Faces of Scram – A true Life-Changing experience by Isidoro Reyes de Zuloaga

I had been living unconsciously for a long time. Like a leaf moved by the wind I danced as the days passed by, but I never stopped to consider if it was that dance that I really wanted in my life. This is the story of how Scram Africa reconciled me with myself. 

I got to know Fuel by chance back in 2016. I can’t manage to remember the moment precisely, but I’m sure I happened to be at the airport when I opened the Scram website. That dead time between flights, I don’t really know what happened, but what I was seeing through the screen of my mobile phone awakened an inner voice that told me to sign up on the spot. And so I did. Luckily enough, Fuel HQ was not far from home, so I decided to show up there because I needed to know what I really got into.

I met Karles - the founder - at the workshop and I would lie if I told I got all my questions answered. He is not the kind of talkative guy, but he radiated good vibes and spread kindness that made me want to keep on. In fact, I didn’t need much. It would be perfect for me if everybody who signed up was like Karles, actually. I’m not a social guy at all; kind of social anxiety, so I dedicated all my efforts into developing the right mindset. Confucius once said: “he who says he can and he who says he can’t are both usually right”, and I decided I could. If I knew the people that would share the journey with me, I wouldn’t have worried that much, though.

The day we met on the ferry was enough for me to feel part of the team. Everybody was friendly and caring. After overcoming my biggest fear, the real adventure began: two weeks with my old BMW GS, infinite punctures and unforgettable memories.  That was not the end of the story, though. I tried to carry on with my daily life, but after having tasted the freedom I never felt the same. I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t happy with my life; I was just comfortable. I needed to make a big change, I needed to #LeaveTheMainRoad.

Long story short, I quit a highly demanding six-figure job right after being promoted as the youngest executive in the position and decided to join the 2018 Scram. I knew some people already, but in case I didn’t, it wouldn’t have bothered me this time. I knew that I could do it. I was proud of myself. I got a brand-new bike and went fully geared up by Fuel. Even though not being made for the scram, I didn’t have as many problems with the Ducati Scrambler as I did with my first bike.

All that happened was having a couple of heat strokes because of forgetting the camelback. You can’t expect perfection in Scram, inconveniences are always going to be there. But that’s the true beauty of Scram; the beauty of adventure.  The moment I remember the most is camping in the dunes after two hours of hiking. When was the last time you stopped to feel the wind or watch the moon? And I mean stopping literally. No thoughts, no responsibilities, just you with yourself. It had been a long time for me, and it was there, alone and quiet when I realized I was not the same.

That I had the energy to tackle new challenges. That I started to see problems as guidelines instead of as stop signs. It was there when I decided I would become an entrepreneur.  After that epiphany, I headed back to the camp, got my gear ready and joined the guys at jumping bonfires with my beloved Ducati.