South Africa #5 and Nelspruit

Our drive from JoBurg to Nelspruit scared the crap out of me. Signs along the road say, “Do not stop for your own safety”. No one uses cruise control. They speed up, slow down, get in the way, and drift into the middle of the road, even worse than the U.S. One stretch had 4 lanes with a 1 foot rumble strip separating oncoming traffic traveling at interstate speeds - 72mph/120kph. Driving at 120kph under a viaduct a car up ahead appeared to be going slowly, very, VERY SLOWLY. The idiot had STOPPED. There was no shoulder and only the nearly full fast lane to get around. With but a small opening I swerved into the other lane narrowly missing a 120kph crash. A semi farther back pushed over just in time. If the parked car driver is not dead now I’m taking him to Vegas. Outside of Nelspruit 6 miles, traffic came to a complete stop, for miles. During the next hour it was stop and go in inches. Numerous cars pulled to the side of the road and people relieved themselves. Our headlights confirmed none were hung or posts. Finally, we passed a security check. The lanes opened up and we drove merrily into town. We found “The Palms” Guest House with a guard sitting outside covered with a wool blanket, and the lady host persuaded us to try her favorite restaurant as opposed to fast food. As usual a guard stood at the entrance of “10 on Russel Restaurant”. South Africa is like little forts with high fences topped with barbed wire or electrified around the yard, and a security system/guard to keep out the thieves. Driving past villages you see hundreds of people walking/congregating/doing nothing. At the supermarket a guard “watched” our car “protecting it” from thieves. During our breakfast the next morning, the entire city lost electrical power. Driving out of town all the intersections turned into 4 way stops or “I’m bigger - Get out of the Way”. For stories of travel in Europe, Australia, and Africa go to Amazon books and search, Four Keys Overseas.

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