Stuck in a rut?

Deputy Ed (standing in for Andrew): The previous post about BBQ chicken was texted last Thursday (2nd March).  Since then there have been an eventful few days, to say the least!  Pending a fuller post from our travellers here is the sequence of texts since then:    

Friday 3rd March
After much debate & seeing Werner's photos of waterlogged roads in Congo decided to go much longer route via Franceville & Brazzaville to Pointe Noire.
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Saturday 4th March Morning
We are continuing to Franceville: 10hrs


Further to last message we are very unsure of time to Franceville given conflicting advice.
Seen no elephants but lots of evidence. Last night spent in logging camp.
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Then radio silence until:
Monday 6th March Evening
Stuck for a couple of days in a mud hole. No other traffic. Main water tank was damaged. Have only 2 days drinking water left.  On Route Nationale 3 (Ed: perhaps that should be mud track no.3!)  between Lope & Lastoursville 33 km south east of logging camp where we overnighted on Friday night. If we do not get moving tomorrow we may need you to get help! 
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Tuesday 7th March 
Morning
Just had help out of hole. Free to go on! (Thankfully after two days of no other traffic), a Toyota had come through and helped extract the Enterprise from the hole)

Evening 
We are here at the Ngoombi drinking Gordon's gin and tonic and waiting to eat sautéed antelope and gazelle with onion and tomato sauce and rice! Chris's birthday meal. Room not bad. No wifi in whole place and aircon not working but luxury after last few days.
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Thur 9 March 
Finally in Franceville (i.e. 5 days later than originally expected) at the Hotel Le Masuko with wifi- yippee! The 2 men who came to our aid said the logging camp was deserted so the grumier convoy must have already left. Three of the worst things while we were in our hole were the miriads of tiny black flies which got everywhere. The swarms of sweat bees and wasps (I was stung badly and my whole arm swelled up. Chris was stung 22 times but was little affected) and finally at night the frog chorus was so raucous that we couldn't sleep. The heat, worry of running out of water, digging with bare hands under the Enterprise while lying on his back in a mud bath and no other traffic were Chris's added troubles. All over now and an experience to be remembered. Congo tomorrow.