The Treloar Herald : Luviri

Showing posts with label Luviri. Show all posts

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

Mzuzu to Luviri School (124km + 1'890m of climbing)

MALAWI

Day 76 - Mar 29 - Stage 52

Wednesday: Woke up still suffering from gout (same as yesterday) in my right knee, so we decided since the majority of the climbing was in the first part of the day, to take the Lunch Truck in the morning to the lunch position, and then to ride from there, to the next Camp at Luviri School (Soccer Field).

This proved to be a very prudent decision as it was raining when we left Mzuzu and the riders had to face a strong headwind, which when combined with the wind-chill-factor, brought the temperature down to about 12-degrees and/or lower. This caused quite a few of the riders to abandon, some suffering from hypothermia, before even reaching the lunch position.

When we, and a few others who are 'recovering', arrived on the Truck at the lunch position, 70km from the start, I helped the TDA guys to erect the tarpaulin and set up the tables, while Judith assisted with the preparation of the salads.

However we soon realized that the Truck had stopped in an area where there was the possibility of finding some Manganese Pseudo-morph Pyrite Crystals (AKA "black diamonds") ! So we started examining the ground and we were pleasantly rewarded by finding some crystals, which we couldn't actually identify... so we will have to get them identified properly when back in South Africa. Of course, due to our rock-hounding diversion, we left the lunch position later than planned.

We cycled the remaining 54km to Camp, but started in heavy mist and rain, which fortunately (as the ride progressed) cleared somewhat with the viability getting better.

We arrived at Camp after only being overtaken by three of the racing snakes, but on arrival it was already looking like a tent town, since a lot of riders had abandoned and had been picked up by the Main Truck and Tallis's bakkie (his 4x4 pick-up).

A few of us took a walk to the local market, but the locals were not that friendly, especially since we tried to take some photographs (In fact they were quite pissed off that we took photos!). So I soon left and walked back to Camp, what is it with the Malawians?

Leo the Bike Mechanic fixed my rear rim, the rear cones needed tightening & bearing's leaned + greased. Also, some of the spokes needed to be realigned and tightened. My heavy frame (my body that is, not the bike frame itself) and the many rumble strips encountered on the Malawian roads, are just not compatible with smooth riding.

It was an evening without beers, as I was trying to cure my bout of gout (not that it was alcohol induced?). The staff gave us a very lekker (great) braai - then it was off to bed early.

It rained heavily during the night, but our tent erection skills and rain-proofing strategies are finally paying off, and we tend to keep relatively dry. Long may that last.

Cheers,
Mike T