I have given today's blog a specific location as required, but it does not reflect the day correctly.
When we woke at Game Haven typically the sun was shining & it was all set up for a perfect day. Due to the length of our journey ahead we left at 09:15. Just before check out we had a chance to chat to the head chef. He talked about how is menu isn't supposed to be fine dining, but substantial tasty food. From what we had eaten during our time here it was both of those. He then sidetracked into how he was 9 years sober after having alcohol poisoning 23 times in a year when he returned to his native South Africa after a year working in Manchester. You would have thought it would have been the rain in Manchester that made him drink heavily when he was there, still each to their own.
The journey finally got under way after a drive around downtown Blantrye to get the tyres pumped up at Kwick Fit. We had been unable to do this at the petrol station due to power outages across the city. In the centre of Blantyre is a Carlsberg sponsored welcome to Blantyre sign featuring four premiership footballers, including Newcastle's own Vurnon Anita.
The M 1 is the major road of Malawi linking the capital Lilongwe to the business capital of Blantyre. Further north its hugs & sometimes crosses over the border in Mozambique. I'm not sure if I can get away with saying I have been to Mozambique because of this though. For the drive itself we had hot sunny conditions which allowed us to make good time until we were asked to pull overkill south of Dedza. This was to allow the presidential motorcade to come through on the road undisturbed. Having been in New York the last two times when Obama was in town. I don't remember his motorcade travelling with a caravan for toilet purposes. I suppose it's easy enough for Obama to nip into Starbucks if he gets caught short.
Scotty did a good job on the driving front as there were a couple of points especially early on I found myself almost nodding off. For the purposes of her employer, Cristel spent the whole journey working, what a trouper. We ended the trip as we began it. Picking up some fried chicken for a late lunch. After a brief rest & a shower Scotty & I went down to Breeze for a couple of drinks, before heading to the Bombay Palace for a Friday night curry.
The place was packed as it was everyone's first weekend back in Lilongwe since Christmas. The food was tasty & I met a number of new people at the meal. We went for one drink after to Serendipity. By day this is a shopping centre but by night they have live music & a bar. This too was very busy, & I soon grew tired due to the already consumed beverages & dinner. Scotty & I headed home around midnight to be ready for football tomorrow.