| By
mid-day we were finally ready to leave with the
bags packed and belongings back in familiar places
we said goodbye to Heine, Amanda and headed to
the highway as they roared off in the opposite
direction on the Harley. It had been a difficult
good-bye and we were sad to be leaving, but Botswana
couldn’t wait any longer.
Before
long we were on the N4, which would keep us company
for a long while. Twisty patches mixed nicely
with faster straight sections and with the crest
of each rise found. Immense plains stretched out
in front of us dotted here and there with low
mountains looking like islands in a green sea.
A
short round lady dressed in brown was standing
in the middle of the road franticly waiving at
us! ‘Shit’, I thought it’s the
police, for a second I thought she was group leader
of the local brownies.
Pulling
us both over she, and her serious looking colleague
informed us that we were riding at 105 kph in
a 80 kph zone and showed us the speed gun to prove
it. “I have no doubt we were”, I replied,
however neither Lisa nor I had seen any signs
indicating that we were in an 80 zone. Off the
bikes and now stood by the police car we were
happily being informed that based on the fine
table she was proudly holding we should have to
pay R500.00. I” absolutely agree”,
I retorted, but I don’t have R500. I explained
I was from the UK and here on holiday and would
be flying back in 4 days time. “What should
I do?” I asked. With little hesitation the
rounded smiling face was gone. “This time
I think you should go, but watch the signs, OK”.
We didn’t need asking twice and minutes
later we were off again. Talk about relived.
By
3:30pm it was rest time, enough for a coffee anyway
and only about 150 km from the Botswana border
.Botswana
Border at GPS: S24 42.431 E26 05.685
Exit
formalities were quickly arranged for our departure
for leaving South Africa; our entry into Botswana
was a little different. The road licence, which
was 60 pula each, quickly went to 180 once it
was discovered our bikes had been registered in
the UK and a lengthy queue at the only exchange
was slowing things up. By the time we sorted things
it was getting dark. We needed to call Rashid
to explain we’d be late, but of course all
payphones were out of order. We managed to eventually
call using a borrowed mobile from one of the customs
officers. Unfortunately no answer. We only had
his work number and by now the Toyota garage he
operates had wound up for the day. A phone call
to Heine in Pretoria turned up only that no one
had Rashid’s home number…
We
rode into Botswana’s capitol in the dark,
breaking our second golden rule about not riding
at night. The first one we’d broken was
getting to a border after noon.
In
spite of our frustration, everyone we’ve
met has been so friendly and helpful. Apart from
the two stoned guys in a BMW who tried to physically
push Lisa and her bike off the forecourt of a
petrol station. Those of you who know Lisa would
realise that she wouldn’t take too kindly
to this and despite the fact that these guys were
as high as kites and that it was dark and we were
in the Botswanan capital, Lisa decided that they
should know of their misdemeanour!! ……They
were oblivious –thank God!
By
now it was getting late and despite having tried
to locate the Toyota garage- just in case someone
was there- we decided that travelling round the
industrial areas in the dark was a ‘No go’.
With no one who could give us any information
(we had asked but not got any type of answers……….)
we realised that finding the garage and a campsite
was out of the question……….
so booking into a budget hotel was the next best
alternative. So here we are. Actually we are relived
that we have somewhere safe for the bikes as we
always worry when we are in cities – not
for ourselves, just for the bikes!
The
‘hotel’ was a good find and we had
a comfortable night – all for less than
a Travelodge back in the UK but with the standards
much higher. Find it at GPS: S24 40.201 E25 55.657 |
