Itchy Boots

@ST Gui and @Sunday Rider ... thanks - I had a sneaky suspicion Noraly would compensate, thinking maybe she did it off-camera.

But as we discovered, she snagged Ahmed's knowledge of the area to tackle the Eye of Africa trip.
 
What kind of pickup (brand) is Ahmed driving. It's diesel and small enough to navigate those rocky trails.
 
SMSW said:
What kind of pickup (brand) is Ahmed driving. It's diesel and small enough to navigate those rocky trails.
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My knee jerk answer is "Toyota or Nissan".

Many years ago, when I was a car fanatic, I could tell you the brand of vehicle looking at the tail light plastic. Those days are gone.

Sadly, I spent a few moments watching for the tailgate name marking ... none. Then there's a moment he's working under the hood, as Noraly pulls up, and I get a fuzzy glimpse of the emblem in the front grill center. It's still a guess, but maybe a Nissan (?).

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I used to obsessively follow her in Central America and Mexico. Her videos were most charming when she talked with ordinary women down there. This North African trip is much less interesting to me. 1) She's kind of gratuitously making it more difficult 2) seems reliant on the Ahmed, or Mohammed or whatever with is pickup 3)There are no women.
 
Noraly temporarily hired Ahmed because she can't make it to The Eye with the gas and water required for that side trip.
 
Andy D said:
I used to obsessively follow her in Central America and Mexico. Her videos were most charming when she talked with ordinary women down there. This North African trip is much less interesting to me. 1) She's kind of gratuitously making it more difficult 2) seems reliant on the Ahmed, or Mohammed or whatever with is pickup 3)There are no women.
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I suspect part of that is the problem relating to men in Muslim countries. She limits showing us her interactions with men to 'Peace be with you', except for the young mechanic. Even with Ahmed, discourse is limited. Is it possible to travel alone with a guide for three days and only exchange the occasional word with him? Have you ever read Peter Capstick's books? He was a guide in Africa for big game hunters, and while these were much longer than Noraly's short trip to the Richat Structure, and involved a dangerous sport that encouraged male bonding, I remember him saying he made lifetime friends with some of the customers.

Another issue (and I'm expanding on having only watched a few of the early videos) is the area was more visually exciting than riding across a desert, and she was YOUNGER. Seven years of experience has turned her into a personality who never forgets her audience. I confess to sometimes getting bored with mile after mile of desert browns, sand, and rocks. And while I feel for her trying to right a bike that just might be too heavy or her, it just reinforces how risky her behavior is. Noraly is unwise, choosing off road trails that are at the limit of her ability to transit them. At some point someone should mail her one of those strap/pole bike lifts that can right a Harley, BMW, or ST.
 
I see it differently, she is in a very real sense living the values and character that built America.
Determination, persistence, (mostly) independent, free spirit, and living life on her own terms.
She doesn't make excuses, she doesn't whine at every inconvenience or frustration, she adapts her plans to the conditions beyond her control (covid, anyone?) and simply soldiers on her way.
She requests -- not demands -- that we Thumbs Up and subscribe.
In her worst conditions, she maintains a cheerful attitude, and just does her thing.

As Molly Hatchet told us, "It ain't for everybody!"
-- Molly Hatchet, Flirtin' With Disaster
"We're flirtin' with disaster,
Ya'll know what I mean
And the way we run our lives,
It makes no sense to me
I don't know about yourself or what you want to be, yeah
When we gamble with our time,
We choose our destiny"
 
Sadlsor said:
I see it differently, she is in a very real sense living the values and character that built America.
Determination, persistence, (mostly) independent, free spirit, and living life on her own terms.
She doesn't make excuses, she doesn't whine at every inconvenience or frustration, she adapts her plans to the conditions beyond her control (covid, anyone?) and simply soldiers on her way.
She requests -- not demands -- that we Thumbs Up and subscribe.
In her worst conditions, she maintains a cheerful attitude, and just does her thing.
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This ^^^.

Sunday Rider said:
She is out there riding, doing what she loves.
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This ^^^. She's not a performer. She's willing to take on a new adventure and work within it's restrictions and her limitations. She wore a hijab when local custom/law required it without any hint of complaint. She works at learning some of the local language when possible and least for Hellos Goodbyes and Thank Yous.

I'm not a fan of the desert. Well Lawrence was fantastic seen in a restored vintage theater with a very wide screen and excellent sound system. But apples and oranges. The desert videos are less interesting to me too but her unpretentious adventurous spirit keeps me entertained. She's a human like the rest of us. A pretty decent one unlike some of us.
 
core-aggie said:
One thing that's stuck at the back of my mind is Noraly's professional background - she's a geologist, so interested in earth science stuff, which I suspect influences some of her side trips. (hence the trip to The Eye).
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i agree, but I expected more enthusiasm from her about the geology (and back in 'Mordor', too) than her few short sentences about the different layers of rock and weathering rates. I understand that some folks don't want to hear technical treatises from their friends, but most folks I know admire another's expertise and passion. She could have explained a lot more to me about the geology of the rings (and even the history) without being boring.
 
I did find the drone shots of the ring and the desert spectacular. I can understand some disappointment in content, but, she is traveling with a guide and they don’t have a real time communication device so it’s hard to stop impromptu to get out cameras and drones to photograph. Then there’s the heat! Sand etc. that has an impact on what you can do.
I think when she’s truly riding solo the content will change.
 
Andy D said:
I used to obsessively follow her in Central America and Mexico. Her videos were most charming when she talked with ordinary women down there. This North African trip is much less interesting to me. 1) She's kind of gratuitously making it more difficult 2) seems reliant on the Ahmed, or Mohammed or whatever with is pickup 3)There are no women.
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WOW. Watch again. There’s a woman making something when she enters the tent. Yes Ahmed is helping her with fuel and H20. Soooo?
 
There is a local scooter dealer that also sells older diesel cars he imports from Japan - Toyota Estima, HiAce, Subaru Sambar, and more - many, or most are powered by small turbo diesels. Most are low miles, in very good condition for around $10K to low teens. i called a few years back about a 4wd Hiace and the salesman actually down sold the cars. He stressed they were all 25 years old minimum (in order to be imported) and bought by collectors and not so much as for daily driving. He also had no idea who serviced these or where to buy parts. Imagine that. Check them out if you are curious - Cleveland Moto - click on Pre-Owned Inventory.
 
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