DAY 1 - OK GO!

Dear future Toyota Etios Drivers, this boot space is gigantic. Three girls on a road trip through Southern Africa? No problem.

After 4 hours sleep we woke up, packed up the car, and then we were ready. Finally. And after months and months of tedious planning and organizing it was quite surreal being at the starting point, lined up with the other teams.

There was no big bang, no big send off, no giant air horn or teenage cheerleaders in matching outfits. Just a simple press photo, a supportive whoop from Amanda’s boyfriend Darren, and a Put Foot Official who yelled: “GO!”

The plan was to take the 682km pretty easy. Head up through the Botswana border and into Kang overnight.

Stopped off in Rustenburg for a quick Wimpy breakfast and to sort out our Vodacom pay-as you go & data. Breakfast – great success! Vodacom – not so much. Still battling to get our SIMS activated and load data. The nice gentlemen at Vodacare tried to help us out as much as they could. They also helped us push our car. We left our lights on. Rookie error. But on we go!

ZOOM!

Worked out a simple rotation system within the car. Backseat is for napping. Front passenger for co -piloting, entertainment & general commentary. Driver for, well, driving. It works well. And gives us all a chance to zone out & enjoy the view.

Driving through Botswana the terrain moved and changed and went from rocks to bush to sand to herds of cows to grass to goats to sheep.  Donkeys cheered us on eagerly. Not really. Donkeys are pretty chilled. Dead on their legs they stare blankly as we zip by with our racing stripes. Jealous I imagine. 

Kang was epic. As epic as a truck stop on the side of the road can be. The campsite was clean and we met up with some of the other teams. Too tired to care to make dinner, we sat down at the local restaurant with some new friends and sampled the local beer. Manda taught us the best way to experience the local beer is to add lemonade. She was so right.

So day one was done and Tertius (random pet name which stuck for our Toyota Etios) sure was a trooper.

Things we learned today: Don’t leave Tertius’s lights on. Locals are friendly and helpful. Petrol is cheaper in Bots and Kitty doesn't like Tina Turner while she’s napping.

Can’t imagine why.

Team OK GO & Tertius pose for the camera just outside of Botswana border