Forums > Global Touring > Scariest thing we've done with BMW's - do beemers float???

Now how cool is that ! ...and I thought I was daring, riding my GSA through 2' of water   !

Well, now that you got us started with great pics and stories ...WE WANT MORE !!!!

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Thomas - I like to keep it simple... IBA# 28109 '07 R1200GS Adventure

Good God. I barely let my kids within 10 feet of my bike. Can't imagine my mental state if I were to ever see it in such a predicament. Kudos to you 

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Scott (AKA GSlite. Isn't there some way to get your username changed?)

man oh man i would not be able to relax one little bit watching my bike float like that. Good lord.

 

looks like a wild trip, though!.. more pics!

 

j

Las Cruces NM... raining all night.  I get an early start and in the fog manage to blunder at speed into water up to and over the pegs of the K100... at about 50!

I would have paid money for a dug out canoo at that moment.

 Good to see they floated across just fine.

Simon - Thanks for the post; fascinating stuff!

 A few quick questions though if you can find the time to respond...

Where were these photo's taken?

What was the alternative route crossing this area?

Did you have to lcoate some locals for the crossing and if so, how much did you have to pay or with what did you have to barter?

If the canoe had flipped over, where was the nearest facility to receive assistance for gettng the bikes back, if that was at all possible?

Thanks again for some great photo's, your online diary is quite amazing as well! Update it when you get the chance!

cheers, Danny

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Well, you never know where your life is going to take you...

 

Hi Danny,

The photos were actually taken as we crossed from Senegal on Africa's West Coast into Mali.  We were 'way off the beaten track' and neither the GPS or map had the river detailed.  We travelled 2-days to get here and although the distances hadn't been substantial the going had been tough.  At the river it was decision time; the idea of going back the same way was unthinkable and after speaking to the locals we understood that there was no other crossing for 100-miles North or South of our position.  Had the river not been so high or fast we'd have ridden across.  Friends we'd met up with who were attempting the same route made it across 4-weeks later in their land Rover.

We ended up paying 10,000 cfa which is about $20, a couple of packs of cigerettes we were carrying specifically for bribes, a lighter and odds 'n' sods.  The guys in the photos were all just locals who were crossing the river to get to the next village.

If the bikes had gone in...that would have been the end of the trip, there was no back-up.  There was no other resource we could have used to get the bikes out of the 'then' deep water.

Luckily for us we made it across and then continued South to the Southerly tip of Africa.  What we didn't know was that we were to suffer a bad accident two days after the river crossing where I broke two ribs and dislocated my shoulder.  We then ran out of water before the next village, and suffered hallucinations, cramps and a bunch of other good stuff.  Ah, well it all adds to the mix

Cheers

Simon T

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"Adventure: the pursuit of life".Daniel Roy Wiarda

Wow-- thats adventure.  Great stuff.

Can you detail that trip. Looks pretty cool.

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 Hi Catcom,

The photos and information I've posted here aren't a 'trip' in themselves but a tiny part of our ongoing 'Around The World' journey.

We've kept a pretty acurate diary with a full photo log at www.2ridetheworld.com but if you'd like to read specifically about this section of our travels you can go straight to the Senega/Mali section.  Here...

http://www.2ridetheworld.com/diary_senegal_3nd_chapter.htm

We've been on the road now for 49-months and arrived in the USA 3-months ago, our 57th country.

If your interested to read or hear about any specific country or need travel advice just let us know and we'll post here.

Hope that helps.

Thanks

Simon

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"Adventure: the pursuit of life".Daniel Roy Wiarda