January 12 – Leaving Brazzaville Along the Congo River
Good day, January 12th. I left Brazzaville, traveling along the Congo River—an absolutely beautiful sight. I had known about the best road to take, but somehow my Garmin directed me to the shortest route instead. I hadn’t researched it thoroughly and decided to just follow the directions. The route took me through Kinkala and then toward Milimoi.
Military Escort in Kinkala
Up to Kinkala, the road was fine. Once there, however, the army informed me that I needed an armed guard for the first 10 kilometers. It was just one man with a gun, and there was no real issue. We had an okay conversation, although he didn’t explain much about what was going on. After that stretch, the road conditions began to deteriorate—gradually getting worse and worse.
The Road Gets Worse
At one point, I gave a ride to a man who warned me that although the road seemed bad already, it would soon become much worse. I was already committed, so I kept going. Soon after, we met another man from the same village who also needed a ride. They decided to help me navigate the terrible road ahead.
They mentioned needing a shovel and planned to pick one up in the next village. I just went along with it. We managed some tight spots, and things were working—until we reached a village where they suggested taking an unusual route through town. It cost 2,000 CFA, but it helped us avoid even worse road conditions. We did this twice, driving paths not really meant for cars.
Getting Stuck in the Mud
Eventually, we got stuck—really stuck. The bottom of the car hit the dirt, and there was no moving. Maybe I could have made it through initially, but one wrong move and that was it. The men used the shovel to dig us out, which helped significantly.
I took off my shoes and walked through the mud barefoot to avoid ruining them. When it was time to drive again, I put my socks back on because working the pedals barefoot wasn’t going to work. We got stuck again. It was intense.
At one point, one of the men asked to take the wheel. The goal was simply to get through, so I agreed. He handled the vehicle impressively, as if he had driven it for years. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining, although there was standing water everywhere.
Using the High-Lift Jack
I remembered I had a high-lift jack, which can be used externally to lift the vehicle. We put it to work. It was difficult to position, but we managed to use the extra height to get a strong start. Unfortunately, it caused some minor damage—a dent in the rear door, a broken taillight, and a slightly raised rear bumper. Still, everything remained functional.
These two men were a miracle. Without them, I might still be stuck there. It was one of the most intense driving days I’ve ever experienced.
Paying for the Help
When the worst was over, they needed to return to their village, which was quite far away. I had to decide how much to pay them. I started with 10,000 CFA each—no reaction. Then 20,000—better, but not quite. Finally, 30,000 CFA per person felt right. Without their help, it would have cost far more, possibly organizing an entire village to dig me out.
Military Checkpoint
The day wasn’t over. I reached the last town before the main road—the one I should have taken originally. A pastor I’d met earlier warned me I might encounter the military. Sure enough, there were about 10 military vehicles with personnel stationed there. Something had happened the day before, prompting their presence.
They asked me a few questions, but everything went smoothly, and I was allowed to pass.
Finding a Place to Stay in Lutetia
With darkness approaching, I headed to Lutetia, knowing there should be a hotel there. I arrived and found a massive cement factory instead. I had taken the wrong turn and missed the actual road into town because it was dark.
After asking some motorbike riders, I learned there was a hotel about two kilometers further up the road. I found a brightly lit place but saw no hotel sign and initially drove past it. Realizing I should check, I turned back—and thankfully, it was the hotel with a restaurant.
A Comfortable End to a Wild Day
I got a room and had a tremendously comfortable stay. The people were very kind, especially the cook. We had a good conversation, shared a beer, and it turned into a peaceful end to an incredibly wild day.
Thank you for coming along on this intense journey—one that could have ended many different ways, but somehow turned out just fine.
