Getting Charitable Donations through Malawi Customs - Part 2 (Day 4)

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Day 4 - 9th September - Stranded in Kasungu

I’m woken at 6.30 by Manasseh who has already been up for an hour, rented a bike taxi to go and wake the mechanic up and is now standing at my door grinning and thrusting car keys into my hand. “The mechanic has come” he beams. I followed him outside to see our car ready to tow with no power steering and no servo brakes. “He thinks the alternator is buggered”, chirped Manasseh clutching the crucifix almost as if demanding forgiveness for his language.

“I need 2 hours to see if I can repair your alternator” came the voice from under the bonnet, “there are many many things wrong with your car”, he added. I knew this would be another long day.

Four hours later after a walk to try and find "Banda Palace" (it was closed and full od baboons) the call came. Brushes had been changed, the alternator reinstalled but still not working. Something else had burnt out inside.

Another 2 hours passed before a second hand part was found and finally, after filling the time with a slow bike riding competition with the motel staff (I won - that red light practice in London really paid off) and some impromptu solar lessons for those interested in my Solio charger, Nawaz the mechanic arrived with the car pronouncing that the water pump was also "buggered" and could fail completely at any moment. “Lah lah lah lah can’t hear you” was all that went through my mind at that point. I was going to get home to Nkhata Bay that night.

Darkness came quickly as we drove through Mzuzu. Thoughts of tracking down the MRA man who first sent us on this epic journey and inserting a MultiContact tool where the sun don’t shine entered my head but I decided to delay my gratification.

One near head-on collision later (minibus with full beams on my side of the road coming straight at me - so lucky that there was a wide run-off and nobody walking there) and we were back in Nkhata Bay. Manasseh and I had a little hug and I headed off down the bumpy track back to Njaya to be greeted by an apologetic Gilbert. “Shut up you girl” I said as I gave him a huge hug - so happy to see someone I know, be somewhere familiar and open a Kuche Kuche.

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Photos

Banda's Banda
On the road to find Banda's palace in the hills outside Kasumu. It was shut and baboons ruled the roost.

Almost Home
Andy and Manasseh Chiumia try to keep spirits up by enjoying a drink from that well known guzzler of precious local water supplies. Thirsty and no real choice.

Killing Time
Another 2 hours to go and I challenge the motel staff to a "slow riding" competition. All that practice atred lights in London pays off.

"Home"
Decided to take a day off after all of the excitement and so headed off for a spot of fish eagle feeding in my canoe

Splash
A fish eagle grabs an easy breakfast from the water off the headlands just south of Nkhata Bay on Lake Nyasa

Comments

[Larraine]

Monty Python has nothing on you!
Hi Andy, I am almost speechless - sounds like a Monty Python Sketch and I have been chuckling away to mysellf here. Your descriptive journal is amazing and great to hear that through all that you (mostly) were able to keep your sense of humour. Pity you didn't pack paper underpants!! Don't suppose for one minute you have a washing machine handy! Hope things go smoother for a while. Keep safe. L x

[Baff]

Lovely to see your face........
Hey you, I love your style! Think you should give up solar century and take up travel writing and photography. I'm more than happy to carry your equipment. So looking forward to joining the African adventure, slapping on sun lotion and making sure you where that sun hat! lots of love Baff x x x

[Steve]

What you should have done...
What you should have done was attach the solar panels to your car and then you wouldn't have needed alternators, or petrol...oh hang on though...it was dark wasn't it? Perhaps my idea is slightly flawed. Something to think about for next time though?