In search of Father Jack.

[Drumacoon Lad.]

So glossing quickly over my evening in the local bar wearing a liverpool shirt, watching Liverpool be beaten for the first time this season, I'll start with leaving Iringa today, hoping to see some cave paintings. Unfortunately the road pictured below and the impending rain defeated me. The road was already treacherous enough and the rain would have made it more than I could handle, so I reluctantly bailed out and resumed my journey. The road started with a climb and included some nice sweeping corners. As I decended I could see the plain below and a lake in the distance. On the twisty section there were some that didnt make the corner.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

On the side of the road there were people wearing traditional dress including the motorcyclist. The stars of this road were the beobabs, this one with animals gathered underneath it.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

I stopped for lunch surrounded by beobabs and this one insisted in a selfie. These magnificent specimens were close to a flood the size of a lake. This next beobab was actually in the flood. There's a couple of egrets on the beobab but loads on this tree next to it.

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[wreck diver]

Fantastic pics and write up Jim

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Thanks for the comments, always welcome, and you're also welcome to those fish!

I finished up last night posting the last picture of the egrets in the tree while in bed but with my bird book on the bike. I hadn't identified the egrets but with reference to my book this morning, they appear to be Yellow-billed Egrets. The single egret below is different, with its black bill. I can't see its yellow toes, but am sure it has them, which makes it a Little Egret.

There was also a flash of colour from this monkey, blue in fact, and I just caught a bit in the photo. This colouration and the distinctive face, suggests this a Vervet Monkey, sometimes used as bush meat it appears.

My last photo last night was of the impending storm, apparently moving in to the place I was planning to stay. I only had coordinates and had not loaded them in the GPS. So while watching this storm moving towards me, I was frantically trying to get these into the GPS, so I could beat the storm to my accommodation. The coordinate format was different to mine of course and had to be changed, more time wasted. Finally I got the details loaded and found the place was quite close. There was a big puddle to cross and an unsavoury road to handle but I arrived before the storm and got myself and the bike under cover in time.

My accomodation did not include breakfast. A swiss lady staying in the house, saw me last night and gave me a piece of her lemon cake and this morning brought over some of her freshly baked brown bread, cheese, jam and peanut butter. The kindness of strangers, again!

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

After my brown bread, cheese and peanut butter breakfast, I loaded up. Half the brown bread and cheese being kept for lunch along the road. The big puddle I waded through on the way in to the hotel, was still there, a bit smaller but still concealing its hidden depths. I took a different path and got through easily. I'd loaded up my destination Babati, confirmed the distance and got a shock. Instead of 260km the GPS was showing 410km. It took me a while to work out the GPS was taking a different road to Google Maps, creating a big detour. I ignored the GPS and followed signs to Arusha, hoping the GPS did not know best and this was the best option. Out of town I began to climb and the scenery was beautiful.

The weather was overcast and as I climbed it got darker and then began to spit. I resolved to put on full weather gear. It never poured, but only fully cleared up, near the end and I finished the trip still in waterproofs. The road surface was fine with hardly a pothole but the terrain did rise and fall and at one point I was up to 1800 metres.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

I was with the Beobabs again and here's a couple of fine examples. I love these other more slender trees with the spreading canopy, another great African tree!

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[Edventure]

Are the others Acacia trees Jim? Very typically African

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Some scenes along the way:-

My ever-growing fan club!

Learning young how to carry on your head.

This elegant lady is returning from the fields.

The bike taxis, poised. Seems like an excuse to sit on a motorbike and act cool.

This is a poor photo of a cart, drawn by four oxen.

Lastly the filling station, couldn't decide if they'd just gone to lunch and it was worth waiting.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Are the others Acacia trees Jim? Very typically African

Thanks Ed, thought so, just wasn't sure.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Having arrived in Babati I rode to the hotel I had in mind. For the first time on the trip, they didn't have a room. I made the lady repeat it, as I was so surprised and I knew there were limited options here. She recommended another hotel down a stony track. Its OK. I went for a wander down the town and it seems a lot of carpenters work in the open and show their handiwork like this bed. I didn't fancy eating in the hotel so opted for the popular bar at the corner of the street and had the chicken and spicy sauce. Quite tasty.

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[Drumacoon Lad.]

Unloading my gear into the last hotel brought up mixed feelings, as tomorrow I'll be in Arusha my destination. Sad the trip is over, pleased its gone so well and I'm near my destination. Also looking forward to getting home as I explained in an earlier post.

Will be tough giving up this bike that has brought me so far, just short of 20,000 kms. I know many big adventure bikes that are traded in, with less mileage than this 125 clocked up in just over a year. This little bike has been on an African adventure though 9 countries and 11 border crossings and never missed a beat. I'll have more respect for little bikes in future.

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[Edventure]

Jim, what a trip! I've very much enjoyed following your journey

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Jim, what a trip! I've very much enjoyed following your journey

Ed, great to have your company. Not the end, as I'll be telling stories in the pub for years!

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[harry]

Jim, what a trip! I've very much enjoyed following your journey

Me too! Thanks Jim and safe home.

 

[Greyrover]

Really enjoyable photos and commentary Jim.

 

[de crowe]

Well done

safe journey home Jim and thanks for posting such a wonderful narrative of your journey. I was wondering what happens to the bike? and where I might get the sticker on the tank?

 

[gspod]

Could you leave it somewhere, as you have done before and go back at a later date and ride it home?

 

[barak666]

Fantastic trip again, Jim.... many thanks for taking the time to share it with us - I look forward to the next instalment!

Phil

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Thanks all for the positive and generous comments folks. Been great to have you along.

Had a great day today. Went to the village Fr Jack lived and worked. Found much more than I expected and still processing it. Will give more details in the next day or so.

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