To Kuminda Farm: short day to get going again

November 2, 2015

"The landscape doesn't change much. No mountains on the horizon" Rachel says. "It's all bush. The big factor will be the wind" Patrick replies.

Yesterday afternoon, Shaun drove us about 15kms out of Francistown and 7kms off the main road to Mike's Woodland Stopover. Mike is a friend of Shaun's and this works out better to be out of Francistown. Woodland's is a beautiful spot and we cooled off from the heat of the afternoon sitting in the pool. We ordered two of "Mike's Meals" of Beef Lasagna for dinner. Excellent meals!

Today is a short day to make the distance tomorrow to Nata Lodge reasonable. The wide shoulder is gone, though the traffic is light, truck drivers cautious in passing us. Patrick had located Kuminda Farms from tracks4Africa. He had been emailing with the owner, Lucy, and given directions. "After village of Mathangwane, A3 road to Nata, on the right is "Duma Butchery back to normal and Bar". 3kms past the butchery there is a sign for Marobela turnoff. About 100 meters from the turnoff are big signs on the left, a brown cardboard sign says Chickens for Sale. There is a dirt road swerving to the left. Go for 2.3kms and you will see the Kuminda Farm sign. Dafton will meet you."

We stopped in Mathangwane for a cold drink and eat the hard boiled eggs we'd fixed at Shaun's. We were expected to be at the Farm between 1000-1100, we arrived at 0900. The 2.3kms off the main road was sandy and difficult to ride in sections. Dafton came out to the gate and showed us around where we can camp. This is a beautiful spot, with kitchen, showers and flush toilets. The farm hosts groups of students from Australia, USA, and UK along with WorldChallenge groups for education and cultural exchange.

We settle into one of the shelters that is used for meetings, as rain is threatening. No one else is around so we make ourselves at home. The evening meal provided was excellent! Rice, chicken, greens, squash and a sauce made with kuminda farms chilies.... Very spicy!

Rain passed by so we pitched the tent without the rainfly so we could see the stars.