Deleted account 210609001
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I've been waiting for this trip report to spring back into life!
Gael warning in the Congo
- Thread starter simondippenhall
- Start date
Love Namibia and Africa, been following from the start. Ride safe.
Thanks guys. A long ride today, about 670 kms, to halfway across the Caprivi Strip. Hope I can cross into Zambia tomorrow. Tapatalk seems to have frozen so I am struggling to load pictures so will try again later/tomorrow. Sufficient to say I am well and truly back in Africa, with many road hazards such as goats, comes, donkeys and children straying into the road, to add to yesterday's warthogs!
Coffee break by the road.
My eventual abode for the night, the Rundu Guest House, is on the banks of the Kovango river
There is quite a lot of soft sand, so I found the Gideon bible makes an excellent supplement to the side stand:
Just as I put the good book in place the hotel receptionist wandered over but fortunately did not (or chose not to) notice the blasphemous Irishman at his evil works.
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Possibly my last Windhoek lager as I hope to Cross into Zambia tomorrow at Katima Mulilo
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Coffee break by the road.
My eventual abode for the night, the Rundu Guest House, is on the banks of the Kovango river
There is quite a lot of soft sand, so I found the Gideon bible makes an excellent supplement to the side stand:
View attachment 425688
Just as I put the good book in place the hotel receptionist wandered over but fortunately did not (or chose not to) notice the blasphemous Irishman at his evil works.
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Not sinking in the sand - it’s a miracle ��
I always wondered what they were for
Keep her lit Simon, badly need some sunny pictures
Deleted account 210609001
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I'm beginning to question the reliability of this ride report. I think it might be up there with the moon landings in terms of elaborate hoaxes.
The reason for my suspicion: Simon wants us to believe he's riding across Africa on a bike that is SIXTEEN YEARS OLD! It's not one of the latest LC GSes, doesn't have electronically adjusting suspension, no Bluetooth and no integrated flat screen technology. Any fool knows that these are essential for proper overland travel in the modern age. And the final nail in the coffin of his attempted deception: he seems to be travelling alone, without so much as a 4x4 as back-up. What does he take us for?!?
I reckon he's gone no further than Longleat for the wildlife pics and Weston-Super-Mare for the desert.
The reason for my suspicion: Simon wants us to believe he's riding across Africa on a bike that is SIXTEEN YEARS OLD! It's not one of the latest LC GSes, doesn't have electronically adjusting suspension, no Bluetooth and no integrated flat screen technology. Any fool knows that these are essential for proper overland travel in the modern age. And the final nail in the coffin of his attempted deception: he seems to be travelling alone, without so much as a 4x4 as back-up. What does he take us for?!?
I reckon he's gone no further than Longleat for the wildlife pics and Weston-Super-Mare for the desert.
Blast! I have been rumbled
So today I left Divundu, after an excellent dry up breakfast and by 0815 saw this sign
Less than 10 minutes later, I was delighted to see 6 elephants start to make their way across my path. But once they heard the mighty 1150, they turned around. No photos as, follwiua chat with a Kenyan tour guide last week who reminded me that ekeooATE motorcycles, I had the engine running and mm you hand on the throttle. Didn't fancy taking off gloves and removing phone from pocket then having to make a rapid exit!
This was followed by cape buffalo,, antelopes of some sort, and later, monkeys.
So I knew it would be a good day (and xkungon to that thought through the later ups and downs.
I also heard that Saudi is now issuing tourist visas which may be helpful as a way of exiting Sudan.
SoI to med up to the Namibian customs....and spent a jollye but frustrating1.5 hours discovering that the customs agent has not prepared the papers right in Windhoek? (Unbeknownst to me Jim was having a similar experience at the South Africa border!
Gave me time to chat with the lorry drivers and learn that the roads in Congo are so bad that they deliver fish all the way around through Namibia and enter Congo (DRC) from Zambia! Here is one such driver
As a senior (if retired) Customs officer, I was even offered a seat!
Eventually it was time to enter Zambia which was very friendly. As I drove through No Mans Land, I was pursued by a group of money changers so I conducted a running auction for who who give me most Kwacha for my 620 Namibia dollars. The fittest and most competitive got my business.
In order to explain my trip I had prepared (with Jim’s help) laminated maps of this
Whilst it helped answer questions, it so captivated the immigration and customs people as well as the insurance agents that I had to remind them to get on with giving the papers I needed.
It was definitely a reentry to Africa proper, with sandy and bustling customs.
Immediately i crossed the Zambezi
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So today I left Divundu, after an excellent dry up breakfast and by 0815 saw this sign
Less than 10 minutes later, I was delighted to see 6 elephants start to make their way across my path. But once they heard the mighty 1150, they turned around. No photos as, follwiua chat with a Kenyan tour guide last week who reminded me that ekeooATE motorcycles, I had the engine running and mm you hand on the throttle. Didn't fancy taking off gloves and removing phone from pocket then having to make a rapid exit!
This was followed by cape buffalo,, antelopes of some sort, and later, monkeys.
So I knew it would be a good day (and xkungon to that thought through the later ups and downs.
I also heard that Saudi is now issuing tourist visas which may be helpful as a way of exiting Sudan.
SoI to med up to the Namibian customs....and spent a jollye but frustrating1.5 hours discovering that the customs agent has not prepared the papers right in Windhoek? (Unbeknownst to me Jim was having a similar experience at the South Africa border!
Gave me time to chat with the lorry drivers and learn that the roads in Congo are so bad that they deliver fish all the way around through Namibia and enter Congo (DRC) from Zambia! Here is one such driver
As a senior (if retired) Customs officer, I was even offered a seat!
Eventually it was time to enter Zambia which was very friendly. As I drove through No Mans Land, I was pursued by a group of money changers so I conducted a running auction for who who give me most Kwacha for my 620 Namibia dollars. The fittest and most competitive got my business.
In order to explain my trip I had prepared (with Jim’s help) laminated maps of this
Whilst it helped answer questions, it so captivated the immigration and customs people as well as the insurance agents that I had to remind them to get on with giving the papers I needed.
It was definitely a reentry to Africa proper, with sandy and bustling customs.
Immediately i crossed the Zambezi
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With age comes (some degree of ) wisdom so I decided to stay overnight close to the border at Brenda’s best baobab, a quirky lodge by the river.
My quarters
But first I had to get more dosh! After wandering around the place, I eventually found the only atm down a little Lane. To my frustration it blocked all three of my Visa cards!
So I had to track down a moneychanger - the speed at which he accepted the Google rate of exchange makes me suspect there may be a black markeurate here. But in any case things are notably cheaper here than in Namibia.
Fortunately my fabulous SWMBO sorted out my bank debit card but I am still trying to get through to those fuckers at MBNA visa who won't take details of your travels but delighted in blocking my card and then not answering the phone as I incurred expensive calls.
End of rant. A Zambezi sunset makes it all worthwhile
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My quarters
But first I had to get more dosh! After wandering around the place, I eventually found the only atm down a little Lane. To my frustration it blocked all three of my Visa cards!
So I had to track down a moneychanger - the speed at which he accepted the Google rate of exchange makes me suspect there may be a black markeurate here. But in any case things are notably cheaper here than in Namibia.
Fortunately my fabulous SWMBO sorted out my bank debit card but I am still trying to get through to those fuckers at MBNA visa who won't take details of your travels but delighted in blocking my card and then not answering the phone as I incurred expensive calls.
End of rant. A Zambezi sunset makes it all worthwhile
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And for those of you who think (with some justification I admit) that I am a complete mechanical numpty - I actually got the tools out this evening as I needed to shorten a bolt and refix the Tobinator on the right side.
My Dutch host assisted me with a hacksaw and a spare set of hands. He revealed he is a former surgeon, and as I wandered off to town he seemed to be about to undertake some more
As the sun went down I felt badly in need of food so went to the Goodwill hostel where I was served some beef (provided by Dunlop!) but also done delicious chips and pumpkin leaves and most importantly this massive beer...all for about £2.50
Nearness I can hear the disco beat pumping so it will be earplugs tonight.
Looking forward to seeing everyone traipsing off to church tomorrow. I shall be bound for Livingstone I think.
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My Dutch host assisted me with a hacksaw and a spare set of hands. He revealed he is a former surgeon, and as I wandered off to town he seemed to be about to undertake some more
As the sun went down I felt badly in need of food so went to the Goodwill hostel where I was served some beef (provided by Dunlop!) but also done delicious chips and pumpkin leaves and most importantly this massive beer...all for about £2.50
Nearness I can hear the disco beat pumping so it will be earplugs tonight.
Looking forward to seeing everyone traipsing off to church tomorrow. I shall be bound for Livingstone I think.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Indeed! However I did get to admire 6 or 7 hippos this morning:
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Great trip !
Why’s Jim gone south, if its not a silly question ?
Why’s Jim gone south, if its not a silly question ?
Not a silly question. He wanted to head through SA (not having ridden there earlier this year as I had) and so make his way through, possibly, to Tanzania next year.
He has an excellent ride report on here at UKGSer as you probably know
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He has an excellent ride report on here at UKGSer as you probably know
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Ah yes. Just caught up with it now.
Am I imagining things but didn’t you advertise your 1150 for sale a while back ? If so had you not originally planned to carry on with your current trip ?
Ride safe !
Am I imagining things but didn’t you advertise your 1150 for sale a while back ? If so had you not originally planned to carry on with your current trip ?
Ride safe !
Arsey: there has never been a plan. At various stages I have advertised it for sale (in Gambia and later in Cameroon); abandoned it (Congo).
And it may well appear for sale again in November if it can't be shipped from Sudan (assuming I get there
).
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. At various stages I have advertised it for sale (in Gambia and later in Cameroon); abandoned it (Congo).And it may well appear for sale again in November if it can't be shipped from Sudan (assuming I get there
).Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Arsey: there has never been a plan
And it may well appear for sale again in November if it can't be shipped from Sudan (assuming I get there
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No plan-best way there is !!
Johan
Registered user
Do you know what Jim’s thread is called?
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