Into Botswana

Looking at the map, there was a 400ish mile gap between me & Botswana. I decided to break teh back of it the first day & have an easy day to the border crossing the next. As the landscape rolled by there was very little change. A long strip of tarmac with gravel roads leading to unpronounceable places somewhere far out of view. It is now mid-30s & there is much less wildlife. Fewer ostriches but a new hazard. Donkeys, goats & cattle grazing by the roadside. Donkeys I've learnt will stand in the road motionless. Goats will cross but as a group. Cattle however will either ignore you or panic running in any direction.

This keeps me occupied as we sip & seep. I sip my drink (from my camelback) & gently sizzle like a roasting hog. The bike sips fuel (its a single) & continues to seep oil (apart from now talking to myself I calculate my fuel range continuously - yes, I know).  Meanwhile the GS boys catch me up. On a week-end ride out. Proceeded to get their lunch & cold beers out of their coolboxes. "Travelling on your own then Dave?". I take another sip out of my warm camelback & head off. 
   

Arrived in Mafikeng late afternoon. Its Saturday night & the liquor stores are busy. This is one of the last nights I have booked a place. Its basic. On the plus side I have brought the bike in with me (what men dream of) & try to sleep through the Mad Max Thunderdome antics outside, the owners yappy dogs & the scurge of the self catering apartment - the fridge. Periodically through the night, the fridge will stir into action & being ancient that means much clanking & grinding. 

Awoke groggily & spoke to the owner. "You are riding a motorbike across Chobe (National Park) alone? David, there are no fences there. There are things that will eat you". On that happy note, I set off for Botswana border. I expected hassle & got none. "Sounds like a great trip.." said the guy waiting in the queue "but why are you doing it alone?" Grrrr.

First thing to greet me in Botswana were vultures. Second were Police road blocks. Luckily the third was a liquor shop where I drank cans of cider with the locals (who strangely wore flat caps).