After a breakfast of porridge and two small Spanish omelette’s (eaten separately, mind you…) washed down with the usual two cups of coffee, (do birds fly on one wing ?) I completed the editing of the last Malawi post and then with laptop under arm, proceeded to the Internet café which is around the corner from the entrance to the hotel. All was going swimmingly until the power went off… Seems that the block that the hotel was on, was the only one affected, and the café quickly emptied… I sat working while the battery on my laptop was still functioning. The owner of the café had long since left, leaving me the keys and asking me to keep an eye on things… Not a clever move, but how was he to know who he was dealing with…
Need to get hooked onto the Internet... Pop in, and ask for Ronnie...
A short while later, a tall dark gentlemen walked in… (Aren’t they all! I mean what are the chances of a short white guy walking into an Internet café in Iringa ? ……Precisely….)
“Are you the one concerned here…?†he asked…
“Damn right, I’m concerned, I have important stuff to do and there’s no power…!†I replied with a straight face…
After a long pause, a small smile played over his lips and he tried again…
“Eh… No, I meant are you the one who is in charge ?â€
“Hell no… The owner is that glum looking guy in the blue shirt, standing on the corner… He looks that way because when the power went off all his customers occupying these computers rushed off without paying for the time they had used….â€
“Ah…. I see. Then I will talk to him…â€
“Tell him I have sold two computers so far…†I said as he walked out the door…
Seconds later, the proprietor appeared at my elbow, his head swiveling on his neck as he counted the computers… “Ha-ha…. You are a funny man !†he said, slapping me on the shoulder… He never strayed far from the front door again, though…
Seeing that he left me in charge of the shop while he was out, I decided to entrust him with my laptop, while I went off to the bank to draw some money… When the machine spat out my receipt, I was delighted to find that I still had 412 690.49 as an available balance… The “TSh” behind the number brought me down to earth again… You see, one rand will get you about 150 Tanzanian shillings… Almost threw a party in Iringa…
Getting to grips with some running repairs... The problems are uncovered, and the tool kit sees the light of day...
Yes...the pliers are stuck to my right thumb, if you must know...
I then collected my laptop, and went to do some maintenance on the bike… The spare tyres I was carrying, had done my rear brake light cover a mischief… Cracked the bloody thing, actually… Broke off the inserts holding the screws, in fact… I unpacked the “Spares Pannier and got the toolkit opened, and then went to work with the supa-glue…
For the record, it was not my intention to get the brake cover stuck to the index finger of my left hand… Nor did I purposefully glue the long-nosed pliers to my right thumb…. It just happened… Supa-Glue is evil stuff !!
And that’s all I have to say about that…!!
Hallelujah for cable ties...!!!
After a prolonged bout of colourful language, that had the security guard running for cover, I managed to get the brake cover sorted…sort of… (Off my hand and onto the bike, anyway…) I think a duct-tape bandage might be required to hold the bugger in place…
I then noticed that my rear tyre-hugger had also come adrift! One of the screws was M.I.A., and the whole thing was hanging at a strange angle, not at all in the manner that the spares manual suggested it should hang… Praise the man who invented cable ties… Two of them got the problem sorted…sort of… A better job will require the removal of the back tyre, and THAT my friends is covered in my “Rules of the Journey†handbook, which clearly states on Page 1:
“Only in the case of the direst of emergencies, will you remove this item! And preferably with adequate supervision to hand!â€
Honest !! It’s just under the line that says “Don’t drop what you can’t pick up!†with a photo of the Big Fella next to the caption…
I will consider this problem again, when I am safely in Chris’s workshop in Nairobi…
The MR Hotel, Iringa...My room is on the first floor next to the sign, and that's the security guard's legs sticking out from under the tree... A bit camera shy, apparently...
The Mullah from the nearby Mosque is calling to me again… He might be shouting in Arabic, but I know exactly what he is saying…. He doesn’t fool me for a second…
“That Infidel sitting on the balcony of the MR Hotel, drinking Fanta and chewing on an energy bar…. Get your skinny arse into this Mosque…and leave your shoes at the door…!!â€
And “Salaam Aleikum†to you too, my brother…
From the picture, you would think that the hotel is a “bit upmarket”… You’d be dead wrong !! It is situated in the middle of a shanty town, on a potholed road leading off the main road to Dodoma… It is pleasant enough though, and now that I have been here for more than a day, I know my way around the few blocks surrounding the hotel… I even found the Isuzu dealer and chatted to him about the differences between the 2.8 turbo diesel and the 3.0 litre version… Very interesting…. He had no bloody idea what I was on about, but grinned and smiled nonetheless… Very well mannered of him, I thought…
The power came back on at 3.00pm, and there was a concerted rush for the Internet Café… Being a regular customer, who sometimes even looks after the place, I was afforded a connection immediately… The young man who was summarily ejected from his place at one of the tables to make place for me, gave me a surly look as he passed me…
“Sorry for you, China… I’m “staffâ€!â€
Getting onto the internet is a breeze when using my own computer, and I hope I can continue to do so in future… It makes everything so much easier.
Tomorrow I set out for Dodoma, a 265 km stretch of gravel… I have been invited to stay at the missionary station there and hope I can find the place… Otherwise I have to try the “Dear Mama Hotel†or the “Namâ€â€¦ From there it’s into the “interior†as former explorers were wont to call places where few people had ventured before… The road to the Rwandan border is apparently not safe at night, due to a bit of what is euphemistically referred to in these parts as “Banditryâ€â€¦
Should be interesting….
If you don’t hear from me after a week or so… keep an eye on Sky News…
© GBWT 2010
Now now Ronnie, don’t make jokes like that, just stay safe. I enjoyed your humour. By the time you read this you would have completed the 265km of gravel, was it BAD??? Wishing you a very special birthday for tomorrow, make sure you do celebrate it! Keep it up! and GS!!!!!!
Dear Ronnie,
Reading your adventures and daily logs is damn impressive, we as a family really enjoy this time together in reading. Just to wish you a blessed birthday for tomorrow and may all your journies dreams come true, we are all missing you so much already and from my perspective(Grant) wished i could be saddling along you, one day i will do this type of trip. Any case, keep safe, wheels on the ground, feet on the pegs, eyes on the road and lastly hands on the old bars – but most importantly – GS…
hope you had a good birthday Ronnie – look forward to hearing your next bit of news – and NO we do not want to hear about you on Sky News!!
Love from all the Gushes
Hey Ronnie. You truly are living the “Bikers dream”. I sit at my laptop in Wadeville salivating over what you are up to,checking in every couple of days for an update. You have given us all your route planning, kit planning etc. How the hell did you manage to get off “lifes treadmill” and do what you are doing, we would sure like to know that secret.
Hi Riekie, Thanks for the B-DAY wishes… I am in Dodoma, and not in a very happy frame of mind… See update later today… Suffice to say, bike is in a mess and my spirit was almost broken yesterday… ALMOST…!! R.
Thanks for the wishes Grant and family…. I can tell you, that after yesterday’s 13 hours in the “wilds of Tanzania”, being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike, I missed EVERYBODY I know !!! My birthday will be spent fiddling with a puncture, replacing bust shock absorber, replacing all the globes, fixing mudguard and most importantly, finding the electrical fault which has rendered the Big Fella inoperative…. Should be fun and games for a few days… R.
Thank you to the Gushes… The prayers you are saying for me, along with the ones I made yesterday evening, when I sat alone and downhearted in the middle of the bush, were certainly heard… I needed every bit of inspiration to get me out the fix I was in, and I like to believe that the Lord came through for me… I prayed so hard and loud, I must have interrupted all the others he was receiving… I’m safe, (sort of sound….) and Dodoma, after 13 hours and 270 km of the worst road I have ever been on… R.
Seamus… I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you… Ha-ha… It’s a sad secret, my friend, best left for another time, when I have my emotions under control… I had a ride to Dodoma yesterday, that put a huge dent in my plans and my spirit… The Big Fella and I, are “down”, but far from “out”… Take care… R.
Ron, I am so sorry to here that you are down, but you will never be out. a coupoe of years from now you will look back and realise that certain things happen for a reason, I speak from experience. Just glad you are still safe, once again happy birthday!
LORD, thank you for the open air, the feel of wind blowing through my hair;
“Just me alone upon my bike, the thrill of freedom’s what I like.
To wind through country unexplored, not knowing what I’ll see next LORD;
That’s what I seek when off I ride,
I’m thankful that you’re by my side.
If I should ride ’til morning’s light, please keep me safe throughout the night;
And when I’ve come to journey’s end, It’s you I’ll thank – protector, FRIEND”
-Author Unknown
Hey Ronnie, congratulations on the birthday! Purely by chance I read the other posts.
I have diligently been working my way through your posts from day 1 that you started the blog since you sent me the link, not wanting to skip ahead to where you are now, choosing to savour every word you have so masterfully written. Glad to report I am gaining ground here and find myself ready your updates with less than a week to kick-off of the world tour! My wife is finding it hard to accept my sudden interest in my iphone which I find the handiest to read the blog on as it travels everywhere with me, always just a click away to some more spellbound reading.
Though I would just check up to see if all’s well and skipped to your most recent post, hence noticing the birthday wishes. My goodness, what a life you are having! Wish I could be there doing the same. Do try and afford some time for a stopover London when you pass through. You are most welcome to take a few days to recover.
Hope you have a great day and keep it safe on the road!
Regards
Francois
Thanks Francois ! Glad you’re almost up to date…!! Soon you’ll be pushing ME for updates !!!
Hey Ronnie, are you OK today?, after what I can gather was a tough stretch of road(sand).Keep us all updated as often as you can, this way we can feel your pain and also savor your moments with your fantastic trip to date and that that still lies ahead.
Riekie, great words to send to a man taking on this journey.
All the best and GS
Cheers
Grant
Hi Ronnie,
Happy birthday! Just seen everyone else wishing you, so I will too! Hope you have a great day despite having to make running repairs to your beautiful Big Fella… Can’t wait to know what happened!!!
PS. I love your writing style and enjoy every post you add of your trip – check the site every day! Having read your last trip that was posted on BMW site last year got me hooked on your adventures and I knew that this trip would be an even better read – you hav’nt dissapointed yet! May the Lord keep you safe!
Hi Grant… Yeah…battered and bruised, aching back and arms, but all OK… It’s all part the deal…. If this was a walk in the park, everybody would be doing it, right ?
Thanks Mate !! It’s almost 8.00pm here, and I haven’t treated myself to a cold one yet !!! Thanks for the kind words… Helps motivate me when I know there are folk out there enjoying the stuff I experience and write about… R.
Riekie, you biscuit, you….!!!!
Thanks for those special words Riekie….you have inspired all of us with them. Ron what a great prayer for you to take along your journey. Be safe my brother and God Bless!!
Hey Ronnie,you may recall we met in Swaziland in 2000 on the Alexander Rose trip?And at a couple of GLEE shows in Birmingham. Have just heard about your amazing adventure-looks like being literally the trip of anyone’s lifetime.
Now we have your blog details we’ll keep an eye on your endeavours and in the meantime keep well and good luck.
Stay safe