A heart warming story to launch the new Dirty Boots by Johan RadcliffeA heart warming story to launch the new Dirty Boots by Johan Radcliffe

It has taken me some time to find the inspiration to write this year’s introduction for our latest issue.  Just as I sat down to write it, we were struck by the COVID-19 lockdown. Now, with all the chaos around me, these few paragraphs seem a little insignificant.  As I write this, we are 10 days into lockdown and the world has changed.  The first thing I realised was that material possessions became worthless overnight.  In times like these, you cannot sell anything - even at a give-away price - and certainly nothing that is not absolutely necessary. 

You may ask what this has to do with adventure?  A few days before lockdown was announced, I headed into the Karoo with my family for our annual cycling trip. This is no usual holiday. We ride through remote areas, camp wild and have only two priorities: to have fun and find water. As usual, it was a huge success, with heaps of special memories made.  Out there, in the vastness of the Karoo, we were blissfully unaware of the coronavirus situation that was unfolding. Luckily, a few hours before lockdown kicked in, we landed up at a remote roadside stall where they told us about the curfew. We left immediately and made it back with a few hours to spare, before we got stuck far away from home.

To me, adventure fits in the same category as art, music, performance, great architecture and all things that are crafted and timeless. The memory of our family adventure is now way more valuable than anything else I own.  So the next time you have the choice between spending on a new big-screen TV or a holiday filled with adventure, reflect on ‘Lockdown 2020’ and use this to guide your decision. 

The pictures that are attached are very personal but I hope they add to the importance of my message.

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