Ezy rider heads out on the global highway
Steph has already travelled 100 000kms on her bike. Africa is her seventh and last continent to travel before she heads back home.
BRITISH citizen, Steph Jeavons, who set off from the Ace Cafe in London, UK in 2014 to circumnavigate the world, is nearing the end of her journey.
During her last continent stop (Africa), she stayed in Westville for a few days where she shared details of her adventure around the world on a motorbike in an exclusive interview with the Highway Mail.
She said she always had a passion for motorbikes and unfortunately when she had her son, Nathan, it delayed her dream of travelling around the world.
She started working in the motorbike industry 10 years ago and was fortunate enough to make her dream a reality and off she went, riding her Honda CRF250 dirt bike around the world to explore seven continents, solo.
Steph said this is the furthest any 250 dirt bike has ever gone as it was not designed for touring.
Her journey has taken her to seven different continents. She rides until she reaches water, then either flies or takes a boat to the next continent.
“I’m certainly no expert and I don’t confess to being a demon on two wheels. This adventure isn’t about speed. It’s not really even about the bike. It’s about living, learning and enjoying. Doing this trip solo on a bike just opens up all the senses and allows me to be part of my environment,” said Steph.
Charity
What makes this ride special to Steph is that it also has a charity attached to it called, Rally4Life Foundation.
This charity was set up by a friend, Mark Jenning Bates of Canada, after their trip to SA.
The Rally4Life Foundation is a registered Canadian charity committed to relieving poverty by providing safe drinking water, sanitation solutions, shelter, sustenance and education to children and families around the world and bringing awareness to the cause (or issues) through the remarkable activities of its advocates.
“It basically gives back to all the underprivileged areas I have ventured through my journey,” said Steph.
The journey
Steph said she had been scared at times as she is not a particularly brave person but was motivated by the thought of facing those fears.
“Camping on your own even after three and a half years is still scary but the one thing I’ve learnt along the way is the biggest challenge is your own imagination,” said the 42-year-old rider.
South Africa is her 41st country so far and she has already travelled 100 000kms on her bike. Africa is her seventh and last continent to travel before she heads back home.
“I was saving the best for last, it also makes sense to travel north and head towards home,” said Steph.
Her next stop is Swaziland, then to Cape Town to do a presentation, Namibia after that, cutting across from Botswana towards the East.
As she nears the end she has a few doubts about the next chapter of her life.
Also read: Adrenalin-packed adventure trails open at Westville Country Club
“I’ve been on the road for so long. I sold my house and business to fund my trip, so when I return home, I will have lots of decisions to make. No doubt, it will be a strange for a while not to be on the move so much but it’s most likely that I’ll be looking for more adventure,” said an excited Steph.
Advice for other riders
She said for those thinking of doing their own adventure, it need not be around the world, you can just take a trip for a few days.
“It’s not the length of time or distance, it’s about the people you meet and how you approach the challenge.
The world is an extremely friendly place. The news headlines only highlight the bad, so if it’s in your gut, go for it,” said Steph.
Adventure
Her most memorable experiences are camping on a mine field in Iran, getting caught up on a Hindu pilgrimage in India, riding the highest road in the world in the Himalayas, hitching a ride with a motorbike to Antarctica which she believes is one of the most spectacular places in the world and lastly, surviving an attempted kidnapping in Iran.
Armed with two strong mottos – ‘Adventure isn’t paved’ (former business motto) and ‘Throw your soul through every open door’ (a line from Adele’s song), she is determined to complete her journey next year.
Follow her adventure on her blog: onestephbeyond.com
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