More Africa photos, every day or two-

[greeneyes]

I thought I'd start another thread as it will take too long to load if there are too many.

If we get short of server space I'll delete them all-

This is in South Africa, one of their semi-motorways on the way to Mozambique. The speedo is sitting on 130kph, and the vehicle that has just cruised quietly past me is an Ambulance. Not in a hurry, no lights or bells, people just travel fast in South Africa!!

[greeneyes]

This is how hopeful road planners are in Mozambique!

It is part of the suicidal culture to do 100kph over potholes like this. There are plenty of wrecks with front suspension ripped off along the road...

This is why people driving towards you swerve all over the road, from side to side & occasionally into the verge, then you both swerve onto the correct side of the road to pass each other!

[greeneyes]

This is pretty typical of the countryside near the coast, where most of the people live. Not exactly a town, but people selling goods on the side of the road, and hundreds of ppl walking everywhere along the verge. The edge of the road is pretty good here, the sand matches the seal. Often there is a drop of 6inches into potholes.

This is heading South from Vilanculos, on the one day it rained.

[greeneyes]

When they do roadworks they really do them!!

Not that there's any cones or traffic control, but 100km is a long way to drive with work going on now & then...

[greeneyes]

This is the latest growth industry in the third world! With mobile phone towers in place they will never even put in copper cables.

These little booths are everywhere, so you can walk up and make a phone call to anywhere, especially someone's voice message.

"Can you load a truck of bananas next tuesday?"

"Here's the list of things I need delivered for my shop."

Things we take for granted make such a difference to the economies in these places.

[Doggie2k]

wow those pics are amazing

and I thought sydney roads were rough

[Alee79]

so what the hell are you doing at africa?

[greeneyes]

Holiday during September and October. Travel in South Africa (where my wife comes from & I used to live) and a couple of weeks in Mozambique. Great place, very exciting, not as tame as NZ & Aussie. We travel to Aussie every year or two, and have a house in Cairns now. Love it there too!

[greeneyes]

This was a good stretch on the #1 highway. The patches have pretty well joined up to give a good surface for driving on. Not a lot of corners tho'. Just behind the car you can see the seal is crazing and 15mm underneath is the sand.

[greeneyes]

Then the next best road to drive on is where it was re-sealed yonks ago and the reseal is breaking up! At least you don't have to dodge these bits, although you wouldn't want to be too lowered and stiff in the springs!

[greeneyes]

There is lots of roadworks going on, which they mark like this....

[greeneyes]

You can drive around them, which is what they want, or you can climb over the mounds. Either way, it is one of many reasons why you don't drive in Mozambique at night!!

[greeneyes]

These are the typical potholes in the road. They wash out in the rain so can be very deep, and full up with water so you can't tell a shallow one from a deep one! The road gangs come around & full them up with sand all the time.

[greeneyes]

This is a suburban road at the coast, on the way to our resort. Took the little Corolla a few tries to get up this one!

[greeneyes]

This is a local bus stop. Goats on top, chickens inside! The highly unstable, overloaded, non-maintained bus will crawl off down the road crabbing sideways and spewing out black smoke as it winds up to maximum speed on the long straights before shedding a wheel in a pothole!

Warrant of fitness?? Headlights???

Another reason you don't drive at night in Mozambique!!

[greeneyes]

The mix of technology is always surprising. The herd of goats on the road, the woman selling produce from the bucket, there is a pile of firewood for sale in the distance, no cars at all...

and massive satellite dishes on the horizon beside the radio masts!