World’s Most Dangerous Roads | Best Of - Burundi, Mali, Bolivia & Canada | Free Documentary

foreigner Burundian racing cyclists are not afraid to take risks whoever wants to transport goods in Burundi does it by bicycle the distances are short Burundi is one of the smallest countries in Africa thank you it is very

dangerous

and fatal for cyclists to cling to trucks Burundi is located in the heart of Africa the main traffic route winds from the border with Rwanda to Tanzania the first section of the route goes from cayonsa to bugurama although the land is fertile on the northern plateau, it is

most

ly cultivated bananas of dozens of different types Bananas are the staple food in Burundi on the outskirts of Cayonsa, the largest city in this region, farmers sell them to middlemen.

You make your wholesale purchases here. He is a professional brewer. A banana beer brewer. Banana beer is the national drink of Burundi and is responsible for transportation. The farmer's brochure does not dare to ride the loaded bicycle himself and if you are an experienced cyclist you put your life at risk. First I asked the price then I bought three stockings, only three a type of sweet banana, one with flowers and one that is less venison Honda sincerely the mixture is important here it's supposed to be tasty I don't know anything about brewing that's why I'm a driver and I'm happy to be able to transport Panfield's bananas that's how I fight when he's not transporting bananas tarsian offers travels on his bicycle taxi thank you foreigner He loads eight bunches on his bicycle together they add up to 160 kilos he has to transport them 15 kilometers fortunately the first part is downhill three kilometers from his destination there is a long climb now Tassian really has to pedal Tarsian is 22 years old he never went to school riding a bike is the only thing i'm good at i never did anything else i don't even want to accept if i find a less strenuous job i definitely don't want to carry anything on the top of my head like women do it's draining the panel yeah and carrying things in my head no way after 45 minutes, tarsal arrives at its destination, the brewers of Banana Village beer Burundi is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

Having a bicycle is worth a lot here, but Tarsian already has to support a wife and two children in their early twenties, how can I save money with a job like this? It's enough to support me and my family, look, I can't even afford new pants. dreamer this job has no future handful has been brewing umbubira banana beer on the farm next to his house and has been there for 15 years lets the bananas ripen in a hole for another week the farmer can only process the bananas if Sufficient sweetness has been developed, otherwise the fermentation process may not be carried out correctly.

Bananas with thick skin are especially suitable for producing banana beer. His own family and some village workers as their pump fills with production, the workers use fresh, clean hay to help them. squeeze the liquid the hay also creates pompheus banana beers special flavor thank you My life as a brewer is good I really make a lot of money and I can pay the wages of the workers I will never be rich of course I mean I can't afford to buy new shoes and things like that , but I don't have to go around stealing things, the family has enough to eat and we can send the children to school.

Nobody tells me what to do and I don't need to do it. I'm going to chase my money I'm my own master it's still just banana juice to turn into beer the liquid needs to be stored for a few days brewer's yeast allows for fermentation the beer takes two days to be good two bottles of this and everything spins but in this moment is not fermented it does not make you drunk but the bloated beer served in his inn does not know the percentage of alcohol he never measured it foreign drinks only after he has finished work he also drives while intoxicated It is

dangerous

when you are on the road of cyclists.

Here in the north not only bananas are grown but also coffee, tea and rice. The road leading to Banana Village Breweries continues south to Boyombura, the capital of Burundi. There are a hundred. kilometers and there are ups and downs of the hill, all the wave, oh foreigner, the road serves as a transit route between Rwanda and Tanzania. Antoine Kaburra has been driving it for 10 years with his truck. He usually only drives during the day. Driving at night would be too risky. The

roads

are good, but they are too narrow. Sometimes they are not even six meters wide.

Oncoming traffic often poses problems. You always have to avoid potholes and so many curves. Luckily, I'm a good driver on a main road. It's definitely too narrow. Antoine arrives at Gitiga in second place. largest city in Burundi with 45,000 inhabitants Honda works as a reporter for the local radio station humorissa her job is to report on traffic, which mainly means the situation of cyclists, tell me what are the difficulties for cyclists, trucks are worse What do they do. life is hard for us I hear this over and over again they complain about the trucks it really is hard and tiring work not to mention the bike issues their numbers are increasing it's bad when the bike runs out and don't forget the accidents and injuries situated in the center of the country it used to be the capital of the kingdom of Burundi, it was also the administrative center at the beginning of the century, from the 19th to the 20th century, when Burundi was a German colony, today the city is an important traffic junction. 26 reporters work for radio homorisa Alex I have already finished with a report about cyclists here it is difficult for cyclists even though they only transport other people but for those who transport voluminous intestines it is even more difficult but they have no other option their wives and children need something to eat another 60 kilometers to boyambura uphill downhill Antoine Kabura could drive faster but he knows what is happening behind him so he doesn't want to risk an accident whoever wants to save time and energy holds on to his truck Antoine finds this really annoying what they are doing represents a lethal danger not only for them but also for us, the truckers.

I often have to swerve sharply because of oncoming traffic or because of a pothole. The cyclists who are holding on to the graphic can't see it coming, they are surprised. that's why in Crash terrible I often see it in the rearview mirror some die I think they should stop it it's also prohibited thank you Eric nitzitunga has been transporting bananas from the north to the capital for five years he fixed 14 bunches on his transporter that's approximately 250 kilos, even by Burundian standards. I have to tie the bananas to a carrier in such a way that the center of gravity is in the middle.

One mistake would cause me to lose balance in the curves and crash. I also have to make sure the bananas don't get bruised even once can resist the temptation to be dragged up the hill it doesn't always go well some sections of the road are not paved they are difficult for truckers to drive there are some drummers with their heavy instruments along the road near kishora your destination is a nearby hill it is considered the cradle of the

burundi

an art of playing the drums they used to play before the kings today they play the drums for those who pay and to preserve peace just a few years ago

burundi

saw the end of a long Civil War foreigner is the leader of the master drummers of kishhora I became a drummer because my ancestors were drummers my great-grandfather my grandfather my father they are all dramas for the Kings this tradition must survive oh, the police have Been checking more often lately on the Burundi highway, a good opportunity for street vendors to offer their wares to drivers.

Safety check, horns, lights and headlights. I reviewed the documents and inspected the vehicles. It's about increasing safety on the road. Officers also punish cyclists who hold on. trucks, whoever is caught must pay a fine. Eric The Courier puts up with that. I think cyclists should really stop clinging to our trucks. Too many accidents happen because of this. It should be banned. The police should enforce this or the cyclists could do some sprucing up. motor to their bikes to go uphill Edge Eric heard the policeman's whistle just in time to let go the government of Burundi has al

most

doubled the number of traffic police in recent years too many accidents occur on the

roads

of Burundi also due to technical defects , but the main problem is the cyclists.

More action should be taken against these cyclists who cling to trucks. It's simply too dangerous. It is prohibited, but they simply do not respect us. Good thing, another 40 kilometers to Puyumbura, the closer you get to the capital, the busier. The narrow route becomes, thank you, the 400 square kilometer Kibera National Park, which runs along a small secondary road that was once the splendid mountain forest that used to be the king's sacred hunting ground. . thank you, the badfa live in a small village near the national park in busikera. Until a few years ago the hunters and gatherers lived in the middle of the rainforest, in 2007 the government decided to move them to the area next to the main road Viola Vimana is 40 years old and has eight children I was born and raised in the jungle this life is not easy We have to collect wood and bring water from far away that is exhausting but I enjoy ceramics.

I learned it when I was a child watching my mother work, now I can support my family with my partners. teaching my children how to do it is also why we do so well here next door the men sit together and carve wood they have lost their traditional hunting grounds since the resettlement but being so close to the main road opens up new opportunities for them and their Families can now sell their carvings and pottery to travelers. About 500 people live in busikera. More than half of them are children. In addition to their crafts, farmers butvar and raise livestock on land granted to them by the government.

The next stage in the Cyclist. The road leads from Bugurama to the capital early in the morning the first cyclists are on their way to supply the markets The Bokorama cyclists are famous throughout the country They transport the heaviest and most voluminous goods and are the fastest cyclists Branch located to the south The tip of Kibira National Park is a traffic junction. Two federal highways meet here and join together to lead to the capital of Burundia. Bike messenger Eric lives near Burama. Bananas here are cheaper than in the capital today. A bunch costs eight thousand Burundian francs, about four euros.

Together with his girlfriend Eric they live in a small house right on the road to Boyambura. They have no children but they want to wait until Eric finds a less dangerous job abroad. The 200 kilo load literally pushes Eric down the hill quickly reaching speeds of up to 60. At 70 kilometers per hour you can't apply the brakes your tires would explode if the roads are wet you are likely to slip, but since you can't apply the brakes you have to wait until the next climb until then be prepared. and let's hope everything turns out well, no one knows how many accidents happen and how many cyclists are actually involved.

There are no traffic statistics in Burundi. Often the poor condition of the bicycles is to blame. Yes, the last climb to Bulumbura is tough without help. No. one managed to advance and thus a new profession arose: push assistant the men earned 10 cents for the 15 minute ride yes, at the end of the long climb a small store offers food and drinks Eric does not always have enough money to buy something for After this exhausting climb, Lucia, the shop assistant, meets Eric and puts him on the bill if he can't pay, she feels sorry for the cyclists, this job requires a lot of energy, you need to be very strong to be able to do this.

Especially if you have to push the fully loaded bike uphill, it often weighs more than 200 kilos, so you need a lot of energy. That's why I eat mainly carbohydrates, for example corn, and drink hot milk every day. From here, the bulimbura is another 15 kilometers. and it's only downhill the foreigner is confident in his steering ability he doesn't have much choice he's had quite a few accidents but so far he's only suffered a few bruises and broken bones arrival in Bulumbura the cyclists have to fight their way through the traffic of this Lively Metropolis, the first store that Eric delivers to the other end of the city, there are many small shops and restaurants along the streets of the capitol, most of them can't afford professional advertising, that's why they hire artists like Clovis Milamway, the young man of 26 years. living off it is not bad your clothes would be equivalent to between 50 and 75 euros the largest city in Burundi is the economic center of the country about 400,000 people live here a very specific technique is needed to park the bicycle in such a way that it does not fall over the 200 kilo load five times a week Eric delivers two bunches of bananas to the small store perEach bunch receives 12,000 Burundian francs, that is, six euros, two euros of income remain, come on.

Here, in the busy city traffic, the challenge for Eric is different compared to his cross-country race. It's not about steep climbs, downhill races or fights with truckers and police officers. The difficulty lies in maintaining balance and being careful. so as not to be hit by other vehicles because then he would fall. The Sioni Market is in the northwest of the Capitol. 85 out of 100 Burundians work in agriculture and they all try to sell their surpluses in the markets, since the main market is in the center of the city. burned in 2013 the number of traders and customers in the cioni market has doubled, one of the reasons is that the government banned street trading, everyone had to resort to the remaining Marcus is 42 years old and has been working as a saleswoman for 10 years ago, when the main market burned down, not only did he lose his two stalls, but all his products burned down and he had to start again.

From scratch is that I have four children and no husband when the market burned down and the difficult times he simply ran away, he never gave me money to feed the children and I had to take out a credit loan that helped us a lot and I was able to set up a new stall here. Eric also delivers bananas to Alice. Today he is late because of the rain. Normally she would receive fifteen thousand Burundian francs for a bunch of bananas. Today he only pays ten thousand. Alice pays Eric five euros per group earning one euro per hour for Eric to stay abroad with the thousands of cyclists in Burundi there is always something to repair or patch you will find bike repair shops everywhere in Burundi especially close to the markets where most cyclists deliver their goods Alexandra tassis has been the boss here for five years.

Most of the bikes in her shop come from China and break easily. These bikes are basically like all the others. We have to reinforce the bicycle rack with iron bars. Good tires are important, although courier Eric also comes here if he has enough money to buy new tires, work is done quickly here and you get good advice, plus almost 100 mechanics work for Alexandra. The customers live nearby, most of them come from far away, for example from Gatumba or Bugurama, some are foreigners who come from the Congo to have their bikes repaired here Eric seems unfazed by the fact that he has to spend a portion of his meager money income to keep your bike in good condition.

It is very important to change the tires, they were completely worn out if it rains like today. they slip and fall easily the tires also burst more easily especially when you break I've already patched the tube four times it's too dangerous Eric is cycling back to bugurama with new tires the racing cyclists from Burundi have divided the district there are those who come by bike from the north and return in the afternoon the others take the southern route, okay, the Burundi highway runs along the shores of Lake Tanganyika for 200 kilometers south to the border with Tanzania, thank you, instead of bananas, People grow many oil poems here.

They are also transported by bicycle. A group can weigh up to 50 kilos. The landscape in southern Burundi is less mountainous than in the north, so bicycle couriers can travel longer distances, up to 100 kilometers per day, because if I don't have that much. takeaway I have fun like today it's okay I'll take the fruits to a palm oil factory then I load the full oil cans and take them to the market where they are sold work is okay as long as you stick with it good, and I don't have to worry for crashing on curves, so I enjoy the work.

Faustin Babasanya's palm grove is located directly on the main road along with his son Patrick looks for ripe fruits that he can then process in his palm oil factory. which is 10 kilometers away Patrick is a talented climber now, although we are next to the lake, the ground is dry and sandy, which is not good for palm trees, they do not grow properly and bear little fruit, but we are lucky that our soil contains many nutrients despite the nearby ladies that is why our palms are so tall and strong and the oil also tastes good only when the fruits have acquired an orange-red color they are ripe for harvest and easy to pick Patrick transports The harvest from my father's palm oil plantation to the oil factory itself, they have to be kept there for a few days before they can be processed into oil.

Patrick prefers to climb trees than carry the heavy load on his bicycle. Thank you. I still go to school and I just do this in my

free

time to earn some money later. I want to get a proper job, but right now I work as a bike courier and study. Lake Tanganyika is the second largest lake in Africa and shapes the landscape in southern Burundi. The river bank is lined with small fishing villages along the road. Neon Gabo slowly comes to life at 6am. The men return from fishing. They spent the whole night at the lake today.

They didn't catch much. The waves were too high for some years. They are only allowed to fish every two weeks to protect the fish population. I have been a fisherman for eight years. I think the fishing restrictions are a good thing, it gives us fishermen a break and we can spend more time with our families. We can breed. In those seven days, that's good after school, Patrick earned some extra money working as a bike messenger. He doesn't have to support a family, so he feels less pressure. The bicycle messenger has arrived at the Fauston palm oil factory.

Production is in full process. The ripe fruits are detached from the clusters and the oil makers are first cleaned while meanwhile getting used to the traffic in Ado on the adjacent road. Falston has been in the palm oil business for three years. Thank you all, the oil palm means a For us, it always gives us oil that we can use for cooking, we use the palm leaves as broomsticks, the remaining kernels that we use to make soap are shampoo, the fiber is also a byproduct That helps light a fire, palm oil provides everything humans need. About 20 palm oil farmers have joined together in a cooperative and run the old squeezing machine together.

Everyone can process their own fruit. There thousands control the production flow. The water cools the machine so the oil doesn't go rancid. 20 families make a living from this. Its existence, as well as the economy of the entire country, depends on the timely delivery of fresh supplies. In the heart of West Africa people drive on roads that do not deserve to be called dusty dirt tracks that do not appear on all maps that can only be traveled with great effort and for some months of the year the risk is a passenger on every trip abroad In the savanna of this West African country there are some completely urbanized roads.

The dirt roads seem to trace erratic lines. On the arid plains, most people here do not have cars. The minibuses collect some glories. They travel between villages on market days. There is intense activity. Many merchants and customers are on the road as the dirt roads are unpredictable and vehicles are in poor condition. Every trip becomes an adventure. In recent years he has been driving for a transportation businessman. He is a Focus driver because no one is immune to the unwanted surprises of dusty dirt roads. Abdullah meets many of his passengers to keep them happy. With speech. who wants them to feel in good hands accidents happen all the time here there are so many curves on our roads God has blessed me with luck since I've been working I haven't had any accidents yet but the cars keep overturning the roads are in bad condition not a single pass month without hearing that a car has overturned the drivers who are not from here simply go too fast abdullah's passengers are merchants and merchants who travel from market to market to sell their goods they only take the minibus in the dry periods when the rains travel in boats cars get stuck in modern water so there are a lot of potholes and the dust is horrible now it's just torture but that's what any job you do you can't run away from it only when God

free

s you you can stay away from it for a few seven months between October and it may be dry, then it is high season for land transport as soon as the first rains arrive in the region.

It becomes an enormous sheet of water in the center of Mali in the Massena region. The Niger River, one of the largest rivers in the

world

, floods large areas. The dirt roads disappear only when the water recedes. Can the people be reached again? villagers in vehicles what remains is sand and dust the dry, hot wind from the northeast of the Sahara the harmattan brings even more dust in March and April the temperature rises to more than 50 degrees there is fog for weeks the vehicles have trouble making their way through the Broken earth and razed forts It takes time to create new dirt tracks The heat irritates people An argument between the transporters who are loading a truck What it is about Probably only the one who is most upset knows for sure His coworkers hope that the scandal does not last for long they prefer to conserve their strength the work is exhausting countless bags of onions dried fish millet, spices and mangoes have to be loaded into the trucks they often weigh 30, 40 or more kilos there is almost nothing that it is not carried with it, whether individually piece or mass product, it is all a question of price space and good will to ensure that the trucks do not overturn, the heavy material goes from the bottom to the middle, if possible, Siku and Dai know the importance of loading correctly, he and his colleague have been driving the truck around Savannah half their lives, although they are not blood relatives and each is their own boss, they feel like brothers, the bond in the bush and the challenges of the job have forged a bond over the years, the roots are dangerous at first.

It seems easy to drive through the bushes and trees, but if you go fast, accidents happen quickly, especially around Benz, the traffic has increased, there are more mopeds, more cars and more donkey carts driven by the villagers. If you think I know the way, there are no potholes and you drive fast you can easily collide with a cart driver or a moped or you collide with another car that follows the goods are the animals that travel along with their owners to make sure they don't get lost nothing during the trip the cargo is secured with ropes, cords and straps they are responsible for the transport they have to repair any loss or damage the passengers are the last to get on board how they get on board depends on them they also take their goods on board so they can always be there Pay attention to them, it takes time for everyone to find their place.

People wait in the heat for the start. There are always arguments about who sits where, above the driver's cabin, is the most comfortable place. Hey, they tell you to fix the water can. The can. of water remove it there and fix it here whenever possible drg and siku drive in a convoy that way the drivers can help each other in case of an accident or breakdown some stragglers arrive who also want to travel the drivers wait for them on whom everyone depends customers, as long as drg and siku don't arrive too late to the next station, no one will complain for now, everyone is happy that the trucks are finally moving, even if there are initial difficulties, the passengers are stoic about the fact that let the trucks drive. too close to the trees and are hit by the branches if they went faster this could cause serious injuries thanks the trucks fight through the swaying boats like in the savanna the land is dusty and dry strangers would get lost on these trails already There are no signs showing which dirt road leads where and when Siku knows the region like the back of his hand, but he still has to concentrate.

You have a full load, for example, and there are people sitting on it. You have to be careful when driving. because they can get sleepy if they fall asleep they don't hold on and the car leans to one side they can fall and they can also fall in curves if you go too fast passengers who sit on the edge have to make sure that the hard spikes from the thorny bushes they don't get hit in the face their eyes sting and their strength is waning the heat and the dust makes you tired but people take care of each other after all, not everyone is in the same boat but in the same truck If you get on and you don't hold on well you fall that's why we sit together you have to hold on to someone else who will hold on to someone else if there are too many people that's no use Did I get on the truck because the driver is also careful because the road not good?

The driver is responsible for me and drives slowly. He stopped his minibus because a deer escaped. A small townalong the dirt road. Some of the passengers got off. and new ones come to the market it is up to the drivers to make sure they have enough customers there are many minibuses competing and word spreads about which car is more comfortable and faster and which vehicle always breaks down careful and responsible driving also matters, but above all people who use minibuses as a means of transport are in a hurry because it is important that Abdullahi arrives safely the roads themselves are very strong and he does not want to take additional risks by driving cruelly, it is normal in The bad thing is that there are no gas stations in the I walk and it takes a long time.

You need all day just for one trip. You can't come and go twice. You can only drive one way in a day because the road is very difficult. through the cracks dust enters the minibus it gets into everything, even the passengers pause there is more dust than air to breathe the temperature rises to almost 60 degrees your skin dries there is no escape grit your teeth and endure the foreigners have to endure with great difficulties, all because of bad roads, drivers also have problems, it is slippery everywhere because they refuse to improve the roads, if the roads were good, many mishaps would not happen, but this is part of our job as traders if We wouldn't have we wouldn't travel here thank you in places where almost no one travels and vehicles rarely break the silence of Savannah with their noise there is hustle and bustle market days it is rush hour on the dirt roads of Marley the roads are full of people and their animals Since dirt roads are not made for many vehicles, dangerous situations occur again and again.

Did you see when it passed so close to us that we leaned forward to protect ourselves from the dust? That is why we fear that the car, horses and carts are better. They don't like cars, they do a lot of stupid things, we drive very slowly. I am afraid of cars, since many buses and trucks began to travel on dirt roads along with donkey and horse carts, which have been more accidents. The different speeds do not. go well the horses are scared because they are not used to it the cars go by at full speed like lightning they are used to a different rhythm life in the savanna has a slower pace than life in the city for these people a horse and a cart is still the most affordable means of transportation does not need gasoline Station or garage minibuses are a threat to this infrastructure.

There is competition between us. They don't want us transporting people if everyone can make some money. That's good, but they want to take all our passengers and we're left with nothing. The horse and donkey carts are still in the majority. The horse and the card approach Dion, where today there is a market. The passengers of the two trucks have also arrived in Dion jogi after the trip through Bushland. The diage is relieved each time the transport goes. well although the towns are not far from each other 20, 30 or 50 kilometers at most traveling through the Wasteland is exhausting even during the season Glory drivers as soon as the trucks arrive they unload them the market only lasts a few hours so merchants and the customers want to make the most of them the drivers want a break but drg and siku have to inspect their trucks they know that some things need repair Abdullah has also arrived at Dion Jewelry with his minibus he helps the passengers get off the happy customers are important to him, He hopes that his guests will value his kindness and friendly treatment and that they will travel with him again.

The market is right on the Niger River, in the dry season it can only be reached by land as there are no shops in most villages. Going to the markets is one of the few opportunities to do business and obtain the necessary supplies. Apprentices only fix the things they are skilled at, usually small screws that have come loose from vibration or the hood that won't close since the trucks are old. Something always needs to be fixed. When you've been driving for a week, you need to check the entire car. We were supposed to rest today, but if we did, it wouldn't be good.

We need to check the car. What happened on the trip? Where was something torn off? What came loose we have to maintain it all the time on the last trip there was a problem with the starter motor dear G suspects that there is a problem with the alternator together with his apprentice he goes to a workshop on the edge of the market to have it checked only the bigger villages have mechanics if the edges The truck breaks down in the bush he's alone he knows it's Lori's Kinks and he crashes very well before he hits the dirt track again tomorrow he wants to make sure his truck is in good shape thanks the market ends early in the afternoon people go home the wind blowing the dust through Savannah has subsided the temperatures will cool overnight but only for a few hours drj has taken some customers and their products to a town remote Before dawn is traveling in the land of the Pearl the tribe of cattle ranchers who live for months throughout West Africa the Pearl wandered through the Savannah with his cattle always looking for food for his animals except for the animals and some shepherds The RJ You don't meet anyone if your truck breaks down.

He will now be alone with his apprentice, an assistant and some passengers. There is no mobile reception to get help. It is a disturbing void. There are no mechanics, no workshops, no spare parts. Deposits on the road if it breaks down we have to fix it ourselves sometimes there are highwaymen who can be scary it has happened to me twice they made people get out of the car and made them lie down on the ground they searched their pockets and left they let them They didn't kill anyone, they didn't even fire their weapons, they just shot into the air.

They threaten to take your money and disappear again today. The bandits are not the problem. TRJ senses something is wrong with the truck's chassis and calls his apprentice to check what's going on. We'll get off, move the propeller shaft a little bit, oh just shake it a little bit and check it out, look at the back, turn the propeller shaft back and forth in the center, check the center, what's it like, still running, yeah It's still okay, it's okay, we'll do it. change the ball bearings when we get there we continue we are wrong although his apprentice found nothing the IGA wants to build the safe side prefers to trust his instincts and experience rather than assume that the strut ball bearings the axle will hold up two weeks don't go by without that we have to weld something the trucks are old we weld something on every trip you take and something breaks and you need to change the spring thanks dng and siku they drive a legendary french vehicle a belier Laurie even though production stopped more than 30 years ago , the sequel can't think of a better truck for the desert and savanna.

This berlier is my fifth, the fifth, we never sold any of them, we drive them until they break down, only when they don't. It no longer works we will buy a new one, the broken one and there is no spare part in stock for this one. One of the broken ones is our Pharmacy. If something is missing, we will take it from there and put it here back in the city. Diagio wants to get replacement ball bearings for his axle. transmission, since there is no supplier for parts like this. He checks that one of Siku's old trucks was left on the edge of a square and his apprentice checks if the ball bearings are really better than the previous ones.

In his truck the men are skeptical, RJ prefers to buy new ones. Tierg would never take his truck to the next biggest city where there is a parts warehouse. He would be gone for days and his losses would be enormous, so he asks the center. The ball bearing is useless, we checked it and it cannot be used. When you go to Jenny, can you get me one? No problem. I can bring you one. Will you make it to Messina? We'll get to Messina, when I go to Jenna, I'll look. for one for you once a week it is cleaning day the Lord must shine in the Old Glory it is a task for Jay's dear apprentice we wash the engine so that it recovers when there is a lot of dirt it gets hot that's why we remove the oil and everything then won't heat up as much and it can also happen that the engine is covered in dirt and then a screw falls out somewhere and you can't even see it because of all the dirt you can't see any of the water. the Niger river inspires men to clean especially thoroughly and also because the whole process is a refreshment for them, oh man that road is a mess, it couldn't be worse, you start before dawn and drive until four in the afternoon Yes There was a paved road to Nenko.

We wouldn't need more than two hours. Yes, no more than two hours before the trip can continue. A flat tire needs to be changed. You're done? Come on. It's okay like that. Put it on if the nuts don't. you don't get in easily leave them your pettiness annoys me you always keep an eye on me do your job and let me do mine you're making me nervous here foreigner it's late before the trucks can leave for the drivers it's not a problem they can Camp anywhere but first They have to take their passengers home. The advantage of driving at night is that the air cools down.

Additionally, trucks can go faster by shining their headlights. They can more easily distinguish potholes and ditches. They camp abroad in the middle of in Savannah with their colleagues here they feel at home and enjoy their trucking life it has been a long day they are hungry it will be a quick meal I want the men to talk about the vehicles, the state of the roads of land and the climate during the dry season they are on the road day and night even on weekends in those seven months they earned the money for the whole year sleep a few hours and start again early in the morning it is already hot again it has not It has rained well for months, many villages in the savanna are far from important transportation routes for those people it is a blessing that a truck arrives to them once a week, this way they can buy in the distant market.

Siku personally ensures that each passenger pays. Going to the fair is equivalent to about 50 cents, it is not much for the trip of almost an hour, but for people who have very little, it is a lot of money. It will cost anyone who wants to come. There is no maximum number of people who can find space in the fair. truck to market without truck siku is proud to be indispensable for the inhabitants of the region when it comes to roads, my father earned a reputation in his time, then I arrived and thank God I was able to build a reputation also the car of my father where he did not arrive there will be no market could develop and I am the same where I cannot go no other car can go there will not be a market I have really left my mark Abroad, the donkey cart means that the market is not very far away for most people.

Market days are the only distraction from the daily doldrums for people elsewhere, who take for granted that buying and selling the most necessary becomes a great effort and struggle for survival in Mali. The people of Savannah have to travel for a whole day to get a few tomatoes, fruits, some noodles, occasionally a piece of meat and a bar of soap. The road means great discomfort for anyone making such a trip here. The road is not good, the way people travel. truck and we are standing from one place to another it is a great agony your legs find no relief that is what makes it so difficult to cross the Niger at this time of year the river is a mere stream compared to its size after the rainy season in some places it becomes so wide that you can't see the other side Abdullahi wants to get the ball bearing for Dearji's truck in Ginny the city is 150 kilometers away Tunisia is like a border on the other side of the river the vegetation is lush and the roads are paved in a foreign way driving a taxi is not a dream job for Abdullahi he does it to feed his family I am the eldest and I have three younger brothers they put all their hopes on me Abdullahi if someone gets sick, I step forward if someone needs something, I step forward, that's why I came to Tenancouver to work.

I've never seen anyone from the city going to work in town or in the bush, if they see me here driving through Bushland, I'll be there. Poorly paved roads in larger cities encourage people to drive faster, which is why accidents occur. A truck loaded with tons of corn wanted to overtake another truck and spun out of control because there was little traffic at night. There was no crash. The drivers were. Luckily, they came out with minor injuries. Abdullahi has come to Jenny with her wonderful clay mosque in the center of the city, right on the main square.

He knows a dealer who sells parts for Bellier trucks. I need a bull what kind of ball bearing for our belly Lori this is a ball bearing for the center how much does it cost? Give me five thousand for him. Oh, big brother, five thousand is a lot because times are tough around here. I think 5000 is a good price, let's not digress, let's agree on 4000. Now, dear friend, give me a thousand, you know, we don't make much money on our old vehicles on the other side of the Niger, in the Massena region. Siku and his truck arrive at the market.

The passengers havesurvived the trip quite shaken. but unharmed, they have only a few hours to look around and do business before returning. Most of them know each other because they regularly take the truck to the markets, but since they belong to different villages living in this area, they often don't. They speak the same language Seku is welcomed warmly by the village elders, they have known him since he was a child and he used to accompany his father here along the Niger there are always markets large livestock markets are quite rare in places as far away as the Sahara and the neighboring countries Mauritania and Niger come with the cattle.

Traders often travel for days and weeks to sell their livestock. The chances of doing business are good because Pearl likes to buy cattle, sheep and goats to repopulate her flocks and flocks, and her apprentices and assistants are sitting. in the shadow of the trucks waiting for the market to end they are resting before the next trip The community that stays together for example in the rainy season a car can get stuck so it is easier when several people travel together also when one of them it breaks down many people can help when the car doesn't start you can help each other and when something else breaks down you get together and fix it together the radiator leaks on the way back from Janae Abdullah has problems with his minibus the mechanic fixes it the escape temporarily if Abdullahi wants to reach the meeting point agreed with drj on time he has to hurry Abdullahi arrived just in time before Dr.

Jay left again yes, I have this for you Ah, that's it, that's exactly it, thank you , thank you so much. thank you for trusting me trj does not have time to install the ball bearing it is already late expect the driveshaft to last until the next stop but first the passengers must take their places the engine must be running and none of the passengers must fall of the truck the foreign tracks have no beginning or end it is an endless circulation between the villages along the dirt tracks for many months when the rainy season comes they disappear until they reappear again made by the drivers and their cars oh no no it gets boring, it's work, it's your livelihood, so you have to work and everyone has their own job, understood day and night, it doesn't get boring, it's our job after all and our job is this because we love it No matter how well the drivers know the road it will always be a journey into the unknown thanks foreigner as one of the most dangerous roads in the

world

the highway of death many people die here some go in search of adventure others depend on this road for all of They are a risky journey South America Bolivia starting in Xiamas located in the tropical lowlands the road leads 500 kilometers to the Andes plateau at almost 5,000 meters altitude the destination is the mega city of La Paz at the top of the route Summit Pass Okla spiritual healers Pachamama Mother Earth her shamanic powers are supposed to expel harmful negative energy Sheamus sacrifice their offerings to Pachamama People are supposed to remember what they are doing to Mother Earth Paths are carved into the ground like scars the priests ask forgiveness also for those who drive on these roads they want to protect them from accidents and damage Omar pariah has worked as a truck driver for more than 20 years and there is almost not a single road in Bolivia that has not traveled the way to La Paz is his route of origin he transports wood from the jungle his load weighs 25 tons without any incident the trip takes him three days it is still his dry season at the end of October so the road is quite dusty in a few For several weeks it will begin If it rains, the road will be flooded in the Mada swamp and almost no movement will be possible, but for now drivers are fighting against the stifling heat and dusty air.

Omar drives quite fast and takes the opportunity to put in some miles. The co-pilot barely knows the road. He wants to learn from Uma about his mistakes. There are dangers everywhere. You must not make mistakes. The truck could break down. There's a lot to complain about when you're on the road. Anything can happen. The truck. It's stuck the wheels are spinning It's deep, very deep, put it in there, I have to see for myself. Jaime is looking for holes in the ground and fills them with stones. Put these leaves under the palm leaves. He provides the necessary grip.

Omar's skill and all the strength of the engine can help remove the vehicle. It rained in the morning. The road is muddy. The rain has made it worse. The wheels on the axle have sunk which is why the truck was not moving. It was as if. someone pressed the brakes Omar has to be especially careful with the river courses if the water penetrated the engine it would destroy it the trip would end before it began only a few roads passable for trucks lead through this endless and pure jungle the humidity of the tropical the rainforest evaporates into misty clouds from the thicket the truck makes its way through the wall of fog only a few meters of visibility the collision with an oncoming vehicle would be fatal, I mean, you always have to pay attention, It can be lost, we are wasting a lot of time We have to drive slowly We cannot see anything It lies on the banks of the Gorge River in the tributaries of the Amazon River The trucks wait to cross the river Here the ferry consists of a simple wooden pontoon The pontener instructs to truck drivers The crossing takes half an hour and only two trucks can pass at a time and the Guanier areas are responsible for getting the trucks and people to the other side safely.

He has been shipping the real hat for many years. He also knows when operations should begin. stop wood and scrap metal, anything that destroys boat engines as soon as the ferry lands on the shores, you must anchor it firmly. The iron chains will ensure that the pontoon does not come loose when the trucks board. The ramp consists of only two. logs have to support the weight of many tons it takes experience and good judgment to place them correctly Uma has arrived at the ferry now it's all a matter of driving the truck across the ramp soon we will have to be very careful when the truck drives towards the pontoon , you have to drive it slowly, very slowly, if you don't do it right, there will be an accident and that is bad for all of us, then we have a problem.

I want us to learn to drive to the pontoon, you always have. change to the so-called crama gear which is the correct combination of braking and driving to avoid pushing the pontoon Omar and the pontoon driver have known each other for many years during the ferry trip they begin to chat a truck has slipped off the pontoon This morning was a job tedious removing it always makes the same mistake. It's slippery. That's exactly what happened. The log you are driving on moves just a little. There is a small margin with the gears. It is awful. It is worse when the rear wheel spins. in the other direction that's how it slides that's the problem right around the corner from where the trucks cross the river the baby fishermen are hunting the largest freshwater fish in the world Antonio Lee Machi and Alfonso Carbajal are concentrating in the tasty giant catfish where are we going? we throw our net where here because the dry period lasts longer the royal cap carries less water one of the reasons why fishermen fish less but soon the fisherman's luck is on his side a nice surubi the water level should be higher but It is low because this year it has been so dry unlike last year, once you cast the net you would have caught between four or five up to ten fish.

It's still too dry. The stranger has long since left the river behind. His path takes him through gravel roads from the lowlands to the highest. regions, the road meanders from the humid tropical lowlands to the dry Andean highlands, the road is mostly unpaved and leads through stunning jungle landscapes. Very well, drivers have to overcome deep valleys and vast canyons on the way. It's to the left. -drive manually on jungle road, uphill vehicles must not stop otherwise they would get stuck. Uma has to completely concentrate her truck, right between the cliff and the canyon, one driving mistake would be enough to make him fall over the edge of the canyon.

The part of the road is not paved, there is no guardrail and what happens if Omar faces an oncoming vehicle. Driving backwards is very dangerous. There are only a few places to go between hope and fear. Look outside and go. It is a very dangerous place. Many people have died here. it goes down 150 meters we wouldn't live to tell the tale we have to be very careful the truck meanders through the canyon the road was raised from the rock using dynamite along the road there are countless works on the road it is being widened everywhere you look construction vehicles scrape underground after meter of soil, the important thing is that the trucks reach their destinations faster and safer.

Although Bolivia is rich in natural resources, it remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America, it is assumed that the expansion of transportation networks roads and improved infrastructure help change road works entire sections of the road are blocked for many hours during the day as soon as the road is clear a real car rally begins everyone tries to make up for lost time, that's when many fatal accidents occur , whoever doesn't I don't have a car and I have to travel long distances. I have to depend on the buses. They are comfortable but no less dangerous.

Many bus drivers risk the lives of passengers with overtaking maneuvers. There are people who are afraid. They come from Kajumba. From Santa Cruz. People who don't. they know how to drive or they are coming here for the first time they are afraid but I don't enjoy this we pray to God to God donation my family is worried if someone in my family travels I worry too until they have returned home safely Fascination and fear are closely related related For most passengers they enjoy the unique view of the spectacular Canyons but many times they are just centimeters from the abyss this descends a hundred meters or more for those who suffer from fear of heights this journey will become a nightmare even without an accident It's so hot come on Jaime let's have lunch what's for lunch Donna it's so hot Jaime what are we going to have a full menu I'm starving and I need a refreshing drink we have juice and sparkling water um they're having the usual regional dish with soup As a starter Oman Jaime has a date with Jaime's brother He has a special mission for them The two are destined to bring Monchito a monkey to a friend in La Paz The monkey comes It is not the first time he has gone there I don't think he will do I hope he doesn't freeze to death but he has to help us if the truck breaks down or we run over him okay we'll take him but Monchito likes the trip in a can Finally relax a little, but the tranquility of the life of a truck driver doesn't last long .

I mean, I think we have a flat tire, one of the overused tires peeled when it got stuck in the mud, obviously the rubber layer was destroyed. Due to the foreign twist, damn it, the piece was torn off, there is no rubber left, you can even see the thread is missing, the piece needs to be changed. The nearest workshop is not far away. Omar has the tire changed in the town of Fifty Two. The repair work takes a lot of time, but Uma has allowed minor incidents take the opportunity to relax some coca leaves have their part keep them awake and happy oh I'm taking precautions otherwise this could cost us two or three hours now just waste half an hour that's much better but I don't even get stressed I have some coca leaves to calm down and rest since the trip will be tiring.

The farmers in the jungle harvest coca leaves like tea or tomatoes. Albertina Mamani and her husband Valerio are two of the thousands of legal coca growers. Coca growers do not consider coca as the base of cocaine but as a sacred plant that the Incas already knew and that has a therapeutic effect. Sometimes we are hungry and the coca leaves help us overcome we will last until lunchtime almost all of us here in the younger ones only coca we did not have money to send our children to school we did not go either there was no good money before so Cheap, a pound for a

bolivia

no today costs us 30, 35 or even 40

bolivia

nos per pound.

The value of coca leaves in Albertina is dried and prepared for transportation. Coca cultivation has increased considerably in Bolivia in recent years. It is supported by the highest levels of political officials President Abel Morales, a former cola producer, propagates coca as an economic product of the same value as coffee and other fruits. He wants coca to be recognized internationally and not demonized as a drug. Albertina and Valerio make relatively a lot of money from the coca plant. about 2500 euros a year bring the bags to La Paz where the region's coca leaves are especially appreciated. Thanks Omar and Jaime have found a place to sleep on the side of the road we need to sleep a little tomorrow we have toget up early to continue when we arrive we still have to unload the logs see you tomorrow I will dream of foreign angels or a high plateau in western Bolivia bordered by the youngest llamas are grazing in the sparse fields there are only a few roads that lead through this area A thousand years ago the Incas lived here in the antiplano, today it is easier to visit their paths and places of worship on a motocross motorcycle.

Fernando Gordon travels the Ancient Paths accompanied by his friend Mauricio Del Solar, both share a passion for the culture of nature and motorcycles you know this is part of the old Inca habitations this whole area they started from here they did walk through these mountains and found gold there it is not the first time that Mauricio and Fernando explored the area that they know here neither of them would do it Undertaking a trip like this on your own would be too risky. Heavy rain there, but we still have to cross here, let's find a different route, go there and then we will detour there.

I hope not. It's raining a lot over there yes look there are clouds over there and the wind is blowing them in this direction we have to hurry the roads are very dangerous and there is no help in sight if something were to happen it would take us hours to find help that is very dangerous Because something could happen at any time, getting into a motorcycle accident would be a bad idea. Therefore, a helmet, protective clothing and a well-oiled bike are essential. The higher the cyclists are, the thinner the air becomes, they cycle even above 5000 meters. altitude there is an icy wind coming from the mountains and on top of the wind and the cold there are wild llamas as additional obstacles, we encounter new things every day and that is what I love about this country, keep finding new things that we can share foreigner driving my motorcycle here in the middle of Llama Trails I feel the energy of this place Omar bravely continues his roller coaster ride on a clear stretch of road he sees sacks and bags on the side of the road his assumption quickly turns into a horrible certainty of what happened Jaime, I'm so sorry, what happened here.

Did anyone see anything? Did this happen last night? Someone died? Were there two people? Is the driver dead? The driver is alive. They're saying the co-pilot is dead. I'm sorry about what happened because he had to let her get close. the car passed and got too close to the edge the road broke down you have to be very careful with that you have to drive carefully and stay awake if you are tired it is better to stop and rest some drivers are very tired but they keep driving and you fall asleep that's when this kind of thing happens it was a driver error you can make mistakes on this road but this was not the case if the road breaks down and you just try to let someone pass who is at fault for something strange or something common on the roads of mountain in yogas Omar has also lost friends and colleagues.

The fact that nothing has happened to him yet is surely due to his caution but also to luck. His truck is Omar's home for many weeks and months of the year, which is still More welcome are the short breaks in which he can cool off. He ties the monkey up there so he can get some fresh air. He complains that they leave him alone for a little while. A short break outside the driver's cabin will also be good for Omar and Jaime. Crystal Clear Mountain Water is better than any shower or bath in a hotel room.

They can be washed for the first time in a day and a half and wash completely. Now I'm ready to get back on the road. It feels like I washed off kilos of dust, that's good, right? Ah Omar lives a truck driver and as you would expect from a captain of the roads he is a different girl in each town you meet new people attractive women if you are on the road not only in this country but also in other juices I have two wives the first one I have two children and one with the second there are some difficult times I only have one pair of hands you know meet his second wife Veronica don't listen he only sees her for a couple of weeks she knows about the situation he is in yes I'm jealous, I've traveled with him and I have seen many things, beautiful women talking to him, they come, smile at him and talk to him.

Yes, I am very jealous. In All Hallows people commemorate the dead in the Koduiko cemetery where the family has come. put flowers on graves and to commemorate the dead. Umar also uses the shortstop to decorate Veronica's father's grave and pray together with Veronica and her son. We are in contact with souls and I always pray not only here but also if I'm on the path so that they accompany us and watch over us. All Saints' Day is a very joyful celebration in Bolivia, even music bands play next to the graves, the grave slab serves as a table, so if in fact the deceased really wants to join the celebration, food is provided for the celebration and a table for figurines made of bread, sweets, fruit and alcohol.

Also available are children and adults who go from grave to grave and pray for those whose names are called by family members; in return they are rewarded with the gifts at the graves for Omar needless to say he also visits the graves of strangers and prays for them, those are the customers, the celebration continues until nightfall but Omar has to move on the passage that generated the roads with his name, the road to death still has to travel 65 kilometers through almost all the climatic zones of Bolivia, three thousand meters of altitude are exceeded in a short time the climate changes rain clouds appear from the depths and turn the road, often only three meters wide, into a dangerous track small rivulets become torrents the water is coming from everywhere the disturbance becomes a slide I am not afraid but I do not trust the road with this rain the road is wet and suddenly you can stop at any moment it could be a rock fall there is another car approaching it could Well, if we get too narrow, we won't be able to pass each other until a few years ago.

The road was considered the most dangerous in the world. Every month the cars fell down. There would be many deaths and injuries. Since some years. It is a bypass but Omar still takes the character of death because it is shorter and saves gasoline and time welcome to the road of death my friends I like the section better it takes about two hours to drive you should be very careful there are huge stones and potholes 90% of accidents occur on curves so slow down when arriving abroad what truck drivers consider work is pure love of adventure for mountain bikers many agencies have discovered the highway of death as a tourist attraction with guides to Accompanying tourists sell the trip to the depths of the mountains as a special experience.

The road to death is considered one of the main tourist attractions in Bolivia. The entire road leads downhill, yet cyclists have to concentrate hard not to do this. Let the tour end in free fall. Some photos are being taken for the family album or rather for online friends around the world. It has been one of my dreams since I came to Bolivia to travel the younger road. At first I didn't do it. I dared, but I was full of adrenaline, so I do it now. It is fun. The cake you get from writing once you realize you can fall 1500 meters is incredible.

This feeling when you rot near the edge is like flying. impossible to explain thank you Omar has almost made it you should never lose concentration or be careless the road is unpredictable until the end the weather has improved but the road surface is still wet and spongy finally Omar leaves the dirt road and reaches the final stretch of your route from now on the last kilometers to La Paz are paved the first thing I do is thank God for supporting my life I beg him to grant us a safe passage that helps us stay focused I have no accidents and I don't make mistakes the real mountain ranges accompany Omar to the top of his journey Omar makes a brief stop at the La Cumbra pass at 4650 meters of altitude cold foreigner commemorates the dead whose lives this road has claimed thanks Pachamama Mother Earth for saving him until now and prays for mercy and the well-being of his family La Paz the destination of the trip is the highest mega city in the world his houses are built at an altitude between 3,200 and 4,100 meters Omar has to go to the opposite part of the city his client is already waiting for the trunks there meanwhile Jaime takes Monchito with his brother's girlfriend where they are anxiously waiting for him after having overcome all the adversities that the road to death has in store.

One last challenge awaits him. Driving through the city is the most exhausting part of the trip. there are a lot of small cars the streets are narrow the taxis just stop where they want minivans that also makes me angry the trip ends in Alto outside the city Doors this is where the sawmill is Omar has done his duty he delivered the logs safely and on time foreign I have to see where I can find a new load and then come back, but it seems like a win to me. I did, thank you. Overseas Manitoba, Canada, temperatures drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius, one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth.

As soon as the swamps and marshes freeze, the ice road season begins. It is the only period of time in which the inhabitants of these isolated areas can receive goods. It is a short period of time. Everything people need throughout the year must be brought there within two or three months. The problem is that no one knows exactly how long the frozen swamps and lakes will be passable for 40-ton trucks. Each trip north is a risky trip hot roads icy roads Canadians appreciate we are going to offer you some smudge tobacco here we are going to put some of that tobacco in our pipe we are offering this pipe as a way of acknowledging that you are going to have a safe trip, will you?

OK? I want you to just, Scott Campbell's ancestors are First Nation, the natives of the country, what more did you feel you needed? He is proud to be one of them. Say it. strong for those things you want on this trip and then you and I will smoke that pipe, come on, you have a lot of hair anyway, yes, ahead of Scott is a dangerous trip that he wants to prepare for spiritually, I pray. to my family mother that they will be kept safe when I am on my long journey home safe and sound. Scott and Chief Calvin evoke the Mystical White Buffalo Woman, a powerful being and patron of the native people of North America.

God has promised a friend to transport a snowmobile that he urgently needs across the icy roads of the north with the snowmobile in the back of his truck he undertakes a long lonely journey The White Buffalo Woman must accompany him and watch over him spirituality is connected with traditions and customs and with family I find that each religion or race has its own beliefs the natives tend to be very spiritual very attached to the land and to me in my heart if you don't know where you come from sometimes it is difficult Find direction in life and discover where you are Let's go Your journey begins in the heart of Canada, not far from the border with the USA.

Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba, from here the route leads almost 1300 kilometers further to the north to a small community called God's Lake, last warnings on the way to Wilderness in winter, God's Lake, like many other villages, can only be supplied via ice roads. Freight transportation is a difficult business. Most transport is organized by the state and subcontracted among transporters. It's a question of money and speed. Both Mana material and material. They are extremely under stress. Every truck that makes it back safely is put through a fire test before being sent back out into the cold.

Rowland already earned his money at the age of 15 as a construction worker building ice roads after 30 years in the business. His colleagues call him a polar bear. I mean, people used to go up there and the truck could break down and if your truck broke down in 15 minutes you wouldn't start it and you'd be stranded there. I've had guys frozen to death. your feet freeze your hands and you can't go, you can't get out of your truck because of the wild animals that ate you the polar bears and the wolves, so you have to stay in the truck and that's how people freeze to death, I want say 60 explode there. that's not a nice place to be without heat Vlad Pescott came to Canada as a young man with 42 dollars in his pocket today he owns a freight transport company as soon as the first snow falls he sits in the driver's seat of his 40 -ton truck again it's just my baby you know I sleep uh truck, I eat truck, I raise truck, I mean if something happens to my truck, uh, it's devastating, it can cost me my life, so everything has to tip over, for That's what I am. checking every bolt, from bumper to bumper, everything has to be turned upside down, otherwise it can break, president, I actually wanted to be a driver, but my father drove the truck during his own life, so I knew when I would do it.

Young man, that will also be my future. I was always interested in the truck and had diesel under my belt.fingerprints when I was very young and I guess you know that once you have a little diesel in your blood, it's very difficult to get rid of it. As soon as the Highway Patrol clears the roads of ice, the Ice Truckers are on the road, every ride means cash. Well, when I started, it was a real adventure and well-paid and of course, you know, I raised my whole family driving on ice. roads everything, so I kept doing it now.

I'm simply passionate about it. I can't wait to do it every year. I can't wait for the ice to come, I get up there and I can drive them. I hope every year I love the ice roads it gets in your blood you keep doing it the loneliness of the northern hemisphere begins just a few kilometers from the city of Winnipeg you very rarely meet people here Jim Niedemeyer is one of them grew up Here in the summer he works as a farmer and grows rice here in northern Canada during the long winter months. He works as an artist.

He used to mainly make furniture. He now sees more in wood than simply construction material. to make wood, the wood has to have some kind of spirit, you have to see it, you don't know how it's going to look, you turn on the saw and you just see what happens, you'll see it pretty quickly, you'll know that you can see something there, you know, there's only one beagle and you know the chainsaw is just removing wood, that's all it does, but it's missing underneath and it's a tool just to remove that wood and expose. that carving along the ice road people know Jim Niedamaya's truckers consider their sculptures as symbols of their home country to me it has to be part of Manitoba you know it's just showing the creatures that run in the forest here, I try to bring them back to life in the wood that is my goal is to give them life meanwhile Scott has reached the first frozen lakes the smooth surface is a temptation to accelerate 100 kilometers per hour like on a highway sometimes it worries you because How are you As you cross you can hear the ice breaking, it actually sounds like thunder under your vehicle, but as long as you stay in the middle and are safe and going at the right speed, everything is fine.

The place Scott is driving right now is a lake in the In summer, ice roads only exist in winter, the route north from Manitoba lasts only a few weeks and no one knows exactly how long. More than 2,000 kilometers of ice roads are built through the desert in Manitoba alone, but even in these Arctic temperatures the Great Rivers cannot be trusted to freeze only permanent bridges can help in Northern Manitoba villages live in mostly First Nation members the indigenous inhabitants of Canada the way the state treats them is a dark chapter in Canadian history The government has only just begun to deal with some of these things that happened decades ago, but the aftermath of the cultural genocide for assimilation or you see it not only in the big cities but in some of the small community reserves all over Manitoba when you take a person and rip away their culture and their traditions and force them to do something from someone else that is theirs. totally oblivious loses who he is loses loses his identity people who live on reservations depend completely on state aid and transporting goods on ice roads, but they visit old friends and family on each of their trips north, He has met up with Lee Cod to go ice fishing.

Lee is a Pine Creek Indian and, like Scott, fights for the memory of past injustices. What they did was, when his son was five years old, they would come here, they would take all the children, all the children and then they would take them to residential schools and then the Catholic Presbyterians. Don't know. You knew some kind of Christian denomination and it turned out that they were Christianized and believed in something they were and were not. You couldn't speak our language and you weren't allowed to talk to your family members. brothers and there was a lot of crying.

Lee is trying to make First Nation members more aware of his traditional way of life. He starts with very practical things. I would never have gloves like this. Who would like leather myths? You know, caribou skin is a fiber that has a hole that, for good insulation, runs throughout the territory. Lee wants to connect traditional ways of life with modern life, for example. An ice drill can be very useful if the ice is more than a meter thick. This balance between the past and the modern age is not easy for many First Nations members. Ice fishing used to be a normal part of people's self-sufficient lives.

Nowadays, in the North it is more or less a way to pass the time, many First Nations people have problems with drugs and alcohol. Lee himself also struggled now as he helps young people and dedicates himself to revitalizing the traditions of the ancestors that they have helped him achieve. about his own problems too no bites I think all the fish are in school yeah, meanwhile you and Vlad are still heading north oh, I know that guy well. I just passed you. I'm going north, going centuries. How is the road? they're not too bad once you get to about 220 there before you get any higher on Hill you'll have to hit your chains it's pretty slippery there so basically the same as always, it's never over -25.

Like last year, we had eight weeks of -60 below. I never got there, there was not a single day that was below -40. So I mean you have metal brakes at -40. It breaks in half and then you're screwed, you're not getting out of there, but make sure you have a sleeping bag that's good for -40. I mean, you always have to be prepared. Scott has relatives who live along the ice road. He wants to spend the night with them, but he won't make it before darkness sets in on the rare trail markings on the frozen lakes.

Hard to find, it's just simple branches at irregular intervals and then this snowfall starts. Scott can only hope it's not one of those infamous blizzards: a blizzard would destroy all the trail markings forever and the masses of snow would make it impossible to continue driving. The blackout stalks the white wall that runs across the open landscape like a blizzard. The hell of storm and snow makes all orientation impossible. The

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thing you can do during a power outage is if your losses stay where you are, many times people will spend hours and hours. he just walks in circles until the point of exhaustion and then that's it, luckily the storm weakens so Scott can keep driving, he wants to make up for lost time, that's when it happens, in a brief moment of distraction he starts to slide and gets stuck, but lucky in his bad luck, Scott is already within radio distance of the next one.

Help from the Village arrives after a few minutes. Scott's truck is badly stuck in the snow. The second vehicle fails to grip the icy track. Finally the men try to push and alternate. He pulls Scott's truck out of the deep snow overseas, and since everyone here knows each other, it's easy to find a place to sleep. Vlad and you've almost reached your destination for the day. 800 kilometers north of Winnipeg, they crossed the Nelson River at the concrete dam. of a hydroelectric plant in the world Canada is one of the main producers of hydroelectric electricity this is how the province of Manitoba produces more than 90 percent of its energy truckers cross the last lake of the day at a pace of pace staying still would potentially lethal due to dangerous cracks in the ice that could occur at a maximum speed of five kilometers per hour there is air between the ice and the water surface the weight of the passing truck presses the ice down slightly it freezes underneath so that the cracks are repaired each time Crossing the ice remains a risky business.

You and Vlad arrive home late to spend the night along the ice road. They have everything they need to spend the night inside their trucks. Well, I think we did pretty well. She's a pretty decent time to get here today. Yeah, I'm fine, I already finished my coloring book, so football is over for the night. What time will you get up tomorrow morning? But you need all the beauty sleep you can get. A long time ago. There is no return for you. I said yes. I'm too ugly to be on TV, just show me the money, okay, I'll see you in six thanks, okay, good night buddy.

The second leg extends from Norway's house to God's Lake, almost 300 kilometers through snowy ice and dangerously mountainous terrain. On a summer day you would find swamps and lakes, impenetrable moors, no boats or trucks could pass through here. Roads through snow and ice can only be built in winter and if it's cold enough, one of the things they do if they discover ice. is not thick enough, they will send crews here with big drills that they will drag behind a vehicle and they will drill a hole in the ice and as the auger spins through the ice and into the water it will dump water, it's called flooding the ice. ice, so they can add inches to the top of the ice to make it thick and safe enough.

The ice must be at least 1.2 meters thick so that the 18-wheeler can safely cross the ice. Vlad and you. They will also start their journey early, if all goes well, they will make the last 300 kilometers to God's Lake before darkness comes. They are a well-rehearsed team and have been through a lot together on a journey. You know, I feel a lot more confident about who he is. He is a great companion to be on these roads. You know, something happens on every trip. I know I can trust that guy behind me because he knows us very well.

Vlad and I are business partners and good friends, like

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friends, so we get along very well. and when we travel together there is nothing we cannot achieve. I mean, we know we won't be stuck in the bush anywhere and we know we'll get whatever we need, so I really travel. Well, together we know each other quite a bit, it is the beginning of March, the roads are still in good condition considering the time of year, it can get hotter on any day, then the roads will turn into impassable swamps, Vlad and you are in a hurry, they want to drive . as many trucks as possible in the north this season, come on guys, ice roads have only been around for the last 50 years there used to be no vehicles here in the north it was the time of sled dogs for Dwayne Kabbalock, a construction engineer along the Ice Road, the dogs are just a hobby, their dogs are Alaskan Malamutes, famous for their strength and endurance, they can travel up to 100 kilometers without resting in the north, well, basically, they moved from one place to another wherever the food was and them.

They brought their families and all their belongings with them and that's what they used the dogs for and their dogs back then were basically their domestic pets, treated well as if they were family and in the summer months, when they had little food, their dogs basically They were left loose and fend for themselves, that's why the dogs still have a little bit of prey drive compared to most dogs. The dogs are not only persistent and tough, but they are also capable of defending the load and their owner against polar bears. Duane practices with his dogs. almost every day on the ice roads hopes that next year they will be ready for their first race Vlad and you must stop despite all the rush it is safety first there is a type of accident on the ice roads that truckers They are especially afraid of jackknife, which is what it is called when the heavy truck trailer twists and gets stuck.

This should be avoided by all means in front of us and you will need some strange attraction because it is very hilly, I mean loaded trails like that, I don't. I want that, I don't want to end up in the One Day Tour upside down, so I put chains on so I can basically make those holes in there or if I don't have chains, the best case scenario is that I get stuck until someone pulls me out of the worst. of the cases. I started sliding backwards with the control knife and basically ended up in a ditch.

Truck trailer loading. You know, we're talking about three hundred thousand dollars in damages, so I don't want to end up like this. That's why. By putting all those chains on, the journey through the mountainous terrain is a balancing act. If you drive too slow you lose momentum and risk sliding backwards, but if you go too fast you end up in the ditch and block the road. What is blocking the way? Talk to the trailer, all the trucks. One of Vlad and his colleagues' companions has landed in the ditch and must now hold the truck to clear the way.

Without the weight of the trailer, the truck can barely maneuver. There's not much Vlad can do here. But help is on the way, little by little, fully loaded trucks make their way between the broken down truck. Only later did they learn that his colleague had to wait two days before heavy machinery helped her out of his misery. Everything you learn in oneroad. throw it out the window, I mean, basically, you can't brake on ice, you've got hills up there and everything you hit the brakes, your load goes past you, you're going to brake, you have to use your trailer. no brakes, no tractor brake and you have to have a big set of nuts Vlad and you want to make up for lost time and accelerate, but a lack of attention for a single moment is enough to cause danger in these roots, it seems I went too fast and I I got into the ditch I might need to pull out of oh yeah I see you, a chunk of ice was enough to derail Vlad's truck and once a truck starts sliding there is almost no way to stop it.

Doug just started her on yeah, let's try it slow, if you can, then he just starts hitting him, yeah, okay. A tow maneuver with 500 horsepower they came off slightly, just a slight bumper damage though, you just touched it there sideways, that'll be good, we'll rock and roll often enough. The two suffered that they could not continue their journey, having to endure for days in their trucks until help arrived from Winnipeg. Many drivers went crazy in the loneliness of the North last year, a colleague had to be saved by a helicopter. It's truly dangerous work, but thirty thousand people in Manitoba depend on transporting goods on icy roads during the last part of the journey to God's Lake.

Trucks need snow chains. Scott and his light truck are almost there, off the snowmobile. back has not yet been damaged Village Gods Lake, with its 2000 inhabitants, is located on the shore of the lake during the summer, one of the best fishing grounds in Canada, here the highlights await the drivers after a long trip. Heally's Lodge is the only comfortable accommodation in the area for many hundreds of miles, not only is the breakfast legendary, the cozy living room is a reminder of great hunting and fishing adventures over the decades. Owner Goldie Healy has made sure travelers feel at home here.

Yeah the road is better this year than most years because we haven't melted because it's pretty cold because the road is nice and narrow and it's minus 51 this morning so yeah everything is pretty frozen so it's a good idea, yes, but I'll let you drink your coffee at Goldie's practical information. as well as stories of the best truckers. Writings are exchanged, yes, I'll be right back. Before Scott delivers his load to a location a few miles from the village, he takes the opportunity to go out on the lake with his old friend Brian, who is still going.

To fish in the traditional way, even in winter, he has to bring his nets and a few days ago he asked God for help to place the nets between two holes in the ice. If you do it the old fashioned way with pickaxes and chisels, you should do it. Dig a hole three feet wide, you probably know three four feet of ice and that's a lot of work, but you do what you have to do in the north, so basic supplies for the locals come through the ice roads , but a diverse diet, especially one containing fresh foods.

Vitamins can only be obtained by hunting and fishing. Brian fishes primarily for his own needs. He sells the leftover fish in the town. Oh it's good. Just a few moments after leaving the water, the fish is already frozen and ready to be consumed. At home, an exceptionally delicious dish if fried in the pan. I used to hunt and fish a lot with some of my family and stuff, and being back in the God's Lake community now to help out some of my friends now felt really real. Well, you know how to do things the way they used to do them and know that everything I put into my day with them would help their family, so it was good, it was worth it.

I really enjoyed it Vlad and you're still at work. but they have also almost reached Lake God, a few kilometers from their destination, the last major crossing of the lake awaits them, a safety distance of 500 meters and the walking pace is mandatory because when they reach the ice the ice deviates and makes a wave in the air, so the whole time you're crossing that ice you're actually going off course and you have a big wave pushing in front of you, so now he has a wave in front of him and I have to wave in front of you.

For my part, you don't want my wave to reach him because the wave will hit his rear tires, break the ice and sink steadily and slowly, respect the ice at all times, go slow, move forward, not slow, get out and keep going. your space between the trucks if not you're just going to kill yourself you're going to kill someone else and they don't respect you even after 30 years men still have great respect for ice, it's their life insurance on ice roads after two days driving Vlad and you don't want to waste any more time as soon as they are within radio range, they try to contact their contacts in God's Lake, the health unit is behind and the administrator is in front, uh, you. "You go to the main office, that's the first load, they're going to empty you out and Hell On, the health authorities are going to meet you at the van office and take you to the complex.

Okay, so, is someone going to tell us calling from the corner here? taking care of it unloading is manual work it takes timeespecially if today you arrive at the wrong time, they are lucky, the helpers arrive quickly and progress well while 40 tons of cargo are stored, box after box, the driver's thoughts are already there one step ahead, I mean, the whole season, you know, it's like a roller coaster, it's like a long duration marathon, you know you load up and you start thinking about the journey, when you get there you start talking about unloading, when you unload, you start thinking about how you're going to get back and when you're going to get back.

You're thinking about the next load because that's the name of the game. You have to have all these modes here before the ice melts and you've seen it today, it went down. at just minus six, that's too warm for these roads if that happens. For a whole week we are done, the most important thing I hope is that they sign my paperwork and come back for my next trip. Scott has also reached his destination. Hello friend, it's me. Scott. I just arrived here. Oh, that. It was good, it was good, it was a long trip, but I got here and I had the sled in the back, everything is fixed, I really thought I might have some drones, no, it was a good trip, I'll see you shortly. but I'm glad it's over, it's almost 30 hours on the road and the roads are pretty decent, but it's only half over.

Now I have to unload this, turn around and then come back to deliver the snowmobile. Scott has completed his mission. Like you and Vlad, he will now return as soon as possible across the icy roads of Canada while the ice still lasts.