Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[mtr89]

What a fantastic RR!I find it quite inspiring.gotta get my ass into gear.thanks for sharing your trip with us,Daskop.looking forward to the rest.

 

[DASKOP]

What a fantastic RR!I find it quite inspiring.gotta get my ass into gear.thanks for sharing your trip with us,Daskop.looking forward to the rest.

Do it, my boet...................just do it.

 

[DASKOP]

The pair of Prados I mentioned before as per the first photo. I actually stopped as they passed me and on the video it is obvious that I am looking around for the rest of the entourage.

Some new intel has surfaced regarding the section of road from the cop to the roadblock which has necessitated a revised rendition of said road as can be seen as per the attached photographic evidence.

The road changed from gravel highway to a rutted narrow road, more reminiscent of the section coming down the mountain from Lukwe, and a sand section that had me worried. VERY thick sand.

"This is not good", was my verbal response, on the Gopro video, to this unexpected sand test.

 

[DASKOP]

Continued from above........................

 

[DASKOP]

Oh yes, the sand....................and out of the sand.


It gave me some serious wobblies.

 

[DASKOP]

Still 19 July 2013.      eepwall:

Eventually, the gravel road to Luwawa Forest Lodge. It looks like this is going to be a perfect way to end the day.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING......................

 

[Harde kool]

Shit, dit lyk lekker! :ricky:

 

[Harde kool]

Jis maar dis maar lekker koud daar. goeie fotos

 

[DASKOP]

Jis maar dis maar lekker koud daar. goeie fotos

Vrek koud, Harde kool, vrek koud.

 

[DASKOP]

Spot the chicken.

:biggrin:

 

[DASKOP]

The road to Luwawa is initially nice gravel, some corrugated sections and some rutted sections with a little sand here and there, nothing serious.

Then I get to the boom at an intersection in the road. The boom guard lets me through and then there is another split in the road. The sign indicates that the road to the right goes to Luwawa Forest Lodge and is for light vehicles only. The GPS says left. I am confused and ask the boom guard. He comes closer and says that the road to the left is better, so I take that road.

Soon the serious corrugations start, then the sand......... a thick layer of red powder like sand on a very corrugated and very rutted hard base course.

If this is the better road, then I do not want to see the other one.

Countless trucks, carrying timber from the saw mills, have ground the road surface to a fine powdery dust. As I am navigating my precarious way towards the lodge, concentrating on the road, I get a huge fright as this dark shadow falls over me and I think "There is a truck right behind me and I am struggling just to keep the bike upright, I better stop, and quickly".

I stop, expecting a big rig to trundle past me, I don't hear anything and look back................no truck, just this huge cloud of dust that the bike had churned up and it had blotted out the sun. That was a scary moment.

 

[DASKOP]

The boom.

 

[DASKOP]

"Not this way", he says..................if I only knew.

The sand is extremely taxing.

 

[DASKOP]

The sun was casting long shadows. And it was sand all the way.

This truck had broken down at this spot and the driver had set up camp for the night right there. The sand, as I was negotiating my way around it, was making it very tough for me.

The sawmill is in the background...............hopefully I was getting close.

 

[BMWPE]

All I want for Xmas is for this fantastic ride report to come to an end  eepwall:

 

[DASKOP]

After the challenging road, I come upon this tranquil dam setting.

Late afternoon, peace and quiet, and a mirrored water surface.............food for the soul.

And strength to tackle any more road as before.  :ricky:

Then it is the last section to the lodge...........into the setting sun.

 

[DASKOP]

All I want for Xmas is for this fantastic ride report to come to an end  eepwall:

I'm so glad I'm not Santa Claus, because there may be some disappointed children as I am leaving on a bike trip next weekend for 2 weeks. Sorry man.

:-\

 

[pietas]

Still enjoying the photo reporting

 

[DASKOP]

I see a sign............................and then I am at the entrance.

WELCOME TO LUWAWA FOREST LODGE says the sign above the gate.

I go through the whole arrival thing and decide not to camp as it is already late in the day, but stay indoors.

Then it is outside onto the front lawn with a cold refreshment and enjoy the Luwawa sunset.

 

[JACOVV]

I'm so glad I'm not Santa Claus, because there may be some disappointed children as I am leaving on a bike trip next weekend for 2 weeks. Sorry man.
:-\

When you come back you'll have at least another year to complete 2 ride reports  eepwall:  :biggrin:

Enjoy it!!