Mud, Mud and More Mud
March 2020 has been a very challenging month for Big Bertha. We flew back to Zambia in early March, having celebrated David’s parents’ diamond wedding anniversary in the UK, and headed north east towards the waterfalls.
The rains have been exceptional this year and the water table has risen, making the dirt roads very fragile. We ended up getting stuck twice, the videos and pictures below tell the torrid story.
We would like to thank the following people who came to our aid:
- Lari, the owner of the wonderful Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge
- Chris, the lead farm hand at Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge
- Father Thomas , Anton and team from the Diocese of Mpika
- Juakali and team from Kasama
- Major Phiri and the Zambia Natioinal Service at Kasama
- Hazel, the owner of the terrific Thorntree lodge at Kasama
- George, the safari driver from Thorntree lodge.
During this debacle lasting about three weeks, the COVID-19 crisis kicked off and we had to decide whether to stay in Zambia or fly home. As we write this, we are sheltering on a farm outside Lusaka monitoring the situation.
You’re absolutely amazing!
Hmmm, somewhere between stupid and daft I think.
I expect this part of the trip provided more than enough stress, for both of you, to last the whole journey.! Well done to you both & all your helpers.!!
Thanks David. It was an experience.
Hi Dave and Francine,
Wow what a tough time you’ve had! But you have great resilience and will come out of this even stronger. Worrying times in Devon, just taking it day by day. Very best wishes and stay safe.
Phil
Thanks Phil. It was tough. Glad you are keeping well back in Devon.
Having seen the video this song came to mind – with altered lyrics of course
“Right, ” said Dave, “Got to get this truck out, this here truck is gonna have to go”
Tried to shift it, couldn’t even lift it
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and
“Right, ” said Dave, “Give a shout for Lari”
Up comes Lari from Mutinondo
After strainin’, heavin’ and complainin’
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea
And Lari had a think, and he thought we ought to call a local tractor
as the deciding factor
But it did no good, well I never thought it would
“All right, ” said Dave, “Have to dig some dirt up
To get get that dirt up wouldn’t take a mo”
Got some dirt off, even took his shirt off
Should have got us somewhere but no!
So Fred said, “Let’s have another cuppa tea”
And we said, “right-o” …
“Right, ” said Dave, “Have to call a priest in
Need God’s help to shift the so-and-so”
Brought a tipper from nearby Mpika
but it got us nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and
“Right, ” said Dave, “Get a block and tackle
That there tree is gonna have to go”
Took the tree down, even with it all down
We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea
And Francine had a think, and she said, “Look, Dave
I got a sort of feelin’
pull Bertha from it’s beam end
With a rope or two we could pull the blighter through”
“All right, ” said Dave, roping to the beam end
Starts the truck up with a mighty roar
With the tipper, still here from Mpika, pulls the truck back on to the road!
So Francine and me had another cuppa tea
And then we went home
(I said to Francine, “Well you don’t want to go through that again
You see the trouble with Dave is, he’s too hasty
You’ll never get nowhere if you’re too hasty”)
Dave! Amazing!! You must be bored. Francine just sang it to me… 🙂
Haven’t you heard. We’re in lock down. Day 22 and counting.
Brilliant! Had me in hysterics! xx
You need something like a Toyota Landcruiser. Never gets stuck, sand, mud, water…
Yes, but you can’t cook a Xmas dinner in it!! 🙂
Francine, how did you entertain those kids? What did you tell them? What did they tell you? (all in English, I assume…?)
One of the older girls taught me how to say “How are you?” and “I am fine” in Bemba, the local language. Said it to one of the kids and I was immediately swamped! They thought it was hilarious! I had to say it to all of them in turn, shaking hands!
Great video. Entertainment all round. Glad it was not me.
Stay safe.
Wish it wasn’t us…
David once could happen to anyone, twice is careless! You wont do it again I am sure.
Very true Stuart. You are correct.
I think we have all had lots of rain this year, lots of flooding, but getting bogged down in big Bertha looks like a big job!
We were wondering where you were, and how you were coping with the virus out break, I’m glad you are safe,
Take care and keep safe.
Pauline & John
Hi Pauline and John, Yes we are fine, resting up at a friends farm, picking grapefruit and passion fruit for breakfast. Chilling after these quite horrible episodes.
Dave and Francine, you are having (note we don’t use the word, “enjoying”) some remarkable (and expensive) experiences. Nevertheless, one day you’ll look back on all the things that didn’t go to plan, and they’ll be your best memories.
We are enjoying your adventures but pleased it wasn’t us trying to extract Bertha!
Stay safe, stay well and be careful.
Hi John and Jenni, its certainly been an experience. Hope all is well Down Under. Dave
Beautiful stories, they even had our 5-year-old in stitches. Oh no, not again!
And the vibrancy and colour of Zambia shining through the whole time, all those people in the trucks. Thank you!
Thank you Reinhard, yes it will certainly be a ‘do you remember that time’ memory.
It reminds me of when I was very young and living with my family on our Croft. The tractor would get stuck in the mud. Then another tractor was used to get it out. All very stressful and time consuming.
Yet you seem to take it in your stride. You did have lots of helpers .
We are in lockdown like the rest of the UK. But we can go to the Community Wood behind our house and do some voluntary work on the footpaths. Soon we will start working on our garden.
Keep safe and good to see what you are up to.
Best Regards Betty and Don.
Hi Betty, glad to hear others have been through the same experience. Glad to hear everything is well in Scotland. Thank you for reading our blog. Dave
mhhhh, some people, did happen to me once, some people have a lot money and go and destroy, What about the local Subaru what has to go durch your shit you left behind ??
Hi Frank, I’ve responded to your comments on Facebook. Stay safe. Dave
I feel for you! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked home (usually in the dark) after bogging a motor. It’s never good. If it’s any consolation I once bogged a 110 landrover on my old beat a long way from the nearest track. After the obligatory walk home, I returned with a local farmer and his Unimog. He pulled me out without much drama and I made it back to the track….. but the ‘Mog then bogged. It was 10 weeks before the hill dried up enough to retrieve it.
I’m really enjoying hearing about your adventures. Keep up the good work and keep safe.
Hi Andy, Yes, I am sure you have been through same out on the estate. But 10 weeks? In a Unimog? That must have been bad!! Dave