4000km from home...

On Monday morning, 20 July, we reached 4000 km. We had no idea where we would be sleeping tonight. Tendegrees featured as a prominent stop in all the books. Friendly people and dogs... so they said – instead of a sniff and a lick, Hans got a tooth in his calf. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. Demestos and Lelanie's black tube came to the rescue (there is no chance to sue as in America).

It was Chris’s lucky day - ICE CREAM FLOAT. Wimcar had the same excitement but with Captain Morgan and Coke instead. Nellie was kind enough to brew up a Bodum coffee for the rest of us.

We visited the Boma at Mikindane. This is where Livingstone arrived and then took his journey further on the Rovuma River. The Boma was beautifully renovated in a true Colonial style and was now a hotel, where local people are trained to acquire different skills. A tutor was busy with an English lesson to a Swahili student.  They teach them to catch a fish, not to get one. 

The road took us to a Baobab, Palm and Cashew plantation. The villages are still the same, some with corrugated steel roofs and some reeds. The building style stays the same with wide verandas round the house. Probably to provide some coolness against the heat?

Our war against the mozzies was not getting any easier. They are definitely winning. I think they are immune to our weapons; Doom, coils, citronella, clothes spray and blue stickers????

At Rondo missionary, Hans phoned Pastor Forrest of the Catholic church. This missionary was founded by father Hadlestone, a former activist against apartheid.

At the house we met a couple from the UK on a sabbatical. They teach English to help the children on their way. Their transport is public taxis or busses. They don't know of all the dangers; they just enjoy the remote country and its people and were now heading for Maputo.

We set up camp. Soon, the children brought us buckets of water to use. Ablution facilities were in the house with no running water, only buckets.

Dinner was a Dutch one - meatballs rolled in cabbage, asparagus sauce, mash and lemony sticky sweet potatoes. Nellie made us a Greek Salad and for pudding - fresh pineapple rings from the land.

Our security Guard for the night was a man with a Bow and Arrow. We slept like babies.

Lindi will be our next stop.