Being a BMX Pro isn’t all gate starts and sprints. Occasionally opportunities like this arise. A two week stay in South Africa organized between my English Team Manager, Cynthia Murray and the National BMX Association of South Africa. So with the DK digital camera, a pen, and my trusty DK Legend here’s what happened...

DAY ONE -Wednesday / Dag Een - Woensdag
Sight Seeing in Johannesburg with our trusty guides Antie Vyv and Danny Boy. Eastgate Mall- Just like an American mall only cheaper and it had a skate park on the roof that is open until 5PM. It was all steel and paint with a 6ft mini and spine, two 10ft quarters, with a 4ft gap and a little street stuff. That night we had a Braai (BBQ) at the Bico family house. We ate Lambchops, sausage(Boerewors) and Zulu food called Pap(cold dry porridge).
DAY TWO - Thursday / Dag Twee - Donderdag
Visit to our first BMX Track; Alrode(hellrode). Tons on pedaling, small jumps, but a huge start hill that a couple of the local kids would framestand down at about 25MPH. I spent the afternoon at Gold Reef City, an old gold mine, and took a trip under ground to see how they extract the gold (Thanks Les!). There was a night time Braii at Germiston Track. It’s dark out but the track looks cool. Thanks for the model BMX bike.
DAY THREE - Friday / Dag Drie - Frydag
Morning-Give advice on the rebuild of Kempton Park Track: Big, fast, flowing. Clinic started at 4:30PM at Alrode. Rode until 6:30PM. Ate good food (curries and etc.). Race started at 8:30PM. I crashed in the first moto. Dylan wins with Martin 2nd.
DAY FOUR - Saturday / Dag Vier - Saturdag
We had the Germiston clinic until 5PM. It was good fun. Tried some cool lines in the rhythm. Had lunch and watched the cricket. After the race, we headed off to a place called The Waterfront to eat pasta with kids and parents from the track. We stayed after for a night on the town of karoake and pool. (Me, Dylan, Muzz, Ryan, Gary, and Dan.) Cool-thanks guys. Keep up next time Muzz.
DAY FIVE - Sunday / Dag Vyf - Sondag
I ate bully beef (like chili) and poached eggs for breakfast. Raceday-Hot but I had plenty of rest and sandwiches for Dylan and me. Muzz hurt (crashed at clinic)
DAY SIX - Monday / Dag Ses - Maandag
Slept in and then chilled by the Bico Family pool with Gavin,Warren, and Clinton. Did a TV show at Alrode Track. It’s kind of a kid’s show with a cute host. Eat at Big Gavin’s house. Thanks Lioness Family.
DAY SEVEN - Tuesday / Dag Seve - Dinsdag
Today we leave Johannesburg and drive south to Durban. Just before Durban we stopped at the Valley of a Thousand Hills. This is a kind of tourist stop to give you a look at some Zulu culture and a little wildlife area where it struck me that "There’s bound to besome croc’s ‘round here." We learned what Zulu’s eat (pap), where they live (nuts), how they attract usbanos (bare breasts), how they walk for days (Zulu beer), and of course, how they party (the Zulu Dance). A big thanks to Antie Vyv for this unexpected treat. Met up with the President of BMX in South Africa, Greg Till. After that, met a guy in the street (Jason Hall) and he gave me a picture drawn of me, Todd Lyons, TJ Lavin, Schmitt, and Nyquist.
DAY EIGHT-Wednesday / Dag Agt - Woensdag
After a great breakfast in bed, we went to Bystal Park Junior School for a show and to tell the introduction to BMX in front of 700 kids ages 7-12 years old. I water skied all afternoon at Midmardam on Greg Till’s boat. Clinic at 4:30PM at Maritzburg. 20 kids; cool track and a cool Braai followed. Met Joe Cool and Colin D. at night. Thanks Danny Boy!
DAY NINE - Thursday / Dag Nege - Donderdag
Went in to Durban and ate at Thirsty’s by the Docks. Did a bike shop visit. No riding, just getting local kids interested in bikes and stuff. We went to a mall and I got an Airwalk Jacket and a coffee pot. That night, we ate at a library with the South African Race Team and gave them tips and advice for the up and coming "Worlds".
DAY TEN - Friday / Dag Tien - Frydag
Morning-We did a Junior school visit. Boys and girls ages 9-13; they had tons of questions about the Spice Girls. After a cool swimat Vyv’s house, we visited Pinetown High School for Boys. They hadtheir own BMX club with about 50 members who knew more stuff about me than I did. They also had jumps on the football field. Then, after riding some cool local trails, it was off to Queensborough for a warm up to the weekend riding. Finished the day off at McRib and ate like a king.
DAY ELEVEN -Saturday / Dag Elf - Saterdag
Clinic 10AM-4PM we rode all day but the kids were awesome so it was easy. Night of relaxation begins at Lord William Charles’ and ends at Crowded House.
DAY TWELVE - Sunday / Dag Twaalf - Sondag
The morning clinic takes the edge off. Today is a race. I had to try the big gaps; made one, not the other. The race was cool. After it was over, I received an excellent trophy in the shape of Africa, which sits on my TV. Mixin’ a little E-TV to finish the day off.
DAY THIRTEEN - Monday / Dag Dertien - Maandag
Woke up at 6:30AM to appear on the Mark Gillman radio show (Gilly for Kids), listened to by most South African Kids before school. Spent the day water skiing with Greg and ate at Vyv’s. Go out for last time with The Captain.
DAY FOURTEEN - Tuesday / Dag Viertien - Dinsdag
Our last day-Visited the Pavilion Mall one last time before eating a chicken curry at Thirsty’s. Also, I got a cool blanket just like the ones in the bed(so soft). Go to Vyv’s to pack. Sharlene, Sayon, and Seeketa said goodbye. Go to airport and land in Johannesburg. Hung out with Lioness Family and Bico Family before leaving.

Just a big thanks to everyone we met or stayed with. I hope you guys had as much fun from our visit as I did. See you all soon. Antie Vyv, Danny Boy, Gavin (Big), Gavin (Little), Greg Till, Clinton, Warren, Mike, Tank, Taren, Sharlene, Sayon, Seeketa, Gilly, Jason Hall, Tyrone, and everyone I forgot. You Okes rule. Ryan, Gary, Joe Cool.