With renewed spirits, we rolled into the Zim border post ready to cross the Kariba Dam wall and make our way towards Lusaka. Customs and immigration: check! Last counter at the post was the Rolex-wearing officials under a tree, behind the white border post buildings. It was pretty evident we had our work cut out to sustain our bribe free trip. “No Interpol No Go” – in other words, we needed police clearance to get out of the country (odd how we got into the country). After rummaging through our bags like fools it was clear we couldn’t get away with this one. “Go back to South Africa, and bring me Interpol” said the CSI stoolman. Trying not to laugh at his preposterous remark, the tension thickened, our eyes met, and proceeding a 20min death stare, we were on our way. Whoever said you have to bribe your way through Africa probably couldn’t hit a bull in the ass with a bass fiddle.
Nonetheless we were back in Zambia. Motoring at 70 km/h. Back in the game. Fish had livened up after his post morning binge hangover and James was catching some Zzz’s in the Pistons’ van and causing havoc with their navigation system. We reached Lusaka to grab a chocolate milkshake and as usual had impeccable timing. Peak hour traffic in any African capitol is a nightmare, nevermind Lusaka. But hang on. Hold that horse. We’re on scooters! What took the other teams 3 hours to navigate through the bustling city took us 20 min! Now nightfall, we cruised eastwards to our next oasis, the Luanga Bridge river camp. We covered the last 350km by spotlight and reached the camp at our usual 12am curfew, only to find the only campsite for 200km was fully booked! No sweat, we pitched our tents outside the entrance and hung our riding jackets on the “Welcome to the Bridge Camp” sign. It’s remarkable how many cheap nights we have endured on this adventure. 17 hours of riding and 650 km covered, we slowly dwindled into a coma around our excuse for a campfire sipping on OBS.
Bright and early the chaps made their way along the bone chattering road which wound alongside the Luanga river. Our intentions were to make Malawi today and rest somewhere in Lilongwe. The scooters felt good, the weather was beautiful, our petrol situation: dire. We rolled through two towns on fumes and spluttered to a halt some 70 km short of Chipata. Our track record didn’t seem too bad: 2 fuel run-outs in 5000km straddling scooters which only had a range of 340km. After sending a policeman on a fuel scavenger hunt he too returned empty handed. Odd how so many bikes are able to get around in this area with minimum fuel – but they manage somehow. An hour or so later Team Slowvelders came to the rescue. These legends filled both our tanks and we putted our way through Chipata. From there it was a hop over the border and we rolled onto our next landmark of Put Foot Rally 2012, Lilongwe.
The buggers always seem to come up with bright ideas. With one phone between the three of us, we thought it was a good idea to split and find a backpackers that James and Jared had been to 5 years earlier. The result: Fish, Jared, the Pistons and Team Epic winning found a lekker spot with an amazing pub and wasted no time to put back a couple of Greens (Carlsberg Lagers). The realization hit home some time later that there was no James. A quick search around the town and we found him drifting around showing off his LED’s to the streetkids. We promise we didn’t forget you James (only a little). The little pub was soon overtaken as we dished out some much awaited fines and highlights thus far. A couple of classics:
· Toni (pistons) – After a temper tantrum stopping the van and refusing to drive unless Fish got out the car (somewhere in the middle of Zim).
· James – Riding through a roadblock
· Fish – Breaking the whole length of the zip on our tent in Livingstone (many a cold night ensued)
· Matt (Epic Winning) – First to take his Poncho off in the 2012 Zim Poncho Showdown (he lasted 4 hours before succumbing to the urge of wanting to get naked)
· Jared – Making the Pistons drive 100km at 4am to fetch us after a rear wheel puncture outside Livingstone)
· Mike (Pistons) – removing every bolt from Molly to try take off a rear wheel (including brake lines and the seat?), still he failed.
· Mac (Pistons) – Driving 100km from JHB with the handbrake up (apparently when there’s smoke coming from the rear of the car you need to push on harder).
Lilongwe’s madness and antics continued long into the night. We had only 110 km to push onto Senga Bay on the Lake where we would party like animals under the full moon! Could this be our first real opportunity in Put Foot history that the Buggers make a checkpoint in daylight – don’t hold your breathe.
Keeping it Silly
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