Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[DASKOP]

The road from Makuzi To the turn-off to Lukwe Lodge was very enjoyable with some amazing winding, bendy sections that made me smile. The road is in relatively good nick, so you can lean into them with gusto.

Amazing riding........................ :ricky: :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

I was seriously having a ball............. :biggrin:

 

[DASKOP]

The section where I saw the baboons, was close to the scene of a serious bus accident (the bus had been taken away), but the resultant debris created rich pickings for the baboons, as did previous regular accidents.

Bus and taxi passengers throw food stuff out on this section of road as it apparently draws huge amounts of baboons, which is their objective as the sight of begging baboons seems to be great fun for the locals. This results in a very dirty section of road.

This information was later supplied by the owner of Lukwe Lodge.


Anyway, I was having fun.

 

[DASKOP]

Just some more scenery shots on the way to Lukwe Lodge.

 

[DASKOP]

Last section to Mkondowe, where I will be turning off to go up the mountain to Lukwe Lodge.

I get there and stop to question one of the locals regarding the condition of the road up the mountain. Richard (from Makuzi) told me that the road was fine, the switch backs had been concreted and the rest of the gravel was easily manageable.

The local guy was not as convincing. It was 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I did not have many options available to me, so it was onward and upward.

I stopped at the first bend. It was quite obvious that there had been some substantial rain since Richard was here last and a lot of the gravel, which should have been on the road going further, had been deposited beyond the first bend on the side of the road. The road was seriously rutted and I was having serious doubts about taking this road on all on my own.

Some serious self-motivating one way conversation and it was on the bike and my slow and careful ascent started.

My heart was thumping in my chest, I was sweating profusely, adrenalin shivers..............was I going to conquer this baby without incident???

 

[DASKOP]

The end result?

There were some very tricky sections, but most of the road up was manageable. There are some serious drop-offs, so I had to make sure that the front wheel did not deviate from my intended direction by hitting a rock or getting caught in a rut. Fortunately, the sharp switchbacks were concreted, but not all of them.

The views were spectacular. I was so glad that I decided to take on this rutted road. Getting to the top was truly worth it.


(25 Nov - I found the other Gopro footage taken that covers the tricky sections and listening to what I said there makes me realise that it was a lot more challenging than I choose to remember - another posting will have to be done which includes the video footage).

 

[DASKOP]

Oh yes, the view..............................

 

[DASKOP]

This is more of a trial post.

I learnt how to get stills from the Gopro video footage..............Thanks Jules.

Here goes.

 

[DASKOP]

Now you will just have to bear with me, its like having a new toy.

 

[Casino]

The road from Makuzi To the turn-off to Lukwe Lodge was very enjoyable with some amazing winding, bendy sections that made me smile. The road is in relatively good nick, so you can lean into them with gusto.

Amazing riding........................ :ricky: :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

I was seriously having a ball............. :biggrin:

very nice Ride :thumleft: and amazing to see all these different places :ricky:

 

[DASKOP]

The road from Makuzi To the turn-off to Lukwe Lodge was very enjoyable with some amazing winding, bendy sections that made me smile. The road is in relatively good nick, so you can lean into them with gusto.

Amazing riding........................ :ricky: :ricky: :ricky: :ricky:

I was seriously having a ball............. :biggrin:

very nice Ride :thumleft: and amazing to see all these different places :ricky:

Thank you. It was an amazing ride.

 

[DASKOP]

Last of the snap shots.

 

[DASKOP]

The photos are deceptive, now that I compare them with my recollection. At the top of the pass, I stop to catch my breath and get the adrenalin under control.

I ride past the turn off to the Mushroom Farm Lodge (will visit them next time) and on to the Lukwe turn off. The road in is covered with small pebbles. It is down hill. The brakes are useless, if you apply them, the bike just keeps on sliding. So, my entry into Lukwe Lodge is more sideways than straight, but I make it without going down.

 

[MURPHY]

That part of your ride looks a little rough in comparison to what we experienced up until then . I should have stayed as i said before , it seems the best part was when i left .

 

[DASKOP]

That part of your ride looks a little rough in comparison to what we experienced up until then . I should have stayed as i said before , it seems the best part was when i left .

We will just use it as an excuse to go again.

 

[DASKOP]

OK, I know that I am going back a bit here (and judging by the comments, everyone wants me to go forward and finish this damn thing  :biggrin, but I have found the videos of the ride up the pass.

A bit different to what I initially remembered (selective amnesia, I think, is what they call it) and I need to pause here a bit so that I can get the videos sorted and posted.

Here are some snapshots...................at the end of the video 1, I stall the bike, let out a huge breath and switch off the video. Just to get back my composure before I start again.

 

[DASKOP]

18 July 2013 - Lukwe Lodge

I am not fairing well with the posting of the videos, so I will do so when I have some success in figuring it out.

With my arrival, I go straight to the deck and order a cold Carlsberg. I remember now that there was a lot of pacing up and down just to calm the nerves and absorb the reality of where I was.

The views were absolutely spectacular.

 

[DASKOP]

I am taken on this pebbled path through the treed areas, by one of the staff ladies and shown to my abode for the night. It is a reed hut, built on stilts on the mountain side. Really nicely kitted out. Wonderful view over the valley.

After carting all my stuff to the hut, it is time for a sun-downer. The view from the swinging deck couch is amazing. You can hear the villagers from the huts dotted on the mountain side, baboons having a barney in the valley, birds in the trees and a waterfall in the background.

And the view is amazing.



Did I mention that the view is amazing?

 

[DASKOP]

19 July 2013 - Sunrise over Lake Malawi viewed from the Camp Lukwe deck.

 

[DASKOP]

Sunrise was a surreal experience.

You have this amazingly beautiful view resplendent in the spectacular hues of sunrise, a feeling of the African bush quiet but filled with the contrasting, almost ghostly sounds of the villagers echoing off the hills, against the backdrop of the muted roar of the waterfall.

 

[Mzee]

All the best in your trip