The Gokwe Kid – Rouge Rhodie on a Roller : Part 6

Day Three - Monday 28^th July

After a great night sitting like some pervert outside the ladies' toilet for 3 hours getting more and more totally inebriated, I was accosted by the Frenchman and a pretty Dutch girl. The reason why I was listening (not) to French girl students empty their bowls, was because it was the only place where you could pick up the WiFi signal.

The two joined my FB but the girl used my notebook and the damn starting page is now in Dutch!

So I went off to bed and slept like the drunken dog I am. Next morning brought some sunshine and it took a mere two hours to load up. This was due to the fact that it appears I had packed rather badly and hence could not find anything and thus the tent was completely full.

This lesson is just one of many I am now re -learning. It is a long time since the PATU days.

With the scooter with no name, moaning and screaming under the weight, I hit the road heading towards the next town call Bud something or other. It was only about 5 clicks later that I passed an amazing site on the opposite side of the road.

I hesitated about turning around with the heavy scooter and some serious traffic. But I thought it may be of interest and something told me I would not regret it. Finding a chance a few meters down the drag I went back. It was a decision that would change most of this trip.

The shop was empty of customers and I got a cup-of-china from another stunning, multi-lingual Czech babe. There was a young bloke messing about in a back room unpacking stuff. Well, it didn't take two secs when we were the best chinas for ever. Jan, the owner, is a Czech but his Dad has a farm in SA bordering Zimbabwe. He spends time down there and got the idea to open up this shop. It is only a year old. You can imagine the bucks involved.

For over an hour we chatted and I told him I will promise as best as I can to promote his place. Already I see flaws (web site only in Chesky – www.original-afrika.eu) but it will take time. The stuff, from Tanzania, Malawi, Zim (he has brilliant contacts with the former ambassador of Zim who is a famous African photographer (Liba Taylor), is mega top gear. All is above board. No ivory and the animals and skins are all officially imported. Remember, this country is part of the EU and a fully developed place.

He was rather stunned about the stunt I was pulling, and when I told him of my proposed route to get to Auschwitz, he looked at my map, and showed me where to go. Stay away from all the cities. No point unless you want to check out a museum or two (not). Stay on tiny roads. Less traffic and next to no police. He warned that they are very arrogant (that means they always wear shades), and are not friendly (what!) as the German police.

I knew I had to get a small elephant for the ex. When I tried to pay – it was a gift! He printed out the route to get me to the next place and as he knew his land very well, explained all the places I should be going to but still in the right direction. One bit was through a forest where the only things that live there are called bears and... WOLVES. Holy shit. I hope the wolves don't run faster than my roller (45 kmh down hill, 35 on the flat, 20 up hill). I can't even swing at the savage things with my heavy anti-theft chain because if you take one hand off the handle bars, the front wheel shakes something rotten in fear of an imminent crash, and imagine if I was attacked from the right - if I took that hand off, the scooter would stop!

Suddenly I miss my leather anti-dog savaging leggings that I had hated so much as part of my police uniform.

After uploading via his free WiFi pics and video exclusively for my Facebook, The Gokwe Kid (TGK) members, (you can all join for FREE), after 2 hours and 61 kms, I arrived at a large camping site in the town of Teflon. It is famous for inventing a paint for men's underpants to stop sweaty eggs sticking to them. Okay, it is actually called Trebon and it is known for its carp fish.

Since I had no intention of going anywhere, I slipped a nice ice cold, big glass of brilliant golden amber down an appreciative gullet, and before I got into the swings, found a spot, and this time, well organised, I had a neat and tidy tent.

Then it was up to the bar (after removing the flag (thieves), and leaving plenty of warning to them), where I then proceeded to have a great time chirping away with my TGK fans. Many have sponsored me on this trip, and thus get their names in lights. Unfortunately the stickers on the bike have nearly all become un-indelible (is that a word? Who cares?), despite being covered with sticky tape, they have started to badly run.

Up at the bar with my notebook and amusing the TGK groupies - the bloody heavens opened up reminiscent of a real Rhodie shumbas and flatdogs storm. I didn't give a monkeys because I was getting nice and drunk, was inside the pub, plugged into the mains and free WiFi. Then it took a tad turn for the worse – as reported on FB (last night) -

Oooh. It has stopped raining. Better see if everything is still there and get myself a sweat shirt. Back in a mo. I am all yours for some time.

Okayyyyy. not clever. Lazy Sixpence forgot to tie up the side ventilation windows and make strings EXTRA tight. Now Bwana must shout, as there was a small child's paddling pool inside his tent, and the sleeping bag is not very dry.

Bwana made his stupid Sixpence mop it out with the very wet towels the bloody fool had left out and made Sixpence promise to wake up a bit and stay off the Chibuku until his Bwana's Safari tent is No 1 and not Number bloody 2000.

This of course led to some rather amusing and cruel comments. Whilst chirping I decided to sort out my kangaroo money pouch because I was sick to death of euros and kroners all mixed up. Then...

But Sixpence has redeemed himself, luckily. because, to get the frying pan into the pannier at the back, he had unscrewed the handle.

Bwana ask him, "Where have you put the screw?" Sixpence look up into the sky for help.

"I put it in a safe, secret place - so no know to find it." Sixpence replied whilst smiling sickly.

"So tell me, where is this secret place my oh so clever Sixpence, because I know you too well and I bet you hid it whilst on the Chibuku."

Sixpence put on his best offended face and body language-
"Bwana, why you not listen to me? I tell you, the place is so secret, no one will find it, and that includes me."

The all forgiving Bwana thought about this for a few moments -
"I hope your hands are made of asbestos for when you fry my dinner, you total idiot."

I found the screw in the front part of the pouch. I then proceed to drown my woes before drowning in a soggy sleeping bag, by mixing the beer with some local schnapps - it was not a good idea. The stuff tasted of super glue and was pure rocket fuel. All paid for by various sponsors along with a very nice dinner.

At 11 pm I was thrown out and I wandered to the toilet - for I busting. Coming out, I got lost and spent 20 minutes wandering about with a sailors gait , tacking and tripping over stupid tent ropes (which leads to a lot of foul language in a foreign tongue),until I fell over my roller. Job done. Home sweet soaking home. I recall vaguely a few hours later of opening the flap and pass water. This time my sandals and trainers were inside the tent... - which leads us to

Day Four – Tuesday 29^th July

Ah, not feeling to good Tony. The plan was to go into town and check out the fag shop for some rolling tobacco but the weather is still crap and drizzle now and then and I don't think I could pass a breathalyser test.

I was awoken to the sounds of hissing that I thought might be my mattress, and that perhaps in a drunken frenzy must have thought it was a giant python and had stabbed it with my Swiss army knife. Looking out the flap I saw it was a family of swans.

It was a good thing I brought wipe towels because I can't have a shower due to the fact the towels are still soaking wet. Brilliant!They are lying in the tent with some vain hope they sort of dry out.

The place doesn't have the ambiance of the last camp site, but has great views plus food and beer is cheap. Mostly used by Czechs, some Germans and Austrians, but oddly enough, no Dutch. I think they are smart campers and stick to little places. The entire area has loads of little lakes and I reckon 70% of the campers have bicycles and there are plenty of designated touring routes. I can't be arsed with that malarkey. Far to much effort. Even going to the toilet leaves me with shaking pins.

And that is more or less all to report. Tomorrow I pack up and head for a town called malice. Erm no, it is Trebic. I will have to fill up first before loading the roller as it is about 120 clicks, almost at the limit of the tank. It also means I will be up to four hours on the road. Quite a task for us both.

The rest of the day I will mess about on FB and drink nice beer. Early bed though and hopefully I can get a shower in the morning.

Catch ya all later -