Team Himba

Extract from the diary: Firstly, the captain in his wisdom had decided to offload us backwards as it would be too much effort to turn the barge around. So I had to drive off backwards. Secondly, they use rickety old offload ramps that quite simply looked horrendous. I protested but to no avail. ‘Truck come many times from Aswan!’ would be the reply, suggesting Himba would be nothing but a feather in comparison (despite me making it clear her weight was nearer 4 and a bit tonnes..). So, sheepishly I began to drive off the barge backwards with minimal clearance either side. I then drove slowly onto the offload ramps, some 12 ft above the water line and on a steep angle. Then disaster struck. One of the two ramps decided it had enough of life (don’t blame it if it had to put up with this every day) and collapsed, sending Himba and me hurtling to the left.