For every good biking day there are other less good days. Today was less good. Setting off from Victoria Falls & the motorbike fairies were not happy. Started up ok. Bike drove out of the gate & then died.I was hoping for an early start as I had a biggish journey to Bulawayo & wanted to spend the afternoon in the Rhodes Matopas NP (that's where Cecil Rhodes - the founder of Rhodesia is buried).
After the now familiar unloading & reloading I replaced the blown fuse & set off. Zimbabwe & its people are different again. The country is more farmed & in places industrial. But it feels run down. The roads & towns have a dilapidated feel - as if nothing has been spent. And under Mugabe that probably true. The people are friendly, outwardly conservative & very happy to talk. Good job. I'd done about 200K & was mid-way through my journey. For no apparent reason, the engine died. I free wheeled off the road where a couple of wagons were pulled up & as is common a group of blokes squatted, talking under a tree. It was near midday & in the late 30s.
Thinking that I'd need more fuses I had earlier stopped & bought some spares. As it came to one dollar I bought 5. I replaced the fuse & tried to re-start. The fuse immediately blew. I tried again. Same. And again. And again. Last fuse. It blew. I looked around me. Two guys feet on dash in a massive transporter or a group of "locals" listening to music. I choose the former. George & Lance were waiting for an vehicle to escort their oversized trailer. They were picking up a Caterpillar digger from Johannesburg. We walked to the three building crossroads, had a couple of cokes, talked & then found some new fuses.
I tried again & the bike started. They said, if I break down they would take the bike to Pretoria where the rental guys were ready to sort. Given I was running again, I thanked them, exchanged numbers & set off with all digits crossed.
The night before, I had booked a place in Bulawayo for $20. My expectations weren't high but I was happy as I'd arrived. John & Bryony were teachers trying to make ends meet by doing lots of jobs including managing a fine couple of holiday cottages. John & me went & got some beers. I got online to warn the rental guys I may not make it to their place (in Pretoria).
Later on, Lance in the transporter rang the place. "Had I made it?" & to let me know they will look out for me on the road. Great people.
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