We had not yet been united with our motorcycles - instead traveling to the event (through murderous morning rush hour traffic in Joburg) in cars and vans. We were late for the event - (this would not be the last time either!), and then one of our vans got stuck behind a car in the parking lot with no obvious owner - so were before we even officially started the event, we were behind. Rushing around and then waiting would become familiar modes of operation throughout the week. But as a testament to the organizers, we always managed to pull things off - improvising where necessary. More on that as we go!
Once we got unstuck, it was off to the Revlon offices (I think that they were trying to make me feel at home with the traffic!! it was as bad as Chicago at it's worst!), through more traffic. But now everyone was anxious because we were now running late for the big send-off. But we ended up getting there in enough time, and as we got ourselves acquainted with our motorcycles, more than 650 people gathered to witness our official departure. Now about the motorcycle! I didn't even know what I'd been assigned - though had test ridden the Triumph Thunderbird at a dealer here in Chicago and LOVED it. I found Arnold - the big boss - Triumph SA Brand Manager - to ask about my bike and he pointed me to the only white, red and blue bike in the group. specially selected for the lone yankee in the group - the bike was nicknamed Captain America at the dealers. Very appropriate! And what a great bike. Though it had a tall windshield on it which at the first gas stop, had to go in the van. I just can't ride with a windshield that I have to look through - as opposed to over. So ended up riding without one for the week since there were no spare shorter ones. Wearing a helmet with a full face shield made up for it though, and I was used to the bike in no time. Absolutely loved it!
Now it was time for the first 'full' show - with John Sithole drumming and dancing, Myra and Claude singing, and the lovely young actress Smiley as the storyteller weaving all the song and dance together with her story of the Circle of Life. I know I wasn't the only one in tears with all the emotion the beautiful words, music and performances evoked. It would happen to me every single time I witnessed these amazing performers. How lucky I felt to be a part of this amazing group! And we'd barely gotten started.
After the official thanks to our sponsors, and ceremony of handing over the keys, we got to get on the bikes and make our official departure to a huge amount of cheering, filming and picture taking.
Unfortunately our next destination was a sad one - and not originally part of the official event. Just a week prior to the ride, one of the most loved riders from previous years lost her battle with cancer. Plans were changed around in the week preceding the event in order for the group (all of whom with the exception of some of the media people and myself knew her) to attend her funeral in her home town of Heidelburg - about 35 miles southeast of Johannesburg.
Though the majority of the service was in Afrikaans, there was a lovely video that our very talented Alecia put together, that painted a picture of a beautiful woman - friend, mother, daughter, sister and wife - who was much loved and missed. She fought a hard battle for many years - losing a young daughter to a tragic accident along the way - and I found myself feeling the loss of my loved ones at the same time as others were feeling the loss of this lovely young woman. As I was crying along with the others at the open grave site, with all her family and friends around, Claude came to me and said "But you didn't even know her". To which I replied "I didn't have to". Such is the nature of loss. And my sympathy for the grieving her loved ones were experiencing.
We had a somber but beautiful ride back to Joburg, and enjoyed a free night drinking some wonderful South African wines and great food followed with my new friends back at the City Lodge OR Tambo. I had a second night rooming with the vibrant and lovely Lee where we again stayed up late visiting and sharing our stories with one another before settling in for another (short) night's sleep.
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