Pointe Corail de la Prairie

I was keen on hiking today.

Despite knowing it would be muddy, I was planning to go. Then the rain restarted and still, I thought, I can deal with this. But lightning? Deal-breaker.

I've promised a few people I will avoid specifically life-threatening scenarios and last night's drive was life threatening enough for a while.

Phooey.

I guess today is a rest-and-plan day. Those are important too.

Speaking of last night...

Holy Moly!
My flight delays meant I was stuck driving at night, in a foreign land. Not my favorite.

But!
I had failed to learn that Mauritius is among the zany countries who drive in the left lane. Yikes! I have driven a Right Hand Drive car before but never left-lane... And I do not like it.
The turn indicators are maybe the biggest challenge.

Night. RHD. Left Lane. ... And rain. Ok. I can do this!

Then the rain redoubled, nay, requadrupled its efforts. The amount of water falling was impressive, but what had me concerned was the amount of water on the road. At several points it was a hand's breadth high. Enough to fully obscure any lane markings, reflectors, or rhe road's edge. At one point it was much, much higher. I definitely should NOT have driven through it, but once the headlights are underwater, stopping isn't a solution. The little KIA performed admirably. I was ... Distressed. So were other people: police/fire were out in force. Various cars along the way were broken down after large puddles. There were sand bars in the highway where high water had retreated before I arrived. Heavy.

So my "one hour" drive (50km, 30 miles) took over 2.5 hours and at points I was using google maps to drive. Not just navigate, but actually see curves in the road which were invisible under the flowing water as I crept along at a walking speed. I'm grateful that I spent some time at the airport getting a local SIM card.... Doing that drive without data would have been even more miserable.

Quite the introduction to a new country.
I didn't see much as I was white knuckling most of the way.

And to think, at one point I nearly opted to rent a scooter for the week instead of a car! That would have been safer in the sense that I would have simply given up at the late arrival and stayed somewhere near the airport. My tolerance for risk isn't *that* high. Dangerous is only "fun" when I think I have a good chance of surviving.

So...
Here I am today, chillin'
Waiting for weather.

At least I'm safe and dry and have food and internet. Life is good.Read more