Thursday 24 May 2007

THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS


Lying in my tent at 3 AM about a km away, I could hear the roar of the Victoria Falls. It reminded me of the sound of the ocean on a quiet evening. The 4 days from Bulawayo have been tough, but also enjoyable. I've found the Zimbabwean people to be very friendly, especially those in the small villages where I stop for refreshments. I've been through about 7 police road blocks, all of them friendly. When I pass local cyclists I wave and they ring the bell, which made me wonder whether bicycle bells are compulsory. Yesterday the police asked me why I didn't have a bell, and what I would do if I needed one. I told them that I could whistle, which of course I had to demonstrate (to their amusement). The forested countryside is beautiful, but I seem to have missed most of the wild animals which are supposed to be a danger when camping in the bush. One night a kudu strolled past my tent, and at the Shoestring Lodge the baboons were charging around the camp site this AM. I'm resting here in Vic Falls today, and will probably move across the Zambezi to Livingstone tomorrow. Distances since Bulawayo were: Memmezi Forest 112 k; Halfway House 116 k; Hwange 110 k; and Vic Falls 108 k.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Ernest

Ons volg jou avontuur daagliks en wil maar net se ....vas byt en ons dink aan jou. Ek weet dis lekker so jy geniet dit seker wel.

Ek sien die afstande rek...is die dorpe ver of raak jy haastig?:-)

Groete
Christiaan

santie said...

Gewonder wat van jou geword het. Bly om te sien jy's nog OK.

Hier is als nog wel. Boring in vergelyking met jou tog. Groot optog vandag in die stad. Staatsamptenare strike. Wonder of iemand gaan agterkom!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ernest

Esther thinks you look like a top deck, white on top brown at the bottem.

Leana

Anonymous said...

Hi Ernest
Ons werk, werk, werk, net terwyl jy trap, trap, trap!!. Het nog nie vir my 'n fiets gekoop nie. Dink ek gaan die fiets los en 'n Prado koop dan kan ek ry tot by Leana. My Ma vra na jou en Nanna gee update

Groete
Erika

Anonymous said...

Hi Ernest
We're keeping a close eye on you, your golf clubs flew to Calvinia and arrived with one less wheel however still looked good enough to attract some interest Johann will transfer the cash into your account.I will forward you address to Charl and Maude he is visiting us for the next week while she's doing a few workshops in JHB Bloem and C.T. It feels to me that you are pushing a bit harder on the left foot or are you compensating for your right foot start.Don't forget to free wheel every now and again.
Rouen

Anonymous said...

hullo ernest

i trust that you have not abandoned running entirely.it looks like my comrades is in its moer in and nick's too because of injury

it looks like you are having an awesome time

enjoy

andre