Old Legs Tour Angola 2024 – Day Four
Sanyati Bridge to Gokwe - Fortitude, Footballs, Flat Tyres and Fables
No amount of planning, (and there has been a LOT going into the making of Old Legs Tour Angola) is cast in stone. So last night, we understood that today was going to be, at best, a very short ride, but for sure a very long drive to get back on schedule.
Our plan today was to get as close to Sengwa Wormhole as possible. We needed to cover some 250 km deep into the Gokwe inland, but Gokwe had other ideas. You will remember that Eric has said, “Cars get deaded on the Gokwe roads,” and true to form, Gokwe threw all she could at us – sandy tracks, boulder-strewn gullies on unexpected corners, washed-away bridges, and treacherous mopani-stumped detours.
But worst of all, sharp rocky sections took all their wrath out on poor Christopher. (For those of you who missed yesterday’s blog, Christopher is our trusty Isuzu overlander, vehicle not man…but as intrepid and crazy as the rest of us). Our first puncture of the tour happened two hours into our morning near Copper Queen Mine. Which was a great reason for an impromptu breakfast stop while some of the crew replaced the old damaged tyre with a spare.
A driving day is no rest day for the support crew, and incredibly, at this dry and dusty stop, a table with a fresh lemon-decorated tablecloth suddenly appeared and was quickly laden with delicious bacon patties from Colcom and boiled eggs, washed down with a choice of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Spare tyre on, bellies full, we set off again, destination: Nembudzia. Surprisingly industrious and bustling, this little town appears miles from nowhere, its growth likely spurred by its position as a hub for the network of tracks crisscrossing this remote region. It boasts a fine hospital, at least two garages, and many schools with literally thousands of children. We chose the blue garage because it also had a Nembudzia Tyre Clinic and was adjacent to a huge school with over twelve hundred children ranging from nursery school all the way through to high school.
One group focused on fixing the tyre, another sought out water to replenish our tanks, while a third used the opportunity to at least Do Good in a small way. Armed with a couple of soccer balls, we ventured to the nearby school. The children crowded around our team, literally stroking Jaime and Linda’s hair whilst giving Keegan high fives and hugs. Dave felt a little bit like a rock star as they buzzed around him, asking his name and where he was from. Alistair beamed a smile from ear to ear, soaking in the pure happiness emanating from these children. Walking towards the headmaster, we couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of humility in the face of such genuine warmth and appreciation.
The tyre repair seemed to drag on endlessly, but those of us spending quality time with the children lost all track of time. It was an unforgettable highlight of the day. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the tyre was fixed, and we were back on the road, eager to reach our destination.
Despite being tossed around like lucky beans in a cup, the conversations in the back of the truck were captivating. We were enthralled by Adam and Gus’s tales of Gokwe’s treacherous roads, where other journeys like ours stretched far beyond anticipated timelines. The stories included the honeymoon of Gus and Amanda, where they were stranded after their Toyota broke down, and ended up spending the night in a geography classroom in Nembudzia the first night and Kadoma hotel the next. So romantic. Adam told a similar story about how he and Linda ended up leaving their Land Rover at Golden Valley mine and taking a taxi to Kadoma hotel… same hotel, same Gokwe road, a Toyota, a Land Rover, and now an Isuzu, all victims of Gokwe roads, where “cars come to get deaded”…
Of course, it does beg the question of why the Old Legs Tour would choose this route in the first place, but we’re not called the Old Legs for nothing – we Do Epic (and slightly insane)!
We passed a few more broken-down bridges but were pleased to see reconstruction efforts in progress, and we finally arrived at our campsite at 5:05 pm. Immediately, the team kicked into set-up action, with Gary and Naison finding the headman to ask for permission to camp on his land, and the rest setting up the dining room, shower, toilets, and stretchers. Most of us have opted out of putting up our tents, as it adds extra work to our load.
As you would have guessed by now, we didn’t ride at all today, and whilst most of us were quite sad, even feeling guilty about this, we agreed that it was an eye-opener to see how difficult it is for the support team to do these drives day in and day out. As we write this blog, the support team have not stopped – cooking dinner, cleaning dishes, packing cars, and generally running around to make sure that all is set and ready for tomorrow. And that’s after driving all day. They are truly Epic.
Linda is a tireless Trojan. From the crack of dawn, she’s a whirlwind of activity: preparing meals, tending to injuries, banishing dust, and ensuring every detail, down to the fresh lemon tablecloth, is impeccable. Her efforts create an oasis of comfort amidst our adventure.
Naison is the epitome of tireless dedication. After a gruelling 10.5-hour drive as the Captain of Christopher, he springs into action without a moment’s hesitation. Today’s tasks included negotiating with the headman alongside Gary, culinary duties with Ant, breakfast prep with Linda, dishwashing, water boiling, and pre-journey truck inspections. All this was accomplished with his trademark friendly smile and positive attitude.
Ant, being Ant, ever the culinary magician, conjures up extraordinary meals that appear as if by magic. While we know immense preparation goes into each tour, the team’s effortless synergy makes everything appear seamless.
How lucky we are to be on this Epic adventure, having so much fun. And of course, the reason we are all here is to Do Good. We are riding from Harare to Angola to raise money and awareness for Zimbabwe’s pensioners. If you’re enjoying our adventures, please consider a donation to help transform lives.
Take BC, for instance. Wheelchair-bound and in so much pain for years, this former swimming legend has found new life and can finally walk again thanks to your generosity! Jaime, one of her many protégés, knows firsthand the impact BC had on countless Zimbabwean lives. Through your support, BC underwent a life-changing hip operation.
Thank you for being part of the Power Behind the Pedals. Hopefully, we will be back in the saddle tomorrow.
Until then, Have Fun, Do Good, Do Epic!
#OldLegsTour #Angola2024 #EvenMoreEpic #PedallingForPensioners
https://oldlegstour-gdg-j1141n.raisely.com/donate