410Km

Today will be a surprise in a few ways. The roads were much nicer than expected, it was much hotter than expected and it was much longer than expected. Despite the toilet making weird noises every 30 minutes and the one pillow being an accurate representation of an overstuffed pork sausage we both slept like logs (not sure who decided that logs sleep but apparently we have lumberjacks to thank for that). When I open the door of the rondavel (a round hut with a grass roof) the heat and humidity hit me in the face. It is clear today is going to be a scorcher.

Surkov helped to get things packed
Breakfast at Gravelotte Hotel before we get going, around 8 am, a decision we will regret later.

As soon as we start moving the air cools me down a bit and we turn off on our first dirt section for the day.

It is a beautiful road through game farms.

It gets so hot in these parts that even the words on the traffic signs go and look for shade.

Something I forgot to mention yesterday is that we have entered the Limpopo province, an area well known for citrus, and the roads are lined with citrus orchards. Though we ride through settlements like Giyani the experience is much different than yesterday’s slog from one speedbump to the next.

When your choices for mode of transport is limited you make do with what you have. But this begs a question that I would love to know the answer to. Going there with all the empty buckets is just fine but how do you get back if they are full of (not sure what)? But clearly, he’s got it sorted else he would not be doing it right?

This guy is taking his time crossing the road.

One thing, besides schools that you get every few kilometers, is a car wash. It seems like they like their cars clean and I have to admit, I have not seen many dirty cars.

They also get very creative with their names.

These guys in Thohoyandou were really amused with our transport and had a conversation from the back of the bakkie.

As we found in most parts of the country we had to contend with road closures due to flood damage.

Even on the roads that are passable tarmac looks like dirt where it was washed over with soil.

We are in a part of the country neither of us has been before and find roads with stunning scenery.

4 Donkey power. This got me thinking, which would have the most torque, 4 horsepower or 4 donkey power?

Power is not always dictated by size.

We stop under one of the many Baobab trees next to the road. These are really remarkable trees that can grow to be hundreds of years old (some have been carbon-dated at 3000 years) and have a trunk diameter of over 5 meters. The reason why they survive the destruction humans sow is that their porous wood is not really good for anything so we leave them alone.

A big tree.

Some of the roads closer to Musina did not drain that well.

Izabel gets a lap full of muddy water.

And so did Putin.
Yet another detour for our last 150Km stretch to Alldays.

And it is at this point that the regret of having a late breakfast sets in. Even with the wind at 80Km/h, I can feel the sweat running down my back into my crack. All together now – Swamp Ass!

After what felt like 2 hours (because it was) we arrive at the Alldays Hotel. This small town is surrounded by game and hunting lodges and one of De Beers 6 remaining diamond mines is just 10Km out of town.

Alldays Hotel

Surkov enjoying his sundowner poolside.

The hotel is old but the rooms are comfortable and they have a bar!

Oh, and there is also a pool which I decided to use. While sitting in the water on a pool step something bites me in the back. Turns out I was stung by a bee. I have never had any allergic reaction to a bee sting but this time it is different. Within a minute I have a huge headache and my whole body starts tingling, then itching, and then I start getting the chills. Difficulty breathing and nausea follows. Luckily we have anti-histamine and I take two tablets. For a minute there I saw the light. Moral of the story? Don’t mess with Alldays bees, they are bad mothers.

Tomorrow we are leaving early to our final stop in Thabazimbi, another hunting and wild game town. Our distance will be slightly shorter at 350Km.