
What has Itchy Boots been up to?
Season 7 : Return to Africa
1 May 2023The past few weeks, I've taken a break from YouTube and I'm excited to share with you the preparations I did for the next leg of my journey through the African continent. Traveling West Africa is not for the faint of heart and it requires careful planning for some of it.
Motorcycle service
I'll be servicing my motorcycle in Dakar before continuing further into West Africa. My Honda CRF300l Rally 'Alaska' got quite a beating in Mauritania and needs looking after. It's also time to get new tires fitted but I already know that I can't be picky. When you're on the road, you have to make do with what the bike shop has, so let's hope it's any good!
I'll also be cleaning my fuel filter to remove any sand that may have accumulated during my Sahara rides. On top of that, several other wearable parts will need replacing and cleaning. Alaska needs to be in top shape for the next leg of the journey!

Visas
I will be crossing many countries through West Africa and for most of them I have to organize a visa beforehand. Each African country has different visa rules so it's crucial to plan this accordingly and to avoid any last-minute issues. Arranging visas while on the go is quite time consuming and it also means I have to visit almost every capital city, since that is where the embassies/consulates are. Those capital cities are terrible to ride through on a motorcycle so I'm not particularly looking forward to this logistical part of the trip.
On the other hand, arranging visas in neighboring countries will be a lot easier, quicker (and cheaper) than trying to arrange them in my home country of The Netherlands. For some reason it's much harder to get visas sorted there, so getting them along the way also has its perks.
Vaccinations and malaria
Another important aspect of preparing for this part of my trip is taking care of the necessary health precautions. In some African countries, you are not allowed to enter the country if you don't have a yellow fever vaccination for example. Malaria is also a concern in this region, so I'll be taking the necessary measures to protect myself against it. I am bringing self-test malaria kits, anti-malaria tablets, insect repellent and also a mosquito net.
For the first stretch until Dakar (so crossing Morocco and Mauritania), this wasn't a concern as there is no malaria there. That's why I had to arrange a mosquito net to prepare myself for the jungle part of my African adventures!
Clothing
As for clothing, I'll be packing lighter clothes suitable for the hot weather in West Africa, including bringing lighter gloves . I've also changed my jersey to a thinner and lighter one to get more airflow while I'm riding.

Finally, I've also got a new drone that I'll be using from now on - for information about my camera equipment, check out www.itchyboots.com/academy.
I can't wait to hit the road and continue my adventures! But as always, it's important to take time every now and then and make some preparations that can be crucial in a later stage.
Hey good to hear from you Noraly.
I look forward to seeing you having fun and enjoying life again. Thanks for doing what you do.
Take it easy.
GeoffL
Thanks so much, Geoff!

Greetings from Australia. Thanks for the update, looking forward regardless. Safe travels on the next leg, Sean.
I've missed my feet up and cup of tea every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon.

I'm glad to be back on the road and sharing my travels!

Great to have you back please ride safe and I am looking forward to seeing your lovely videos.
I think you have made a wise decision to go to two videos per week. I know you have a huge amount of energy, but there are limits! Looking forward to your next upload, as always.
Hi Noraly. You do what's best for your good self, I would rather watch two video's than nothing at all, especially with your new Drone. Sounds like you've been working hard getting thing's sorted out. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Stay safe.
Thanks, Les!

Thanks for the update, and 2 videos a weeks is more than enough. The main thing is that you are safe and are looking after yourself, and we don't want you to get burned out, but at least I know that you will put a smile on my face a least twice a week.
Wishing you all the best, and safe travelling.
Noraly, I am so excited that you will be back on Wednesday! I am glad you are slowing down a little - we will all be fine with two videos a week - we just want you to be safe and to stay healthy. I had noticed that you looked so tired in recent videos. You are wonderful! The best thing on You Tube!!
Hi Noor, the ice has not broken :-(. Nenana Ice Classic.
Great to hear (!) from you Noraly. It's good to know what you've been up to - and after the rigours of the previous sessions It's clear that you and Sahara need a break to prepare for your next epic.
I must confess that l'm glad you're reducing your video output to twice weekly - you should ease back on all the work involved in your videos (which is of quite outstanding quality) and remember why you're out there! It's your journey, for YOU ,and whilst we all love to follow you - don't we everybody? - we appreciate all the hard work involved.
I don't know whether Kenya is on the agenda at some point , but if it is I hope you’ve got Lake Turkana and the Elmolo people on the list. Its not called the Jade sea for nothing , it's stunning.
So , looking forward to the new session. Enjoy yourself, ride safe, ride far .