More soon,
Your Driver
Be sure to check Beastly Fang Home Page for more posts.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Day 14: AM update
Going to breakfast! All we do is eat sleep drive and laugh.
More soon,
Your Driver
Be sure to check Beastly Fang Home Page for more posts.
More soon,
Your Driver
Be sure to check Beastly Fang Home Page for more posts.
Day 13: Into South Africa
Went through border at remote Zanzibar border station after 50 km of very bumpy long dirt road. Then lunch at a remote golf club down a short and bumpy dirt road.
Then Laurie turns fast laps at Mokopane Raceway!
End of day, Laurie working on important siren. Long day, bumpy gravel roads got us and Fang all shook up.
Your Nav
Then Laurie turns fast laps at Mokopane Raceway!
End of day, Laurie working on important siren. Long day, bumpy gravel roads got us and Fang all shook up.
Your Nav
Border 50 km down bumpy dirt road.
Lunch Time at remote golf club.
Crew Chief Charlie & Communicator Kim favorites!
Laurie readying for her track run.
Laurie turns fast laps at Mokopane Raceway!
Protea Hotel Polokwane, SA
Laurie working on important siren.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
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.
Your Nav
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.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
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
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
Little Hot Ferry
Cruising the Chobe River: Going to have a bite!
Elephant Fun
Monkey Business
River Safari
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
Be sure to check Beastly Fang Home Page for more posts.
First Rally Results Posted select this link
Your Driver, Laurie
Ferry ride and on to Kasane and Bostwana
Fang on Ferry
Laurie and our Bardahl Fans!
Dancing in the Street!
Pam in Street!
Mowana Resort on Chobe River
Local residents
Friday, October 12, 2018
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
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
Laurie, your driver and chief mechanic!
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 `
Be sure to check Beastly Fang Home Page for more posts.
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 `
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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