November 20, 2025
To Serule
After an early breakfast and a lovely rest day, I was back on the road making my way out of Francistown. It was 8 am and the rush hour traffic was in full swing ... all 30 cars at once! As I rode round a bend in the road a police man on a motorbike pulled me over. My smile instinct kicked in "Good morning sir, how are you today", I asked. He wasn't having any of it. He asked all the usual questions which I answered with a fixed smile on my face. He finally asked why my bike didn't have reflectors... I explained that the patches on all four panniers, front and rear, were all reflectors (truth), and he was impressed. A smile beamed on his face at last. He asked how much i paid for the bike and I said "About 300 usd." To which he shook his head is disapproval. He was in goo spirits now. We fist pumped our goodbyes and he was on his way with wave after wishing me safe travels.
It was fresh an cool in the morning air and a slight tail wind helped me along the way. I rode past small villages near Francistown, whose main business was selling firewood. I admired the neatly stacked piles of wood along the side of the road, accompanied by smiling faces, waving as I rode past. As I got further from Francistown, population thinned and I was soon out in the green countryside, kept company by the occasional grazing cows or donkeys.
Just before Serule, I stopped at a Shell petrol station out of curiosity. The previous night I had bought noodles, tinned meat and veggies to cook this evening, but if the option of Papa and meat stew with vegetables was on offer in any form, my kitchen would not open this evening. "Papa" is Sadza in Zimbabwe, Nshima in Zambia, and Ugali all over East Africa, and is delicious! This particular petrol station had a shop attached to it, so I was extra curious, and there it was... a hot deli, serving exactly what I wanted! I would be back, as Jaera Lodge, my home for the night, was 1.5km from the Shell petrol station, and an easy walk after a quick shower and laundry session. The lodge was basic, clean and ticked the boxes for one night off the A1 Highway. Later in the afternoon, I was offered a lift, by a kind motorist, to the Shell station where I had my meal for the day, and bought a small takeaway for later.
Mosquitos were abundant in Serule, so tonight will be a night spent inside my tent, pitched inside my room.
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Today's ride: 91 km (57 miles)
Total: 767 km (476 miles)
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