Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

While the braai was going, I decided to carve a heart in the tree.

I had to drive George's bike back to the house in the dark, but I was going to stop at the tree on my way out.

 

[DASKOP]

And there it was, the bleeding heart of a grieving father.

 

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13 June 2021

Time to head for Samfya.

My hosts, the Viljoens, were no longer just that, they were now family.

Brandon's 17th sticker was placed on George's motorbike.

 

[DASKOP]

Just outside Serenje is the turn off towards Samfya. The D235 or Luapula road. Long straight sections of tar, no main villages, so I could let Matilda really run a bit.

 

[DASKOP]

I stopped and brightened up the day of some local youngsters.

I also met a German couple on the road. Their details are on the one photo. I actually got a message from them yesterday, they are in Cape Town and will be visiting me in November some time.

Some sections of the road, as per the last photo, were really bad. I videoed it, now just have to figure out how to take stills from it.

 

[DASKOP]

The Bangweulu Swamps.

I had never seen so many termite or ant hills like this ever before.

The locals had built homes where they could cultivate the land, and others on the islands all over the swamps.

 

[DASKOP]

It really was amazing to see how people had adapted to this environment to create a life for themselves.

 

[DASKOP]

At the start of the Luapula bridge there was an unmanned police observation tower.

There was also a truck unloading sheets which had been used for the manufacture of sandals. A boat approached and they collected the sheets. I was told that the local fishermen use these as flotation when fishing.

 

[DASKOP]

The Luapula bridge itself is 3 km long. If you include the embankments which were constructed for the road on both sides leading up to the bridge, to cross the swamp, the total length is 9 kilometers.

The water is actually very clean and clear.

 

[Pilchie]

And there it was, the bleeding heart of a grieving father.

Gosh this picture says it all, my heart bleeds for you - wishing you strength to go forward. Thank you taking the time to share your this heart wrenching story.

 

[DASKOP]

The Viljoen family, had through their local church community, organised accommodation at the Brubacher residence in Samfya.

I eventually found it, but the trail down to the house was going to be somewhat of a challenge, there were excavations everywhere. I made it, the staff were expecting me and was rewarded with an amazing view over Lake Bangweulu.

 

[DASKOP]

I felt like having fish for supper, so I walked down to the Waterfront Lodge, sampled the local Simba brew and watched the local fishermen as sunset was approaching.

I cannot remember what fish I had, but it was delicious.

It was quite a challenge walking back up to the house in total darkness with excavations everywhere.

 

[DASKOP]

14 June 2021

Sunrise over Lake Bangweulu from my house on the hill.

 

[DASKOP]

I had the view from above, but I wanted to explore Samfya.

They are building a new water purification plant next to the Waterfront Lodge, that explained all the excavations.

Then the more rural village part and I saw the local fish farms.

And the police station with all the accident vehicles.

 

[DASKOP]

Samfya town.

 

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A local artist at work.

 

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Advertising at its best.

Obviously the guy on the right got totally headless.

 

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The ferry harbour.

 

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On the lake shore.

 

[DASKOP]

There is a basic campsite just past the Waterfront Lodge. Can not remember the name.