What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? It's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies. - Jack Kerouac

10 August 2019, Lalara to Mitzic, 58.69km
Motel Bel Air 10,000CFA (R250)

An unremarkable day, with Charl still feeling mildly ill. Our road passed as usual through forest green, with bamboo groves everywhere creating dark caves beneath their bowed stems. Growing tall in the forest and on occasion shading the road, the beautiful cecropia tree with its large circular leaves deeply divided into separate lobes. Along the road, furrows dug for fibre … how welcome that will be once up and running in African towns and villages. At one homestead we saw a broken down truck that had been standing there for so long the entire bed and cab was woven through with spider webs.
It was a long climb into Mitzic, and through the town to the Bel Air at the north end. Unfortunately the advertised restaurant at the Motel was no longer operational, so we had to walk back into the town centre for our evening meal. On the way back to the motel, we heard music and followed it to a hall where men and women were dancing in energetic fashion to an energetic African beat.

For today's route see below photos
For overview route, click on ROUTE tab above…