Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[DASKOP]

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!!

Dankie J.

Gelukkig is daar iemand wat verstaan. Mens kan mos nie 'n goeie ding jaag nie.      :laughing4:

 

[DASKOP]

The result of red sand riding.

 

[DASKOP]

The moon rising over Luwawa. It was so peaceful outside.

Then something to eat and a nightcap next to the fire. There were some foreigners and we chatted about our travels. Off to bed.

Tomorrow I am off to Lilongwe.

 

[DASKOP]

Oh, and for Woody1..............the invoice came to $45 or MK 16000.

I'm trying to resize the scanned document, but the technologically challenged factor is working against me.  :biggrin:

 

[Difflock]

Nogsteeds verstom oor jou trippy, vat jou tyd mater.

 

[DASKOP]

20 July 2013

Ready to leave Luwawa Forest Lodge.

 

[DASKOP]

Nogsteeds verstom oor jou trippy, vat jou tyd mater.

Dankie Diff.

 

[DASKOP]

This section of the RR is going to be a bit drawn out (contrary to my normal style)  :imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer: , because quite a bit happened.

First there is some forest, then some cleared areas where the trees have been harvested.

I get this cold shiver down my spine. My cellphone..........where is it? I cannot remember why I got this idea that my cellphone was gone, but it is obvious from the video that this was the case. I come to a grinding halt, furiously open the zip of my tank bag and there is my cellphone.

Seriously, getting old is not for sissies.................

I get going again on the twee-spoor through some brush and get to a split in the road reminiscent of yesterday. The GPS has not been set, as for some unknown reason, it keeps re-calculating.

 

[woody1]

Dankie vir die info. Is dit kos en drank ingesluit.

 

[DASKOP]

Once again, which way? Left or right?

I sit there for quite some time, looking left, then right, then left, etc, etc, etc.

Yesterday I went left and hit all that sand, the road to the right looks perfect, not ground to dust by trucks, I am going that way.

 

[DASKOP]

Dankie vir die info. Is dit kos en drank ingesluit.

Swaer, dit was verblyf, twee biere (MK1000) en 'n Tourist Levy vir bemarking. Geen etes. Ontbyt sou 'n ekstra $10 gewees het.

 

[woody1]

Sjoe. Hulle is nie skaam nie.

 

[Off-Road-Adventures]

Wow!! Great trip!! Thanks

 

[DASKOP]

So, I am unsure whether I am on the right road and I do not want to do unnecessary kilos in this place and get caught up in some sandpit again.

I stop and ask one of the locals along the road whether this is the correct way to the boom.

He says the lodge is THAAAT way.

Not the lodge, the boom. The what?, he asks.

THE BOOM, I say and indicate with my arm. Now he understands and replies in the affirmative and I am on my merry way to the boom.

But, I am not convinced.

I see this couple walking along the road and stop to ask them the same question.

Same question, same response.

The what?

THE BOOM, I say and indicate with my arm.

I get an affirmative response.

No matter what, let me tell you, the Malawian people are the most friendly and helpful people I met on this whole trip. They really left a very positive impression on me. Amazing people.

Now I feel better..............I am on the right road................I hope.

 

[DASKOP]

Sjoe. Hulle is nie skaam nie.

Om eerlik te wees, ek sal nie terug gaan soontoe nie. Die verblyf is OK, nie die beste nie.

Ek dink hulle cater meer vir Europese toeriste.

 

[DASKOP]

Wow!! Great trip!! Thanks

My pleasure. I am enjoying reliving my trip through this RR.

 

[XTJoe]

:thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

Around the corner, and there it is ................ more sand. Plenty sand.

Grit teeth, stand up and aim for a line that looks the best and go.

Oh, and greet the two local ladies and keep left, just brushing past the roadside vegetation.

 

[DASKOP]

I am back at the sawmill from yesterday. Go up the hill past the same truck still stuck there, encountering the same sand coming in, now going out.

 

[DASKOP]

At last, the boom. The boom operator says that left is the way to go, comes out nearer on the Lilongwe side, where I am now heading.

Get a big rig from the front. Rather stop, let him pass and allow the dust to settle a bit and I am on towards the main road.

And it is still sand. The problem is that the corrugations and ruts are still there under the thick sand, but as you cannot see them, they catch you by surprise and jerk the bike around.

Hey, it is called Adventure Riding.          :ricky: