HEDLEY TAVENOR
I met Hedley in Windhoek, Namibia's capital in 2010, when I went to buy the bikes to do the BIG SIX.
At the time, besides being a salesman, he was also a BMW mechanic in Windhoek.
Namibian, who refuses to be considered German and a fantastic mechanic.
From being willing to go to Luanda to make the service to the bikes, to take a front suspension to the Dar As Salam when we come from Angola to Portugal, Hedley is always available.
This professional relationship developed into a personal friendship relationship after a few beers at his or my home.
He's one of those people I thank the motorcycle world for giving me the opportunity to meet.
JOÃO LUÍS
Just before I started the BIG SIX I discovered that there was a Portuguese who had left Portugal for Luanda and that we would cross during our trip.
I started doing some contacts and searching the net and found that if all went well we would be at the same time in Cape Town. I contacted him and we arranged to have dinner in Cape Town.
It was the eve of the Portugal vs Korea match for the World Cup in South Africa and the match was going to be precisely in Cape Town, so the city was in a tumult. We managed to get a restaurant and at the agreed time, appeared João Luís.
In his good manner of being simple and without ceremony he soon introduced himself and we had a fantastic dinner listening to his hilarious stories with which we become accustomed to hear over the years. João Luís is undoubtedly the greatest Portuguese traveler of all time. I say this without wanting to hurt susceptibilities, but it is my opinion.
I may have more miles than him on a motorbike and been to more countries than him, but he does it on his own, without GPS and with a unique spirit.
ALICIA SORNOSA
On the 25th of November, in the morning, we were connecting Nairobi to Marsabit, when suddenly I saw two motorcycles coming in the opposite direction.
As it is not usual to see motorcycles in that area I started to slow down and stopped. I got off the bike and quickly realized that one of these riders was not a man but Alicia in BMW F650 GS, but downgraded and he was Miquel Silvestre writer and motorcycle traveler. Very friendly people told us that they had problems in the road of Moyale, because the bike of Alicia as it was lowered, hit a rock and break the carter. This left us with a warning about what we would find, but for us the problem was not the rocks our problem was the rain and mud.
MIDHAT MAHIR
Arriving at the border of Ethiopia with Sudan we were waiting for the Guide we had hired, at the suggestion of João Luís. Soon a guy with the Google t-shirt came to us and he said "I am your guide to Sudan and so rest assured that I handle everything".
The truth is that Midhat really did handle everything. Not only did he and his team "escort" us all over Sudan, but they always tried to have fruit and water in their car, they provided a snack on the bank of the Nile River, with carpets on the floor and to end in beauty at last night in Wadi Halfa invited us to go to his mother's house for dinner.
At that dinner he told us the fantastic story of his BMW that he had bought from the state, as it had belonged to a Dutchman who had "been eaten by hyenas in the desert." The Sudanese government knew the reason for his death, as they found the remains of the rider. Next to him was a camera, which when revealing the roll came across the last pictures of his life, because he had photographed his death. The Midhat is one of the few humble humans ready to give all they have to others.
JOSÉ RAMOS
When Mario Pereira told me that he had a brother-in-law who was an electronics ingenious, I never imagined that this man was an ELECTRONICS MASTER.
I got to know José Ramos better in 2012 in the preparation of Pacific Way, because I needed to get a new GPS and I went to his house. I was welcomed as a longtime good friend and when they receive us in this way in their home empathy appears soon.
Besides having the patience, he still had time to solve the problem and after that whenever I need something from his electronic "gadgets", just call and Jose Ramos is immediately available.
In 2018 in conversation he told me that he had a new device under study, but he asked me not to talk to anyone, but he liked to know my opinion, I told him to go forward because I thought it was something that was missing .
In 2019 I received in my house the so-called "device" that had not yet gone to commercialization, today this device is a success and I am happy for it. This ingenuity is the waterproof BMW dual USB charger for motorcycles, which is sold by Touratech, Wunderlich, etc., but was invented and made by Jose Ramos.
DALE WALKSLER
In North Carolina I heard about a museum called Wheels Trough Time in Maggie Valey that was the best museum in the world for old bikes.
Of course we could not resist and there we went to visit the museum. When we arrived a Lord appeared out of nowhere in a rusty Harley Davidson making a huge noise.
He stopped beside me and asked who we were. I explained to him that we were going around the world and he soon said "You are my guests, come in and Dale will give you a guided tour".
The museum is in a warehouse of about 11,000 square meters and has hundreds of bikes in exhibition.
Dale started collecting motorcycles in 1969 and over the years has managed to put together a unique collection in the world with motorcycles like a 1909 Pierce that belonged to Steve McQueen.
He, besides giving us a guided tour, made a point of showing us that all the exposed bikes work, despite their appearance. It was a memorable day that I will never forget.
LORE EVE
Lore Eva was our salvation in Argentina.
When I prepared the transportation for the bikes I had contact with her by phone and seemed to be a nice person, but when I met her personally I realized that her sympathy was huge and that we were in good hands.
Lore was the dispatcher (my professional colleague) who dealt with the clearance of motorcycles and the support car in Buenos Aires in customs.
Everything would be simple if Argentina were not in the middle of a political crisis and strikes in all sectors, including Customs.
Lore was tireless and realized that the longer the motorcycle and car were delayed, the more complicated our lives became. No doubt it was an angel I met.
JOSÉ CARLOS AGUIAR
When in 2010 I met him I said that intend to go around the World in a Motorcycle and that I would need his support and he said yes right away.
Zé Carlos (my namesake) has been over the years a person who has never refused to help.
He may not be a friendlier person at certain times, as he is always thinking about making the Antero group bigger and better.
In my opinion, Antero is the best motorcycle and accessory shop in Portugal.
Anyone who knows him outside of work realizes that Zé Carlos is a friendly and pleasant person, and without doubt an excellent professional, ready to help. The support he personally and the Antero Group has given me over the years is unqualified.
