Knew that people would stir Per and me so I tiptoed exaggeratedly back to the truck and played the game. But instead of being the butt of jokes I just joined in with people reliving last night's revelry. Everyone in a light, friendly mood for our last drive - into Johannesburg - except Bill, who felt like death not warmed up (Julie was surprisingly hang-over free).
(At some point we crossed the border, but it was obviously so uneventful it didn't rate a mention in my diary. We entered South Africa with visas on loose pieces of paper that we had kept separate for the duration of our journey because some countries would not have let us in if we had had visas for apartheid South Africa in our passports.)
Nothing much of note until late afternoon when the fields gave way to huge mine dumps and then an extraordinary urban sprawl over hills and along the dual carriageway. Everything was so far removed from the Africa we had experienced over the last 7 months that it was hard to believe it was real. Then we spotted a fast-food shop and a shopping complex and shell shock set in. Wimpy’s, Kentucky Fried, fish and chips, told us lots about the city we were about to enter. Then we saw the city skyline and passed a massive railway complex. The noise level in the back rose as we looked out and pointed at the new world, and people stopped to watch our noisy passage.
We drove further into a city that seemed to be one big celebration of fast food, with tempting snacks racing passed us. Then Kel drove into the back yard of the Chelsea Hotel and pulled up beside two other Exodus trucks. When Kel exited the cab we realised we had made it and launched into one final verse of the Old 4 Wheeler and a spontaneous roar.
I joined the pandemonium of several trips into the hotel loaded with my baggage. Shared a room with Ann, beside bob & Karen and the Swedes. WE had the most incredible, boiling hot, massive bath to wallow in.
Small groups wandered off, seeking fast food before ambling back and collapsing into suddenly too-soft beds - Ann said she’d have to sleep on the floor!
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