Good news indeed, best of luck with the reality!
Gael warning in the Congo
- Thread starter simondippenhall
- Start date
Even better news to report for train lovers like me. Contrary to reports of its demise, the Congo Ocean railway has a train running to Dolisie leaving today ....or maybe tomorrow
.
It's half the price of the bus but takes forever, I am told, so I shall be up early to report to the Afrasia bus depot at 06h30 sharp.
Reminds me of my early 20s when I travelled across Asia, and around South America, by bus and train. Not sure I am suited to it in my 60s, though! Prefer my 
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.
It's half the price of the bus but takes forever, I am told, so I shall be up early to report to the Afrasia bus depot at 06h30 sharp.
Reminds me of my early 20s when I travelled across Asia, and around South America, by bus and train. Not sure I am suited to it in my 60s, though! Prefer my 
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Great news for you Simon.....and us.
Loving it.
Loving it.
Fingers crossed for you 
So I rose very early and hailed a passing taxi...it was quiet at 5.45 and I got to the bus depot by 0600
The ticket office opened about 0630...and immediately the lady giving tickets was having a bad day
. She had just heard from one passenger that the 25 peopyshe had reserved privacy weren't coming after all! The ticket lady started to stress, saying 'the Chinese will take this out if my wages, they don't understand...' Eventually she rallied round (I encouraged her to take deep breaths) and some calm prevailed amidst the throng of people buying tickets for Dolisis (my stop) or on to Brazzaville a 9-10 hour trip.
Well the Chinese may not have been understanding of cancelled reservations- but they certainly understand how to run a bus company! The bus left at 7.31, a stewardess handed us cups of coffee and a baguette and a tin of beef pate for our snack. And all this for the same price as the slow crowded and hot bus I took a few days ago.
Views across the dense Congolese jungle:
When I got to Dolisid at 11:30 my bike was in one piece albeit showing quite a few signs of wear from 180 kms on a lorry
The cheery Mwana told me what they had done
It seems there was no current to the pump from the controller. The electrician discovered some diodes were dead so they bought this old car controller and cannibalised it for the necessary parts
The bike was certainly starting and ticking over well. The pump was priminge. Then Mwana said he was still a bit worried as the fuel pump was 'screaming' a little - and it was true that it was making a whine that wasn't there before.
After lots of discussion (he now wanted to hold on to the bike until he could source a pump as he felt it was trouble ahead and was nervous of me riding 160 kms!) we concluded this ingenious travel arrangement:
He had to go to Pointe Noire this afternoon for a police bike party so would be driving down on the police bike which of course had to be ridden by a cop. I suggested I went with them so if I had a problem he (Mwana the mechanic) could help me sort it.
The ticket office opened about 0630...and immediately the lady giving tickets was having a bad day
. She had just heard from one passenger that the 25 peopyshe had reserved privacy weren't coming after all! The ticket lady started to stress, saying 'the Chinese will take this out if my wages, they don't understand...' Eventually she rallied round (I encouraged her to take deep breaths) and some calm prevailed amidst the throng of people buying tickets for Dolisis (my stop) or on to Brazzaville a 9-10 hour trip.Well the Chinese may not have been understanding of cancelled reservations- but they certainly understand how to run a bus company! The bus left at 7.31, a stewardess handed us cups of coffee and a baguette and a tin of beef pate for our snack.
And all this for the same price as the slow crowded and hot bus I took a few days ago.Views across the dense Congolese jungle:
When I got to Dolisid at 11:30 my bike was in one piece albeit showing quite a few signs of wear from 180 kms on a lorry
The cheery Mwana told me what they had done
It seems there was no current to the pump from the controller. The electrician discovered some diodes were dead so they bought this old car controller and cannibalised it for the necessary parts
The bike was certainly starting and ticking over well. The pump was priminge. Then Mwana said he was still a bit worried as the fuel pump was 'screaming' a little - and it was true that it was making a whine that wasn't there before.
After lots of discussion (he now wanted to hold on to the bike until he could source a pump as he felt it was trouble ahead and was nervous of me riding 160 kms!) we concluded this ingenious travel arrangement:
He had to go to Pointe Noire this afternoon for a police bike party so would be driving down on the police bike which of course had to be ridden by a cop. I suggested I went with them so if I had a problem he (Mwana the mechanic) could help me sort it.
So when it all came together (which took a while) I got quite excited about a fast paced ride with the blues and twos going, as about 50 kms of the route was brilliant windy roads through the mountains
.
Eventually we set off at a good place, blue light flashing but when we came to the first of the bends I nearly rode into the back of my escort (which would have been embarrassing).
It seems that although he blatted ahead at 60+ on the straight, he was afraid of corners so the beautiful sweeping 60 mph curves he edged around at 20-25 mph
*
.
I grew very frustrated as it was already mid afternoon and he was riding at about half my normal pace. He still had his uses as it meant we swept through any police checkpoints but it was not the bracing, Giles-like high speed run I had been looking forward to. (He was also poor at overtaking so I was constantly having to hold back).
But we got there eventually:
Hi
The pump held up, but I am going to have it checked up again in the morning by a local expert recommended me by a top guy, Angelo, a Portuguese enduro motorcyclist who lives here.
So dear readers as I am completely knackered by my busy (and somewhat stressful) day, I shall leave you with this endearing mugshot of Mwana and me before we set off to Pointe-Noire
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.Eventually we set off at a good place, blue light flashing but when we came to the first of the bends I nearly rode into the back of my escort (which would have been embarrassing).
It seems that although he blatted ahead at 60+ on the straight, he was afraid of corners so the beautiful sweeping 60 mph curves he edged around at 20-25 mph
*.I grew very frustrated as it was already mid afternoon and he was riding at about half my normal pace. He still had his uses as it meant we swept through any police checkpoints but it was not the bracing, Giles-like high speed run I had been looking forward to. (He was also poor at overtaking so I was constantly having to hold back).
But we got there eventually:
Hi
The pump held up, but I am going to have it checked up again in the morning by a local expert recommended me by a top guy, Angelo, a Portuguese enduro motorcyclist who lives here.
So dear readers as I am completely knackered by my busy (and somewhat stressful) day, I shall leave you with this endearing mugshot of Mwana and me before we set off to Pointe-Noire
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That’s surely a good result Simon 
The Bosch part num for the fuel pump is:
0580 314 068
Used on older Audi models. Not many of those about I expect.
Maybe the local Halfords can make some use of this information to track one down. Bound to involve another entertaining saga.
0580 314 068
Used on older Audi models. Not many of those about I expect.
Maybe the local Halfords can make some use of this information to track one down. Bound to involve another entertaining saga.
Absolutely brilliant, Mwana is a black Steptoe
Your fuel pump will be fine but take out the filter and properly clean..or preferably replace if possible
Hi Mike: please can you explain this a bit more? I.e. why pump will be OK and why clean filter? Thanks S
Hi Simon, great read, it's the trials and tribulations that make this trip report a bit more engrossing. Expect you may have a slightly different perspective though lol.
I'm sure Mike will be along soon but what I think he means is that the "screaming" fuel pump may be caused by blocked fuel filter as this sometimes cause the fuel pumps motor to spin faster than normal as there is no resistance from petrol being pushed through by the impeller. Think of a vacuum cleaner with your hand over pick up tube - no air flow equals change in sound as motor spins up faster.
May be an easier fix if this is the case so definitely something to mention to your local guy when he comes to look at it.
Good luck with your onward travels
Dave
UKGSer at its best
Good to hear Simon ... and as I say, there aint anything out there that can't be fixed
Great adventure, great reading ... ride safe
Thank you
Fireflyer
Great explanation, that’s very helpful. Glad you are enjoying the trip - actually I am too, very much. The technical hiccups get me to stop in places I wouldn't normally and meet people a bit out of the way. My trip planning, such as it was, would never have included a night in an infirmary in a village without electricity or running water 200 kms from the nearest tarmac! And my trip would have been the poorer for it.
Got the bible out at the breakfast table
Albatross: kind offer, I may be in touch!
Micky: good to hear from you, I wondered where you were!
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Great explanation, that’s very helpful. Glad you are enjoying the trip - actually I am too, very much. The technical hiccups get me to stop in places I wouldn't normally and meet people a bit out of the way. My trip planning, such as it was, would never have included a night in an infirmary in a village without electricity or running water 200 kms from the nearest tarmac! And my trip would have been the poorer for it.
Got the bible out at the breakfast table
Albatross: kind offer, I may be in touch!
Micky: good to hear from you, I wondered where you were!
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Micky: good to hear from you, I wondered where you were!
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He's slowing up, except when it comes to necking malt whisky! Or even whiskey.
Keep going Simon. The fates and UKgser are behind you.
So a busy and sort of productive morning, which I celebrate now with a Nutella mini baguette
Straight after First Breakfast I ride to Sports drive where I was expected (thanks, Angelo!). I roll into the well kit garage area....what a pleasure to be doing this out if the sun and not on a mud or sand surface!
.
The old girl has no false modesty now
We (Poaty the mechanic) and I empty the petrol tank
By the time we are done, there must be nearly 2 litres of water (the darker bit here) in the bucket
This is the product of poor fuel, periodic periods of resting, and Poaty says the heat and cold leading to condensation.
The fuel pump is removed
He makes a diddy stick to wipe the inside of the tank
The filter itself is full.of disgusting gunk ....after all it has done 130,000 kms in all sorts of conditions
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Straight after First Breakfast I ride to Sports drive where I was expected (thanks, Angelo!). I roll into the well kit garage area....what a pleasure to be doing this out if the sun and not on a mud or sand surface!
.
The old girl has no false modesty now
We (Poaty the mechanic) and I empty the petrol tank
By the time we are done, there must be nearly 2 litres of water (the darker bit here) in the bucket
This is the product of poor fuel, periodic periods of resting, and Poaty says the heat and cold leading to condensation.
The fuel pump is removed
He makes a diddy stick to wipe the inside of the tank
The filter itself is full.of disgusting gunk ....after all it has done 130,000 kms in all sorts of conditions
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So the Bosch filter is replaced with a new, French one (they assure me they don’t use Chinese components!).
Replacement pumps are not easily available so we put the whole thing back together again and put good petrol in and after a little moving of the bike to get the petrol to the pump, it starts again.
However the pump is still whining, suggesting it may be full of muck too
So we have a conference of war.
They are not confident the pump will hold out for the long hike across Angoka which starts about 15 miles away.
I have a cunning plan to return to Europe shortly as my beloved (wife
not motorbike) is due to have a major op in 10 days time or so and I want to be there in support whilst she recovers. (Some of you will know of her from the brief report when she rode pillion around Senegal and Guinea Bissau with me last November, and was a complete superstar
).
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/472105-Gaels-return-to-West-Africa?highlight=Bissau
The rains are due shortly as the grey skies show
So this is ideal timing to park the bike up here in the Congo until Christmas, and return in January when there is a short dry spell to come the journey South.
With apologies to Jockser who will need to find a new winter programme on the telly. But as they say, we hope a normal service will be resumed shortly.
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Replacement pumps are not easily available so we put the whole thing back together again and put good petrol in and after a little moving of the bike to get the petrol to the pump, it starts again.
However the pump is still whining, suggesting it may be full of muck too
So we have a conference of war.
They are not confident the pump will hold out for the long hike across Angoka which starts about 15 miles away.
I have a cunning plan to return to Europe shortly as my beloved (wife
not motorbike) is due to have a major op in 10 days time or so and I want to be there in support whilst she recovers. (Some of you will know of her from the brief report when she rode pillion around Senegal and Guinea Bissau with me last November, and was a complete superstar
).http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/472105-Gaels-return-to-West-Africa?highlight=Bissau
The rains are due shortly as the grey skies show
So this is ideal timing to park the bike up here in the Congo until Christmas, and return in January when there is a short dry spell to come the journey South.
With apologies to Jockser who will need to find a new winter programme on the telly. But as they say, we hope a normal service will be resumed shortly.
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And as well as a new pump the mechanic suggested bringing a replacement circuit board for the controller as he sensibly enough fears a repair is less robust than a new one. To that shopping list I have to add 4 new silent blocks to replace the old ones to retain the sump guard - these have come apart, possibly due to the long lorry ride out of the bush.
So suggestions from the Tossers to on where to source these will be welcome!
The silent block (French name, not sure of namein English)
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So suggestions from the Tossers to on where to source these will be welcome!
The silent block (French name, not sure of namein English)
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Seems like a good plan Simon. You might not have got as far as you hoped this time, but what an adventure to deal with a broken bike in the middle of Africa. Well done. Look forward to catching up when you're back.
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Really great to read, Simon....
The rubberblocks silent blocks break after some time, mine need replacing as well and I will order from BMW, might well be Motorworks do them as well as they got most stuff available...
Let me know if I or we can help
All best
Albert
The rubberblocks silent blocks break after some time, mine need replacing as well and I will order from BMW, might well be Motorworks do them as well as they got most stuff available...
Let me know if I or we can help
All best
Albert
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