A motorbike interlude

Well, as the people who know me will know, I love motorbikes. And I was determined I would get a ride on one in Tanzania before I left. So when I got an invitation to join my friends at another village, I thought this would be my big chance. So I organised through a friend in town to hire a motorbike for 10000 Shillings (about ten bucks). The man happened to be a bit drunk when I gave him the money and then he proceeded to buy us a beer with it. Not a good start cause the money was for fuel. I was a little worried but excited none the less. So I waited for him the next morning, imagining a flash trail bike arriving for me (the one I thought I saw him riding the other day). Turned out I was a little mistaken. So after two hours of waiting, he turns up on a red but clapped out postie bike. All I could do was laugh and laugh more as he explained all the quirks it had and how to ride it. So I set off, no helmet, no jacket, bald tyres, very bad brakes on a dirt road/track on a bike I wasn't entirely sure would make the distance. But it did and then promptly broke down and started leaking when I arrived to my destination. But after two visits from the mechanic and 4000 shillings later (plus 3000 shillings for fuel) it was working again!