Via the Backroads!

Its been almost a year since our group of BMXers and Skaters went on this trip. I've been wanting to share this news with you for quite some time.

Adriaan Louw and I are busy making a full length documentary of this adventure that took place in December 2008.



Here is a brief write up of the trips concept:

Via the Backroads! – a BMX / Skateboard Adventure

Via the Backroads is an Extreme Sports Adventure based on traveling through South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
Our group of 10 guys consisted of 5 skateboarders, 4 BMXers and one 1 filmer braving the backroads to explore new spots of BMX and Skating interest. We promoted our respected disciplines by taking it to towns and areas never before exposed to BMX or Skateboarding.

This exploration adventure took us to more than just new spots. We met people that were open-minded to our lifestyles. In cities people would prejudge Skateboarders and BMXers as vandals or trouble makers. In places like Swaziland, Mthata and Fort Hare we were welcomed with open arms.

For 25 days BMX, Skateboarding and Adventure was everything! It took us to amazing places. Places that are overlooked by others. And it was here that we encountered the greatest experiences.

Finding a virgin spot or drinking a beer at your hut while overlooking the Trankei landscape was what made this trip so enjoyable.

The Urban Extreme Sport that contrasts the unique and beautiful Southern Africa landscape was captured on camera and is sure to be an interesting and enjoyable documentary.

Documentary Coming: End November

All Photo's by Wayne Reiche

Slideshows - Southern Africa trip

I've been wanting to add some of my slideshows to my blog, but did not know exactly how to upload and show it.
Today I figured it out and thought I'd share two of my old slideshows with you.

I edited a documentary style slideshow after I did my trip through Southern Africa. I made use of my own photos and added some vocals and music to it. It was a fun project.
Check it out!

Orania - Ons Ideaal snoer ons saam

We decided to go and have a look at the Controversial town of Orania as we were heading back from the Drakensberg to Cape Town

This town was formed in 1990 and was headed by Carl Boshoff for the purpose of creating a town where the preservation of the Afrikanerdom’s Cultural Heritage would be strictly observed and Afrikaner selfwerksaamheid (self-reliance) would be put into practice. Only white Afrikaners live in this town based in the Northern Cape next to the Orange River.

We arrived in Orania just before 5pm and caught the Museum open. Koki De Kock is the museum caretaker and tour guide and showed us around. All the controversial bronze statues of previous Apartheid leaders, old South African Flags and other Anglo Boer war artifacts are stored and looked after in this dark building. Koki took pride in the heritage preserved in the building. While we were given a lecture on guns (I hate Guns) I sneaked away to capture one photo in a museum where photo’s were prohibited.

It’s strange that the Museum is the only building in town with an alarm system. I assume they have crime under control or this could be all they have to look back on.

Koki told us that there are currently about 700 people living in Orania and that the School is active as well as the Church (almost all small towns have active Churches). People that live here are mainly pensioners. It is hard to make a sustainable income in such a small town and even though they strive to be self-reliant, they remain dependable on the outside. It’s possible to live here and have an internet based job, but the majority of the people are here because they are strong believers in an Afrikaner State or their car broke down from Danville to Reiterwaght. They even have their own currency that is linked to the Rand.

Through out the town you will find motivational billboards encouraging and reminding the people of their ideological believes. There was one positive ideological view that these people shared and that was recycling. Now that’s the only sign I witnessed of moving forward in a town that’s stuck in the past.

I feel sorry for the young people growing up here as they are being indoctrinated to follow an ideology that had ‘died’ years ago. I only saw two school girls puffing a cigarette behind the school building. I might start doing hard drugs if I lived here. The other people looked like they had never been out of the sun. Those ones that look like their wearing dust on their face for life. Some of them are more colored than the farm workers they dislike living on the platteland.

I found the visit to be interesting, but it is not for me. Living in a town separated from diversity would kill me. If all of South Africa could work together like the people in Orania we would have a bling tower of Babel, but we all differ and I prefer Chicken to Beef.

Drakensberg Mountains - World Heritage Site

From Lesotho we headed down the infamous Sani Pass to spend a few more days in the Drakensberg World Heritage Site.
We stayed near Champagne Castle and used this as a base camp to see more of the Drakensberg.



We did quite a few hikes in and around the Drakensberg Mountain Range and were always treated with great panoramic views.

Trekoskraal - West Coast

Attie Lotz contacted me about a month ago saying that he wanted to go and spend a few days on the West Coast. We would take his bakkie and go camping at different spots all along the beach. Eventually we decided to go this past week after the Easter Weekend. It did not take long to recruit two more friends for the trip. Phil joined us and 2 hours before we left Cape Town Gerick decided to join in the fun. The four of us left Cape Town and headed in the direction of Vredenburg for the night. Upon arrival in Vredenburg we decided to buy meat for the night only and a basic breakfast for our stay on the beach near Trekoskraal (We did buy enough alcohol for 3 days though).

Driving next to the coast we found an amazing surf spot and it did not take long for Phil and Gerick to jump into the cold water for a surf. I joined them on my bodyboard and caught a few waves before sunset.

 

After an enjoyable surf Attie informed us that he had to go back home for work and fly to Johannesburg the following morning at 8am for a presentation. Before embarking on our trip he mentioned that the possibility existed that he would have to go back for work, but he thought it would only be on Friday (in 3 days time).

We had to decide if we wanted to drive back or just camp out next to the beach and try and organize for someone to come pick us up in 2 days time. We decided to stay for two nights, but had only enough food for a day and a half. This did not stop us and the following morning we walked along the rocks and collected mussels which we added to some rice that I packed for an emergency and made amazing Seafood Paella.

We were all very optimistic about our stay on the beach and the fact that this month is survivor month on Discovery Channel made a positive contribution. Gerick took it as far as to go ‘hunting’ and found a mouse. We did most definitely not eat it, but had a great laugh at Gerick’s initiative and therefore appropriately named him Bear Grylls of Ultimate Survival. This day the wind picked up and the waves died down. We went into the ocean and attempted to surf but soon decided to rather drink beer.

Through out our stay the weather was good and the wind tolerable, but on the morning of day 3 we were woken up by gale force wind and thunder. We decided to go find shelter (Bear Grylls survival tip: 1) next to some rocks and moved all our belongings. The rain stopped and the sun came out, but we were ready to leave. We phoned Gerick’s mom and she made the effort to come pick us up. Finding us would be a different story and I said that I’ll walk to a meeting point 3km back. At the meeting point I met some fishermen complaining about the bad weather and hitched a lift with them to the main road were I thought it to be a better place to meet our lift. Our first camp spot was the only place to find cellphone signal along the coast and by the time I reached the main road our lift had luckily just arrived.

Camping next to the sea with no one around was great. We only received company once when a Vredenburg local came to top up on his Perlemoen “desire”. The rest of our time was peaceful. We stayed for free, surfed amazing waves, drank lots of beers and embraced the serenity.

I am going back soon!

Homebound by Train

In Johannesburg I stayed with my BMX friends for 5 days ( www.theriot.co.za ). I had no idea how I was going to get to Cape Town. I did not want to fly home as I wanted to complete the journey overland. By this time I had made use of busses, boats, hitchhiking, taxi’s and chapas. I did not know much about train transport in South Africa and decided to investigate.

Traveling on the Shosaloza Meyl was great and I would most definitely do it again. If you’re a group of friends with little money and you have time on your hands then the train is best option. There is a fully stocked bar and a restaurant with amazing cheap food.

From JHB to Cape Town by train took 28 hours. By bus it would take just over 20 hours. Taking the train was a great experience. I was alone in my cabin till sunset when 2 more people joined. Being alone on the train gave me lots of time to reflect back on the journey I had made.

I arrived in Bellville at lunch time after a good night sleep on the train. From the station I took a mini bus to a drop off point near my house and then walked the 2km home, thus completing the journey all the way overland.

The Birth of Via

We were a group of BMXers and Skateboards wanting to go on mission from Cape Town to Durban. Our goal was to find new spots of BMX and Skating interest. This meant that we would take the back roads up to Durban instead of following the traditional N2 route that so many similar roadtrips are accustomed to. December 2007 came and 10 of us set of in two 4x4 vehicles.

We embarked on one hell of a trip as we would camp every night or find free accommodation with friends along the way. Everything was flexible as there was no formal structure and no pre-booked accommodation. We knew where we wanted to go and how many days we had to reach Durban. It was life on the road with limited money, dirty clothes and living out of a bag for 18 days: All for the love of BMX, Skating and Traveling.

In Cintsa Wayne got stabbed by a drunken redneck and just outside Port Edward a bakkie drove into the back of our vehicle as we waited for cows to cross the road. This did not bring our spirits down as we wanted to complete the journey together as friends. In Durban we hired a trailer and it was all systems go coming back home as we crammed 10 guys into one bakkie.

Plywood Boards, a Generator, Spades, Lights, a Machete ect was brought along to make spots rideable. Everyone pushed themselves to ride and skate harder. We would only be at a spot for a day and had to make it count.

We found amazing spots, met the coolest people and saw the most beautiful sceneries. This was the beginning and inspiration for ‘Via the Back Roads 2’ that we completed in December 2008.

All Photo’s by Wayne Reiche

Transkei Hike 2007

In July 2007 we set out to hike from Msikaba to Port St Johns situated in Pondoland Transkei. This 90km hike would take us 5 days to complete and was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had with a group of friends.









The idea of this trip came about when I met Caine on a previous visit to the Transkei in 2006. Caine is a local guide in the Mbotyi region. He mentioned that he would be able to arrange us a trip from Msikaba south towards Port St Johns. We would be staying with people he knew and they would let us stay in their huts and make us local food every night.





It didn’t take long to get 14 guys together for this trip. Each guy with his own backpack and snacks for the day set out for a truly unforgettable experience.

Caine picked us up with a mini bus and we got dropped off at Rasta’s Spaza Shop. From here we hiked along the coastline south towards Port St Johns covering about 17km a day.

It was a custom that upon arrival every afternoon in the villages we would receive tea which would usually be followed by Samp & Beans and Chicken. Every night passed as we sat next to the fire drinking Black Label Quarts and chatting to the local villagers

We were the first group that Caine had ever taken on such a big trip as he would usually only show people around for day trips. Caine knew every one along the way and was a well educated guide leading the way.

Most Villages we stayed at had never seen hikers stay in their village before, as hikers would either make use of adventure companies like Drifters, camp in campsites or on the beaches. This was therefore an enriching experience to witness other cultures and embrace the beautiful sceneries of the Pondoland coastline.