Malakal, Sudan - Wednesday 31 January 2007 - Finally reaching the milestone Malakal

After two days in the ditch, we eventually arrived at Malakal, halfway to Juba. Being stuck in the mud is never any amusement, although it has its peak moments as well. We got new friends a lot of new friends. ADRA, an American NGO and its country team are to be thanked for helping us cross the river obstacle. After three hours of preparation, using the high lift to raise Betsy off the sucking ground. Putting bricks and sandstones under her tires before the first attempt with the tractor. Even though my co-pilot didn't have much faith in what we were doing, we got loose and up from the dark grey ditch.

We are now camped at their guesthouse in the middle of Malakal. The last distance down on Tuesday was on roads that easily can be described as bad maintained cornfields. As if getting stuck was not enough, we had a man made puncture after getting up of the river and the day was not over until we lost one of the back tires on our way into town. Mainly due to bad groundwork and also bad bushes. But we made it to town, celebrated with Castle Lager and life is not all that bad afterall. Cape2Cape team are still available on mobile phone, the number is + 249914636251