Papaws, Prawns, Palms, Pansy Shells, Peachy days, Perfect waves..

Gently does it!
Leaving Beira, ‘popped in’ at Zim border 300km away to get TIP ( temp import permit) extended. Taking it slow now with caravan, don’t need more complications.
Long drive south next day to coast, great road until the last 100km or so of really vrot potholed and broken tar. Stayed over at Inhasorro, with a nearby night club pounding all night. At 1am moved caravan into lee of nearby building to reduce volume level and try & get some sleep.

Then about 50km or so of sand road to Pomene Lodge – which is Stunning wif a kaptil S.

Pomene is situated on a sand spit, with a conservation area estuary on the inside, where we snorkeled around sunken trees, seeing the biggest tropical angelfish I’ve ever seen, zebras, moorish idols, pencilfish, squid, pansy shells, and all n all.

Had some good surf days ‘somewhere in the area’ too. Say No More, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, know what I mean?

Further south at Morrungulo, a lovely campsite with ripoff pricing, really enjoyed the beach, papaws, and prawns on the barbie.

Leaving Morrungulo on another sand road, some serious knocking started from the caravan on every bump - found the shock absorber in the towhitch A-frame broken. I remembered an entry on the 4x4 forum which mentioned the “Very Basic Mechanic “at nearby Masinga. Sure enough, the Tracks4Africa map on the GPS had the “Very Basic Mechanic “ listed and shortly we had the shock welded up sharp sharp!

Then on to Tofu beach area, where the little camping there is, is really dreadful, oh so awfully unbearable. So, as we’ve done twice before, scouted the area and cut a deal with Nordin’s Lodge on the beach. A sweet little casita, with a basic en-suite and our Jurgens Xcape is looking lonely, parked outside, sleeping on it’s ownsome for 4 nights.

Tofu beach! – a really great beach – complete with vendors trying to sell you handbags, bracelets, shells, prawns, squid, paintings etc, etc – too many times every day.

A good escape is the next bay, Tofinho, which is probably Mozambique’s best-known surf break. Cooking this morning, and after my second surf today, arms & shoulders too sore to paddle out again, typing is a lot less strenuous.

So here I sit, outside my casita, overlooking sunny beautiful Tofu beach, Sharon next to me reading ‘Emma’s War’ – about Sudan..and life doesn’t get much peachier!

Tomorrow, off to fairly nearby Ponta Zavora for a few days, then to the Republic of South Africa – heard it’s a beautiful country too.
We were going to go in via northern Kruger Park, but latest info I can find says the part of the road is quite corrugated and stony – which we’ve had enough of until I get the ‘van permanently repaired with a new axle- so we’ll take the boring tar road via Maputo to Komatipoort. Prob a short detour via southern Kruger’s tar roads to Joburg to visit Don and Joy.

Thereafter, God-willing…
.. not gonna tell you - you can read it on the next blog.

That’s enough about us and our indolent, hedonistic lifestyle. How about you? How are you, and what are you doing?

More at Bernadette’s & The Beira Experience

At Osivela wa Yesu, the children brushing teeth ...

....before they move into their classrooms.

Some of the women learning new skills – sewing classes, and their latest produce: dolls.

One less job in my self-imposed job-jar – sorting out the drains

Sunday 16th, Sharon was invited to teach at a local AOG-based church in Mocuba - she did a great job!

On Monday morning, after 3 ½ weeks with Bernadette, the time came to leave. For both Sharon & I it was a tear-filled experience, as we’d had such a good time and drawn close not only to B & Heleen, but to the staff on site Ernesto & Betina, their sons, Balita, Jose and others. Just before we left, the staff spontaneously gathered round, prayed together with us, then sang a blessing as we left. It was so moving that the first few kilometers went by in silence, just reflecting on what great people these all are, and how God joins our hearts so quickly. A few hours later we crossed the recently inaugurated new bridge – 2 to 3 kilometers wide, spanning the Zambezi. No more waiting for the ferry!

Then, around 1:30pm on the sandy road to Beira- we had a heart-stopping ( and vehicle-stopping) experience. After a not-so-bad bump, and checking the camper in the mirror, something looked squiffy. Right-hand side wheel angled outwards !

A feeing of utter helpnessness. Jacked up van, and could see something serious bent on axle – impossible to fix on the road. And then, self-capable Les suddenly needing to depend on others.

Fortunately, a check on the cellphones, surprised to find signal, so several calls to Moz contacts, and we had some English-speaking Beira people making arrangements – and a promise by Dieter Koch to rescue us the following morning. So a night camping at the roadside, heard poachers’ AK gunfire at dusk, and a restless rainy night.

Mid –morning Tuesday, the Mercedes truck with crane arrived, we discussed & sorted out hoisting,

then followed the "house-on-wheels"-on-wheels for 6 ½ hours for 112 km of sandy road, then another 40 tar road to Beira Cables, Dieter’s civil works company.

Put up our tent in the yard, and this morning (Wednesday) they "downloaded a caravan", and started the repairs.

A forlorn looking Xcape caravan

We are being wonderfully treated by the Mozambican engineering staff, who jump to assist us with the smallest things we do, and have made us feel like honoured guests.

We are sleeping in the axle-less van on the site ( clean toilets, a shower, power connection at our disposal – much better facilities than the only beachfront campsite)

I am so used to being ‘in control’ and helping others, that being helped in such a gracious way at first is very awkward for me – but have a sense that God has a hand in this – teaching me to depend more on Him, and demonstrating His love to me through people.Tomorrow being a local city public holiday ( Beira City Day) we will still be here on Friday, to finalise repairs and try and get my TIP ( temporary import permit for vehicle) extended.

One of Beira's crappy beaches (due to outflow of Pungee river with it's effluent)

Looking forward to the beautiful beaches further south - Maybe from Saturday onwards...

With Bernadette in Mozambique

Arrived at Mocuba, setup our camp next to B’s house under the cashew tree.

What change since we were here last June! Clinic finished – I just completed the wiring of lights & plugs.

Veg gardens flourishing.

Heleen who is out from Holland for 8 weeks has been painting around the new buildings.

Bernadette invited 10 guys from various churches in area to attend the electrical course, held over 3 days, and on the last day they fitted the last light needed in the clinic.

But not all work – time to relax too

We were invited to share in Ernesto’s church nearby – taught on living from the heart to God, and not just following laws & routines.

On Monday we took B & Heleen with to Ilha de Mozambique, about 600 km away – a scenic island connected to the mainland by a 3km bridge.

Once the capital of Mozambique, now a photographer’s paradise with ancient forts, churches, mosques, Mediterranean-like streets surrounded by a turquoise sea populated with dhows, people picking seafood off the rocks and more islands.

Kids are naturally drawn to Bernadette ....
Then ‘bush camped’ for 3 nights nearby on a point close to Chocas Mar, ...

.....where we swam, snorkeled in the sea and a lagoon – saw beautiful fishies ( including firefish) - braaied lobster, steak and generally lived like kings ( kings without running water or toilets etc)

Now back at B’s for another week or so – having a good time eating & chatting together, doing odd jobs, .....

...and shopping in Mocuba. ( Water, food for the kids, milk formula and 12 sheets of roof sheeting on top of the car!)

Renewing our passports, Temp Import papers for vehicle etc for an extra 30 days so we can explore Moz coast at leisure when we leave Mocuba.