Well - I survived yet another trip on the highways of Zambia!
Every time I get in my car to drive the 320kms to our capital city - I wonder what interesting and life threatening diversions the Zambian road authority might have in store for me. How boring it would be if they just left the road alone and in the same state as the last time I travelled.
This trip's delights included the opening of the new, improved truck weighbridge - placed strategically on the major intersection of the roads coming in from three different regions and opposite the new garage and truck stop where everyone who is anyone stops to get their shwarmas and petrol to sustain them for the long trip ahead. Needless to say, the chaos would have been very interesting to watch from the sidelines but was very inconvenient, time consuming and downright dangerous from my own personal perspective as a driver trying to negotiate my way through it!
The next driving handicap in The Game was the closure of half of the single lane 'highway' for repairs to the huge speed humps and surrounding road after a truck had obviously flattened them and itself by hitting one of them and going off the road in a somewhat spectacular style judging from the aftermath. Since the lady in charge of the traffic control 'STOP/GO' sign was determined to let every car in Zambia through before me, it gave me the opportunity to gaze serenely at the countryside, the truck accident and smoke a cigarette before continuing on my way.
Next came the white line painters, carefully concealed around a particularly sharp bend in the road just after the 120km speed regulation sign. And yes, there was someone waving a red flag at me as I came round the bend and jolly agile he was too! But not to worry, I was brought to an almost complete standstill a little further down the road by the huge trenches across the road - not quite sure why they were there but I will get my wheel alignment checked next week when I have the time. And to the pedestrian lurking on the side of the road at that particular spot - I really AM sorry that you had to leap into the bushes and may I mention that your backward flip was worthy of an olympic gymnast's?
This trip, there were only three police road blocks and all more or less in the same place so I was fairly prepared for the sudden appearance of the obligatory rusty barrel in the middle of the road and had no serious problems stopping in time. It was very pleasant to pass the time of day with a cheerful policeman looking for a lift to the big city although he wasn't terribly happy when I had to say no due to company insurance policies and the carrying of unauthorised passengers.
Only two nose to nose confrontations with long distance buses - no problem, there was plenty of room on the verge and no pedestrians at those particular spots so luck was with me this time. I am still amazed at how FAST those buses can travel!
All in all, a successful journey. Accompanied by the wonderful music of Queen, appropriately entitled "Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball!" playing full ball on my CD player!
Coffee anyone?
Every time I get in my car to drive the 320kms to our capital city - I wonder what interesting and life threatening diversions the Zambian road authority might have in store for me. How boring it would be if they just left the road alone and in the same state as the last time I travelled.
This trip's delights included the opening of the new, improved truck weighbridge - placed strategically on the major intersection of the roads coming in from three different regions and opposite the new garage and truck stop where everyone who is anyone stops to get their shwarmas and petrol to sustain them for the long trip ahead. Needless to say, the chaos would have been very interesting to watch from the sidelines but was very inconvenient, time consuming and downright dangerous from my own personal perspective as a driver trying to negotiate my way through it!
The next driving handicap in The Game was the closure of half of the single lane 'highway' for repairs to the huge speed humps and surrounding road after a truck had obviously flattened them and itself by hitting one of them and going off the road in a somewhat spectacular style judging from the aftermath. Since the lady in charge of the traffic control 'STOP/GO' sign was determined to let every car in Zambia through before me, it gave me the opportunity to gaze serenely at the countryside, the truck accident and smoke a cigarette before continuing on my way.
Next came the white line painters, carefully concealed around a particularly sharp bend in the road just after the 120km speed regulation sign. And yes, there was someone waving a red flag at me as I came round the bend and jolly agile he was too! But not to worry, I was brought to an almost complete standstill a little further down the road by the huge trenches across the road - not quite sure why they were there but I will get my wheel alignment checked next week when I have the time. And to the pedestrian lurking on the side of the road at that particular spot - I really AM sorry that you had to leap into the bushes and may I mention that your backward flip was worthy of an olympic gymnast's?
This trip, there were only three police road blocks and all more or less in the same place so I was fairly prepared for the sudden appearance of the obligatory rusty barrel in the middle of the road and had no serious problems stopping in time. It was very pleasant to pass the time of day with a cheerful policeman looking for a lift to the big city although he wasn't terribly happy when I had to say no due to company insurance policies and the carrying of unauthorised passengers.
Only two nose to nose confrontations with long distance buses - no problem, there was plenty of room on the verge and no pedestrians at those particular spots so luck was with me this time. I am still amazed at how FAST those buses can travel!
All in all, a successful journey. Accompanied by the wonderful music of Queen, appropriately entitled "Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball!" playing full ball on my CD player!
Coffee anyone?
