Sunday rides in Zambia are no different to any other country I have ridden in. Riders congregate, a destination is picked and off we go. The smaller the fraternity, the less fractured it is. There was a full dresser HD, riding along with a guy on a street fighter, a young guy on his first 600, riders on 1000cc sport bikes and 350cc Smugly. Slanging matches about each others bikes abounded, but it was all good natured. Groups like this are true motorcyclists, riding for the pleasure, without ego’s, images or brand name prejudices involved.
The three of us rode in from the farm, Steve, with wife Lotta riding pillion. After an inquisition at a road block about licences, we stopped and bought meat for the BBQ, along with the others.
The roadblock. 3rd world countries operate differently in nearly every sense. I produced my Australian licence as I couldnt find my international one, Steve’s licence was in Ndola being printed. So he had nothing.
I had to explain what the numbers on my QLD licence meant. I could have told them anything and it would have been believed. They wanted money, I declined to give it, we discussed it back and forth and that was me done. Steve argued his case too, he also got off with no cost. Except for the 30 minutes it cost us.
Todays destinantion was the Chembe Bird Sanctuary, but with the tar being in perfect condition and sports bike in the majority, the whole 70km each way was going to be ridden.
Smugly had the BBQ pack strapped on, I strapped on the goggles, pinned back the ears, laid on the tank and held it wide open for the whole 120 km out and back to the sanctuary. I has been playing with the valve timing, what a mistake that was as Smugly was really struggling to maintain 95khm now.
The turn around point, end of the tar.
The sanctuary is a lovely spot.
Set up on the side of a natural watercourse, birdlife is abundant as are the crocs, tables are set up and there is even a functioning toilet block. That is impressive.
Storm clouds had been rolling in but hadn’t rained on us. I took in the view, while chewing a very nice hamburger. Storm clouds making a backdrop for the birds and boats, crocs floating in the dam and kids at the waters edge.
We floated back into Kitwe and went our separate ways. A nice day ride done right there.