Three-Wheeling Through Africa
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Three-Wheeling Through Africa is an autobiographical book and a best seller written by James Calmar Wilson[1] in 1936 about the first motorcycle trip crossing the continent of Africa.[2]
James Wilson and Francis Flood were sailing around the coast of Africa as Flood was writing travel articles for his newspaper in the United States. On a lark, Wilson talked Flood into traversing the continent on 5 horse-power single-cylinder Triumph motorcycle. They encounter many trials along the way, often resorting to pushing the bikes where the paths were not suitable as they doggedly pursue a route through jungle and desert from Lagos, Nigeria to the Red Sea. Throughout the book Wilson refers to their adventure as the "Flood-Wilson Trans-African Motorcycle Expedition". Later Lowell Thomas encouraged him to write a book. It includes many encounters with tribal people, poisonous snakes and officers and expatriates from England and France in African colonies and outposts.[3] It was briefly reviewed in the Montreal Gazette in 1936.[1]
Only two years prior had any motor vehicle crossed the continent, that was by automobile. Flood and Wilson chose a route that took them above Lake Chad. Flood and Wilson are noted among long-distance motorcycle riders.
List of cities, villages and forts listed in order by Wilson in the book
| Location | Date | Mileage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos, Nigeria | November 10 | 0 | Atlantic Coast |
| Abeokuta | November 18 | 66 | |
| Ibadan | November 20 | 114 | |
| Ilorin | November 25 | 220 | |
| Jebba | November 31 | 275 | |
| Ushiba | 2 nights from Jebba | ||
| Bida, Nupe-land | departed on December 5 | 406 | 3 days from Jebba |
| Zungeru | |||
| Birnin Gwari | |||
| Zaria | |||
| Kano | 750 | ||
| Zinder | December 24 | ||
| Goure | December 25 | ||
| Maine-Soroa | December 31 | ||
| N'Guigmi | |||
| Belaberum | |||
| Lade | |||
| Rig Rig | North of Lake Chad | ||
| Mao, Chad | |||
| Moussoro | |||
| D'Germana | |||
| Hemmina | |||
| Ati | |||
| Abesher | modern maps show "Abeche" | ||
| Adre | |||
| Geneina | modern maps show Al Junaynah | ||
| Kebkebia | |||
| Darfur | |||
| El Fasher | modern maps show Al Fashir | ||
| El Obeid | |||
| Umm Ruwaba | |||
| Selima | |||
| Tendelti | |||
| Sennar Dam | |||
| Khartoum | |||
| Keren | |||
| Massawah | Red Sea, Modern day Eritrea |
Bibliography
Wilson, James Calmar (1938) [1936]. Three-wheeling Through Africa (fifth ed.). Blue Ribbon Books.
References
- ^ a b "'Literary Log' from the Book Room". Montreal Gazette. October 31, 1936.
- ^ Radel, Cliff (January 17, 2001). "Documentary in the Making: Westwood Couple Work to Tell Story of Explorers". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
- ^ Wilson, James C. (2007). "Three-wheeling Through Africa". In Jenkins, Mark (ed.). Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Travel and Adventure from National Geographic. National Geographic Books. pp. 49–54. ISBN 978-1-4262-0044-1.