The scetchy bridge. As we pulled up to this bridge I thought to myself, 'do we really have to cross over that?' James got out to check it out. It actually looks worse than it is, but I definitely was not looking forward to crossing it a second time on the way back.
The raging rivers. Michael said we might run into some river crossings, but of course we were hoping that wouldn't be the case. What's a Sudan road trip though without not just one but two river crossings? My appreciation for our car and it's capabilities increased as our journey continued.
A pleasant surprise along the way was this sign for Hot Springs. Who would have known just a few hours a way was a small tourist actraction. The attractive sign alone sparks curiosity. We didn't have time to stop on the way to Yei, but of course we had to check it out on the way home.
The sign is a little more exciting than the hot spring itself, but you will notice that they definitely did not falsely advertise. The hot spring looks exactly like the picture and the size doesn't lie either. Even though it looks like a small puddle it really is a hot spring. We touched the water just to make sure.
The sign is a little more exciting than the hot spring itself, but you will notice that they definitely did not falsely advertise. The hot spring looks exactly like the picture and the size doesn't lie either. Even though it looks like a small puddle it really is a hot spring. We touched the water just to make sure.
We got back in the car hoping that the nice serene picture of the hot spring would be a pleasant end to our journey, but that nice serene picture soon turned into a muddly disaster. Just as we made it back through the second of the two rivers we drove partly through a puddle that one would think would be nothing compared to a river...unfortunetly it was worse. Our right front tire got sucked down into the quicksand mud and the vehicle slowly started tiping on its side. As the shock began to calm a bit I notice water coming in my door. It was time to move out of the vehicle. One thing I love about Africa is that you can be on a road that seems deserted with no houses in site, but yet people still show up out of nowhere. With the help of 8 men, the patience of James, 4 wheel drive, hard pushing, and of course our awesome Father who is the great helper the car was rescued from this mud pit and safely back on the road. After a 13 hour journey with more adventure than we could have ever expected we were happy to pull into our compound and join the birthday festivities for my teammate John. James and I definitely grew a lot closer during this experience and it will be a road trip we will never forget.
3 comments:
I don't think I would be able to forget that either! Praise the Lord you were able to get out of that safely!
Love the travel adventures. It's just not the same here in the USA things like ROADS. Sigh. You were brave and long-suffering to attempt this! And we're so sad we missed James in Bundi. Jennifer
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the awesome pics of your road adventure.
I am a missionary with Frontline Fellowship (www.frontline.org.za). I am driving up to Mundri in October 2011 and I'm trying to find out what the road conditions are like in South Sudan. Your report was most helpful.
If you have any other info that would be helpful to us, please contact me on mike@frontline.org.za.
Do you have any idea what condition the bridge over the Yei River is in now? I understand it has been rebuilt? The last time one of our teams were there in 2004 the bridge was still in ruins.
May God continue to be your Joy and Strength.
In His grip,
Michael Watson
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