Xross Africa Challenge: Dag 28 / Day 28

Vandag kon net sowel Vrydag die 13 de gewees het, want wat geklink het na ‘n kort 276 km, het ontaard in ‘n baie moeilike dag. Die pad van Arusha na Kenia grens is onder konstruksie en die detour was van die ergste sinkplaat wat ek al gery het. Dit het my twee en ‘n half ure geneem om ongeveer 110km te ry. Dis net stof en sinkplaat en met die trokke wat die pad ry moet mens kort kort stil hou en wag dat die stof eers gaan le. Die grenspos prodedures was weereens nie ‘n probleem nie behalwe vir die altyd teenwoordige geldruilers wat mens oorval. So het ek nou al uitgevind dat as jy maak of jy nie engels verstaan nie en in afrikaans aanhoudend met hulle praat, hulle jou makliker uitlos. Die pad aan die Kenya kant was plek plek nog in ‘n slegter kondisie, maar maak dit darem tot in Nairobi, net om deur die Vrydag middag verkeer gegroet te word. Dat ek veilig by Jungle Junction arriveer, is net ‘n genade en was bykans 6 - 8 keer deur of ‘n bus of ‘n taxi omgery. Kon nie glo ek het nog al my ledemate toe ek by Jungle Junction stop nie, en kom eers tot verhaal nadat ek omtrent twee pakkies Camels opgeëet het.
Ontmoet hier vir Hans Eichman (http://www.motorbikeworldtour.com)‘n Switser wat om die wereld ry op sy BMW HP2. Hy het alles so ‘n jaar terug in Switserland verkoop, om hierdie epiese tog aan te pak, en verwag om so teen 2015 dit te voltooi. Al wat hy besit is sy HP2, klere en toerusting waarmee hy reis. Dis nou ‘n man wat sy droom uitleef. Hier is ook ‘n Duitse ou en Poolse meise wat op n Xchallenge en ‘n 250 Beta, van Windhoek tot die noorde van Etihopie ry. Het al meeste van hul kamp toerusting en klere langs die pad gedump, net om die trip makliker te maak. Aangesien almal van ons noord ry, bestaan daar ‘n moontlikheid om saam te ry. Miskien nie ‘n slegte idee nie.
Wel hier sit ek nou en wag vir die heavy duty sprocket, wat nog steeds nie gearriveer het nie, en hoop om by Woensdag 16 de September, in die pad te val. Aangesien ek net 7 dae toegelaat word om deur Kenia te ry, anders moet ek ‘n visum bekom, kan my tyd moontlik verstryk voordat ek oor die grens in Etihopie is, so sal maar more (Maandag 14 September 09) met Chris, die eienaar hier by Jungle Junction praat, en sien watse plan ons kan maak.

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Today could just as well been Friday the 13th, what sounded like a short 276km ended up in a difficult day. The road from Arusha to Kenya border was under construction and the detour was the worst corrugated dirt road up to now. It took me two and a half hours to drive a mere 110km. With dust and corrugated road, pulling over for trucks passing impossible to see through the dust. No problems as the border post, only the hordes of people trying to exchange money. So I’ve learned that pretending not to understand English, only speaking Afrikaans they will leave you in peace. On the Kenyan side of the border the road conditions worsened from time to time but I made it safely to Nairobi, just to be greeted by Friday afternoon traffic. Arriving at Jungle Junction was a pure grace. I was almost hit by busses, taxis on several occasions. I could not believe that I still had all my limbs, when I stopped at Jungle Junction. Only after I almost ate two packets of Camel Filters I realised that I actually made it safely.
This is where I met Hans Eichman from Switzerland (http://www.motorbikeworldtour.com) travelling around the world on his BMW HP2. He sold all he owns to take on this epic journey and plans to finish by 2015. He is now the proud owner of only his HP2 , clothing and equipment he uses for this trip. This is a man living his dream. I also met a gentleman from Germany and a lady from Poland on their XChallenge and a 250 Beta, riding from Windhoek to the North of Ethiopia. They have dumped most of their camping equipment and clothing to make the trip easier. Seeing that we all are going North into the same direction, the possibility exists that we will travel together. Maybe not a bad idea at all.
Well now I am sitting waiting for my heavy duty sprocket, hoping that I will have it by Wednesday the 16th. I only have 7day’s to pass through Kenya, and would have to apply for a visa if I am not able to proceed soon. So tomorrow Monday the 14th , I will have a chat with Chris the owner at Jungle Junction to see if we can make a plan.