Nguru Mts., north of Morogoro, 31st April 2005

 

It was supposed to be a quiet ride... Leave early and be back early. We left at 10:30 AM and were back just after 12:00 (midnight, that is...) A long but thoroughly enjoyable day. Ben Ducame, Michel Gotab, Franck Forster, Henrik Zilstorff and Steve Bragg (texts by Steve)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approximate route


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve (left) displays the effects of sitting behind a desk all day while Ben spends every available second working on his KTM

Arriving at Dakawa and getting ready for the ride

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're not sure if this case contains Saddam Hussien's (that is, Bush's (the Editor)) chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction, or just Frank's dirty riding suit. They both smell just as lethal...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben and Steve discussing their favourite topic, GPS's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve discovers that one major disadvantage of riding only once every 6 months is that between rides you forget how to use your GPS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stopping to empty Frank's (leaking) ultra high-tech fuel tank, while Steve (lower right photo) still fiddles with his *&%$£**!!@##!  GPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team Green takes up drag racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total lack of maintenance finally catches up as Steve's side tank (a non-OEM part) falls off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tall, lush bush that the road dug through kept the dust hanging in the air. And Ben forgot his eye drops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michel disappearing down the path to nowhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrow, twisty track over hills and valleys through thick, heavy vegetation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henrik riding past Michel's parked bike while Michel suffers the effects of using his camel-back too much

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 kms from nowhere, and these guys find a traffic jam!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team green displays proper downhill technique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where are we? I thought you knew where we are!

Ben discreetly steals a few litres of petrol from the unsuspecting Henrik

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben on the move

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben is finally happy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve slaps Ben for a cheeky comment concerning his GPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you spot the Kawasaki's?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michel's happy to hear from a villager it's only 15 minutes to the highway using a Honda Baja 250

Frank realizes that none of the group has a Baja 250 and it'll take us mere mortals another four hours to get to the highway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken just after Steve finally got his GPS to work, and just before he discovered where they were!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben suddenly realizes what the guy with the flashlight would be good for! Wonder if this guy has a sister? Franck decides it's time to leave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only way Frank got a signal was when he pulled out his antenna. Michel is all smiles, obviously his wife has not answered the phone yet. Honey, it's 21:00 hrs and we've still three hours to go...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loading up and getting loaded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ben

 

 Michel

 

 Ben

 

 Michel

 

Franck

 

 Steve

 

 Franck

 

 Franck

 

 Michel

 

 Ben

 

 Franck

 

 Steve