Jerry Smith’s Into the Heart of Africa

Adventurers went over 8000 miles DIAGONALLY across Africa on Motorcycle including the Sahara Desert! See the pictures here. This is one of my tributes to dad. I am so honored to have a father like him. He has been an adventurer all his life. Even as a survivor of Polio he went on to be a Professional Motorcycle Racer.

It seemed that he competed in every event he could get in to; the most daring of these competitions being the African 8000. Jerry Smith wrote a book about his amazing African trek & has sold almost 4,000 copies 1 by 1 by himself. Now dad has had his 80th birthday. At 80 yrs young he currently rides his motorcycle around the U.S. to motorcycle rallies & trade shows personally autographing each one. On Amazon.com Jerry’s NEW books sell for between $66 – $100…he sells them for $13.50 personally autographed & gift wrapped (by request) for anyone on your Gift Lists.

At this point in his life (the 80 year milestone) Jerry Smith doesn’t know if he wants to order more books to sell. I want him to know people are still interested in Adventure. Hearing his amazing stories made me want to travel too; 23 countries later I can’t wait until my next trip. See where travel can take you through Jerry Smith’s Eyes.

This is my birthday video/tribute to dad. I am so honored to have a father like him. When there wasn’t a single person left to tell his stories to…he decided to write a book. ~ Thank you for the stories dad. I love you

Jerry Smith encounters it all in Africa – from spear toting warriors that could have slipped silently from the bush 100 years ago, to tanks and soldiers with modern weapons. Bandits and smugglers, colorful Arabs and near naked Pygmies…it is all in “The Heart of Africa.”

Jerry’s good humor and adventurous sprit are evident in his crisp writing and descriptions, even when jabbed with a bayonet, mooned by a baboon, and faced with an aggressive native ready to catapult a spear through him. Through his wit and smart writing you will be educated about the African geography, the varied terrain, and the many cultures of its natives.

In the opening chapter, the reader will be riding with Jerry as he races for his life to escape from thieves. The trek crosses a variety of land including narrow valleys, the endless Sahara, rocky trails where nothing leaves a track, to the dense jungle trails.

This odyssey will leave you with a better understanding of Africa and its people. Jerry describes the villages and inhabitants he and the other riders encounter along the way. The war and hardship of living in Africa are noted, however, he exhibits an understanding and sympathy for these people like no other. He also separates from the other riders frequently to closely encounter wild animals and even wilder terrain. For instance, he writes of the freedom and excitement of riding alone on age old trails near Lake Victoria in the northern Serengeti and still gets the chill of fright as he talks about the day a fierce elephant almost killed him.

“Jerry is something of a modern-day Indiana Jones. Yet he has the ability to take the reader along on this exciting motorcycle trip.” – A Des Moines, IA reader

Jerry has competed in a variety of racing events from Flat Track races and long Enduro Runs to Demolition Derbies, closed circuit sprint car races, and everything in between. He kept racing into his mid-70′s, winning Championships & competing in treacherous enduro races such as the Colorado 500. This is a daring enduro ride in the mountains of Colorado which he competed in 16 times until he was 72.

Even dad’s vacations are full of daring escapes; he went from Iowa to Columbia (northern South America) through Central America on Motorcycle, with my mom on the back! TWICE! Did you get that? TWICE! Mom said the trips were exhilarating, dad visited the inside of a Nicaraguan Jail and was forced to stay awhile, they narrowly escaped the near total demise of Managua by earthquake, almost died going into the Irazu Volcano, and were held at gunpoint in El Salvador until my mom convinced the gunmen she and dad were of no threat. And still at 80, when you see him on his motorcycle you can’t tell his age or notice the limp from Polio; he’s a champion again, living a life of high adventure, riding fast down the back stretch to another winner’s circle.

We’re so proud of you dad.

Duration : 0:4:39

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