Dag 23: Dolisie na Brazzaville

​​(English translation below)

Dag 23: Dolisie na Brazzaville
 
Ons ry op die Kongo se N1, en net soos die pad van Pointe Noire af Dolisie toe, is hierdie 'n pragtige pad. Ons eerste vermoede is dat die heuwels sonder oerwoud is omdat hulle kaalgestroop is. Vir die eerste ent pad is dit tien teen een waar, want mens sien die kaalgeskeerde happe teen die koppe uit. En mens koes nou en dan verby 'n kruipende vragmotor wat beur onder 'n vrag reuse-boomstompe.
 
Maar dan, soos ons hoër klim, en dit al koeler word, besef ons dat ons nou op hulle hoëveld is. As jy na links kyk sien jy hoe Afrika golwend na die noordekant uitgestrek lê. Dis eintlik te veel om werklik ten diepste in te neem. 'n Knop wil-wil in my keel kom sit.
 
Ons het vroeg in die pad geval. Elk net 'n koppie swart koffie en broodrolletjie gehad vir ontbyt. So hier teen elfuur, twaalfuur is ons dun en effens gedehidreer. Ons stop om water te drink. En van die neute te eet wat Roses (my skoonsussies se besigheid) vir ons geborg het. Later 'n Red Bull by 'n Total wat nie petrol het nie.
 
Soos wat Brazzaville naderkom begin ons spoke opjaag: Sênou daai bande is nie daar nie. Dis Sondag vandag, so ons kan nie bel nie. Maar hulle het belówe die bande is in Brazzaville. Dit sál daar wees. Ons brand om weer Noord te ry. Brazzaville is omtrent reg Oos van Pointe Noire af. Ek wil die ewenaar oorsteek, maar nou ry ons hier parallel met die Kongo rivier heen en weer.
 
Môre staan ons vroeg op, pak, ry lughawe toe, kry die bande, maak hulle vas, en ry Noord. Al is dit net 'n uur of twee uit die stad uit.
 
Day 23: Dolisie to Brazzaville
 
We're driving on the Congo's N1, and just like the road from Pointe Noire to Dolisie, this road is beautiful. Our first suspicion is that the hills without jungle are because they've been stripped bare. For the first part of the road, this may be true, as we see the strips of shaved-off hill-tops with patches of forest in-between. And we occasionally pass a crawling cargo truck struggling under a load of huge tree stumps.
 
But then, as we climb higher and it gets cooler, we realize we are now on their high plateau. When you look to the left, you see Africa stretching out in waves to the north. It's actually too much to truly take in at its deepest level. A lump forms in my throat.
 
We left early. Each of us had a cup of black coffee and a bread roll for breakfast. So around eleven o'clock, noon, we are feeling thin and slightly dehydrated. We stop to drink water. And to eat some of the nuts that Roses (my sisters-in-law's business) sponsored us with. Later, a Red Bull at a Total station that has no petrol.
 
As Brazzaville approaches, we start worry: What if those tires aren't there. It's Sunday today, so we can't call. But they promised the tires are in Brazzaville. It will be there. We're eager to head north again. Brazzaville is more or less directly east of Pointe Noire. I want to cross the equator, but now we're driving parallel to the Congo River, back and forth.
Tomorrow, we'll wake up early, pack up, ride to the airport, get the tires, strap them to the bikes, and head north. Even if it's only for an hour or two out of the city.


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