Calandula Falls and Nala problems

We visited Calandula falls, some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Angola. With a height of 100m and a crescent shaped span of 400m during the regular season, and up to 580m during flooding, it’s quite the sight to behold, and hear.

We were very fortunate to be able to camp here too, and ended up having a relaxed midday arrival and 11am departure the next day. Sleeping within earshot of the falls was great.

Then we visited the Black Stones of Pungo Andongo, which were quite impressive. They looked like hill sized rocks that had just been thrust up from the ground.

My friend Set

Things have been going so well it was clearly time to have a problem, and Nala appeared to be happy to oblige. Today half way down a hill Paul noted with some concern that the accelerator no longer bounced back when he took his foot off. Indeed it lay flat on the floor (fortunately unlike in the movies this does not mean we accelerate uncontrollably, unfortunately it means we don’t accelerate). What had happened is the accelerator cable had snapped.

I’m no mechanic, but I’m pretty sure that pedal isn’t supposed to like flat on the floor.

Now I thought we’d be in a bit of trouble here, but this is not Paul’s first rodeo, and not his first broken accelerator cable. How do you fix this when you don’t have a replacement cable?

It’s hard to see on the small picture, but from the engine bay along the front and then up into the driver’s window is the washing line rope. You accelerate by pulling the rope! And this accelerator requires two hands to tug, it is not an easy thing.

Now imagine this, you’re driving along, using one hand on the wheel, two hands on the accelerator rope, and one hand on the gear stick. All in a days work for our superhero Paul.