Saturday, September 26, 2009

Boat Trouble + Car Trouble, or We Always Make it Home Somehow

Weekend trip to Nkhata Bay, about 300km from Lilongwe, a few highlights:

-'Dug-out canoe challenge': two people have to paddle out into the bay, around a boat, and back. Winners get to stay for free at the lodge. We made it maybe three meters before capsizing. It's harder than it looks!


-Boat trip to a beach for dinner. We went over in two boats, and returned in one. We ran out of petrol, but kept our spirits up with a Beatles sing-along.

(very happy to arrive back at the lodge)


-The maiden voyage of our 1992 diesel Toyota Hilux Surf, affectionately named Big Bertha. We had some overheating issues going to Nkhaka Bay, but arrived without much trouble. The way home was a different story. We overheated about every two kilometers, and eventually started spouting black soot. I thought we would have to abandon the truck and take a bus home, but we successfully traveled the hilly 40km to Mzuzu in three hours. Miraculously, we found a mechanic on a Sunday in Mzuzu (the fifth? largest city in Malawi), and, stopping every 70-80km to add liters and liters of water, arrived home at midnight. She's a thirsty one, that Bertha.
(waiting to cool down)

(I learned a lot about radiators!)

(trying to figure out our distance from Lilongwe)

1 comment:

  1. I'm sure you will know how to fix Bertha by the time you get home Ms. Mechanic! Glad to see that miracles happen in Malawi! You look great! love ,mom.

    ReplyDelete