Dust, Driving and Lake Chala

At the weekend we went to lake Chala. This is a crater filled with water, that straddles the Tanzania/ Kenyan border. It is slightly up in the hills, so is cooler (hooray!) and because of all the water it is very lush around the edges.

The journey was half by road – that is the kind of road that you and I think of when we say road – then the rest by dirt track. There is so much dust, which means that every time a vehicle comes the other way you have to rapidly wind up the windows to avoid getting covered in another layer. Except the windows are electric and already clogged with dust so will only rise at an excruciatingly slow speed. So whenever you see a vehicle heading towards you, or you come across one of the many lorries pouring out black smoke, the cry throughout the car is Windows and everybody takes a deep breath and starts frantically holding down the buttons.

 We got to the campsite and although they knew nothing of our booking (despite my having a confirming email from them) they soon put up tents for us and we set off to the lake. On the way we visited the new restaurant – it is not finished, but the location is phenomenal and when it is complete it will really be something. The walk down was tricky in places, but all was forgotten as we swam in the cool water and took in the amazing surroundings.

The place is being refurbished and There are log cabins with breathtaking views, under construction. Lorraine managed to negotiate that we sleep in one (goodbye wind-flapping tents, hello luxurious veranda). Fabulous.

Next day, after a wonderful guided walk, along dry river beds, past dessicated elephant poo (apparently good for headaches when burned & inhaled) and glimpsing into the microcosm created in a nearby crater, we set off for home. 

Finally we are on tarmac and there is some hefty great thing pouring out foul black smoke, travelling at walking speed  (so slooooow! – how can they be allowed on the road?) and the sporadic traffic coming the other way means that I can’t overtake.  But it got worse – we had a puncture.

Baling out we looked in the back and could find no jack nor any wheel brace. What to do? Well actually this is easy – we have the very gorgeous Michelle with us. She is black American, and highly attractive to Tanzanian male taste so within seconds she has flagged down a passing minibus. They leap out, eager to help, but have no jack so have to pass on. Then Lorraine managed to flag down another car and this time we were lucky; it was full of young men who knew their stuff. One opened up the side pocket in the rear of the car to reveal the necessary equipment (hooray - it was there all the time!) and with his friend they set to work.

There are some odd features about 4 wheel drives that require you to know where to jack the car up – and none of us did. Ever-resourceful, the young men hoiked rocks from the side of the road, jacked & stacked, and somehow managed to change the wheel. Thank you!

The trip was well worth it, but I now know that driving here is far more tiring than at home. This meant that I took a break on Wednesday (my first day off!) but I'm now back at the keyboard & ready to write J