13 Jan

Well, we are sitting in the rain, at sunset beach, near Chidenguele.  Had a lovely swim in a very warm sea, although rough.  The first 6 days are over, and we have done a bit more than 2000 km.  We have been through extreme heat, torrential downpours, hard rain, had a back shock pack up,  camped for 4 nights, lodged for two nights, nearly hit a sheep, did hit a bad rut, had 3 falls in sand, but all is well, and we’re happily enjoying every minute.

Day one was a long one, Grahamstown to Underberg, just over 700 km. We hit a bad rut, which meant Sharon’s bike needed a new shock – although truthfully, this had probably needed replacing for a while.  So, day  two took us just over 200 km to Cato ridge near Durban, to see a BWM dealer early on Monday morning..  Day 3 at the BMW dealer.  Shock not available, only from JHB, so we asked for it to be sent ahead to Nelspruit.  So, a slow drive – about 450 km, through 2 hours of rain about as heavy as it gets.  Spent the night near Pongola, at the Swaziland Border.  Early next morning, through Swaziland to Nelspruit, another slow drive.  Very pretty, well managed country, roads well maintained, verges mowed etc.  The two border posts were very easy, and painless.  At Nelspruit, BMW once again helped, although this time at huge cost!!!!  10 K for a shock!!  Was too!  We decided to push on into Mozambique, to Casa Lisa, about 225 Km.  Leaving Nelspruit at 3 Pm, we figured we might just have enough time.  Komatipoort border was a beeeze, but soon after getting to Maputo, we got stuck in heavy traffic, which meant it got dark while still in Maputo.  Eventually got to Casa Lisa, about 50 KM north of Maputo, at 8.30.  Sharon and Johan both took little falls in the soft sand leading to the lodge.   Decided to sleep in a bedroom, rather than put up tents!!!  Another very long day, 5.30 am, until about 8.30 arrival!

We awoke to rain, after a very good night’s rest, and sat around for a while,  waiting for a gap in the weather.  Once it cleared, we set off again, to do the 250 odd km to Chidenguele, which unfortunately meant another 7.5 km of sand track.  Sharon had another tumble, and got her right leg pinned under the pannier, but fortunately the sand was soft, and she only has a few bruises.  We are going to have to get her to move her feet out from under the  bike when she falls!

So, the rain comes and goes, while we try to get things dry, and have some laundry done. A rest day, well deserved!   Nice place, run by people from thr Freestate, have made us very welcome.  Joe had a chance to eat the promised seafood last night. 

Tomorrow  – day 7 - we will move to Tofo,  then hopefully to a site we know well  - Marrungulo .  From there to Vilanculos.  Ralph and Johan have given up the idea of getting to Malawi with us, and we will spend more days together on the Moz coast,  as neither of them have been here before. 

Will post pics when possible!

L