All the relaxation in Uganda couldn't have prepared us for the stress we'd encounter just trying to make our flight out of Kamapala.
We jumped on the road a few minutes late but with plenty of time to spare to make it safely to the airport for our flight. Unfortunately about two hours from the airport and four hours from our flight time, we started to get a terrible vibration from one of the front wheels. Benson determined that the remaining distance was too far to keep going so we 'bout faced and headed to the closest town looking for a garage. Within 15 minutes the brake drum was sitting on the ground amidst a mound of lug nuts and miscellaneous bolts, and the pivoting axel arm was removed from the main axel. To me it looked like a two day problem, not a 30 min one. But miraculously the three mechanics had the whole thing back together in just under an hour and a half. Unfortunatley time was ticking for us, now with under three hours to make a two hour drive to catch an international flight. I had to overt my eyes from the mayhem of the accelerated drive, but we screached into the terminal with just an hour 'till takeoff to find the books closed on our flight.
We ran circles around the unmarked airport and desks until we found the Qatar desk where we learned that the next flight we might possibly get booked on was likely 2-3 weeks out. Weeks!?!? After some begging and pleading and many phone calls to the flight desk, we ran downstairs to meet Fred, our expediter who would do his best to break rules, get us checked in, get luggage to the plane, and whisk us through customes – all in under 35 minutes. With a whirlwind of passport examining and thumbprint scanning we slipped Fred some crisp green-ones and arrived at the gate minutes before boarding started, while our bags were escorted on one of the giant plane movers to the loading ramp. Phew, to say the least. We are en route to The Maldives!
Even for our final hours in the car the animals continue to give us a good show
And even a peep show
Not the view you are looking for en route to an international flight
K is blissfully unaware of the situation
Of course the time proven method of whacking the crap out of it
And the view gets worse
But Kristin finds some local kids to play with – not surprisingly
This is Africa
Three hours to wheels up
Back on the road to discover we are not the only precious cargo out there
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