Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[DASKOP]

It was about 50km from Lukwe to the policeman.

"What policeman?" I hear you ask.

That story is to follow. In the mean time, these are just random shots of that +/- 50 km.

"What is so special about that 50km?" I hear you ask.

To be continued..................................

 

[DASKOP]

OK, I will tell you.......................






later....................

 

[Jman]

:ricky:
Nice

 

[JACOVV]

Jy hou ons vas aan hierdie RR met jou: "Sal later vertel ens"  :biggrin: :biggrin:

Lekker RR.  Soos jy se - pak en doen dit!!

 

[DirtyTeNeReLess]

OK, I will tell you.......................






later....................

im guessing there is a policeman in your immediate future?

 

[Thump]

Looks like an awesome ride

 

[DASKOP]

:ricky:
Nice

Ek stem saam..............baie nice.............vra my, ek was daar............... :lol8:

 

[DASKOP]

Jy hou ons vas aan hierdie RR met jou: "Sal later vertel ens"  :biggrin: :biggrin:

Lekker RR.  Soos jy se - pak en doen dit!!

Dankie Jaco. Ek moet die suspense bou. Ek hoop net dit stel nie teleur nie.

Eintlik gebruik ek dit as 'n verskoning wanneer ek uit tyd uit raak............. :lol8:

 

[DASKOP]

Jy hou ons vas aan hierdie RR met jou: "Sal later vertel ens"  :biggrin: :biggrin:

Lekker RR.  Soos jy se - pak en doen dit!!

Dankie Jaco. Ek moet die suspense bou. Ek hoop net dit stel nie teleur nie.

Eintlik gebruik ek dit as 'n verskoning wanneer ek uit tyd uit raak............. :lol8:

Soos nou, ek is nie lus vir lang tik nie, so hier is nog fotos.

 

[DASKOP]

The last little section of the 50km.

Then there is a fork in the road. And a policeman in his yellow "don't ride me over" jacket.

So, I stop and ask him which way is Rumphi, because that is the way that I don't want to go. Little did I know, that if I went towards Rumphi, I would have missed a big surprise that was waiting just down the road for me.

The officer, who could not tear himself away from his cellphone, indicates the direction that I should go and then informs me in a mumble that I need to get off this road as soon as possible.

"Why?", which, under the circumstances, in my humble opinion, I deemed to be the appropriate response from me. To be honest, I was not prepared for his response.

"The President is coming", he says.

OK, so the President of Malawi is coming down this gravel road that I am about to embark on, and I need to get out of her way. You can imagine the images that came up in my mind, given our perception of the African Presidential cavalcades. You know, shoot them out of the way. It is nearly election time and the roadshow for votes is under way.

So, now you know about the policeman and after some meaningless one-sided banter about the Presidents name, which I just could not remember right there and then (it's a lady with the surname Banda), I hit the road. I quickly hit 130km/h. Hey, the cop told me I had to get out of the way and I am going to do my best to comply.

Oh, and the issue about the last 50km before the policeman?

Well, it took me 2 hours to do the 50km down the mountain from Lukwe. 2 hours of wonderful riding. Now, I had to make up for some lost time. I had an excuse because the President was coming and I was in her way.

Fortunately, it was a gravel highway.   :ricky:

 

[Laban]

Nou sien ons die portrette van die storie wat ons gister van gehoor het..............dankie Daskop...!

 

[DASKOP]

Nou sien ons die portrette van die storie wat ons gister van gehoor het..............dankie Daskop...!

Laban. Jong, dis lekker om die ervaringe te deel. Na gister kan ek ook nou 'n gesig by die naam sit. Bly om te sien jy het veilig by die huis gekom.

Tot volgende keer.................. :ricky:

 

[jorust]

Nice RR! En lekker fouties. Dankie vir die deel.  :thumleft: :ricky:

 

[DASKOP]

Nice RR! En lekker fouties. Dankie vir die deel.  :thumleft: :ricky:

Dankie Jo. (It means a lot coming from you)

Dit was 'n plesier om jou te ontmoet by Nanaga saam met die ander PE Dogs.

Ek beplan 'n trippie vir Junie 2014 (Bots / Zambia / Tanzania / Zanzibar / Malawi / Zim) as jy enige voorstelle het oor wat om nie te mis nie op plekke waar jy miskien was, sal dit baie waardeer. (Planning a ride - June 2014....the counties as above).

Alle voorspoed in die toekoms met jou planne........Angola, boek, Dakar voorbereiding.

 

[DASKOP]

OK, I know that this is a RR of my trip, but it is not every day that you meet such a special young lady, so hence the photos below.

 

[DASKOP]

Back to the RR.

Even the GPS said, "Go left". Did not mention anything about the President, though.

 

[DASKOP]

I was "gooi-ing mielies along the road, when I saw some dust in the distance. Looked like I was about to be caught on the road by the Presidential convoy.

Donner, wat doen ek nou?

Before I could make up my mind ( I did slow down some), there were two Black windowed Prados hurtling past me with their hazard lights on. That could not have been it............where are the rest? Must have been the "clear the road" okes.

I carry on to the next village, off the gravel onto tar, over the river, around the corner into the Presidential roadblock. I am waved to the left and go and take my place right at the back of the queue of waiting cars.

 

[DASKOP]

So I am at the back of the queue. Helmet off, have some water.

Then I hear the sirens. Lotsa sirens. I can see the flashing lights approaching. People start running up to the passing convoy, others carry on like nothing is happening.

I see Hummers, Army Land Rovers, Prados, Fortuners, Discoveries.............. and a Camper?????????????

Next moment, it is all over, the road is open. Life in the village returns to normal. The vehicles start pulling off and I get back on the road.

 

[DASKOP]

Quick photos of my trusty steed and I am on my way towards Lilongwe.

As I am driving along, barely out of the village, there is a very familiar looking GSA coming towards me. I could not believe it. As he passed me, I slammed on brakes, turned the bike around and chased him down. I got to him on the other side of the same village I just came from. I flagged him down. Imagine our mutual surprise at this unexpected meeting.

It was Odded. The Israeli Murphy and I met in Divundu and who camped with us at Shametu.

Who would have thought that we would run into each other in this vast sub-continent whilst traveling at random? We have a lekker chat and Odded attracts a local fan. I will not repeat here what was said and proposed by this fan.

Odded is on his way to Tanzania with no definite route in mind. What a life!!!!!!!!

We say our goodbyes and head on.

 

[DASKOP]

There are vast areas where the devastating deforestation is very obvious. The rest of the road is typical Malawian scenery.

If I could only find the turn-off to Luwawa Forest Lodge. The GPS is giving conflicting info. Maybe the satellites are in disarray.