Day eight: Goodbye Manda Wilderness; speed bushwalking - and the case for adopting children after they turn 4

It was finally time to wave goodbye to Nkwichi Ecolodge this morning. I will miss this place, and will definitely bug Patrick for a serious discount should I return (I’ve incorporated this into the financial model, so it shouldn’t affect profitability).

After a boat trip back to the road, a four hour road trip awaited … unfortunately, Neville (who I’m spending the next week with), his wife, and their three year old PLUS me were attempting to fit into a two-and-a-half seater 4WD (ie no back seat). Needless to say, one of us had to end up in the back, and for the first half of the four-hour journey, it was me.

Riding on the back of a 4WD isn’t the safest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s lots of fun. It’s kind of like speed bushwalking – you see the landscape pass you by, only at 80 km/h. Some of these towns go for miles – with schoolkids and workers all waving “hello” to you (I’ve got some great video footage).

The downside: sunburn. My legs are as a red as a tomato. And, for Veronica (who had the 2nd half of the journey): rain. (I think she got the short straw here)

However, the second two hour block (when I was in the front with Neville and their three year old, Lawrence) was substantially LESS FUN. Lawrence is coming out of the “Terrible Twos” and is now in the “Even More Terrible Threes”. Over the weekend, the best times was when he was sleeping; when he was up and about, it was LOUD. I’ve never heard the word “no!” shouted so many times – followed unbelievably loud crying when he didn’t get his way (which was most of the time).

Well, it was WORSE in the car. You see, Lawrence wanted his Mommy – and I didn’t look like his Mommy one bit (she was on the back of the truck, remember). As Neville said, “You look scary”. There’s plenty of requests I was willing to accommodate with a screaming kid in an enclosed space, but “I want my Mommy” was NOT one of them. Most of this half of the journey was spent trying to keep Lawrence’s hands from mucking around with the gear sticks, cigarette lighter, and a selection of sharp objects while Neville tried to negotiate the muddy road.

Thanks to God’s journey mercies, we made it (insert rapturous applause). And arrived in “civilization” – Lichinga – greeted by the news that there will be no electricity for five weeks (the guys who look after the town’s 150,000 watt generator forgot to oil to engine, and it was ruined beyond repair).

I’ll miss you, Manda. It was fun.