What? No Cake!? Rest Day in Maun, Botswana

Botswana

Day 97 - Rest Day - Maun

Wednesday: A rest day in Maun, gateway to the Okavongo Swamps and Tourist Mecca.  Both Judith and I had a relaxing day at the Hotel and only ventured out once to go into Town. While many of the Riders took the opportunity to take a light plane flip over the Swamps from the local Airport.

Breakfast in Sedia Riverside Hotel was chaos, Staff were just not trained to handle the influx of TDA Riders and it was definitely not worth the money paid.

But anyway, I spent the morning catching up with the Blog (so far behind) and in the late afternoon, Judith, Marie and I took a taxi to Town to the Wax & Apple Coffee Shop, however there was no more cake, TDA Riders had been there earlier in the day and already killed all the cake! We had a light lunch instead.

Did manage some grocery shopping at the SPAR in Town before going back to the Hotel, where we spent the evening having supper at the Pool/Bar Area.

Cheers,
Mike T

The Sedia Hotel pool area

With Judith at the Coffee Shop in Maun

Briefing - Maun to Bush Camp

The next 5 day stage to Windhoek

Map gives one a bit of a clue as to where we are...

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Kasungu to Lilongwe (130km)

MALAWI

Day 78 - Mar 31 - Stage 54

Friday: We depart Kasungu with the greatest of intentions to cycle the full distance to Lilongwe, but a mean headwind disrupts Judith's plans, while both a mechanical (a slit tyre) and a physical (gout in my right knee again) intervenes for me - forcing us both to only cycle the 76km to lunch and then to take the truck to Mabuya Backpackers Camp in Lilongwe.

Carlsberg Beer on the move

As we approach Lilongwe in the morning, the traffic increases and becomes more aggressive, Judith is forced off the road at one stage by a big truck, while on another occasion I nearly get knocked over by another one!

The number of Police/Traffic Police roadblocks increases  (at one stage I count three roadblocks within a 5km stretch of road). Stopping traffic in order to collect "payments" in lieu of being paid a monthly salary, seems to be prevalent in this part of Malawi.


We have a Coke Stop, Liz takes the opportunity to buy some french fries for us all, this just contributes to my ever developing Fish Bowl Syndrome - described yesterday - which seems to be getting worse!

Judith rides the last 20km to lunch with Leon the Sweep rider, the day's headwind forcing her to ride at a very slow pace. But we are not alone, a further 6 riders climb into the Lunch Truck with us.

After packing up at lunch, it's a free for all by the locals when we leave them the uneaten left over food, but it's a behavior I have come to expect from the Malawians. To be quite honest, I think it's just a true reflection of the attitude of their current politicians. 

Arrive at Camp to find Mark Heim has rejoined the Tour, he left us after breaking his wrist on the last day of riding in the Sudan, it's good to see him back.

We say goodbye to Anthony Butler, Charles's Dad who leaves us to go back to work, it was great meeting up with him and we hope to see him either in Prince Albert or at his house in Cape St Francis in South Africa in the foreseeable future.


Cheers,
Mike T

Leaving Kasungu on the way to Lilongwe

Feeling major Fish Bowl Syndrome vibes at the Coke Stop

Fetching our Daily & Permanent Bags at Mabuya Backpackers' Lodge

Riders enjoying a cold beer after a tricky ride into Lilongwe

Nelson (on the left) talking to his friend Mark who rejoined us in Lilongwe after his fall in Sudan

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Luviri School to Kasungu (107km - only 500m of climbing, but 990m of descent)

MALAWI

Day 77 - Mar 30 - Stage 53

Thursday: After two days of either climbing on the Lunch Truck after lunch or on it before lunch, we get our mojo back and cycle the whole distance without any major issues. So we don't get picked up and have to ride with the Sweep Rider either. A good days riding. 

Michael assisting Judith with her puncture and supplying some spectator value 

We get to lunch at the 61km mark relatively early, I sit on the opposite side of the truck, and eat my lunch, where it's quiet and there are no spectators. The other riders think I am being anti-social, but I am starting to suffer from FBS (Fish Bowl Syndrome). Just can't handle eating my lunch with so many local adults and children staring at me!

No Coke Stop in the morning, but we have two stops in the afternoon. Judith gets a puncture, so I replace her tube and fix her flat tyre (not without offering some spectator value).

Arrive in Kasungu Camp only to find all the rooms are taken, so we pitch the tent. Fortunately we have pre-booked via Andje for tomorrow's rest day in Lilongwe, where we will be spending two nights.

The unofficial Awards for the past section are presented. Marie gets the Toss the Dummy Award, Rob gets the Yellow Jersey (but he  doesn't accept it?) and Bernd gets the Over Achievers Award, for running 15km up the Mountain on the Rest Day at Chitimba Beach to Livingstonia, getting caught in the rain and having to overnight there, then running back to Camp the next day!!

Tomorrow is the last day of our four day section, then we will have our next rest day in Lilongwe, where some of the Sectional riders will leave us, and others will join us.

Cheers, 
Mike T

Coke Stop No. 1

There are many different varieties of beans for sale along the roadside

Coke Stop No. 2

One proud tent erector exordinair !

Paul assisted by Judith, fund-raising at the Unofficial Awards Ceremony 

Marie received her Dummy (Pacifier) Award from the previous winner Catherine 

Bernd received the Over Achievers Award 

Andje was the surprise Lady Stage Winner 

All the TDA Staff pose for a group photo

Tomorrow, Stage 54 - Kasungu to Lilongwe

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Chitimba Beach to Mzuzu (136km + 1'630m of climbing)

MALAWI

Day 75 - Mar 28 - Stage 51

Sometimes you just need to climb off your bike to get some blood back into those legs
& air into the lungs while your heart takes 'a breather'

Tuesday: The start of a four day section before we reach Lilongwe, the Capital of Malawi, and our next Rest Day.

We left Chitimba Beach and after 16km started climbing out of the Rift Valley into the Mountains, this was a designated "Time Trial Section" at this point, but we did not sign up for it, it's a TOUR not a Race!  And so we cycled along at our own pace...

On the way up, we were well-rewarded with great views and vistas of the Lake and the Rift Valley Mountains. Dr Helen was the Sweep Rider and we enjoyed her company as we ground our way uphill. To say the climb was tough would be an understatement, it was very tough, but we did make it out and over the mountains, alive.

Unfortunately, after lunch and at the 71km mark, we climbed onto the truck.  Yours truly had developed gout in his right knee, and it had become excruciatingly painful!

However, riding the Lunch Truck/Party bus did have its advantages, we stopped in Mzuzu Town for coffee before reaching Camp. Mzuzu is an area famous for it's good quality Malawian Coffee, and it did not disappoint.

Later,  after reaching the Camp, some of us went back into town to draw money at an ATM and went for even more coffee, plus some ice cream!  All well that ends well.

Cheers, 
Mike T

The next Four Day Section before we reach Lilongwe

Stage 51 - Chitimba to Mzuzu

Riders leaving Chitimba after Breakfast

Route cycling out of Chitimba

View of the lake in the Rift Valley as we climb up out of  the Valley itself

Judith climbing up into the wooded mountains

he higher we climbed the small the shore of the Lake appeared

Entrance to the Chiweta Coal Mine 

Chiweta Coal Mine Processing Plant

Bridge over the Rukuru River built with the help of Japan

Rukuru River in full flood

Only "God Knows Butchery"

Coke Stop with Dr. Helen

Follow the orange tape through Mzuzu Town to get to Camp!

Stage 52 - Mzuzu to Luviri School

Coffee Stop with Wynand in Mzuzu at the Coffee Den

Supper time at Mzuzu Camp

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Chitimba Beach - On the shores of Lake Malawi

MALAWI

Days 73 & 74

Sunday - Monday: We spent two glorious rest days at Chitimba Beach Camp on the shores of Lake Malawi, in a truly beautiful setting looking out over the Lake, hemmed in to the West by the mountains of the Rift Valley.

Being a rest day, breakfast & lunch were for our account, mainly eaten at the camp's Bar Area, but suppers were supplied by TDA at the Main Truck.  On the second night, this consisted of Goat and Pork, which was cooked "spit style" by the locals under the supervision of the TDA Staff - delicious!

On the evening of our first rest day, we held a "Cocktail Party" organised by Rupert , the Chairman of the Entertainment  Committee, and a great time was had by all.  Most of the Riders were then introduced to their first "Springbokkies" - a green & caramel colored cocktail consisting of Peppermint Liquor & Amarula Cream; also popular shooter back in South Africa.

Judith and I took a leisurely walk on the beach and included a visit to the Hakuna Matata Camp (situated next door to our Camp). It is run by Willie,  a South African who had been in Malawi for the past twelve years.

Lunch Truck driver, Wynand, organised for us to meet up with a local called Hudson, who was a contact for sourcing rocks and minerals. He took us on a wild goose chase looking for a dealer in a nearby village, to no avail. But at least we did meet up with some locals who explained the whole growth and harvest cycle of cassava to us!

A dealer finally came to Camp and he brought some specimens with him which were utter  rubbish (poor pyrope garnet crystals and calcite crystals) a total waste of time.

Hudson then promised to bring a dealer who had "Blue Sky" gemstones.  A guy arrived the next day, not with any blue stones but with some very red looking gemstones, which I quickly determined to be broken glass!!  What is it with these Malawian gem "dealers", do they take all visitors to be complete idiots??


Lunch on day two was at a local village house, where a big group of us sampled the local Chombo (fish) Dish. It was very tasty, but true to form, we were mainly dished up fish heads and tails,  with the locals having taken the fillets for themselves (can only be Malawi).

Chitimba Beach was a great place to rest up, and the only negative aspect of it was that we would need to climb out of the Lake Area and up over the mountains to the West, on our way to the capital city of Lilongwe. 

Till then...

Cheers,
Mike T

Selfie of Team Treloar :)

Chitimba Beach Camp - Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi and the Rift Valley Mountains

In my opinion Malawi's best beer

"Springbokkies" with Rupert 

Magical Malawian flowers 

Cape to Kili Route 

Met up with a Father and his two Sons who were cycling from Cape Town to Kilimanjaro

The Farrow's enjoying some quality time 

Eating out at one of the Local Houses

Eating local Malawian "Chombo" 

Rest days should be spent resting!

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