Two Riders, One Dream
In a world where many people settle into daily routines, Edoardo Alberti and Sebastiano Busolin decided to break free and embark on a one-way trip through Africa. These two motorcycle enthusiasts are taking their adventurous spirit to the next level, facing the unknown with a clear goal: to live life to the fullest, discover new cultures, and help those in need.
Edoardo, a 25-year-old videographer from Asiago, a small town in the Italian Alps, has always had a passion for capturing what others don’t see. Not just with his camera, but also with his love for motorcycles, a passion instilled in him by his father from a young age. “At three years old, I was already in the front seat of my dad’s Yamaha Tenere XT 600,” Edoardo recalls. His passion grew stronger after a work accident that nearly cost him his right hand, a life-altering event. After a year of rehabilitation and battling depression, he decided to embark on a motorcycle trip to the Rub al Khali desert in Oman. “That trip changed everything, and I even wrote a book about the experience, A Due Mani nel Deserto” says Edoardo.
Sebastiano, a mechanic from Marghera, shares a similar connection with motorcycles, though from a more technical perspective. For him, every piece of metal has a soul and personality, especially engines. “Each engine has its own character, and you need to understand it before you put your hands on it” Sebastiano says. His love for motorcycles began at 16, when he discovered that they offered an unmatched sense of freedom. As he puts it, “A motorcycle lets you reach the most remote corners of the world.”
Their meeting was as casual as it was significant. They met at a red light in Bassano del Grappa, where Edoardo asked Sebastiano, “Where are you headed?” Little did they know that years later, they would be embarking on an epic journey to South Africa together.
A Shared Dream Turned Reality
The trip through Africa wasn’t a spontaneous decision. For years, Edoardo and Sebastiano fantasized about this adventure, dreaming around campfires with beers in hand. Finally, they decided it was “now or never.” Both invested everything they had into making this dream come true, knowing there was no turning back.
However, as often happens in life, things didn’t go as planned. From the beginning, the trip was filled with unexpected challenges. “The start wasn’t the best of all time,” Edoardo says, referring to the torrential rain in southern Morocco that forced them to stop for a while. But instead of getting discouraged, the two friends adopted an open mindset: “We are prepared to not be prepared. Africa is a place where Mother Nature chooses for you, and we follow the choices of Mother Africa without protest.”
Preparation and challenges along the way
While the idea of the trip had been brewing in their minds for years, the logistics were a considerable challenge. In addition to the usual planning required for such an adventure, they had to deal with bureaucracy. Crossing more than 15 countries requires a series of specific documents, such as the “Carnet de Passage en Douane,” a must-have for traveling with a motorcycle in certain countries, which they had to obtain from Germany due to budget constraints.
To optimize the trip, they made a few modifications to their bikes, such as installing a larger fuel tank and converting their tires to tubeless using DIY solutions. “We used silicone for windshields and car valves, and it worked perfectly,” Edoardo proudly shares.
Despite these preparations, their greatest asset has been their ability to improvise and adapt. As they say, much of the journey is about living in the moment and embracing the challenges that arise along the way.
A journey with a purpose
Beyond their personal quest for freedom and adventure, Edoardo and Sebastiano are also committed to a greater cause. They are collaborating with the Italian NGO Missionland, an organization that works in conflict zones and developing countries, building mobile hospitals and promoting the reuse of lightweight plastics in construction. Their task is to explore new areas and ensure that Missionland’s projects can be implemented in remote locations. As part of their philosophy, Sebastiano and Edoardo have chosen motorcycles as their ideal mode of transport, allowing them to reach even the most inaccessible places.
Life lessons along the way
Throughout their journey, Edoardo and Sebastiano are accumulating a wealth of experiences that go far beyond material things. From crossing diverse cultures and landscapes to encountering all kinds of people and animals, each day brings a new lesson. “We always say that if we manage to change just one person’s mindset, it’s already a win” Edoardo says. In the end, for them, true wealth isn’t in money but in the experiences and connections they’re forging along the way.
