am totally 100 percent blind and would have to rely on my other senses plus trust my friend all the way . Fortunately , Big Mike and I had many miles riding together . Having assessed and ridden everything from scooters to Harleys and most road and adventure bikes in-between . But this journey was to be different on so many levels . Even if I was not able to see the expedition , I knew it was going to be one of the best rides of my life .
With the Atlantic Ocean at our stern , we cut a path right through and away from Cape Town . Heading East , we first had to ride the main national road . Having left a little later than expected due to a missing number plate , we had managed to avoid the thick morning traffic . With no number plate , we rode the bike like it was on fire . When pulled in to refuel , Big Mike asked if I had any guess as to the max speed we had reached . My guess was a little over one hundred kilometres per hour . I could not believe it when he laughed and let me know that we were zooming along at closer to double that . The bike is so smooth with its air suspension and somehow just feels solid and sure footed all the way .
After around fifty kilometres of highway , we followed the signs to the right and headed to Gordon ’ s Bay . I don ’ t have a bloody clue or care who Gordon was , I was just loving the ride . Reaching the shores of False Bay , we swung onto the most beautiful coastal road , Clarence Drive . For the next forty-five kilometres , we sped along a stretch
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