In the morning, after another poor breakfast, I wanted to do the checkout. Signs of credit cards, so I asked for payment via credit card. Not possible- here we go again! After requesting, the receptionist pulled out the machine and put it in front of me. Looks like, he doesn't know how it works, but luckily I have used credit machines enough in the past ... So payment worked, to the surprise of the receptionist 😉
The ride to Dodoma was only 130km, but took me 4.5 hrs nonstop. Of course, much more traffic and speed bumps.
I went directly go the Guesthouse I had picked category "cheap"... At least, in case, I don't like it, I can "shop around" for a different option. First I want to get my bike sorted and then I can look after myself.
The room surely has seen better days, or the door frame must be very delicious for termites 😳🙄, the bathroom was clean, but smelly and the restaurant cannot compete for Michelin Stars 🙄😖
So tomorrow I will check out the neighbourhood for a different accomodation...
In the evening I finally met Josh, a local biker (having an old Honda African Twin 750 and a BMW F800GS). After some bike stories, we made a plan for the next day...
After breakfast I had a 2alk to the neighbouring hotels to see their rooms and find out their fees.
About 12h00 I went to check out some more on my bike on my way to Josh. The last hotel, close to Josh place, was really nice, but nothing around, no supermarket, no restaurant... pity as the best I have seen in relation of room and fee...
From there to Josh would be only a 5mins ride....on a full functioning rear shock! And again google maps picked the worst track!! It was all dirt and so bumpy that I would have been faster walking the bike!! 20mins later I finally arrived!
We took the rear shock out, well started, but we needed a torx 55 to remove the bolt for the suspension and we both haven't got one 😳🙄 However, being in Africa all is possible. Some phone calls and waiting time, we got the torx55.
With the rear shock we went to the mechanic on the bikes of Josh friends. The bike we used stalled a few times, so I had to get off to find the choke ...
The mechanic seems to work mainly on old enduro bikes. His yard was full of old 'classic' bikes, or the parts of it. I wonder how he still finds anything...
He sounded very optimistic about the repair. While we talked to him, he already had taken apart the shock, started to fix cosmetic damages....
As he got a job during the day, he only will be able to work on the shock at evenings. However, to refill the shock, he only got W10 shock oil, but due to Robbie and TFX I would need SAE2.5. That sounds like a challenge 😳🤔
As we boths didn't have any lunch, we went locally for some food. It happened to be at a food "stall" of the hotel I finally decided to stay, as pretty local and about €20/night....in case it takes longer...
Before Josh dropped me off at the current Guesthouse, we went to the hotel for me to check in for next two, or three, or ... nights.
Back at the Guesthouse Josh gave me a contact of one of his BodaBoda driver that speaks a wee English to drive me and my luggage tomorrow.
The next morning I checked out and then it was time to back my stuff and myself on the BodaBoda of Francis.
The room was better than the one before, but still not as good as I hoped....but at least I got food stalls out on the road and supermarkets, and pretty central.
In the evening and next day I started to investigate about getting SAE2.5 oil...or W3. Welcome to Africa - to the real world! Finally, after 3 days, investigation and trying all sortsof sourc3s, I came to the conclusion "it is, whatit is" meaning going for W10. I told Josh and ask the mechanic to start going ahead as now it is weekend....well, guessing nothing going to happen until Monday...
With my hunt for the oil, I got in touch with Johan, a tour operator for bike tours. As he came from Dar es Salaam,to Dodoma, I asked him to bring me some contact lens fluid as this is not available here; in the capital of Tanzania 😳😳
When he was in Dodoma on Sunday evening, funnily staying at same hotel, we went for dinner: pizza 😁
It was really nice to be out and having a nice conversation.
The following week was awaiting the mechanic to finish the rear shock, which was only ready for collection towards Wednesday. One thing was working time of mechanic, the other the oil and finally the right o-ring ...patience is the secret!! Glad I had training of 20 years in the Algarve, Portugal 😅
When we went to him, finally to pick up the shock, he had bad news! He had put it all together and while waited for us, it blew up again, meaning the thread was too weak after all. And now 😲😳
Luckily the main profession of the mechanic is some engineering and with the right tools!! He wants to rebuild the part of the thread. Well, not many options I do have left, unless buying and importing a new one...💸💸💸
So it was again waiting, being patient.... Saturday, when we were suppose to pick it up, he never came...apparently his area of work had power problems...so at 21h30 Josh and I walked back to the hotel, where Josh had his bike parked.
Oh, forgot to mention, at the time I was suppose to meet Josh, I saw 2 bikes parked outside of the hotel. One was a KTM, that caught my attention, especially as it got Kenyan number and a little Enduristan handlebar bag... I had met at Jungle Junction Mattie when he just had bought a similar bike for a trip later on to Chapeltown....could itbe him...🤔🤔 As they were ar the pool, I went back and indeed it was Mattie! Small world!! After talking and picking his brain on importing things from Europe (best seems Somali-route into Kenya) I had to go....
So back at the hotel, Josh admired the KTM, so I texted Mattie and he joinedus for some chatting. He would leave next morning early to Malawi - they do the trip in good two weeks 😲😅
On Sunday evening I could pick up the rear shock with the new thread! I called it V1.2 😂
So next day I went with Francis to Josh to test V1.2. When we wheeled it out of the workshop, going down two steps, it leaked 😭😭 somehow I had the feeling on the evening picking it up - some excitement was missing. At least like that there was not a real disappointment. However, I called the mechanic, to inform him and that we need to work on the sealing.
So during the night I had a thought about it, how my little brain would fix it....
So I discussed my idea with the mechanic and he thought it was a good idea a double sealing. He would work on that and I could pick it up next evening.... which was then again only 2 days later...
Paciência 😇😉
Luckily Josh has a box of seals, so we took them with us. It took the mechanic a while to pick the correct ones, then we realised the gash on the thread, was still to sharp and finally the rebuild thread had difficulties to move on the shift.
After goid two hours all was in place and put back together. Josh dropped me off at the hotel and we would meet the next day to install V1.2.1 💪👌🤞 I was much more optimistic this time!
The next day we put the bike together, getting better in it 😂😂
We went around the block and this time it was so stiff, that I had the feeling either my back breaks first or the subframe, but no oil leak (yet) 🙏🤟
So I called the mechanic and this time I persuaded him to come to Joshua's place to evaluate the situation.
He said it is stiff as too much oil, and bearing on mind W10 oil! So we took out the rear shock (again) that he could take it to his place to let it bleed, as he got the tools there.
I went with him on the BodaBoda as they pass at the hotel.
In the evening I could pick up the rear shock and Josh still wanted to put it back together. When we got it back together I went straight to the hotel as already late. It still felt stiff though.. .
The next day we made a test ride to visit his mother, who turned out to have a little shop sewing clothes. I asked if she could fix the straps on my camel back, so I pinpointed her location to come back the next day
The next afternoon, being so happy to have my bike back, I checked the shock on my way to lunch, and .... it was oil there 😭😭 That was a throw back!!
Of course, I could, as some suggested, now go to Dar to find 'the' specialist, but I am already here 2.5 weeks! I still got the original rear shock at James, so he packed it up to give me the weight and dimensions information to check the fee. I nearly fainted as it was over €300 😳😳😳 and I still would have to get it out of customs 💸😳, even though a friend of mine even provided me with an invoice of low value.
All that would cost me as much as importing a new rear shock. So I texted TFX to ask for a good price for me buying a new one, as well as contacting again the kind Emirati if he still is up for supporting me with buying a new rear shock. He was still happy to do so! Can you believe how happy I was!! 💃💃💃
He immediately did the purchase- wow, a man, a word!!
So now it is waiting again as now the new rear shock needs to be produced to my needs, dispatched and then comes it to the customs part - the unknown part of the process! To speed up the process (minimal) I plan to pick it up at Dar DHL at the airport. Like that I can also try that new train and visit Zanzibar, or at least Stone Town... Sightseeing for a change...
In the meantime it is just lolling around, getting at the market a new pair of Flip-flops as my old ones finally packed in after many years...and 'Paciência'.
On 14th September I was, through Joshua, invited to a wedding. It was kind of biker wedding. Towards sunset we met the groom&bride for the photoshoot, where we and our bikes were involved.
Afterwards we all went to the venue. There were already a lot of people to get in. When almost everybody was in, we were supposed to drive in with bride&groom on our motorbikes. I was a bit nervous about it as I have never done such a thing before.
It was amazing, driving behind the couple, through the crowd. I was just worrying a bit about the wedding cake as I parked next to it 😅
After the official opening of the ceremony we brought our bikes out and then went in.
First was the official part in Arabic as a Muslim wedding, then in Suaheli. Then the cake cutting and then for the next 3 hrs, moderated by the "master of ceremony", congratulations and presents accompanying by lots of dancing - and loud music all the time!
After midnight finally dinner and then about 1h30 the event was finished.
What an amazing, interesting event, and to have the possibility to attend!
On 20th September finally the rear shock has been disparched by TFX, estimated to arrive 30th September 😳
On Monday I received already a SMS from FedEx that my package should soon arrive and to provide my email. After I have given my email I shortly received an email from FedEx about customs clearance, suggesting to use their agent or doing it myself, which I still would have topay for! As I am already standed for 5 weeks, I opted for the agent. Communication goes well and in good english!
Tuesday I got their confirmation that it shoukd arrive on Thursday and it would take them 5 days for customs clearance, Inshallah!
As I prefer to be around, especially with documents being requested, I went to the train station to get my ticket for Wednesday (tomorrow). Apparently Tanzania has a fast electo train, that is in 3 hours in Dar - looking forward to that experience!
At the train station you have to go through x-ray control, like at an airport! Then I queuedup for the ticket, already prepared to pay the tourist fee 💸.
There are only 2 trains per day 5h30 in the morning or 17h30 - I took the afternoon one! There are 3 classes you can opt: economy, business or Royal. Unfortunately only space at economy is available...luckily only 3 hours! I am fearing it will be smelling of all sorts of food (and odour) during that time 🤭
Next I booked a hotel in Dar, central to the train station and ferry port. Only for 2 nights, so that I could go for the weekend to Stone Town on Zanzibar. That is the plan 🤓