There now...THAT's got your attention! And we'll have more on that snake bite in just a moment. Meanwhile, if it's old trucks, dodgy bridges and nasty big things that can eat you it can only be another exciting posting from Biglorryblog's 'Good Man in Africa' Jerry Burley who says: "B, Your post on the woes of a couple of bridges in S.Sudan prompted so many dozens of worried letters, emails and telegrams in response, plus an exhausted pigeon carrying a memory chip, that I thought I had better let your readership know that their eagerly-anticipated, high tech driving holidays planned for next month in Southern Sudan shouldn't now be compromised!"
Jerry continues: "The bridge that bent with the truck on it (the chap who invented the quick unloading system to rival The Boss's, you may recall) remains for the most part in the drink (someone nicked the truck though by the looks) BUT.........the new unit is just about complete and in over the top of it, just 8 days later. Hooray!"
Meanwhile, JB says: "And the second unit, down the road a bit, that was being built and jacked out at 10m per day should be completed and usable this weekend."
" There will be a ceremonial, sacrificial chicken decapitated - plus anything else they can find to kill and eat - and the bridge then declared open for use. The anonymous head honcho just wanted to let you know that normal service will soon be resumed.........as we have come to expect from our kind, caring bush bridge builders, the likes of which can only be found.....in Africa!!"
"As an aside," says jerry, "and as some friendly advice to your readers on said road holidays about the wildlife, I thought I might share a couple of photos just sent to me from S.S., taken at a road camp not a million miles from where these bridges are on-going. " And to find out all about that snake featured above click through here...
"This chap, a quite large (3ft around the girth) python as you have no doubt worked out for yourself, picked a fight with an electric fence. The fence won. Unfortunately though, the previous night and before the fence took its revenge, the snake had a most fulfilling dinner and rumour has it that the next morning there was an unexplained extra AK47 in the guarding company's armoury - have a look at the distended size and shape of the snakes abdomen - it all adds up......" Well Jerry if he had have eaten a small guard you could have had...wait for it...Snake and Pygmy Pie! (I'll get me coat..) Anyroadup JB ends by saying: "Must toddle off now, I need to find another bridge to bend as these wretched folk here keep fixing them!"
Great photos Jerry, ye old Bailey bridge still has its fans.
Interesting to note that they've gone from a single two panel to a "two on two" format. Just about doubled the bridge's load capacity. The possible permutations are endless - as a Sapper I became quite familiar with the little dears, no to mention their bug brothers the "Heavy Girder" version - one of those was very nearly the death of me.
P.S. A day or two ago I made a comment about dual purpose trailers (flat topped tankers) carting molasses in Rhodesia - I think I forgot to mention this was in the 1950's and 60's.