Day 2, 2011/05/03
Wake up to a stunning sunrise over the river and to the sound of lion. Yeah. Initially thought I was hearing things but then later it became clear it was the grunting of a lion. Stunning bath and then off to pack bike and stash some dollars under my seat. Just incase, one never knows what may happen.
We say our goodbyes to Warren, who is off back to Johannesburg while, we are off to the border. My butterflies, in my stomach, are having a field day. I jokingly say to David. We can always stay here. Fuck the trip, we can download images off the net and with some Photo Shop make as if we were there!
Thank god David was not a taker, and we head off to Sasol Garage for a full tank, some breakfast and a quick exchange of Rands into Meticas.
Then off to boarder post. Wow, quick when it is not peak season. Managed to get Moz sim cards and we are now officially on our way.
We decide to take a shorter more scenic view to Bilene. Rather than take the EN3 to Maputo and then north on the EN1 to Bilene, we turn off and head for Moamba. After some about 100km of dirt, we eventually get to a lovely tard road near Xinavane. We soon find out why there is this amazing tarred road in the middle of nowhere. For the next 22 km we will see nothing but sugarcane plantations. Yes, all run by Tongat-Hulet most amazing site to see. In Xinavane, we come across a sugar processing plant. The smell of syrup fills the air. What is amazing to see, is the strides that Mozambique have taken since my first visit here. This town looked like any in South Africa. The machinery on display was almost all brand spanking new. Amazing what foreign investment can do.
Anyway, we still had 60 km to Bilene to go. After joining the EN1, we decide to stop off for a good old ice cold coke in Magul. The place is an old warn down shop, with a speaker outside playing portuegese Salsa music. Just wanted to start dancing. Two cokes cost us M30, that is R3 each. Wow, cheaper than in Johannesburg.
We decide to push onto Bilene and decide not to pickup any supplies in Macia. What a costly decision that will turn out to be.
David's chalet turns out to be amazing. Two bed room, all in white, with the most amazing view of the lagoon in Bilene. Also, a short stroll from the beach which, has the most amazing white beaches.
We decide to walk along the beach to town and see if can do dinner in one of the restaurants. It turns out that, the walk was MUCHlonger than we thought and that, the nice restaurant in town was closed on Tuesdays. To add salt to the wound, we had the pleasure of finding out that the marketing town had nothing really to offer in terms of groceries. So now hungry beggars could no longer be choosers and, we had to settle for tomatoes, cucumber, onions, tuna and some lovely porteuges rolls for dinner. Thank god, David brought salt with, and we had something to add to the ingredients.
Also managed to discover the local Rum they sell here. Rio Tinto is it's name, and it weighs in at only 43% proof!
So needless to say what washed my dinner down with.
David managed to get his small radio working and picked up a number of AM stations. I was surprised to discover that, my cellphone's build in radio could not pick up any FM stations. I may need to find a small radio at some point along my trip.
Day 2 Pics
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