Life begins at 70

When you see a monster red motorbike bellowing through Umdloti, most would not expect the man under the helmet to be 75-years-old.

John McGlynn is this eternal daredevil, who lives for adventure and riding the path less travelled.

“I get onto that bike and it is like I am 25 again,” said the short, thin McGlynn with the itchy feet.

“I was 17 when I got my first motorbike and every time I sat at a red traffic light, I was tempted to just drive to nowhere when it turns green, instead of taking the right turn to work – and I often did,” he said with a chuckle.

The adventurer, who has lived in Umdloti for the past 23 years, bubbles with life and energy and his eyes twinkle while he relives all his lonesome motorbike travels, which started nearly six years ago.

“My wife did not like the idea of me on a motorbike, but after she died seven years ago, I bought a bike again.”

One of his first trips was to his favourite town, Clarens, where he read an article one evening at a lodge that inspired him to go further.

“The article was about Namibia and I thought I have to go there, but I needed a bigger bike.”

So he bought a bigger bike and drove to Namibia last year, on his own.

“My son David thought I was mad, but I had to do it and it was unbelievable.”

One of the most memorable moments was the hot air balloon flight over the dunes, which quite literally blew him away.

He has seen it all from the Transkei to Swaziland.

“I never plan, no bookings, no routes, I just go and I meet people everywhere and they are fantastic people,” he said.

His endless desire for adventure started when he did a survival course as a teenager in his hometown in England, which gave new meaning to the term “survival of the fittest”.

“It was incredibly tough. We had to survive in the outdoors with just about nothing and many gave up, but I absolutely loved it,” he said.

His next big trip is going to be Zimbabwe, which his sons are not too thrilled about, but he is set on the idea.

“When I plan to do something, I do it,” he said.

For now though, a short winter experience is on the map with McGlynn already set for a little escape to Clarens next weekend.

So if you spot the young soul on two wheels on his way to another adventure, stop and give that man a Bells.