The GIDI Ride Out II... Full story.

The GIDI Ride Out II was scheduled to kick off on the 30th of June, and as trip day approached so did the anxiety that comes with it grow. Take off time was 7am and at 6:30 I was at the scheduled departure point with my friend and co-rider Mr. Olenu awaiting other participants. He came to bid us farewell. At take off time, a few calls and messages started coming in as some participants couldn't get off work and some bikes weren't distance ready.

Olenu, wishing me a safe journey...

At 8am I geared up, bid Olenu good bye and in usual 2do fashion, hit the road. I quickly made my way towards Ibadan. Lagos to Mowe was smooth as traffic was literally non-existent. Mowe to Shagamu was a walk-over, thanks to new asphalt and wide borders.Shagamu to Ibadan however...
Riding through Ibadan was like walking through a minefield. Every driver was driving like they were out to kill other road users or die trying. Especially the Micra drivers. I am through Ibadan and find myself on Ibadan - Oyo express with little traffic and this was at a little past noon. I decide to stop for a rest, water and gas. Twenty minutes later I resume my northward journey being careful not to miss my turn off into ogbomosho road. Now the Ogbomosho Ilorin road is a tricky one. Quite some curves, bad patches and a lot of human and animal traffic as villages are barely 10 minutes ride apart on that stretch. For these reasons I kept my speed within reasonable limits giving me adequate reaction time and space. An hour and thirty minutes of ogbomosho - ilorin road and the beautiful city of Ilorin opened up before me like a freshly blossomed rose. Quick negotiation with a commercial motorcyclist aka okada man, got me to my G.R.A. residence in no time. A quick glance at my wrist tells me its 12:32 as I proceed with my check-in process.

Ibadan-Oyo express refill and refuel stop

Lautech Ogbomosho

On arrival at Tomats Inn

The management and staff of Tomats inn and suites were of the most courteous nature especially Beauty the front desk attendant and Mr. Sam the manager.  The reception was homely and decent and in no time we had become good friends. They made sure my check-in and entire stay was smooth and without hitches whatsoever. I honestly recommend this inn for anyone who needs a stop over in this awesome city. They are on Nupe road in G.R.A.

A decent meal and quick bath and I pull out my printed and labeled Ilorin - Kainji map. Brood over this for about an hour and carefully strategize for tomorrow's 10 hour ride to and fro. I'm off to bed early since I know I need to leave Ilorin at the break of dawn to maximize my use of daylight.

At 5am my eyes pop open and what's that I hear? It's raining. Out comes the rain gear, as I patiently await more daylight and less rain. Maazi, T-base and Goke call to inform me of their 9am departure from Lagos, also in the rain. T-Base and Goke are doing Ibadan while Maazi is proceeding to meet me upon my return to Ilorin. Daniel and I have arranged a meet me up along the way to Kainji and I discuss with him on what to do considering the rain and road conditions.

Waiting out the rain at 5:30am

7:30 am and still raining

At 7:30am, I can wait no more and decide to head out. Visibility is impaired as the rain tries to show me who's boss. I drop speed to slightly below 70kmph trying not to go too slowly as there is need for me to return to Ilorin for the night. This goes on up till about 9am and the clouds clear up. At this point I increase my pace in a bid to make up for lost time as I quickly go through Oloko Nka after which the clouds conive again. This time I had to dash for shade as the wind and water got quite domineering. I must have waited another 20-30 minutes and then the winds seemed to have subsided. I hit the road, more determined than ever to get through this weather at all costs but a little after Bode-Sadu I experience really bad patches of road. The wind is howling, potholes are hidden and into the first one I go. Luckily I'm stable and I forge on gradually dropping my speed further to accomodate my sight. At this point I'm glancing for a gas station or shed spot in which to take refuge for a short while and into the second pothole I go. This time, Xerxes comes out wobbling and instantly I knew it... Bent Rim! I pull a quick stop, shed or no shed to access the damage. She wont hold up, its almost noon and I've barely covered reasonable distance. I weigh my options. Should I continue? Can I continue? I manage the rim to a small settlement a short distance behind and angrily text my Motorcycle family (The Ride Easy Motorcycling Club) of my decision to return to base. The vulcanizer knocks away at xerxes rim trying to gently maul it into shape while informing me that any further force would snap the rim. I pay him and slowly head back in the direction of Ilorin. Only to get back in and find the sun right up there (Imagine my anger). I fix the rim with another vulcanizer in GRA, get into my room to clean up and rest for a bit and Barnabas shows up.

Barnabas is a friend of ours and he decides to cheer me up a little. An hour or so later, I hear Beowulf howl as he enters the premises. This sounds like music to my ears. Maazi settles in and we get chatting as we plan the evening. A few minutes past 6pm, we dash to the water view end of Agba Lake as Barnabas hosts us to a Slice of Summer picnic and barbecue. Pics to play, Barbecue and Bole(roasted plantain) to go and we do a 9pm slow ride back to the hotel. Check-in our beds as the road ahead tomoro promises to be a more pleasant one.

Maazi on arrival...

These two tho...

The agba dam is somewhere in the horizon

Natural and metallic horses

A slice of summer

Sunday morning arrives quickly and the first thing I notice is clear weather. For this, I'm grateful. Barnabas is here to bid us farewell as Mazi and I gobble our breakfast and gear up. At 9:30am, we bid our new friends at the hotel goodbye and do a short ride to Water View for pictures and atm use. Maazi and I had previously discussed an easy ride back and we did exactly that. I was enjoying the easy ride and also being careful with my patched rim when somewhere around egbeda a driver sees Maazi oncoming and bluntly tries to overtake. Almost forcing Maazi off the road. I gasp within my helmet as he expertly handles the situation and we proceed. All this while we've ridden together, I dont think I've appreciated his skill and safety consciousness as much as I do now. I commend him for this.

Early morning pictures by the lake

Saying our goodbyes to Barnabas

Exiting Tomats Inn

Leaving Kwara we stop for pictures and what do you know? The boys in blue show up well armed. Asking us why we stopped. With arms raised, we proceed to explain that we just want pictures and they permit us to go ahead. From here on its the iseyin link road for our next rest and we're on to the Ibadan-Oyo express. The pace was average and some cars tried unsuccessfully to lure us into drag racing. For where?? We soon go through Ibadan and stop at the toll gate for the infamous Toll gate Amala. We were welcomed by two adorable kids eagerly screaming "Power Rangers". Lol.

After permission from the blues brothers

 

Iseyin pit stop

The power ranger kids

Now the thing about this particular Amala is that it ensures you can't break speed limits. I had stuffed my tummy and all I wanted to see now was 'This is Lagos'. We proceed as the clouds start to let go again but relieve us shortly before Shagamu. Shagamu to Berger was brisk (traffic was minimal). Maazi and I say our goodbyes at berger as I split towards home. All in all, it was a great ride. Made new friends, met beautiful people, enjoyed an awesome adventure.

Nigeria truly is amazing if only we took the time to look.

Home safely

The beauty of these rides is, a lot is learnt informally as skill is improved and below are a few riding lessons I learnt on this trip.

#1. Never ride in a hurry. Leave early or leave later but never in a hurry
#2. Always weigh your options using the prevalent situations and make the best (safest) decisions. - Sobag
#3. Riding should be enjoyed not endured.
#4. Always ride to return in one piece.

The GIDI Ride Out III is brewing already... Dont be told...

Kindly drop your comments below...