Blown tire . . . #1

Leaving Lilongwe, once the dense fog cleared,
driving became much easier

JP:
Maybe we should think of a better title for this post, it really just gives it away, OOOOOO!, what's going to happen, a blown tire, I'm shocked. It's like J.K. calling Book 7 something that gives away the ending. Why even continue reading?

Well, you continue reading because you want to find out how it happens, at least that's our hope with our blog, to tell you about our adventure, not just what happened but how it happened. So let's begin:

It's Tuesday morning in Lilongwe and we're off to Nyika. The plan for the day is pretty simple, drive from Lilongwe to Nyika, a few hours in the car and we should be there in no time.

Except, we hit a little bump in the road (only figuratively). Cruising along on the "tarmac"
__________
Sidebar: Things we learned about motoring in Malawi

1. The paved roads are called "tarmac"
2. The roads are used by motor vehicles, bicycles, animals and pedestrians! (no sidewalk and not much of a shoulder) which makes driving at night dangerous, everyone really needs to "share" the road
3. Traffic lights are merely suggestive

OK, back to the post.
__________
So we're cruising along the tarmac when we suddenly experience a bit of a jolt and a kulump kulump kulump sound, I don't remember if anyone said anything but I'm sure one of us said "What the @$&#*???!!!" probably Dan, who did a wonderful job controlling the vehicle as it fishtailed before coming to a stop, Pandretti was very impressed.

The reason behind the blow out, who knows, I think we'll just chalk it up to Africa. [RS: After looking at photos of the blown tire, my brother said it looked like a retread, but who really knows. I sure don't.]

Fortunately for us though, we have two ND graduates, a fine institution in many respects but mainly because of the core requirements for graduation which include:

1. Swimming, all ND grads have to pass a swim test;
2. P.E. for freshman;
   
3. Changing a flat tire (aced it!); and
   
4. Foosball

Changing a flat, no problem. After about 45 minutes (all you had to do was pass, no grades were handed out), we were back on the road. If you don't believe it happened, here's our proof:

Melissa and Ryan enjoying the weather

Blow outs look the same in Africa as they do back home

Melissa, Pit-Crew Chief
Dan and Ryan, Jackmen
Jon, Airgun guy sans airgun