wildside
Pack Dog
Shortly after this we came across some amazing mounds of rock that were engraved and painted with the names of saints and other inscriptions, some in a foreign language. With the crosses on top one would guess it’s a place of worship. I have tried to ‘ google’ some information about this site but there is nothing available. I would be delighted if there are any readers who can shed some light on this intriguing place.
By now it was lunch time and we were hot and tired. Initially the going was good but then it became just like every other day on the dirt road. Village flowed into village, each with their brightly coloured shop fronts, the blue Uganda Telkom, the red Airtel and the yellow MTN.
I dropped my bike down one slippery section and a kind lady passing by helped me to pick it up. Kingsley had to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle and he also ended up slipping and falling over. By the time we arrived at the turn off to Lake Albert lodge we were exhausted and unsure of heading off to the lake which was about another 26 km in a westerly direction. We finally decided to go for it, but 5 km later changed our minds, as we were progressing at no more than a walking pace.
The roads were of hard compacted clay, extremely wet and slippery, although the road surface was smooth and undamaged, we were totally out of our depth, even the normal camber seemed too much for us. The only way forward was in first gear with both feet on the ground. The little boda-bodas, with their smooth tyres, were handling it better than we were and seemed to be moving along just fine .According to one of the locals these conditions continued all the way to the lake. I was not going to continue as we would also have to ride back on this road the following day. We reached a point that our only concern was for food and shelter, so we turned around and headed for Hoima, too wet and tired to worry about the change of plans or taking photos.
CHRISTMAS DINNER HANGING ON THE BACK!
We arrived early evening and settled for the first accommodation we came across which was the Nsamo Hotel.
The entrance was a narrow doorway through which we had to manoeuvre the bikes into a tidy little courtyard. It was Christmas eve and there was a lot of excitement and activity out on the streets. Music was blasting out down the roads competing with all the loud voices.
THE FRONT OF THE HOTEL
A ROOM WITH A VIEW........THE BACK OF THE HOTEL!!!
Once we had settled into our little room it was dark and we were starving, so we hit the street to find something to eat. Strangely enough, at no time did we feel uncomfortable or threatened. The alleys were very busy with many small semi- formal traders who all seemed to be selling the same goods. We must have stood out like sore thumbs, being the only white faces out on the street on Christmas eve.
We found some stale bread and risked buying a few eggs............yup, and some beers. We went back to the room and ‘cooked up a storm’. This was our Christmas eve special!!!
By now it was lunch time and we were hot and tired. Initially the going was good but then it became just like every other day on the dirt road. Village flowed into village, each with their brightly coloured shop fronts, the blue Uganda Telkom, the red Airtel and the yellow MTN.
I dropped my bike down one slippery section and a kind lady passing by helped me to pick it up. Kingsley had to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle and he also ended up slipping and falling over. By the time we arrived at the turn off to Lake Albert lodge we were exhausted and unsure of heading off to the lake which was about another 26 km in a westerly direction. We finally decided to go for it, but 5 km later changed our minds, as we were progressing at no more than a walking pace.
The roads were of hard compacted clay, extremely wet and slippery, although the road surface was smooth and undamaged, we were totally out of our depth, even the normal camber seemed too much for us. The only way forward was in first gear with both feet on the ground. The little boda-bodas, with their smooth tyres, were handling it better than we were and seemed to be moving along just fine .According to one of the locals these conditions continued all the way to the lake. I was not going to continue as we would also have to ride back on this road the following day. We reached a point that our only concern was for food and shelter, so we turned around and headed for Hoima, too wet and tired to worry about the change of plans or taking photos.
CHRISTMAS DINNER HANGING ON THE BACK!
We arrived early evening and settled for the first accommodation we came across which was the Nsamo Hotel.
The entrance was a narrow doorway through which we had to manoeuvre the bikes into a tidy little courtyard. It was Christmas eve and there was a lot of excitement and activity out on the streets. Music was blasting out down the roads competing with all the loud voices.
THE FRONT OF THE HOTEL
A ROOM WITH A VIEW........THE BACK OF THE HOTEL!!!
Once we had settled into our little room it was dark and we were starving, so we hit the street to find something to eat. Strangely enough, at no time did we feel uncomfortable or threatened. The alleys were very busy with many small semi- formal traders who all seemed to be selling the same goods. We must have stood out like sore thumbs, being the only white faces out on the street on Christmas eve.
We found some stale bread and risked buying a few eggs............yup, and some beers. We went back to the room and ‘cooked up a storm’. This was our Christmas eve special!!!
