Dag 10: Die see

​​(English translation below)
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Dag 10: Die see
 
Ons was genadig met onsself vandag. Slegs 180km op mooi teerpad vanaf Lobito na Sumbe. Kusdorpe. Seelug. 'n Vakansiegevoel.
 
In Sumbe het ons by 'n restaurant reg langs die strand middagete gehad terwyl twee jong mans ons motorfietse gewas het. Die mense hier is vriendelik en gretig. Maar arm. Alhoewel ons ekspedisietjie nie juis 'n inspuiting vir die plaaslike ekonomie is nie, kan ons darem hier en daar aan iemand die geleentheid bied om ietsie ekstra te verdien.
 
Van geld gepraat. Om te betaal is moeilik in Angola. Ons kaarte werk op meeste betaalmasjiene nie. Beide Visa én Mastercard sukkel. Dan moet mens kontant trek, maar die kitsbanke het baiekeer óf nie kontant nie, óf hulle stelsel is af, óf hulle aanvaar nie internasionale kaarte nie. Die oord-bestuurder van die Marulho Resort waar ons oornag het, moes my na drie kitsbanke in die dorp neem om geld te probeer trek.
 
'n Kort rydag. 'n Koue bier. 'n Swembad. Dis lekker by die see. Ons geniet hierdie luukshede vir oulaas, wetende dat die Kongo en die oerwoud en die reën en die modderpaaie en die Malaria-muskiete vir ons lê en wag.
 
Ons het die motorfietse se lugfilters vervang, die kettings versorg en die bande gepomp. Mens en masjien beide verfris en reg vir die twee dae op Luanda toe.
 
Day 10: The sea
 
We were kind to ourselves today. Only 180km on a tarred road from Lobito to Sumbe. Coastal towns. Sea ​​air. A holiday feeling.
 
In Sumbe we had lunch at a restaurant right next to the beach, while two young men washed our motorbikes. The people here are friendly and eager. But poor. Although our little expedition is not exactly an injection for the local economy, we can at least offer someone here and there the opportunity to earn a little extra.
 
Speaking of money. Paying is difficult in Angola. Our cards don't work on most payment machines. Both Visa and Mastercards are struggling. Then you have to withdraw cash, but the ATMs often either don't have cash, or their systems are down, or they don't accept international cards. The resort manager of the Marulho Resort where we spent the night had to take me to three ATMs in town to try to withdraw money.
 
A short driving day. A cold beer. A swimming pool. It's 'lekker' at the sea. We enjoy these luxuries while they last, knowing that the Congo and the jungle and the rain and the mud roads and the Malaria mosquitoes are waiting for us.
 
We replaced the motorbikes' air filters, serviced the chains and pumped up the tyres. Man and machine both refreshed and ready for the two days North towards Luanda.

​https://www.backabuddy.co.za/expedition-h2o-back-to-basics