Day 23: Mahe, Seychelles

/ alliwanders
Typical Mahe – beach, jungle, sun, clouds
My ride for the day. Left 7:30a trying to beat heat but dying for a swim by 8am. Not here tho…
As this was the only bit of accessible sand and I thought I could do better. Not great lighting but pic shows those famous boulders that are a trademark of Seychelles
Not easy driving and taking pics so not many good ones of island. At least you see it’s tropical jungle and mountains; I was expecting all flat & beaches
I’m actually driving in the left lane though the photo may show otherwise. English-style cars, right-side drive. So thankful it was an automatic but could NOT stop turning on wiper instead of turn signal! Lol.
Roads in the South chocked with men walking. Laborers looking for work? Many seemed to going to one of the many corner shops. These guys went to play on the rocks. No women until later in morning….
Drove from Victoria down the southeast coast and across to Intendance Beach, just here….
Random Police guy called me ashore and said it wasn’t safe to leave my bag on the beach, too many unemployed around. Wasn’t in uniform but was friendly and sincere so I believed him. That’s okay, getting tossed around as it was.
Back on the road heading north up the west side. Calmer but fishing dudes hanging on the beach and now paranoid with my valuables so just took some snaps and continued on.
Another cop story: I judiciously obey the speed limit, don’t want a surprise ticket in the mail so I pull over when impatient drivers pile up behind me. One honked and was up my rear so I eased in here, even though doing 40 kph in a 40 kph zone. It was a police car impatient with my speed 🙂
The lush, mountainous interior. Taking the cross-island route back to town is up 900m through jungle and rainforest and clouds and tea plantations. Going east I missed the gorgeous views; well, couldn’t have taken eyes from road nor hands from wheel anyway
This is my only, low altitude, pic
Once I completed my circuit of the island I was drained. Such narrow twisty roads required such concentration, I decided I had enough driving for the day so I returned to the ship. Looks like showers & sunshine for the afternoon so not the best weather to be out…