Gael warning in the Congo

[Drumacoon Lad.]

What an epic taxi ride Simon. I do wonder sometimes if travelling on public transport may be more interesting than on a bike. You really get close to the lives of the locals. However I'm sure I'll continue to use a bike.

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[simondippenhall]

Meanwhile I prepare to board the bus to Pointe Noire which I had reserved the previous night

This was said to be a good bus company:

My friendly travel buddy is named Exocet!

The bus was relatively uncrowded although fully booked. And it played the same interminable gospel songs over and over!
.

The luggage unloading was a high point of each stop...one lady had a sack of tomatoes which were dripping juice everywhere!

After 6 hours I got to my incredibly luxurious (and expensive) hotel...but great to have hot water and WiFi so time for lots of laundry!

And then to await news about the from Muana when he gets to Malembene........


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[Howard J]

Fingers crossed for you Simon, it would be such a shame to leave the yellow peril after everywhere you have travelled on it.

 

[Posh Pete]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained


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That's the spirit! Amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you!

 

[Tango2]

Good luck Simon. Fingers crossed you get the GS sorted.

 

[simondippenhall]

I asked the helpful reception guys (one a bike fanatic) what to do on a Sunday in Points Noire.

He looks blank so I divine there is little happening and I suggest the beach to which he nods.

So off I walk, a pleasant and interesting mile down Avenue General Charles de Gaulle.

On the way I find my spiritual home, the railway station. (If I can't ride on 2 wheels then I love trains)

Despite the elegant train station the line is virtually moribund with no passenger trains - although plenty of rolling stock

So I walk in down to the beach, on what is known as the Savage Coast

Time for a true adventure biker lunch: flask of tea and a Nutella baguette on the beach

Then I am lured into the Yes Club which despite the name is a Chinese beach restaurant. On the way in I am struck by this elegant couple, who are happy to be photographed

And then I enjoy Congo's answer to Guinness as I sit on the terrace and read my book

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[crumbles]

British Stiff upper lip.... Simon,
Time will prevail and YOU WILL continue your journey to where ever it was you were going to end it..with the yellow one...
There are hundereds...No thousands of us willing you on....

 

[simondippenhall]

Cheers Crumbles ...but please - we Gaels are NOT British!


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[Ash]

Fingers crossed for you Simon, it would be such a shame to leave the yellow peril after everywhere you have travelled on it.

+1

 

[luke scott]

Cheers Crumbles ...but please - we Gaels are NOT British!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaels

 

[Posh Pete]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaels

Hmmm ... Not.that it matters but you could argue that the Gaels were the original British. As in Brythonic (Welsh) and Goidelic (Irish and Scots Gaelic speakers) back in the Iron Age and early medieaval but i imagine Simon has in mind more recent history.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

As the other Gael who accompanied Simon on the Sahara section of the trip, I think the point he is making is we are not British. We come from a country without a colonial history. Which can be helpful in crossing some African borders.

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[Tango2]

Only a tiny bit relevant to the above posts due to reference of the Britons but still so funny I had to watch it again :

https://youtu.be/t2c-X8HiBng

 

[simondippenhall]

Thanks all for the primer on ethnic and constitutional history, the erudition of the Tosserati never ceases to amaze me .

Latest news is the GS has arrived in Dolisie last night on a big lorry, shepherded there from Malembe by M. Mwana's 2 apprentices. It's now in the workshop being looked at and I hope to have more news later this morning. I am in Pointe Noire so reliant on the phone at present.


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[Posh Pete]

Thanks all for the primer on ethnic and constitutional history, the bollox talked by the Tosserati never ceases to amaze me .

Latest news is the GS has arrived in Dolisie last night on a big lorry, shepherded there from Malembe by M. Mwana's 2 apprentices. It's now in the workshop being looked at and I hope to have more news later this morning����. I am in Pointe Noire so reliant on the phone at present.


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Corrected for the less diplomatic such as myself!

Good news Simon. Hoping for even better.

 

[Jockser]

Latest news is the GS has arrived in Dolisie last night on a big lorry, shepherded there from Malembe by M. Mwana's 2 apprentices. It's now in the workshop being looked at and I hope to have more news later this morning.

Jaysis, I go away for a couple of days & come back to find you've killed the poor elevenfiddy
Fingers crossed for a speedy repair cos we need our African fix...

 

[barak666]

Hi Simon, really hope you can get the bike sorted enough to continue your trip.....good luck, mate.

 

[simondippenhall]

Thanks Barak!

And Jockser, if you go and take the weekend off from being my guardian angel, what do you expect?

So faute dear mieux I did some tourism this morning which is quite an achievement as there is virtually nothing to see here.

(Last evening every screen in bars and hotels had this (LFC-MC)

St Peter's cathedral gets high ratings but when I got here it was not even worth a photo! So I detoured to the city markets which was far more interesting

And bought some palm nuts as the price of photo of them (and gave them to the taxi driver as a gift)

When I got back I called Mwana and he reports that they have got the bike started. If I understood correctly, it Seems there was no power to the fuel pump from the control unit and they opened it and found a detached wire. They acquired a replacement BMW part from a car (?) and have got the unit working. No doubt this was become clearer to me when I am in the door and he cab show me, but the bottom line is he thinks the bike is good to go.

So I am going to try to book a place today on a bus to Dolisie tomorrow....and that will allow me to give the bike a good ride around and test I am happy with it.

A qualified


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[Tango2]

Good news (hopefully). Fingers crossed it’s sorted.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Sounds good Simon. I'm
reassured he has found something definite on the electrical system. This could have been an intermittent connection for some time. You are wise to test it well. Good luck.

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