Day 23: Kawa to Lusaka, Zambia

The flight to Lusaka took us over beautiful farming country enroute to Zambia's capital. This day involved only one leg of flying and all of two and a half hours of flying. We landed at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 10:30 in the morning and were directed down a long taxiway to a grassy area where a large entertainment tent had been erected and barrier fencing put up to control the admittance of crowds.  We were amazed to see so many people there waiting for us.

In the large tent, food, beverages, and a live drumming band with dancers awaited us.  It was fantastic.  Out on the grass where all our aircraft parked in a neat, long  row, there were old cars parked in a long row behind our planes.  They were part of a local vintage car club whose members wanted to share the fun of vintage autos with us.  Soon, the Travel Air pilots, and the Waco team took to the air again to perform an airshow for the crowds that had come to see us.  Some great video of it was taken and can be seen on the Vintage Air Rally website and Facebook page.  As crowds made it into the parking area, we stood by our airplanes once again to answer questions, have pictures taken, be interviewed by local media sources, and to assist kids and some adults into the cockpits.

After our night in the youth camp cabins, we stayed two nights at the Best Western Lusaka Grand Hotel.  Lusaka is a large city with a university and the hustle and bustle of life seemed congenial enough.  A large mall was walking distance but I was told to not be out walking after dark.  The hotel provided cab service to and from the shopping mall whenever any of us wanted to go.  Our  hotel accommodations were very comfortable and nice, but the internet connection was VERY slow.  I tried working on the blog on our free day and it was taking me 20 -30 minutes to import one photo! I called down to  the desk to find out if there was a stronger internet signal somewhere in the hotel other than in our rooms.  The front desk clerk told me  that a banquet room on the first floor had the best signal.  I went there.  Still very slow. A hotel staffer whose job was to help  with I.T. problems spent about 2 hours with my laptop trying to find ways to speed things up. He did help some so in the solitude and quiet of this large room all by myself, I continued working on the blog until my eyes started to cross.  By then it was dinner time and briefing time after that.

The rally  was by now more than half over.  At the briefing,  I looked around at everybody's faces and could see slight traces of weariness well covered by smiles though the smiles weren't quite as broad as before our earlier Ethiopian  experience.   Laughter was more nuanced and for the most part, we all wanted to keep up the pace with everybody  doing well and feeling good about the route ahead.  The adventure and fun we were having took its energy toll on some of us which meant that though we were a bonded family, we started acting at times like true siblings that see and interact with each other day after day for a stretch.  The briefing covered the details of our next day's flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.  We got the shot in the arm we needed anticipating the wonder that lay ahead.

Approaching Lusaka over farm areas and suburbs.

About to land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka, Zambia. 

Taxiing down long taxiway to grassy parking area assigned just to the rally.  The main airport area is some distance away so we could provide an airshow without getting in the way of regular airport traffic.  White structure on horizon is our reception tent. 

Pulling into our parking spot next to the Waco.  Reception tent and crowds behind barrier fence.

Vintage car club member arrived and  parked his 1928 Austin next to our 1928 Travel Air.  Very nice!

                         Nick talking with airplane enthusiasts and answering their many questions.
"How fast does it fly?  Is it noisy?  Does your wife help you fly it?  How did you get it to the start of the rally from the U.S.?   How far can you fly on a tank of gas?"

 I love this photo of Nick being a great ambassador of aviation and of bridging cultures and nationalities.  Spectators loved approaching him and talking with him because they sensed his genuine appreciation for their interest. 

Family outing to a vintage air rally reception and air show. 

 

            Irresistible smiles from the wee folk who hopefully will make this a better world.  

This boy was thrilled to have had the chance to sit in our cockpit. 

Not to be outdone by airplanes and old cars, this "vintage" motorcycle made a proud appearance.  Ingo's Bucker is in the background. 

 





 

Staffers Lino and Max catch some ZZZZs on bus enroute to our hotel.  The day's activities in the heat and sun had worn them out.