My Trip

Life in MbeyaMbeya, I think Thursday the 17th. Blew it agaain today, walked past a guide offering walks up to Ngozi peak, 2620m town at half that. payed up and joined a group of an American and German lad, german and 2 french girls with a Rasterfarian guide. Got on one of the local buses that has been trying to kill me, half hour later got off and did a 4k walk to the base and then the 1000m footpath up, ridges, edges, scrambles through dense jungle over rotten trees, no ropes just vines and roots, paths 1 foot wide and hundred foot drops either side.

Another long day walkingFRIDAY THE 18TH Went to the tea plantation, spent an hour in the market having had to purchase some fresh food to eat, only seem to eat grilled over a fire chicken and fruit, nothing else appeals. Decided I will head for Zambia Sunday as there is a local soccer match tomorrow night, a must see. Got to the Raster shop for 10 after the internet and posting postcards to family and Luton, read an email from Luton staff and started missing everyone, so I hope Mr MacCann is making all of you lot work hard, missing Kim and Benny as well but would not fit in my case.

Long day aheadLooked at the route tomorrow, 400+ miles with the border crossing, no petrol stations ( cant see this) or places to stay between.

Into ZambiaSaturday, had a nice easy day, bought the picture and got it signed by people I have met and enjoyed their company. Glad I came to this hotel, far from the best but would have missed the people and experiences, both excellent.
Went to the football match, local side won. Back to hotel to pack and wash, want an early start tomorrow as it could be 400-500 miles plus a border post to somewhere to stay and petrol. Must fill spare can.

Onwards to NdolaShiwa Ngandu, Pink house, Colonial relic?
Got up and headed for an ATM, big mistake, pay day for all government employees, Monday and machines out of cash after weekend and van needs to drive with armed security to top the up. 28 people in the queue and an hour later limited to 20 notes. 1 Kwacha equal to about 15p machine only does 50s, not very rich today.

Sorry but ICT gone badWent to see old school and took some photos and had a bit of a mooch about. Left at 11.00 am for Lusaka. Just another long ride on fair to middling roads until the roadworks. Only 3 sections but can not do at car speed so ended up overtaking and taking on mud and potholes just lining the bike up and doing Charlie Bormann style keep the throttle open and no brakes. Had to stop in a few places to build a gap between cars and me and use the wrong side of the road (if there is one over here) getting back quick when something approached.

LivingstoneLivingstone
Got up and left for seven, headed to Chilanga and filled up for 300 mile hop to Livingstone. Even remembered to fill up 150 miles later.

Hope they are of interest
Sorry but at shared 56k this is painful.Rural country lane.

Elephant poo, 10 foot from the tent.

The bike shed where many a BandH were shared.

Travellers tales???Sure some people who travel the world do it from an armchair, Johns advice is and was spot on but to the 3 lads at the ferry thanks but not sure you travelled my route, There is petrol stations every 200km between the ferry and Francistown max distance. Anyway back to me.

Sorry but I find them interesting.Buying my fish supper in Shiwa

The fish eagle in Niavasha

NE zambian countryside

Where next?Francistown,
Booked here for three nights of luxury, need to sleep you see. Great place even if pricey, tried to contact Stella but in Gabs so will try again later, went to the museum and the lovely lady remembered me from my last visit, bike may have helped.

Raining....Rode to the museum about 10 am and spent the day chatting and chilling, poor Stella got no work done. Went back to hotel and booked till Monday morning as off for a trip out to see some rock paintings and San things, with Stella who runs the museum willing to put up with me, more of that later as its dinner time now and raining.

Just been talking to the manager Ian, having booked for 1 night originally, now 5 he has given me a 50 percent discount for the last 4 nights. Francistown is amazing. Biker friendly everything.

Brilliant Saturday, Stella, lovely lady, friend to the family who I hardly knew and

Having a doss and thinking about the bikeFrancistown/South Africa.

To Namibia.
Me as my shadow.

More sand picturesSand, tar or gravel, this one was tar. Lifes surprises.

The golden sand dunes.

The Skeleton coast. The rocks mark the edge and the road is actually surfaced under there.

Well survived the Skeleton coast and Namib deserts somehow.Namibia to Botswana.

Another bit of the trip.Windhoek – Swakopmund

These are all from NamibiaNext stop America but at 20kph?

Stating the obvious, but HS gets everywhere.

As close to the edge of Africa I could get it.

Rode miles to get to the border in waterproofs, gloves fit like a second skin over the wrinkled hands, I have a new hate, donkeys. People have trained them to walk on the road, not worry about cars and now millions have gone wild in Botswana because they own cars they wander all over the road, Worse than UK traffic cones, said to policeman why do you not just shoot them all and he replied we do not have enough bullets in Botswana.