Sand...

I am trying to enjoy my time here in Pemba to the full. So far I've spent all my time sorting out my house, dealing with small issues that pop up and planning on my up coming time down by the floods.

My friends and I planned a bonfire on the beach out near our other base in Maranganha, and we set out at 4:30pm to stop by the Dolphin to get takeout (chicken kebabs) before driving the 20mins it took to get to where Travis had been collecting driftwood. He was waiting for us, and after the wood was loaded it was dark. We set off down the sandy 2-track path next to the beach, looking for the perfect spot to park and make a fire. It was only about 5mins later that I spotted the perfect spot. The road veered to the right, and just to the left was a space for the car to park with a sandy patch for the fire! I drove off the road and onto the firm looking 'parking space' Just as I was about to stop the whole car started tipping to the left. The sand was giving way and it really felt like the car was just going to roll over! My stomach was in my throat and I just kept driving, trying to get out of the deep soft sand and onto firm ground. Finally the wheels just started spinning and the car wouldn't move. But at least we weren't rolling, and the guys got out to assess the predicament.

'Reverse back and it will be fine' So I reverse and we are fine, all is good. Now to just get back onto the road. Josham walked forward and checked out the road and decided that it looked like going straight forward wouldn't work, I should rather turn to the right and cross to the road there. I did as he said. The wheels started spinning frantically and I was wedged fast in the sand! We tried everything: we dug the wheels free, we placed sticks under the wheels for traction, we racked our brains trying to get the car out of the sand! Finally Josham gets down on his hands and knees and looks under the car. The car was no longer resting on its 4 wheels, instead the belly of the car was resting on the sand! No wonder we weren't able to drive out!

I had a spade and 2 plastic dinner plates. We started digging! An hour and a half later we had completely cleared the sand out from under the car, we had moved half a mountain of sand and we were totally covered with is: our hair, our clothes, even in our mouths! Our hands and fingers ached from the digging - it truly was a workout.

We packed more sticks under the wheels, we prayed then Josham got behind the wheel and we all pushed from the back. The car started, the engine revved and with a mighty lurch the car moved forward and onto the road!!!

That was SUCH a relief to be free!

We decided to have the fire anyways, I mean we were here now! So we built a big fire and sat around it eating our lukewarm kebabs, and roasting marshmallows to make s'mores (2 cookies filled with a block of chocolate and the roasted marshmallow. Its squished together to form a sandwich. - very yummy). But it was a fun evening, I enjoyed it... I guess I can only learn from this experience!