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Petauke to Luwanga Bridge Camp (171km + 1'410m climbing & 1'950m downhill...)

Zambia

Day 82 - Apr 4 - Stage 57

Max giving the evening's Briefing Meeting

Had a great day cycling, cycled with Philip, as Judith took Dr Helen's advice not to cycle, after yesterday's physically demanding hours of bum-on-saddle ride. Helen said she needed to rest up, so she rode on the Main Truck with a few others, to the Bridge Camp.

Wasn't an easy cycle, another 171km after yesterday's 176km, with a lot more climbing, I struggled up the hills, but have yet to meet a hill I could not simply walk! My thanks go out to Philip for his patience, and waiting for me when the going got tough.

We spent the whole day answering the local kids, whenever they shouted and inquired, "How are you ? How are you!?" This was met with a response from us of "We are fine, how are you?" Which was then followed by... silence!!

Lunch was at 80km, and after another 91km we arrived at Camp, which was situated along the Luangwa River, directly across from Mozambique.

Spent some quality time at the Bar which had a great setting and ambiance together with Judith and some of the other Riders and TDA Staff, a good ending to another tough day.

However, for all of its natural beauty and it's fantastic setting, the Camp was a major rip-off. The Owner charged us for beers at 30 Kwacha each!! We only paid 12 Kwacha at the previous Camp (We all need to put it out there on Trip Advisor). As a result hardly anyone took up a room as accommodation. It was totally overpriced. Very shortsighted of the Owner. If he had lowered the room prices... they would have all been sold out!

Anyway, off to bed & another tough day tomorrow - a shorter distance but with 1'720m of climbing, mainly in the morning.

Cheers,
Mike T

All flagging-tape leads to Camp!

Looking down from the Bar Area towards the Camp grounds

Petauke to Luangwa Bridge Camp

Tent up and waiting at Luangwa Bridge Camp

Afternoon Coke Stop with Philip

Riders enjoying the Luangwa Bridge Camp Veranda

Paul and Wendy enjoying the peace and tranquility of the Boma

Erin and Kim catching up on some social media time

Judith trying to make her point of view known, pinky-finger style.

Rupert spending some quality time with Cath and Alex

View of the Luangwa River with Mozambique on the opposite bank

Great setting for a Camp

Amarula time at the Bar

Rest Day in Lilongwe, Malawi

MALAWI

Day 79 - Apr 1 - Rest Day

Saturday: Rest Day in Lilongwe, and it's already the 1st of April!!
Time is definitely starting to fly (especially when you are having fun).

We are currently here!

Judith's Permanent Bag is soaking wet, there is a leak in the roof of the Main Truck and a few of the riders also get their bags back...saturated! She spends most of her rest day time getting everything dry!

I change my slick tyres (both my old slicks have cuts in the tyres) for new ones, brought along a set of foldable slicks for both Judith and I and it seems as if it was the right decision to take them along.

I spend the day watching Super Rugby on the TV in the Bar having decided to have a very low-key rest day, which suits both Judith and I. Between the New Zealanders, Australians and us South Africans, we have a festive time watching Super Rugby. Thankfully the Lions manage to beat the Sharks right at the end.

Three new sectional riders join us, Thomas & Roman from Germany and Chris from Canada. The two Germans will leave us again when we reach Livingstone (Victoria Falls) in Zambia.

In my endevour to change my tyres, I manage to pop my previously dormant umbilical hernia, causing a large protrusion of my navel. At first I thought the pain was just another bout of diarrhea, but soon realise it's a little bit more serious than that.

Get hold of Dr Helen, who tries to arrange for me to see a Medical Specialist at a Private Hospital. Unfortunately it's a Saturday afternoon, and not a Specialist is to be found anywhere in Lilongwe (TIA). She decides to manipulate it back into place and voila, she is sucessful! After much telephonic consultation, she decides that she is better than any doctor in a Public Hospital, and takes the decision not to get futher medical help, a decision which proves to be the correct one.

I am then placed under Doctor's Orders - I am to monitor the hernia and to stop cycling immediately if it happens again, if it does, I have to seek medical help in Lusaka (Zambia).

Early evening, Judith and I take a Tuk-Tuk with Andje to an Auto Bank to draw money and to collect some Korean Takeaways for supper. It pours with rain, and we have an interesting time navigating the dark streets of Lilongwe by Tuk-Tuk.

Tomorrow we cross out of Malawi and into Zambia, the land of my birth! We have quite a tough five day section ahead of us, before we reach Lusaka for our next rest day.

Cheers,
Mike T

Our A-Frame accommodation at Mabuya

The sign about sums up the conditions we experienced at the Backpackers

Mabuya Backpackers

One of the cut in one of my slick tyres

The next Stage 55 - Lilongwe to Chipata (in Zambia)

The upcoming Section from Lilongwe to Lusaka

Day 26 - Stage 22 - Camel Camp to Abeda Village (96 km)

Tuesady: When TDA Management say it's going to be a hot day for riding, you have to believe them, its going to be a hot hot day! Highest recorded temperature was 47 degrees Celsius - and it took its toll on the riders.

After yesterday's heat and dehydration, I made the mistake of over-hydrating. Including what I drank at breakfast, by the time I got to the lunch truck at the 52 km mark, I must of drunk at least 5-liters of fluid.

I felt so nauseous I could only eat watermelon at lunch, and decided discretion was the better part of valor, and climbed into the lunch truck. Judith also climbed into lunch truck as she had been struggling in the heat as well.

Rode in the truck to the intermediate Refreshment Station, a new addition by TDA Management to the days riding strategy, brought on by the hot riding conditions.

Collected riders along the route as we went towards camp, they wisely abandoned due to the hot conditions. However congratulations and respect go out to all those riders who completed the day.

There were a few that finished with heat exhaustion, and one serious case bordering on heat stroke (fortunately quickly treated by our very able Dr. Helen).

On arrival at Camp, we took another Donkey wash each, waited under the shade of the vehicle awnings, while we drank a relatively cold soft drink or two, supplied by some young enterprising local and waited for the riders' briefing and dinner.

Once again, Judith and I didn't erect our tent until the sun went down, as it was just too hot to do so.

I sat around with Muzz and Andje discussing the day's ride, before going off to sleep, after a day which most of the riders agreed, had been their toughest days riding.

Cheers,
Mike T