Dar Bikers in Western Tanzania, AKA the "Lound of Rakes Tlip, 2013"

So we set out for some of Africa's iconic lakes. We would follow tracks we knew were good, and some from Google Earth we hoped existed. There were seven of us, and our plan was to ride around Lake Rukwa to Lake Tanganyika and finish up at Lake Nyasa/Malawi if all would go according to plan.


Above: The route starting in Mbeya and rocking counter-clockwise around L. Rukwa to L. Tanganyika, down to L. Niassa back up to Mbeya

But with us, things rarely go according to plan. There was insult and injury, sound and fury, and blood, sweat and beers. Nevertheless, we did see our lakes, and had a hell of an adventure doing it.

So, enjoy the teaser pics while I try to put together a ride report. There are a lot of good photos and some uncharacteristically good helmet-cam footage to comb through, so it could take some time. Be prepared for tse tse fly bites, river mishaps, mishkaki and chips mayayi, Konyagi and Splite and warm Kilimanjaro, a Cobra, a wicked tall suspension bridge, long days of deep bush, broken bikes and broken bones, beautiful lakeside sunsets and ugly, dusty faced Dar Bikers.

Karibuni.


Above: Some food, some riding and a bit of river SCUBA diving


Above: An erect reptile, deep bush and a busy KTM mechanic


Above: Ominous words and some lake shore scenery


Above: A bit of everything you want in an African ride

That's all for now.

Link to Day 0

This is gonna be great ! ! ! ! !:eek1

I gotta ride with y'all some day. Africa has been calling me since I first learned of maps.

Looking forward to your report.



JM.

BRING IT!!!!!!

can't wait to see the latest ride...............

this should be good

You on Swahili time?

Now that's Adventure Riding! :eek1



I make it a point to stay away from erect reptiles, myself.

Can't wait!

Looking forward to the full report!

And then they were eaten by hienas?

I just returned from a two week mission trip to Kenya and Tanzania 2 days ago. People in Africa drive like teenagers on crack. It is crazy! Plenty of dirt to ride on though. Have fun and be safe. Check out Khans BBQ and Auto Parts store in Arusha. It is yummy!

The real deal!!

...

Countdown was on. Five days to go. The plan had been in the works for months, if you could call it a plan. I'd studied Google Earth for tracks. Bikers from days past had booked tickets. Bikes had been brought up to passable states of readiness (by local standards). All that remained was to change rubber. Faceplant delivered parts and a special compressed pizza, and Mr. Bean brought tyres aplenty for the changing. Mousses are a hellovathing to install on tyres that have been around for several years in the tropics, but it's worth it to have 100% assurance that at least punctures won't be what slows us down...


Above: A pizza mixta, Mr Bean on the job

The day upon us, we hit the airport bar at noon (well, it was noon somewhere). It was Bean and I plus two bums from early Dar Biker days; PubQuiz - the eternal fountain of useless knowledge and PhatBilly; apparently a slightly plumper version than last time he was around (pun intended); and Mr. Bean's francophone-only buddy FundiPhil coming to ride the tracks at 58 years young. He didn't have a clue what was coming.


Above: In transit (donation can could just as well had a pic of the average Dar biker on it)

Ajax and GilleMonster were half way to Mbeya with bikes atop trailers, and the rest of us hopped a bird. Somehow or other, we arrived at the airport within 30 minutes of each other (the car and the plane) and managed have a beer in the parking lot before setting off for the lovely and comfortable (if hyper-colonial and stuffily managed) Utengule lodge overlooking the dusty valley below from its coffee estate vantage.


Above: Mbeya Intnl Airport, Utengule arrival

It took nothing to unload, settle in, open some bottles and relax. Bikes were ready after we installed spanking-new airfilters on the XRs and our bellies were full of boot-tough beef.

Around the table, it was an intellectual's dream:

[PubQuiz, out of the blue] So, anyone know the origin of the term "board meeting"?

[Ajax to PhatBilly] Use your inside voice!

[Bean, GilleMonster and FundiPhil] "Vous, loo, woo" and other French noises.

The sun snuffed itself out on the purple hills in the distance and we stumbled to our racks.


Above: 5/7ths of the group and a postcard sunset

We would ride come the morn.

Stay tuned, 'cause its going to get dusty.

Link to day 1

Gotta love Africa!

Hasn't even started & I'm already rating it MJ style.