Maun - Francistown
We headed back to the lodge and then into town to get a bite to eat.
We ended the evening with coffee on our little patio exhausted but exhilirated.
The following morning we were up at sunrise ready to head off to Francistown.
We climbed into Blue Bird and headed into town to fill her belly. It would be a full day of driving and she would definitely be put to the test again.
Unfortunately technology doesn't always help, the card machine at the garage in town was offline and so we had to head off to the next garage about ten kilometres away in the hopes that they could help us. Thankfully they could and with Blue Bird's belly filled up we hit the road.
The road was long but my IWF got to click away which kept us both happy.
We had to stop at one of the check points which was very busy, our vehicle was searched and we had to remove all our shoes from our luggage and dip them in the dipping tank and then drive Blue Bird through too. A bus full of tourists were none to pleased as they had to do the same which meant they would be there for a while. Foot and mouth disease is still very much a problem so far up north so it was completely understandable but a bit fustrating all the same.
We came to the realisation that although we were loving Botswana it was probably the fact that we were now homeward bound that was now making the road seem never ending,
We headed off to the Spar stores so that hubby could meet with the managers and let them know that we would be back in the morning to get started. Now....... off to find our bed for the night.
Our bodies were tired and Blue Bird had decided that she had had enough and one by puncture we had as we approached our destination...... her feet were obviously tired and this was the only way she knew to stop us from pushing her on. Hubby obviously was not impressed as it was now almost five 'o clock and he was tired.
Woodlands Stop Over
We coaxed Blue Bird to the reception at the gate, while I booked us in and did the payment hubby fixed Blue Birds' broken foot.
The grounds were beautiful and the chalet was really nicely done out. While hubby had a rest (playing games on his tablet) I went for a walk to stretch my legs and obviously keep my IWF happy.
My adventurers' spirit was screaming at me to take a walk into the bush where the Hunters' Road once was, common sense prevailed though and I turned around to head back.
As we really did not want to have to get back in the car to find food we took a walk to reception as I had seen something about meals being sold.
After some browsing through the small selection of curios and food we made our choices, the lady would put our selections in the microwave for us to cook (lasagna and cottage pie) and drop it off at the room for us.
For some reason he wouldn't buy this hat.............. lol................ I wonder why?
An hour later we still had no food so I headed off to reception to numerous apologies and promises that we would have it shortly. I then wanted to buy two cans of cooldrink....... what a laugh......... you had to buy a minimum of six................ I settled on a bottle of wine instead.
Half an hour later our food arrived, still slightly frozen in the centre...... by then we were too tired and mellowed out from the wine to care. We had dinner and climbed into bed.
The following morning I headed off to have a shower before heading to work, the ablutions were really nice but.............. you only get three minutes to shower.................... that done in record time I headed back to the chalet. When I told hubby about the three minute time limit he burst out laughing................... apparently envisioning me with shampoo in my hair and all soaped up with no water to rinse was very entertaining.......
Dressed and Blue Bird packed we headed to the stores to get the days' work done. This was to be a day from hell............. traffic, unfriendly staff and every Tom, Dick and Harry back home phoning to ask to borrow money............. by the time we were done we were both ready to commit a murder or two.............
Initially we were going to head straight for the border and home but as hubby had had a call the day before that two more stores had to be done back in Gaborone our plans changed and we headed for Palapye and Camp Itumela which would be our stop over for the night.
Back at....... Camp Itumela
Now.............. you may recall that when we stopped here at the beginning of our adventure I had met up with some ladies that were heading back to SA and to my dismay they were really happy to be going home............ I WAS NOW ONE OF THEM............... as much as my IWF and my adventurous spirit were moaning, groaning and sulking I could not wait to get back to a HOT bubble bath and my own bed!
Once again we had a lovely meal and were entertained with smiles and joviality from our host Salim. Exhausted we settled our bill, said our goodbyes and headed to bed.
Back in........ Gaborone and the place I can't remember the name of
Arriving at one of the stores hubby went to check with the manager that the signs had arrived for him to install.............. they had............. for that store and the other one but............... he would not release anything as his manager was not there and he would not be able to get hold of him at that moment as he was in a meeting.
Now............... usually my dearest is calm although irritated in these situations but we had had a crappy time in Francistown, had to go back to Gaborone instead of home and he too wanted a hot bath and his own bed so the following ten minutes were unexpected but not surprising............. he just SLIGHTLY lost his temper................ the result............... a truck delivering stock was told to wait, a manager was given the riot act.............. the latter resulting in him hastily trying to get hold of his manager who was now at lunch............. we were asked to return in about an hour.
We then decided to go and book into our accommodation and get something to eat.
An hour later, accommodation sorted and tummy full hubby was calmer and we returned to the store.
The senior manager was there and apologised for the mishap earlier, apparently the other manager was new and not good at taking charge of situations.
All said and done we headed to the receiving area to unpack everything to discover that the goods for the other store were there too............. Blue Bird was not big enough to transport any of it. The store manager said that he would arrange for someone to deliver it before we got there.
Now......... you would of thought that we had had enough hairy moments for the day but apparently not.............. while I was busy unwrapping things inside the store the manager that hubby had had the altercation with earlier walked through to the receiving area with six policemen. My heart sank to my stomach and I wanted to be ill................. had he laid a complaint with the police? You see............... we didn't have work permits................... I now had visions of them walking back past me with hubby in handcuffs............... strange country, no drivers' license........... what the heck would I do if they arrest him. A few minutes later five of them returned with the same manager as well as the senior manager and no sign of hubby but..... one policeman missing.
The urge to go running to find hubby had to be curbed and about five minutes later I saw the missing officer head out................. I was then joined by a pale and shaky but still laughing hubby. Apparently the police were doing a routine check to ensure that all the store staff had work permits and the junior manager had taken them to the receiving area to speak to the senior manager. No one had paid any attention to hubby............. when hubby asked the police officer who had stayed behind if there was a problem and if he could help her she promptly replied: " There is no problem............... I just want you". When he realised what she meant he burst out laughing and told her that he was married. Whew.................
We finished the store and as we were about to head off to the next one the senior manager informed us that the stuff we needed delivered there could only be delivered the following morning. After the day we had had we weren't to disgruntled. We headed off to our accommodation to get changed and then to Bull and Bush for dinner.
Back again........... at the place of which I can't remember the name
The following morning we were up early as we still had a store to do before heading home. This time round we had to use the communal ablutions as our chalet did not have a bathroom and lo and behold.............. no hot water.
We arrived at the store, thankfully everything had been delivered and an hour later we were back in the car and ready to head home.
It was with mixed emotions that we crossed the border to head home. Although we were glad to be heading for a hot bath and our own bed our amazing Botswana trip was sadly over.
No comments:
Post a Comment