Last week, Louis Trichardt was visited by an Australian couple who is currently travelling the world on the back of a Suzuki motorcycle.

For most, taking a trip like this would seem impossible, but Grant Guerin and Julie Rose made it their life’s dream to achieve this goal, even if it meant selling all their belongings, their property and quitting their jobs.

Grant says the idea started after they did some travelling with a motorcycle through the US in 2000. They couldn’t continue as both of them had to go back to work. Then Grant thought "What if we could keep doing it, without having to go back to work?"

The couple immediately started planning to make this goal achievable. After some two years of planning, the couple knew that, in order to get enough funds for their adventure, they would have to sell all their belongings,

Julie told the Zoutpanberger that there were times she thought that they were just being silly, but this has actually turned into a lifestyle for them.

The motorcycle the couple have been using since the start of their trip was bought in Australia, and although it was secondhand, the couple knew that would be a comfortable and reliable motorcycle.

Their trip started on June 1, 2005, when they left for Latin America, travelling to Mexico, Buenos Aires and Argentina. They stayed in South America for two and a half years where the cost of living is very low. They also stayed at a friend’s place when he wasn’t at home.

The couple then left for South Africa, later touring to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Although travelling through Zimbabwe was an eye-opener for the couple on what is really happening there, they say it was still a lovely country. Grant explained that they had to take extra fuel and were overjoyed when nearing the South African border as their fuel started running out.

In total, the couple has travelled a total of 105 000km since starting with the trip.

"In some respects it is a long holiday, but it still comes down to everyday living," Julie said.

Wherever they went, they had to arrange for accommodation and something to eat. The generosity of people surprised them, even in countries where people are mainly poor.

The couple is planning to continue their trip northwards to other African countries such as Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Senegal. After that, they plan to travel Europe and then Asia, before returning home to Australia. The couple says they have made lots of friends on the trip. They have been together for 14 years now and, according to them, the company makes doing trips like this easy. Grant said that this is important, especially when in a foreign country.

"It’s nice to have someone you can speak to in your own language."

Grant and Julie’s trip has not been without problems, but they smile and say that they manage to overcome these problems as they happen. Although the couple still has far to go, their message is clear: "Just try it, see if you can keep on doing it and eventually your heart will let you know when it is time to go home."

If anyone would like to make contact with the couple, even just to ask advice on taking a trip like this, they can send an e-mail to them at [email protected]