I was going for disease, but stolen and eaten works too.
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That brought us on the topic of cars the NGO's and the missions here use. The cars that are deployed in the jungle have a lifespan of no more then 15 to 20.000km. After that they are completely shot. Bodywork, drivetrain, everything. Not surprising really considering the state of the loads and the payloads. Paolo was quite fanatical in his choice for those vehicles: Landcruiser 7x only! The Landcruiser 10* are often used as well, but they don't last on the rough tracks (too much bodywork). He once worked on a project were they had sponsored Mitsubishi's. They were written off after just 2000km.
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The 40 series was discontinued and no longer had an engine.
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We came across a truck that was parked in the middle of the track. Luckily the surrounding area was pretty open, so we could pass it.
Us: "Bonjour, ca va?" - "Hi, how are you?"
- Them: "Ca va un peu bien " - "I am doing a little bit ok" -> typical Congelese answer this!
Us: "Votre vehicle est en panne?" - "Did you truck broke down?"
- Them: "Oui, mais ils vient avec des nouveaux pices" - "Yes, but they are coming with spare parts"
So we chat a bit and we ask what their problem exactly was. They left Ilebo for Kananga with a load of building materials for a rich guy in Kananga. Their engine had completely seized. Their cargo was transferred onto another truck and they had taken the engine out and transported the engine to Kinshasa to get it rebuild. In the meantime the truck 'crew' stayed onsite to safeguard the truck. But they were very happy as they just received news that the necessary parts for the engine were now ordered in Germany, so the parts would come arrive in Kinshasa in a few weeks time!
A fascinating story, and they told it as if the was the most normal thing in the world. Fair enough. We said our goodbyes and asked them one more final question. How long had they been here?
"Un peu plus qu'un an maintenant" - "Just over a year"
quote:Same here ... That was an incredible read ... And incredibly long
I just spent my Saturday afternoon reading their story of the trip through the Congo.
Amazing.
Their Congo trip was just a small portion of their two year journey through parts of Asia and Africa. Incredible.
quote:I'm not to page 35 yet, but I have been surprised so far with how ballsy they have been both with terrain and "officials"
Got to about page 35 on that Congo write up. What an incredible read. Those Belgians have big stones.
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I'm on about pg 33. I just don't see how they didn't end up in a bad place with refusing to bribe people and frankly without a gun. And no winch or come-along? Really. The whole "its a month of time" thing seems nave. This dude had balls the size of bowling balls to do it this way. And to take his wife without protection?
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I'm on about pg 33. I just don't see how they didn't end up in a bad place with refusing to bribe people and frankly without a gun. And no winch or come-along? Really. The whole "its a month of time" thing seems nave. This dude had balls the size of bowling balls to do it this way. And to take his wife without protection?