Day 12 Kasane to Francistown 500 km

We fought our way out of the mosquito netting at 5AM this morning intent on an early start to beat the heat.  Fang hit the road at his allotted 7:04 AM departure time for a cool run on perfect tarmac. Botswana seems lightly populated outside the big towns. Few villagers or folks walking though we did pass a few elephants and wild pigs.  Greener, more trees. Tidy. 

The Nata Lodge lunch stop included a safari truck trip to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, home to 165 bird species. Ostrich, pelicans, heron, flamingos, stover, and standing in the shallow brackish water, a herd of gnus. These strange creations make wildebeests look handsome by comparison.

A bit of cloud cover allowed for a pleasant cruise to Francistown where Laurie and the girls led a sing along to cell phone selections. Tonight I wore a sweater!

Tomorrow morning we leave early for the South African border, the Mokopane race track and another brand of excellent beer.

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We are very popular at service stations

Our hotel on Chobe River

Golf course lawn mowers at Chobe Hotel

Signs posted at Lay-Byes along road to Francistown

Greater White Pelican

Blast furnace type heat and wind. The guide is asking us how many chicken eggs to one ostrich egg. 24 to 1.

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Day 11 Update: 8PM 84 degrees Botswana

Fang rests peacefully tonight amongst Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and other super cars that delivered a rowdy group of South Africans to our luxe hotel beside the Chobe River. 

Just when the border crossing from Zambia to Botswana was set to be downgraded from “Utter Chaos” to plain “Nightmarish” the little ferry to Botswana broke down, stranding most of Rally in 100 degree plus noonday sun for two very long hours. We escaped that particular torture but by 10 AM Fang’s dashboard was too hot to touch and my skin felt about the same. Laurie and I discovered the joy of supermarket air conditioning and took a very long time to buy a jar of pickles while our body temperatures came off the boil.

Our group cruised along the Chobe River for sundowners and animals. We agreed water borne safaris have their advantages.
Your Nav is on a hot streak

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Little Hot Ferry

Tracker

Cruising the Chobe River: Going to have a bite!

Elephant Fun

Monkey Business

River Safari

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Day 11: Ferry, Border, Ferry, Border and Groceries

Today's ferry ride. Border passage and then ferry, and then border passage. Multiple steps and contributions at each end 😅 and 98° 100k today, felt like going for groceries. And the stores are very clean and well stocked. Car needs beverage cooling capabilities. 😋
First Rally Results Posted select this link
Your Driver, Laurie

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Ferry ride and on to Kasane and Bostwana

Fang on Ferry

Rally Tracker!!! 

Laurie and our Bardahl Fans!  

Dancing in the Street! 

Pam in Street!

Mowana Resort on Chobe River

Local residents

More Rally Tracker!

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Brief Crew Chief Report

Got a good report from Laurie, our driver and chief mechanic, this afternoon, sounds like Fang is hanging in there.  The roads sound as advertised, everything from smooth pavement to car consuming potholes.  (I recommended she not hit those)  

Laurie reports a few loose bits found here and there that needed a bit of snugging up, but all systems are a go.  Steering and brakes are staying solid and no cooling issues despite heat in the high 90’s. (37° C)  The high heat does make Fang weep a little oil here and there but he has only used 1 quart so far, very acceptable rate for these conditions.  

Navigator Pam has a good handle on fuel burn, it does not look like any of the days ahead will present a range problem with the longest days still leaving 30% in the tank.  

Our team has it under control!
Your Crew Chief, Charlie

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Laurie, your driver and chief mechanic!

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Day 10: Another day, another monkey 🐒🐒

Somewhat startled to find that monkeys do their redecorating at night. Even my blissful martini assisted sleep could not compete with crashing patio furniture.

We have a rest day! While Laurie performed ablutions on Fang I took to the skies, flying over Victoria Falls in a powered hang glider. Rainbows, falls, mist, deep gorges, pools of hippos, elephants, Cape Buffalo and a general rush kick started my day better than coffee.

Then a pedicure followed by a  buffet breakfast spread the length of a soccer field. I would love to see yesterday’s bush schoolchildren turned loose on that feast.

A most relaxing day, topped off by a luxury train ride with five course dinner, numerous beverages and a chance to blow a real steam whistle.

Fang is fueled, washed and loaded for the run tomorrow toward the Botswana border, a unique ferry ride, and certain pandemonium.
Your Nav
PS we did good in first two regularities `

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Monkeys do their redecorating at night

Pam flying over Victoria Falls in a powered hang glider

Mandy and Rowland farm where we had lunch

Your Nav about to board the Dinner Train

Your Driver about to board the Dinner Train

Royal Livingston Express Steam Dinner Train

Royal Livingston Express Steam Dinner Train

Video of Royal Livingston Express Whistle

Royal Livingston Express Steam Dinner Train

Friends on the Dinner Train

Looong Dining Car

Dinner Train Dining Car

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Day 9: Royal Livingstone Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zambia

Some arrived under their own steam, others towed in, some not here at all. The attrition rate rises as transmissions, shafts, carburetors, mystery things formerly unappreciated, suddenly or more slowly no longer perform their assigned tasks. Our versatile mechanics resuscitate or pronounce the dreaded verdict, “Call Melvyn” to arrange car shipment home. Thus a rental car rally category has been established to join vintage and classic. 

We are ensconced in true luxury on the shores of River Zambezi. Well deserved after an extremely warm run yesterday. 6 AM departure Lusaka, 50 Km on jarring dirt bypass,  stop at “Tooters  Restrooms,  clean, bring your own paper, 2 kwacha,” a tasty tobacco farm lunch and school visit. Add two regularities on rough dirt, the first balked by schoolchildren, the next by cattle. 505 km. Fang barely made our assigned sign in time despite maintaining a swift (for us) pace.

Rally gathered for sundowners by the river and a lawn dinner. A true friend bought me a martini in the picturesque bar. Delicious!
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Happy To Arrive! 

School Visit! 

Video of School Children lining the road waving at Fang! 

Ensconced in true luxury on the shores of River Zambezi.

Royal Livingstone Lobby

Royal Livingstone Lounge

Royal Livingstone more Lounge

Royal Livingstone Pool/Riverside

Royal Livingstone Atrium

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Day 7: Fang Log October 9 6AM

We are up early for a 6AM start from Mbeya to Lusaka, probably nine hours. We do not want to arrive in the dark!!

Our hotel last night lovely with a rousing pool side drinks session and good chow. What a contrast from Malawi to see stop lights, banks and the modern world again. 

Laurie is stellar, driving a good rhythm, donning her mechanics overalls for Fang inspections and administering to the sick as well.

Actually we left from Chipata this morning. I am fairly sure we were in Mbeya recently though. Rallys distort space time, sleep patterns, appetites, relationships and focus in strange and wondrous  ways. We navigate, not by road maps, but distance checkpoints. Five kilometers to a Puma fuel station, straight on to a police barrier, turn left at the third roundabout, 36.74 km IPONGO mark, and today’s favorite, 4.17 km Large Chicken in Middle.

Our passage through east Africa forms a slide show more than a movie. We rush onward in our separate space capsules, some fast and sleek, others slow and steady. Then we were shelter together, join in triumph and tragedy, pass the wine and sympathy, bless our cars, our stomachs, and pray for sleep and clean laundry.

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Leaving Chipata

Chipata to Lusaka today

Luangwe Bridge - Why?

On the road to Lusaka

"Large Chicken In Middle" rally navigation point

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