Blue Mule resto in Malawi

[M5driver]

Hi Dan.
Chaka confirmed to me today that he can actually supply me with 1 gallon RB via DHL . Still waiting for a shipping quote to Cape Town. 1 Gallon of RB = $ 333.00.

Theo,

Thanks for the update. I'm waiting to hear from my sister in Houston. If she can do this for me, I intend to buy 2 gallons - one for me, and one for Chris (sandblaster/BJ42 guy). If that doesn't work, I have a couple of offers here from Mudders to help me out.

Let me know how things work out with your buy. If my sis or others in the states are unsuccessful, I may try getting the RB from Chaka again, either directly, or through you.

BTW, my bid for an assignment to Maseru just fell through The timing is all wrong - they need somebody by June, latest; I can't leave here until December earliest. Ouagadougou wants me, but there is a timing issue there as well - they need somebody right now. Nothing else in Africa open at the moment, so I'll have to wait and see what else may open up.


Dan

 

[tmarx]

BTW, my bid for an assignment to Maseru just fell through ....

Sorry to hear. Was looking forward to a 40's trip in the mountains of Lesotho

 

[Teebag]

Dan take it anyway, by the time they get their act together it will be Dec - Africa time and all

 

[M5driver]

Dan take it anyway, by the time they get their act together it will be Dec - Africa time and all

Hey, Teebag. That was my take on it, too. BUT (there's always a "but") while I was talking to the post management officer yesterday afternoon, the deputy ambassador interrupted to tell me he had just heard from Washington that my bid was off the table, and they will bring someone in from the US to meet the timing requirement. Sure enough, this morning when I checked my bid account online back in Washington, that one now shows as "not available". So, back to the bid lists...

(Where's the shot glass smiley?) Well, no whiskey, 'n' s!

 

[Fireman]

ANy updates?

 

[M5driver]

ANy updates?

Hey, David. Been down sick for a coupla days. At least it wasn't malaria

Just got an e-mail from my sis asking if I want the RB shipped airport to airport or airport to door, so I'm taking that as a hopeful sign

 

[M5driver]

I'm late posting these (down sick for a coupla days)

These are the last items to come from blasting - we're done with that now.

As you can see, after thirty years, these fenders/wings are in pretty bad shape so there's nothing to do with them, but...

 

[M5driver]

... cut and patch and keep 'em

These have the traditional rust out points at the turn signal brackets, the ubiquitous, and also traditional crack in the lower edge of the RH fender (the stop crack drilling worked to stop the spread, but I think I drilled a little large ). So we'll patch 'em up, paint 'em up, and give 'em another 30 years

 

[M5driver]

Rust Bullet

I just arrived in Austin a couple of hours ago, and had a chance to check email. Got a note from my sis in Houston - the RB is on it's way! It should arrive in Malawi about the time we get back from my daughter's wedding in Tucson. I hope to start moving forward immediately on my return to get this painting done and start bolting the 40 back together.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Cool Dan! Looking forward to your re-assembly posts and pics!

Have a great time in Tucson, "Dad." Congrats!

Regards,

Alan

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I just arrived in Austin a couple of hours ago, and had a chance to check email. Got a note from my sis in Houston - the RB is on it's way! It should arrive in Malawi about the time we get back from my daughter's wedding in Tucson. I hope to start moving forward immediately on my return to get this painting done and start bolting the 40 back together.

Make sure you go to The Cow Pony in Tucson. Great place!

 

[M5driver]

Back in Malawi

Home from the wedding. It was great! Proud papa time:

Sarah and Larry (absolutely GREAT guy!)

Sarah and Dad (that would be me )

Dancing with the bride - Father/Daughter dance.

 

[M5driver]

AND, of course, dancing with the groom

 

[M5driver]

Now, to get this back on track... I have to wait until Monday to find out if the Rust Bullet made it here

Things are a little dodgy right now, with all the arrests and alleged attempted coup here in Malawi. So far, not bad... looks like Bingu wa Mutharika has been arresting all the people in the opposition and elsewhere he really despises. Bingu's hero is Robert Mugabe, and it looks like he may be starting to emulate him, trying to get the constitution changed to allow him to be President for Life, throwing all his enemies and anyone who publicly disagrees with him in jail... sort of business as usual for Africa. He hasn't declared martial law yet, so we're currently expecting things to be more or less back to normal by Monday. Hope so - I've go a cruiser to put back together

 

[lostmarbles]

Thanks for sharing those wedding photos Dan. (You should have arranged to have the wedding cake in the shape of a "40 series" to justify this serious misuse of tech )

Hey. In that photo of you dancing with your son-in-law .... It looks like you're about to whisper "If you don't look after my daughter properly - I'll be on the next plane back from Malawi to sort you out!".

 

[tmarx]

Congrats and welcome back Dan !

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Dan, I had not noticed any news about unrest in Malawi; perhaps overshadowed by the cyclone in Burma nd the earthquake in western China?

So, what is the temperature and weather like in south central Africa this time of the year?

Best wishes on your safety, and the safe completion of the "blue Mule" re-build!

Regards,

Alan

 

[M5driver]

Thanks for sharing those wedding photos Dan. (You should have arranged to have the wedding cake in the shape of a "40 series" to justify this serious misuse of tech )

They kept me away from the cake for good reason

Hey. In that photo of you dancing with your son-in-law .... It looks like you're about to whisper "If you don't look after my daughter properly - I'll be on the next plane back from Malawi to sort you out!".

Father-of-the-bride prerogative, right?

 

[M5driver]

Congrats and welcome back Dan !

Thanks, I think... back to the salt mine tomorrow

 

[M5driver]

Hi All:

Dan, I had not noticed any news about unrest in Malawi; perhaps overshadowed by the cyclone in Burma nd the earthquake in western China?

Hi, Alan. This probably did not make the news in the US. I only heard about it after arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday. Malawi has no tactical, strategic, or economic value to the US, so most people can't even find it on a map
The commie Chinese don't have that problem, now that the S Africans and Ozzies have discovered uranium here. Bingu immediately sold the country to the PRC for US $6B and threw the Taiwanese out. So much for 40 years of serious aid and assistance in development from Taiwan

So, what is the temperature and weather like in south central Africa this time of the year?

It's turning winter now - trees are dropping their leaves, now that temps overnight are dropping to 60F (no, really!) and daytime temps are around 70-75F. A few fair weather clouds still, but it will soon be nothing but sunshine and cool/temperate weather, and dry until November or December. I broke out the "heavy" T-shirts; in another month, a light jacket in the mornings will be in order, if I'm running anywhere with windows down or doors off (but the mule won't be ready that soon...)

Best wishes on your safety, and the safe completion of the "blue Mule" re-build!

Hakuna matata! There is very little chance things will get ugly here. If Bingu declares martial law, it will last for a week, and no one will really notice. Any real violence or dissent is very, very unlikely. Malawians just don't do that.