ZIMBABWE INTO SOUTH AFRICA

Well at about 9pm twenty five people came into camp in one group. I had a nice fire going and then they joined me and they were all from near where I grew up , Retreat and Heath field because of the pigment of their skin they had to live there. What a great bunch of guys , they then we're cooking up a storm and chugging some wine and turned into quite an eventful evening with these characters and I just love the "Colored Talk" .

 Left camp early and my GPS took me on some 50km of back roads which were very scenic and through a few villages and then back on to a boring tar road. Was caught speeding again and he wanted a $300 bribe for a $20 ticket. He said I would have to go to the magistrate for sentencing because I had no money. Knowing full well that was not going to happen I told him I am happy to do that , after which he told me to go , " Have a safe journey".
 Reached my last border stop and really felt good to be back home. The Immigration on the SA side was a mess with two super long lines not moving and just out in the open , even Zimbabwe had a building you went into. Was the worst border crossing taking over two hours to cross , and all the people pushing in line in front of me , I eventually went up and told them to go back and had a big argument and then went to the cops to complain. Stand in a queue for two hours just to get a stamp back into your own country is lame.

 Anyhow I was home and it was all good , then pushed on to Louis Trichard for the night. One of the nicest and most organized campsites to date in a beautiful setting. I was the only one there till three vehicles pulled in at a site further down. Near minutes the guy appears with a Windhoek Draught and invites me over for a braai , like every good South African. Boerewors and beer and green salad was an amazing spread and then ice cream and get this hot chocolate sauce on top ! They were a real intestine bunch and so easy to get along with , it was like we were old mates . Two of the guys were adventure riders so we chatted till late and they loaned me a blanket because it was freezing. In the morning my fly was caked with ice and if it weren't for that blanket I would have frozen to death. The ablutions were the best yet and the shower was most welcome and thawed me out. After saying our good byes I Headed for Sandton and ended up in their convoy to almost Pretoria where we fuelled up and said good bye again.
Not being here in over thirty years , I was amazed how big the place is , from Pretoria to Johannesburg , they have both grown together and the highways are huge and all new and Sandton is massive now .
Stayed with Gaby and Fani in the most comfortable bed ever and had an electric blanket , with bathroom en suite !
Gaby served up a very tasty meal with Kudu sausage and then Fani broke out a Ladi Smith brandy for a nightcap.

MALAWI - MOZAMBIQUE - ZIMBABWE. 563KM

Left Mdeka after having brekkies with Alex and Evan around 8am. Was about 100 km. To Mozambique border which was hassle free and only had to buy insurance ($10) and used my Carnet.

 Rode in the rain for an hour and it was chilly , got into Tete and saw a Shoprite which I had to visit just to look at the food , was unbelievable what you can buy. Arrived to early , so pushed on to Harare for the night. Had no problems , did not ride in police convoy and Renamo wasn't around thankfully.

 Crooked into Zimbabwe, only used a Carnet and no other fees. Except the 3 clowns in the tent from Interpol did not want me to proceed cause I did not have a police clearance for my bike. I was done with them and we went round and round , common sense does not work with these buffoons and I was so irate with them they finally just said " You can go now." No bribes from me. Every 25 km. they have police blocks, it's unreal. Arrived in Harare in the dark and found the campsite, same one from 5 years ago. ($10 to camp) Took 10hrs and was 563 km. To late for dinner, but had a lekker cup of tea and 2 Ouma rusks , what more do you really need ?

 Left Harare this morning drove through town and all is peaceful, just another day , no police or army army around at all. Got caught doing 117 km in an 80km zone , so was a $20 fine , but explained to the officer I didn't have any money, cause the ATMs here have no money. He could not understand how I could not have any money , so he let me go. Three police blocks down , I thought he was waving me through so I passed him and realized he wanted me to stop. So I turned around and came back , and they became unglued with me, that I did not follow a police command and must now pay a fine. So went through the whole process again , but these two guys were adamant and they told me to go to Pick n Pay and I can get money there and come back and pay them, I told them that would not work and finally they let me go. Was stopped several more times just for my license , which is an old expired one but none of them have picked up on it yet. Got to Masking and then went to the ruins and stayed at Norma Jean's Lakeview Resort which is one of the finest campsites thus far in every way ($13) . The place is like a botanical garden and the ablutions are spotless, like a 5 star hotel's. She even sent the waiter down to me with some bread and custard pudding , once again am blown away by the kindness of all the people I meet.
But she said this is high season and there is no one here , the South Africans have stopped coming according to her because of the police harassment and the border issues.

MDEKA

At the orphanage which Alex and his wife manage which is just 40km N of Blantyre. We went into Blantyre to church and was an amazing service and the music rocked. Had a good lunch there afterwards and then drove back and I changed my oil and got my bike ready for the last leg of the journey. Alex and I went to a local bar to watch the finals of the UEFA Cup , between France and Portugal, must have been sixty drunk locals in the packed bar and there were no more beer crates to sit on so we stood and watched the game. The boys were into the game and danced and chanted the entire game and then a small fight broke out , but didn't last long. Then Portugal scored in overtime and the boys went crazy throwing beer and really celebrating African style. Then all was quite until one bozo through some beer into the crowd , a huge fight commenced and coming my way , so had to dance around a little enjoying watching the punches being thrown , but then got out of hand as there were about six guys at it and bottles breaking , it was time to scramble for the only one exit . People were all heading out the door while the guys pulverized each other , once out ideas the one girl told us to leave before they get outside and smash the car , so we left .

 Hey it happens everywhere , alcohol and soccer equals trouble. So today which is 11 July , did all my washing and went to the village to do some shopping for the last leg home. Spoke to a Mozambiquen in a truck and he said Tete corridor was safe and they have escorts which are a joke , so will hit it hard tomorrow and maybe make Harare. Mike has warned me not to take this route as Renato has been hitting the convoys but that is more south. Andi just came this way two weeks ago on his bike and not in the convoy. So we will see and am sure it will be fine , plus they not going to shoot at a guy on a bike , to hard to hit and I am going to lie flat on my tank , just as a safety precaution.

 Mike also said to stay away from Zimbabwe, Uncle Bob has not paid his uncivil servants in months and they are burning the place down , so that will be worth seeing I thought. I guess the ATMs have no money in , so that could be a problem, luckily I still have some old Zimbabwean dollars with me , like forty billion , should be enough for a day or two .

 Then will head for Cape Town, should take another two days and that's it , all done and dusted.