Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

It was not far to Lumangwe Falls, so I decided to explore the whole of the Ntumbachushi Falls before leaving.

 

[DASKOP]

The bridge is no more.

Time to head for Lumangwe.

Then, I got it wrong, headed straight instead of turning right.

 

[DASKOP]

However, I quickly realised my mistake and turned back to Kawambwa and got on the right road. It was not wasted days, just wasted time. See if you can spot that?

 

[DASKOP]

It was good tar for a while, then the detour, which I stuck to for a while, before getting back onto the road under construction, It was straight, saving time.

 

[DASKOP]

Crossing the Kalungwishi River.

 

[DASKOP]

The turn off to Lumangwe Falls. The road was great.

And then ................

 

[DASKOP]

A trench had been dug across the road and the concrete storm water pipes placed, but it had not yet been back-filled.

The Swiss couple in the Overlander, decided to pass on the down-river side and promptly got stuck. The driver got very irate with me when he saw me taking photos. He was not a very pleasant person. His wife was in the trenches helping the locals while he stood watching most of the time.

The local guys offered to help me through, which they did by walking both side of Matilda and holding us upright. I was very grateful for that.

I told them that there was a group of 4x4 vehicles coming and maybe they could assist. Off to the falls.

 

[DASKOP]

Again I was able to negotiate local rate.

Another trench, at least they put branches on the detour road, but that did not mean that it was a simple task driving over loose branches.

I knew that the 4x4 group was coming, so I grabbed the best spot I could find. Got some wood delivered and set up camp. Although it was getting warmer as I traveled further north, the night were still chilly and having the tent under the lapa would help.

 

[DASKOP]

Lumangwe Falls.

 

[DASKOP]

The falls are truly spectacular.

 

[DASKOP]

Once again the ablutions were in a bad shape as at Ntumbachushi, at least the toilets had water there. At Lumangwe, there was a drum full of water and smaller bucket to use for flushing the toilets. The toilets had been set so low that you would sit with your knees next to your ears. The showers were just broken.

So a bath in the river was on the cards. Fortunately it was a hot day, but it still took me some time to adjust to the cold water.

River water fridge.

 

[DirtyTeNeReLess]

now that looks freshing! keep it coming, following this still, kind of like pausing a netflix special and waiting.

 

[DASKOP]

I followed the path down to the bottom of the falls.

 

[DASKOP]

The 4x4 group had arrived. They tried to pull the Overlander out, burning out a winch and snapping a towrope in the process.

According to them, there was no front diff-lock on the vehicle, the tyres had not been deflated, there was insufficient recovery equipment on the vehicle, he had no satellite phone or any form of emergency comms and the driver's attitude eventually caused them to abandon the effort. If he was still there the following day, they would try again.

 

[DASKOP]

I was surrounded by such beauty, but my heart was aching. I miss my boy so much.

 

[DASKOP]

The mist created a magical effect in the setting sun and changed the perspective of the falls.

Fire, cowboy chow and bed.

 

[DASKOP]

17 June 2021

It was a cold morning.

I left before the 4x4 group with the idea of stopping at the reception office and get details of the Kabwelume Falls, which are 5 km down another road.

Unfortunately, I did not look down, did not notice the pothole on the right hand site of Matilda, and over we went. Fortunately, the 4x4 group arrived and helped me pick her up.

We were told that seeing the Kabwelume Falls means a 2 km walk. So, the decision was to give it a miss.

 

[DASKOP]

The Overlander had been moved a few meters, but was still stuck.

The locals helped me through the mud again.

The 4x4 guys were devising new tactics to recover the vehicle. They also deflated the tyres. I later found out that they had gotten it out.

Matilda just had a bit more mud on her, and we were off to Mporokoso.

 

[DASKOP]

The road, or sometimes tracks, to Mporokoso. I was very thankful that it was not rainy season, that would have made it interesting.

 

[DASKOP]

I had at that time not really decided where to from Mporokoso, but along the way I prayed for guidance and Godly intervention.

If there was fuel in Mporokoso, I would head for Sumbu on Lake Tanganyika. If not, I would head for Kasama, because I did not have enough fuel for the return trip distance of 340 km to Sumbu and back to Mporokoso.

Gas station was empty.

But the attendant said I must wait, he will organise something. A phone call later, a battered old car arrived with a 20 liter drum of petrol, but no funnel. No problem, he can help me at his shop, so I followed him there.

I know that there is always a risk in buying back street fuel, but I asked for intervention, and got it.

At ZK25 a liter, it was a lot more than the normal ZK17,63, but I was going to Lake Tanganyika, so it was worth it.