So close, yet...

The Makgadigkadi Salt Pans, Botswana. This was just before

i realised that i was in the wrong place

Only 700km from Cape Town and my trusty stead is in bits in a mechanics workshop for 4 days.

The engine had been under performing and vibrating excessively for a couple of weeks but when i got here to Jeffrys Bay, it became difficult start, wouldn't tick-over and sounded dreadful. The excellent mechanics here quickly had the engine out and dismantled. Verdict: Broken piston ring causing piston seizure and damaged cylinder, or in the words of one Queensland mechanic- 'the fucking fuckers fucked'.

Its not all bad though. New parts will be delivered on Monday and the guys here will re bore and rebuild the engine on Tuesday/ Wednesday and all for snip of what i would pay in England. Estimated cost is 2000 rand (about 130 quid).

Ive also learnt that its not possible to sell the bike in South Africa 'legally'. I would have had to complete the paper work before arriving to do so.

The bike is travelling on a Carnet de Passage which is like a passport for the vehicle which allows me to temporarily or permanently import it, in line with the the country's laws and tax regs. To ensure the owner of the Carnet (me) complies with such laws, the issuing body (in my case the RAC) holds a deposit based on the value of the vehicle (1200 quid for me) which they will release when the Carnet document is returned in order and correctly stamped by customs. So i flog the bike- i lose my dosh.

On the plus side South African Airways will fly the bike back for a reasonable sum, AND i can ride it to the airport leave petrol in the tank and that's it. I don't need to drain the fluids and crate it up which is what i was expecting to have to do. If all goes well I will ride it home from Heathrow the day i arrive back, though flights are yet to be booked. A job for tomorrow.

So I'm stuck in Jeffreys Bay, an international surf mecca, for 5 days. It could be much worse. If this happened in Angola it probably would have ended the trip!

A clever chap here has managed to recover the deleted photos off my camera so Ive dropped in a few in from Botswana.

Heading into the pans, shortly before my tumble

piss stop

Baobab Tree, Botswana

I spent most of last week in the beautifully wild Transkei, walking, riding the bike and even riding an old nag of a horse. There were loads of whales off the coast too.