Trip Report #1 (13-->14 July 2009): “Chaos in Motion”

Yes, Yes, so you all knew we were going to flounder around like idiots on the first day (or week).

We started late, courtesy of having a multitude of little things that added up to an hour odd in time.  The funnest (new word declaration) part of this was the mounting of the official trip logos onto out vehicles.

Anita adeptly busy polishing the logo onto the Doka.

 

 

 

The lot of us posing all innocently, ready to leave. 

Next Stop…..   Centurion Mall.  (You can laugh now) Mari-Louise and I realised we forgot the following:

• Fleesy blankets (Woolies)
• Penlight re-chargeable batteries
• Fancy Fan/Water gadget

Adri and Anita took the opportunity to visit Outdoor Warehouse and buy some last minute stuff.

Naboomspruit Detour:

Finally on the way, I realised that the alignment of the Syncro is out.  I was fighting the road camber to the extent that my back was cramping. Her is us at the Naboomspruit HI-Q getting it sorted.  (You may laugh some more now)

I was very happy about stopping to get this done.  The difference was notable and the rest of the trip so much more enjoyable.  The stop also gave Adri and Anita an opportunity to go shop for cushions (another forgotten artefact).

Beitbridge: Chaos Central

After confirming that their is NO camping in Messina, we decided to forge ahead to Beitbridge with no clue where we are going thereafter. 

 

 

 

IIt took forever to get through and it was chaos.

My First Bribe:  I knew at some point on this trip I would have to “grease” the wheels of bureaucracy, but honestly I did not think it be on day 1.  On the way out of the border station, we accidently bypassed the Stop sign where the final checks are performed.  Thinking back the function of the final stop seems to be for the purposes of extortion. And yes we were extorted.  It took 30 min and packing out all our stuff before coming to a R100 “help me help you” fee.  Those who know me will know that I do not care about the money, but the dancing was particularly painful.  This guy actually took me to the stop sign and embarrassed me in front of his “colleagues”, by sarcastically explaining how Stop signs work.

Side Note: It is said that sarcasm is the worse form of humour.  A statement I always found rather… unwarranted.  What I will say is that: “bad sarcasm (< 100 IQ in operator) is the worse form of sarcasm”

Camping:  We made it to the Lion and Elephant Hotel and Campsite.  Here is us the next morning looking all sorted. 

                 … the chaos has stopped.

Trip Details:

Note the elevation drop as we come of the Highveld into Zimbabwe.

The map below shows our first day.  620Km of it!

Too much probably, but it was worth getting out of the country.

ciao, Carl-Hein