The Treloar Herald : kids

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Lilongwe to Chipata [Mama Rulas Camp] (152km with 800m climbing)

MALAWI - ZAMBIA

Day 80 - Apr 2 - Stage 55

Left Lilongwe after an average type of Rest Day, fortunately it was a Sunday, so the traffic was relatively quiet as we passed through the CBD of the City on our way to the next Country, Zambia - which we were both looking forward to visiting since it is the land of my birth.

I wanted to see how much the Country had changed, and it has been 50 years since I left the then young Independent Republic, and immigrated with my parents Ken and May Treloar, to South Africa. My parents had been in the then "Northern Rhodesia", since 1945 after the Second World War, and left to go South in 1967. I had not been back officially to Zambia since then.

After riding 80km, Judith got on the TDA Cruiser to rather ride to the Border, as she felt she would hold the border crossing procedures up by getting there too late if she continued cycling, a wise decision as we were actually running late.

The Malawian kids were still shouting, "Give me my money" which had by now become quite boring, although I did get a, "Give me my cell phone" which was soon followed by a, "Give me my bike". Hell, what was I expected to do, donate my bike to some kid and then walk to Cape Town!??

After lunch, I cycled the 42km to the Border, but had a Coke Stop on the way with Liz, Marie and Helen the Sweep Rider. Once at the Border, crossing out of Malawi and into Zambia was absolutely painless.

On the Zambian side, the Immigration Official noticed from my passport that I was Zambian born, and said, "Welcome back to Zambia!" How cool was that!

Amazingly once across the Border, the call of "Give me money" by the kids immediately stopped! It was replaced by a chirpy, "Mzungu, how are you?" What an absolute pleasure....

The road surface on the Zambian side was just perfect, rode the final 30km to the Camp with Marie, who kindly allowed me to draught behind her for the complete 30km, and she didn't cycle slowly either, we averaged a decent 30 km/hr!

Arrived at the Mama Rulas Camp, had a few beers while I waited for Judith to arrive (she was with some of the TDA Staff doing some shopping in Chipata) before doing my tent erection duties. We decided to camp as it didn't look like it was going to rain.

Mama Rulas Camp had a great Bar, named "The Pit Stop", the beers were relatively cheap, cold, and plentiful, and a good time was had by all.

A local Indian fellow came to the Camp to assist us in changing our money from Malawian Kwacha to Zambian Kwacha, or to exchange US Dollars for Zambian Kwacha. Some of the Riders said he looked like my Brother, but just from another Mother!

Of all the Camps we had camped in so far on the Tour, Mama Rulas was one of the best we have encountered, and hopefully a taste of things to come in Zambia.

Tomorrow is a long day, 176km from Chipata to Petauke, don't know what Judith is going to do, will she ride the whole distance or only part of it? Tomorrow will tell.

Cheers,
Mike T

Could this be my long lost Brother ?

I don't know how the car got into the mielies

(corn) but it got their proper!

Crossing a Bridge on our way towards Zambia

Liz and Marie at the Coke Stop waiting for Sweep Rider Helen to catch up with us

Chipata in Zambia has dedicated cycle lanes which were such a pleasure.

We are starting to see more and more home comforts & brands we recognize as we progress further South...

Ah Spar, "one wherever you are!"

The "Pit Stop" was well received at Mama Rula's

Riders enjoying quality time at the Pit Stop

Finally, the chance to drink my first "Mosi" in Zambia!

Come on the "Lions" my favorite Rugby Franchise.

Andrew and Linda taking some time out.

Judith taking advantage of a clear sky and hanging out some washing

Tomorrow's ride - Chipata to Petauke

Yup, a good time had by all who frequented the Pit Stop.

Alex finally conceding defeat and realizing she had eaten enough

Tallis making new friends at Mama Rula's

Singida to Boroto Game Post No. 1 (133 km)

Day 65 - March 18 - Stage 44

Saturday: We got back onto the dirt roads today, most of the riders changed from their slicks to their dirt tires yesterday. We have been on our dirt tires for ages, so it didn't apply to us. Looking forward to some technical riding today.

Other than the dirt roads, there is also the added irritation of Tsetse Fly to look forward to as we make our way south through Tanzania. These little buggers can give you a mean bite, even biting straight through your cycle clothing !

Judith accompanied by a few of the other riders, rode the Lunch Truck in the morning from Camp to the lunch position as they were keen to make the dirt which began after lunch. Being there so early, she helped Wynand make the day's salads, then her and Marie cycled the 53km from the lunch position to Camp.

Judith and Marie met up with a solo Chinese cyclist who was travelling from Kilimanjaro down to Cape Town. He was travelling from hotel to hotel, and was quite interested to hear about their TDA experience.

I rode with Liz for most of the day, and we stopped before lunch for a coke stop, and decided to purchase some avocados. Coke and Avocado a la Natural make a great pairing! If nothing else, it does supply great spectator value when two Muzungus sit on the side of the road eating avo's.

We passed through a big honey producing area, the beehives are situated in hollowed out logs, which are suspended horizontally in the big trees (mostly Sausage Trees).

We didn't have much climbing today, which was greatly appreciated after the last two days of riding.

We rode to lunch on tar, then after lunch, the last 43km was back onto the dirt road, a good ride with no mud. Rode with Liz, Gurpaul & Dr Helen who was the Sweep Rider. Of course we stopped at the scheduled coke stop.

Just before the finish, I stopped just 500m from the end of the day's ride, to have a cold beer at a very rural bar, then walked to the finish feeling a little better after a long day's riding (remember, no drinking and driving!)

Camp was at the Boroto Game Post No.1 Gate, where we were inundated by young children. Bridgette taught some of the kids how to throw a Frisbee, then donated it to them.

Briefing, supper, then early to bed.

Cheers,
Mike T

Marie and Judith met up with a solo Chinese rider who was cycling from Kilimanjaro to Cape Town

Early morning coffee before breakfast

Organizing my days riding partners - With Liz and Kim

Racing Snake Rupert passes me at speed

Peter and Catherine from New Zealand (Father and Daughter Team)

Main Truck passes Liz on its way to the next Camp

Tanzanian granite rock formations

Liz fixing her puncture

Liz hunting for some ripe avocados for us to eat at the Coke Stop

Horizontal bee hives in a large Sausage Tree

Local Honey Seller on the side of the road

A near deserted Lunch Truck

'Team Sweep' at the afternoons Coke Stop

Not a happy chameleon in the road

Rural Bar close to the finish

Having a well deserved beer at the end of the day's ride

Bridgette handing over the Frisbee to the kids.

Briefing board for tomorrow's ride

Riders at supper before an early nights sleep

Day 38 - Stage26 - Lake Naivasha to Londiane (146 km)

Saturday: This was the longest day I have had on my bike so far on the Tour. The most climbing I have done since Cairo. And to say it was a tough day, would be an understatement.

The first 15 km were the same as the last 15 km from yesterday's ride, I was not a happy camper, just don't like going backwards before being allowed to go forwards, and to cap it all off, it started to rain. Once back on the main road we donned our jackets and proceeded to cycle to Londiane.

Cycled past Lake Elementaita, a soda lake (alkaline lake) in the Great Rift Valley and managed to see some zebras along the road.

We had two Coke Stops before the Lunch Truck, it was tough going and Judith was pulling big amps. After lunch she decided to climb into the Truck - she was just going too slow - with another 71 km to go, would never have made it before the sunset cut off.

Cycled through the town of Nakuru, which was quite hectic, as the traffic was all over the place, had my third Coke Stop in town. Outside of the town, came upon a major accident where a Police vehicle had crashed head-on into the side of a large truck, causing a major traffic jam and great spectator value.

Then the hills started, and I began getting slower as I attempted to finish the distance. Got to the town of Salagga and met up with Goupaul at coke stop number 4, we spent approximately 1 hour waiting for Brad the Sweep Rider to catch up with us, but he didn't materialize (he was busy looking for a perceived lost rider). While waiting, Goupaul spent his time trying to teach some of the local ladies to cycle.

We left Salagga, and then the road became much steeper, at the one major hill which was 5km in length, I must have walked 2km out of the 5km. I was just so knackered - no power left in the legs. To make it worse, when pedaling up the hills, the school kids kept on running next to me, forcing me to keep up a fast pace. Then it started raining again and I became quite water-logged.

Brad finally caught up to me, and we soon stopped for my 5th coke stop, which was at the smallest shop I had ever stopped at.

We finally hit the summit of the last hill of the day and promptly began our last descent into camp, but not before one of the locals shouted, "Bwana" (which is more a Zambian term for Mr. than the Kenyan one of "Muzungu" meaning White Man). I replied, "Yes" and he said, "Bwana, you are late!!". Never a truer word had been said in jest!

And so, I cycled down the big decent into the Kenyan Bush Camp, where on arrival, a relieved Judith greeted me with a cold beer.

I had been out on the road for nearly 12 hours, definitely a long long day for me, but at least I had completed the 146 km.

Cheers,
Mike T

Back in the Land of Tusker.

Back at the Main Road we donned our rain jackets.

Coke Stop No. 1 - Judith indicating what she wanted to drink.

Hotel Horns sounds quite interesting.

Traffic associated with the major vehicle pileup outside Nakuru.

Precious School for Precious Girls?

Coke Stop No. 4 - Spent nearly an hour there waiting for Brad.

Goupaul teaching one of the local ladies to cycle.

Lunch Truck in an isolated position on today's ride.

The smallest Coke Stop yet

Arriving at tonight's Bush Camp

Day 25 - Stage 21 - Senna to Canal Camp (88 km)

Breakfast time is usually quiet time

Monday: It was a shorter day, but not necessary an easier day, but our first on gravel and sand roads, allowing the mountain bikers among us to show off our skills. Muzz won the Stage, beating the younger racing snakes by over an hour.

Left our wooded campsite next to the Blue Nile, climbed on to the bridge and crossed the River, and headed South.

Route markings are now either the orange tape or flour arrows laid out on the ground, unfortunately either the sheep/goats or cattle eat the flour or kids steal or move the tape.

Lunch was at 46km, and we were surrounded by school kids who were totally amused by our lunch time pantomime. It must be quite an experience for them watching us going through our lunch time rituals, which seem quite normal to us.

Then into the nearest village for a Sudanese Soda (a type of raspberry) very sugary and not so nice. But necessary because it was another hot day, highest recorded temperature was 42 degrees C.

Four of us riders and the Lunch Truck, took a wrong turn today, because some juvenile delinquents had moved the orange tape and set it up on a different road, which sent us off in the wrong direction!! Fortunately we hadn't done too many kilo's before the truck came back and informed us we were going the wrong way! When we cycled past the guilty party, I managed to teach them some 'nice' Afrikaans swear words, not that they really paid much attention.

Coke Stop in the village was utter total chaos, we were surrounded by both kids and adults, it was such a suffocating experience, we had to move on, but not before Judith had some retail therapy and bought herself a pashmina.

Because of the heat, the last 20 km was a big grind, I kept stopping at any large available tree which threw up some decent shade, just to cool down our core body temperature.

Judith and I walked the last 2 km into camp, the head wind was just too strong and we were buggered. Didn't put up our tent up until the sun started going down - it was just too hot to do anything.

We had our first Sudanese donkey cart wash today, for a total of 5 Pounds, they will bring borehole water to you in a 44 gallon drum mounted on a cart and pulled by a donkey, tap off about 20 liters for you to use to wash yourself.

After today's ride it was greatly appreciated.

I had a full body wash, lily-white-ass and all, not a pleasant sight for any of the villagers who might have been watching.

Riders Briefing, followed by dinner, followed by an early night to bed. Its getting to be quite a simple routine in the evenings.

Tomorrow is a tough day (so they say) let's see what materializes.

Cheers,

Mike T