21—02-18

A quick recap on last night. The hotel couldn’t show the Chelsea Barca game, so Martin went to bed relatively early. I though got a lift from someone who knows who and headed to a local hostelry where the game was being shown. Cracking result and an enjoyable night especially as I was the only gay in the village so to speak. Late to bed.

Our wonderful little hotel offered a great night’s sleep but performed appallingly for breakfast. Tea with hot milk, and noodles. Martin wasn’t entirely put off and partook in some the delicacies, I can’t say he was impressed though, which bodes well for the day.

After an early start we have made amazing progress and arrived in Dodoma at lunchtime. We headed for the best hotel next to the presidents’ office for steak sandwiches. Yum. Good internet and relaxing lounge. Perfect for an hour or two.

We made excellent progress again in the afternoon to make our intended destination, Iringa, and along the way again encompassed some fantastic views, it is becoming much more lush as we head South; experienced the most fantastic winding roads with hardly anyone else on them (Clarkson eat your heart out); encompassed out first torrential down pour and saw the graphic side of this amazing country where a carcus is left on the road to be eaten by anything that fancies a go. Thought about carving a little bit off for Martin tomorrow just in case we run low on supplies 😊😊

Oh yes also got my first speeding ticket in the capital for doing 60 in a 30 mph zone. V proud and paid my fine with a big smile on my face.

On arrival in Iringa I decided to have the tyres rotated, don’t ask me why but I think I read it somewhere, and pulled up at a local garage. After 20 minutes of chaos including finding the wheel nut remover doesn’t fit the locking wheel nut, all very technical I know, we managed to have the tyres rotated and inflated to the correct pressure. To our shock we were informed that we have been driving with a large screw in the front right. Yikes. All sorted now I hope.

Tomorrow I am hoping will be our last day in Tanzania, and then we are over to Milawi to stay along the lake.