Another morning brief by Jan before we set off from Dodoma for Iringa some 250 kms away. His main 2 points today was again to watch for police with speed cameras and don't take any pictures of the dam as there is tight security for some unknown reason and no pictures are allowed - sorry to say mate, I didn't meet either of those requirements today.
Interesting seeing the new and old houses along the way
Old ones have mud for roofs and lots have grass and weeds growing on top and with the advent of tin roofs they are now held down by mud bricks mostly.
Past the local woman gathering water at the town water tap in their buckets
And on her way home with the water
Given the excellent soil for crops one of the other main industries done by the locals is either collecting fire wood or making charcoal for food preparation at home. Here's a local guy with full sacks of charcoal on his delivery run.
Unfortunately when they hit a hill there are no gears on the bikes to help them and now it's only pushing power.
very contrasting cultures - here's a local Massai dude on his transport mode
while a white dude from Australia in his transport mode
Again was an excellent drive through the savannah with heaps more spectacular baobab trees in every direction plus a sealed road all the way to Irusha.
The wide ranging species are shaped progressively by grazing animals predominately Giraffes, and the genius has thus developed thorns in defence against such herbivores. The locals also use the branches to keep there heads enclosed and the wild animals at bay. You wouldn't think that a giraffe would be able to eat the leaves however they have a strong tongue that sustains surprisingly few cuts as it has a very long tongue o reach past the thorns plus it is protected from infection from the few abrasions it does get by their very thick antiseptic saliva ( hence why there wasn't any risks from them licking our face in Nairobi )
About mid morning we descended a mountain range and a great view of the Mtera Dam so I stopped and asked Joey to take a shot - we really didn't get a good one though
About a km up the road she then remembered that we weren't allowed to take photos for security reasons as Jan told us this morning!! Old dopey us.
We then came upon the dams security check where I had to hop out of the car and fill out a log book in the security office with the guys in dark blue uniforms which I hadn't seen before . After exiting their office with one of the officers to clear the road block he asked me for my help as he wanted to be able to drink some tea and asked that could I give him 2000 shillings ($1.30 oz) to help him . I remember Thiemo telling me about the time he was pulled up and asked when he came from and upon learning Britain the officer asked him what gifts he had brought him from the UK. Without blinking Temo relied that the Queen sent him and his country best wishes for Xmas and future health to which the policeman waved him on. I was pondering saying that Malcolm the PM wished him all the best I politely declined as due to all the security warnings I wasn't sure whether to mess with these guys like you don't with the red beret ones.
Mtera Dam is the largest hydro dam in Tanzania and quite a speculative view with the dam and mountains surrounding it.
We continued on for another 15 kms through a local town with 50km zone and proceeded out of town for a way when I thought I could see a policeman but wasn't too sure whether it was or not and by the time Jo said "police" I spotted him coming from a side tree out onto the road to stop me. Generally they are either standing just on the side of in the middle of the road to stop people and noticed he was talking on a phone like the old Nokia ones so thought it was a normal check as he didn't have a speed gun in his hand . Upon stopping I realised it wasn't a phone but a mini speed camera and that he had clocked me at 72kms ( which I thought wasn't right as I reckon I was doing 80).
After telling me that I was speeding and would be fined 30000 shillings( $18AU) I proceeded to tell him in no uncertain terms that I wasn't doing 72kms and I was doing 30 and was pointing to this on the speedo ( 30 was actually miles!) and that it was either the car speedo or gun that was wrong. He wouldn't take that for an answer for some time and then I suggested how about I go back and come again at 30 and see what he gets to which he agreed. Did a uturn and came back but he said I was still doing 50kms so lots more discussion and negotiation and he kept saying that the fine was 30000 and I kept changing the argument and saying that I didn't have 30000 and only had about 18000 to which he said show me how much I had and that if a lower amount then 30000 was paid a receipt would not be possible to give, so I suggested that this would be OK. He then asked me to hop out of the car and follow him around the back when I passed him the money after he said no receipt was possible and he handed my licence back and headed off- cost me all of $11 oz money and felt like telling him I actually had half a brick of local money in my other pocket.
Would suggest that this won't be the last fine and graft giving I'll have whilst here.
One of the pledges that Magufuli has made is to crack down on corruption and craft of government officials- let's hope it improves.
Got into Iringa about 1.30 and went and found the eatery the team usually eat at closed so Joey had spotted a BBQ hut place on the way so went back there for lunch which we found was very good food and very clean.
Hit the road again and got into Kisolanza the old farm house camp ground which is guarded by the local Massai and electronic fence about 3.30 pm.
In all it had taken about 7 hours to travel the few hundred kilometres as you are constantly stopping for 50 speed zones with multiple speed bumps and then more speed bumps, vehicles and livestock on the highways. These speed bumps are also for people however I haven't seen one local cross the road at one.
We were set up in about 15mins in the nice campgrounds and again find ourselves the only campers
The cooking and eating hut
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