Nov 4, 2010: 2 Women with Balls

xoxoxoBruce · 11-03-2010, 11:46 PM

Metaphorical, not literal, balls.
In 1934, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, rode a motorcycle from London to Cape Town, South Africa.
Let that sink in a moment... 1934... motorcycle... Africa... the long way.

Quote:

In 1934, two incredible women, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, set out on a 600cc single-cylinder Panther equipped with sidecar and trailer and rode from London to Cape Town, South Africa. No modern roads, no back up plan, just a giant set of balls that any man would envy. Both women were already accomplished competitive racers, who were savvy enough to raise corporate sponsorship– which just goes to show how seriously they were taken as motorcyclists.

Quote:

Undeterred by nomads, sand drifts, heat, rain, rivers, breakdowns and politics, Wallach and Blenkiron completed an expedition that might well defeat a modern motorcycle. From oasis to oasis, arguing with the French Foreign Legion for permission to continue, and winning; fashioning a tow hitch for the trailer when it broke in the desert; rebuilding the entire engine from scratch in Agadez: meeting gorillas, lions and snakes on the road; staying in African villages and meeting an amazing variety of friendly and helpful people. Not to mention having an accident in Tanganyika (Tanzania) with the only car seen on the road for days. At one point the women succeeded in pushing their rig for 25 miles following a total engine failure. The trip made the women celebrities among motorcyclists in England. Wallach documented the fantastic journey in her book "The Rugged Road."

There is even some video from a documentary about the trip.

I can't find much about Florence Blenkiron, but Theresa Wallach led an extraordinary life, right up until she gave up her license at 88, and died at 90. You can read about it at the links.

link

link

glatt · 11-04-2010, 07:18 AM

I'm amazed that in Africa in the 1930s, there was an even enough distribution of gas stations that they were able to refill their tanks. That's even assuming they had several spare tanks in their trailer.

spudcon · 11-04-2010, 09:14 AM

I imagine the first leg, from London to north Africa was a little wet.

Sheldonrs · 11-04-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudcon

I imagine the first leg, from London to north Africa was a little wet.

2 women; 1 cup.

Undertoad · 11-04-2010, 09:24 AM

I've often wondered whether it would be possible to drive from here on the east coast US, down to the bottom tip of South America. And at what point would I need to be rescued...

Google Maps claims there's no road through a section of Panama, but surely the locals get around somehow...

glatt · 11-04-2010, 09:34 AM

I read a book about a guy who did that drive in a pickup truck with his friend. They put the truck in a shipping container to get down to the southern end, and they drove north. I think in Panama they had to do a ferry ride somewhere to get around that section of jungle. And the only trouble they had the whole trip was some corrupt cops who stopped them in Mexico. Once they hit the US southern border, they traveled to the tip of Alaska in just like 3 days, which was how long it would take them to go a few hundred miles through some parts of the jungle.

Edit: Road Fever by Tim Cahill

Spexxvet · 11-04-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I've often wondered whether it would be possible to drive from here on the east coast US, down to the bottom tip of South America. And at what point would I need to be rescued...

Google Maps claims there's no road through a section of Panama, but surely the locals get around somehow...

You are CORRECT, sir!
from wiki

Quote:

The Pan-American Highway (French: Route panaméricaine, Spanish: Carretera Panamericana or Spanish: Autopista Panamericana) is a network of roads measuring about 47,958 kilometers (29,800 miles) in total length. Except for an 87 kilometers (54 mi) rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". However, because of the Darién Gap, it is not possible to cross between South America and Central America by traditional motor vehicle.

Gravdigr · 11-04-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I've often wondered whether it would be possible to drive from here on the east coast US, down to the bottom tip of South America. And at what point would I need to be rescued...

Google Maps claims there's no road through a section of Panama, but surely the locals get around somehow...

Probably not a whole lot of trouble til the Darien Gap. But then it'd be your ass. Well, most people, you are the Undertoad.

Gravdigr · 11-04-2010, 02:48 PM

One of the local school's shop teachers had his class modify a BMW on/off bike, which he then rode from here in south central KY, to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and then from Prudhoe Bay, to Key West, Florida, and then back home to KY.

sandypossum · 11-04-2010, 06:45 PM

In 1999 we spent a few weeks driving through Sweden and Norway. The roads in parts of Norway are very steep, and our Citroen CX found it a bit challenging at times. One day we passed a 50cc step through scooter with Danish number plates, and the rider looked like Santa Claus in civvies. There was camping gear strapped to the back of it, as well as a couple of 2L PET bottles with petrol. The next day we met him at a roadside stop (we were taking lots of side trips off the main road) and I just had to talk to him. He said he did this every year, always on a scooter. He told us how in his wild youth he had ridden from Denmark to India and back (TWICE!) and regretted wasting the trips by spending the whole time in India just smoking lots of dope rather than travelling around there. He said he has went to the Arctic Circle once, "but of course I didn't do that alone, that would be too hard, so I went with my brother..." (ah, we thought, so you could carry more warm gear on the back of two bikes) "...and we took it in turns driving".

xoxoxoBruce · 11-04-2010, 06:55 PM

Yeah, Sandy, "they" are out there, I used to see them once is a while when I was doing a lot of traveling. They just stand out no matter where you see them, always looking out of place. A little strange, a little mysterious, although not in a threatening way, and they cause me to instantly form a million questions in my mind. They make me smile, and silently wish them well... maybe with a hint of envy.

HungLikeJesus · 11-04-2010, 07:57 PM

Well, I, uh, rode my motorcycle to work this morning.

It was really cold (about 23°).

I guess that doesn't quite compare, does it?

SPUCK · 11-05-2010, 03:09 AM

I read about a couple who rode motorcycles to the bottom of S. America. They have a detailed blog about it somewhere on the web. Most interesting.

Gravdigr · 11-05-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Well, I, uh, rode my motorcycle to work this morning.

It was really cold (about 23°).

I guess that doesn't quite compare, does it?

On a bike, that's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass Gravdigr.

11-04-2010, 09:14 AM	#3
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	I imagine the first leg, from London to north Africa was a little wet. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

11-04-2010, 09:34 AM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I read a book about a guy who did that drive in a pickup truck with his friend. They put the truck in a shipping container to get down to the southern end, and they drove north. I think in Panama they had to do a ferry ride somewhere to get around that section of jungle. And the only trouble they had the whole trip was some corrupt cops who stopped them in Mexico. Once they hit the US southern border, they traveled to the tip of Alaska in just like 3 days, which was how long it would take them to go a few hundred miles through some parts of the jungle. Edit: Road Fever by Tim Cahill Last edited by glatt; 11-04-2010 at 10:11 AM.

11-04-2010, 02:48 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	One of the local school's shop teachers had his class modify a BMW on/off bike, which he then rode from here in south central KY, to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and then from Prudhoe Bay, to Key West, Florida, and then back home to KY. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

11-04-2010, 06:45 PM	#10
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	In 1999 we spent a few weeks driving through Sweden and Norway. The roads in parts of Norway are very steep, and our Citroen CX found it a bit challenging at times. One day we passed a 50cc step through scooter with Danish number plates, and the rider looked like Santa Claus in civvies. There was camping gear strapped to the back of it, as well as a couple of 2L PET bottles with petrol. The next day we met him at a roadside stop (we were taking lots of side trips off the main road) and I just had to talk to him. He said he did this every year, always on a scooter. He told us how in his wild youth he had ridden from Denmark to India and back (TWICE!) and regretted wasting the trips by spending the whole time in India just smoking lots of dope rather than travelling around there. He said he has went to the Arctic Circle once, "but of course I didn't do that alone, that would be too hard, so I went with my brother..." (ah, we thought, so you could carry more warm gear on the back of two bikes) "...and we took it in turns driving". __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

11-04-2010, 06:55 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeah, Sandy, "they" are out there, I used to see them once is a while when I was doing a lot of traveling. They just stand out no matter where you see them, always looking out of place. A little strange, a little mysterious, although not in a threatening way, and they cause me to instantly form a million questions in my mind. They make me smile, and silently wish them well... maybe with a hint of envy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-04-2010, 07:18 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm amazed that in Africa in the 1930s, there was an even enough distribution of gas stations that they were able to refill their tanks. That's even assuming they had several spare tanks in their trailer.

11-04-2010, 09:24 AM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I've often wondered whether it would be possible to drive from here on the east coast US, down to the bottom tip of South America. And at what point would I need to be rescued... Google Maps claims there's no road through a section of Panama, but surely the locals get around somehow...

11-04-2010, 07:57 PM	#12
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Well, I, uh, rode my motorcycle to work this morning. It was really cold (about 23°). I guess that doesn't quite compare, does it? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-05-2010, 03:09 AM	#13
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	I read about a couple who rode motorcycles to the bottom of S. America. They have a detailed blog about it somewhere on the web. Most interesting.

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