After Jason’s Epic Journey, Another Incredible Adventure is Rolling into South Africa

South Africans barely had time to catch their breath after Jason Vanporppal’s emotional skate across Africa before another inspiring story started rolling towards our borders from Norway. Angola (27... The post After Jason’s Epic Journey, Another Incredible Adventure is Rolling into South Africa appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 27, 2026 - 07:15

After Jason’s Epic Journey, Another Incredible Adventure is Rolling into South Africa

South Africans barely had time to catch their breath after Jason Vanporppal’s emotional skate across Africa before another inspiring story started rolling towards our borders from Norway.

Angola (27 May 2026) – The timing almost feels poetic… just days after South Africans stood on pavements, hung out car windows, waved homemade signs and flooded the streets to welcome Jason Vanporppal into Cape Town after his now legendary skateboard journey across Africa, another extraordinary adventure is already heading our way.

And this time, it’s arriving on two bicycles.

Annabelle Golden and Alex Odom-Tomchin are currently somewhere in Angola, pedalling their way towards South Africa on a journey that will eventually cover nearly 18,000 kilometres from Norway to the southern tip of Africa. Today marks Day 287 of their expedition, and if all goes according to plan, they should roll into South Africa within the next 40 days.

@annabelleegolden how the heck did I end up here?! a little bit of my backstory and how I ended up riding my bike around the world anything else you wanna know about?! #traveling #travelgirl #adventuretravel #biketravel #bikepacking #traveltheworld #traveltiktok #traveltok #travel #travellife ♬ original sound – annabelle

And if Jason’s journey reminded the world of who South Africans really are, then Annabelle and Alex are about to experience that same magic firsthand.

The American couple, originally from New York, are cycling for adventure but they are riding “for good”, using every kilometre to raise funds and awareness for the World Bicycle Relief, an organisation changing lives through something many of us take for granted… bicycles. World Bicycle Relief works with communities around the world to provide durable bicycles that help people access education, healthcare, work opportunities and vital resources. In areas where transport can mean the difference between attending school or staying home, getting medical care or going without, earning an income or remaining stuck in poverty, bicycles become life-changing tools.

And that mission connected deeply with Annabelle and Alex long before this trip even began.

The pair have spent years living around the world, including Amsterdam, Iceland, Mexico, in New Zealand and Tokyo but it was while sitting in traffic in Bali that everything changed. Annabelle noticed someone weaving effortlessly through the traffic on a bicycle while everyone else sat completely stuck. She went home, told Alex they should see as much of the world as possible by bicycle… and the rest became history.

@annabelleegolden why on earth would you want to ride your bike around the world?! lemme tell you!! #travel #traveling #traveltok #traveltiktok #cycling #cyclist #bikepacking #biketravel #adventuretravel #travelgirl #travellife #travelvlog ♬ original sound – annabelle

Now, nearly 300 days into this incredible journey, they have already raised $2,889 (around R47,000) towards their $10,000 goal, with every donation helping World Bicycle Relief continue empowering communities through mobility and opportunity.

But beyond the fundraising and endurance challenge, there’s another reason this story already feels special for South Africans… we’ve just watched an entire country fall in love with a stranger on wheels.

Jason arrived here as “that American skateboarder skating through Africa”, but somewhere between Uganda and Cape Town, he became something much bigger. South Africans lined roads to cheer him on, schools let children leave classes to welcome him, families waited for hours just to wave as he passed, farmers, runners, bikers and skaters joined sections of the route and total strangers offered him food, accommodation, hugs, prayers and standing ovations. At one point, the crowds became so overwhelming he needed security… from all the love.

@jaayfilms LETS KEEP PUSHING! #skateacrossafrica ♬ original sound – brennyn.niemeier

But it was never about the skateboard, or even the journey… Jason reminded South Africans who we are when we stop arguing online for five minutes. When we look beyond our hard headlines. When we look inward at ourselves, at each other and at complete strangers. We are welcoming, friendly, generous and kind.

“I am because you are.”

And now, another two travellers are heading towards that same experience.

So get ready South Africa. In the next 40 days, there’s a very good chance our roads are about to fill up with flags, bicycles, hugs, cheers and homemade posters all over again.

@annabelleegolden we made it back to the ocean!!!! such a beautiful sight to see #travel #traveling #traveltok #traveltiktok #cycling #cyclist #bikepacking #biketravel #adventuretravel #travelgirl #travellife #travelvlog ♬ original sound – annabelle