Day 55 - Stage 38 - Nyakasanza to Biharamulo (School to School - 112 km)

Tuesday 7 March: After a very tough day, it's sometimes better to take one step back, and regroup, than to try and prove you are totally in control. 

Judith was not feeling well this morning, so she decided not to ride and to spend the day on the "Party Bus" (The Main Truck). A very wise decision indeed, which was later endorsed by Dr. Helen.

We left the Rural School and we soon started on the hills.... The road conditions were not ideal, as  there were many sections where the tar road was badly potholed. At one of the sections I hit some potholes at quite a high speed, and was surprised I didn't come crashing down. It was more a case of very good luck than my cycling skills!

I rode with Liz & Murray  up to the Lunch Truck, it looked like we were going to get some major rain, so Murray climbed on to the truck. Liz continued and I decided to ride with her. The second half went much better than first, and we reached the Camp at the Deaf School in Biharamulo relatively early.

Judith had organized the tent by the time I got in, so a group of us walked into Town for a few beers at a local bar-come-restaurant. 

We were back in Camp for Riders Briefing, had supper, and then we turned in for an early night in Tanzania.  


Cheers, 
Mike T

One of today's Coke Stops

Jaw Crushers being used to make rock aggregate for construction of tar roads

Roadside bottle display. We never did find out what it signified...

Briefing Board for tomorrow's ride into Geita

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Day 54 - Stage 37 - Kayonza to Nyakasanza (106 km)

Our last glorious Rwandan sunrise

Monday, 6 March:  We were greeted to a magnificent sunrise, our last in Rwanda, today we would cross over from Rwanda into Tanzania, our sixth country of entry.

Left Camp as early as possible, rode 69km to the Lunch Truck for our last lunch in Rwanda, and we provided much spectator - value as per usual.

Arrived at the Border after 89km, and the immigration process was absolutely painless! The Rwandan & Tanzanian Passport Control Offices were virtualy next to each other in the same building, we were stamped out and in within a few minutes.

Changed money from Rwanda Francs to Tanzanian Shillings, and cycled away from the Border Post (back riding on the left hand side of the road). At the first opportunity, bought two Tanzanian sim data cards for our two cell phones.

After the Border Post we had a vicious climb out from the Valley floor into the surrounding hills. This was then followed by the "Mother of all hills" on tour, it ate me up then spat me out. 

We struggled up the hill and eventually into Camp, which was situated at a local School.

Judith took a lot of strain on the final hill climb, since the temperature was over 40 degrees and with all the climbing she experienced some major dehydration. 

At an impromptu Awards Ceremony at the Riders Briefing, Liz handed over her Yellow Jersey Award to me, for being the "Most Helpful Rider" on tour (with the yellow jersey to be awarded at the end of the stage)

After supper I walked off to the nearest Beer Shop and bought a couple of beers. Judith had a very early night, don't think she will cycle tomorrow.


Cheers,
Mike T

Today's ride from Rwanda into Tanzania

Local Rwandan cyclist

Andje overjoyed at the thought of crossing into Tanzania

Typical Rwandan rice paddies en route to the Rwanda/Tanzanian Border

Today's last Coke Stop in Rwanda

Lunch Truck approximately 20 km from the Border supplying immense spectator value

Typical Rwandan subsistence farming

Judith being chased up the hill by her new fan club

Buying cell phone data in Tanzania just after the Border Post

View from Tanzania of the River dividing Rwanda and Tanzania,
wherein many bodies were dumped during the Genocide

Judith and I cycling along in the Rwandan Countryside 

Taking a rest from the Mother of a Hill which ate me up and spat me out again!

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Day 53 - Stage 36 - Kigali to Kayonza (75 km)

Sunday, 5 March:  The start of the next Section, which will see us cycling a total of 703km with 7'532m of accent and & 7'687m of descent, it's not going to be an easy Section!

After a two day rest period, we left the City of Kigali, Africa's cleanest and neatest City. All the riders who had taken time off to see the Mountain Gorillas were all in agreement, that it was one of the greatest highlights of their tour so far.

We started on a mean cobblestoned hill, I was the first to leave, which allowed me to walk up the hill, then to wait for Judith to catch me up, discretion is the better part of valor!

We cycled through the morning rush hour traffic, fortunately we were trying to get out of the City while most people were trying to get in. To their credit, all of the robots (traffic lights) worked, and major intersections were manned by Traffic Policemen, a real pleasure for a change. 

The day's ride consisted mainly of long down hills and long corresponding uphills, because it was a relatively short distance, lunch was at the end of the ride, in Camp.

Generally the locals were friendly, and shouted greetings or encouragement to us at regular intervals. We cycled a lot of the way with Liz,  who ensured we had two coke stops in quick succession, I wonder if a person can overdose on cola?

Judith also managed to do some retail therapy along the way, and bought herself a new pair of slip slops, which Liz graciously carried for her in her backpack.

During the ride, my new rear wheel behaved itself, and it seems as if my first major mechanical  failure has finally been sorted out.

 Riding the cobblestone road

Local Rwandan cyclist

Kyle not feeling well and waiting for pick-up assistance

Coke Stop no. 1

Coke Stop no. 2

Statues in one of the Villages en route

Church of Marie Reine De La Paix
(Built by the Belgian Colonialists)

Judith getting some retail therapy en route

We camped at the Woman's Opportunity Center, which specializes in providing skills training to local woman. This included skills such as brick making, sewing, beading, weaving and pottery in order to generate income. While basic English lessons and business skills are also provided.

It looked like it was going to rain, so we pitched the tent inside one of the classrooms, quite a mean feat, since the tent only just fitted, but at least we would sleep dry in the event of rain. 

There was a Coffee Shop on the premises  and it was well frequented by the riders, especially since they offered real cappuccinos. While the Gift shop alongside the Coffee Shop did some brisk sales, the multi-coloured long pants on offer, seemed to be a big crowd-pleaser.

Charles went into Kayonza Town and brought me back two Rwandan beers I hadn't tasted yet, to ensure I stayed on course for EFDB (Every Flippin Different Beer)

Tomorrow we cycle to the Rwanda/Tanzania Border, and enter our next African Country.

Cheers,

Mike T

Welcome to Kayonza

Women's Opportunity Centre (WOC)

The WOC Classrooms

All the riders who camped pitched their tents in the Centre's grounds...

...except the Treloar's who camped inside the classroom!

The multi-colored long pants proved very popular with a number of riders

Gatanu Beer - One of those which Charles so kindly bought for me in Town

Riders' Briefing with an attentive audience

Briefing Board. Tomorrow's ride... Stage 37

Members of Team Carbo-Load getting in some practice 

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Days 51+52 - in Kigali, Rwanda (Cont...)

Hi All,

Some of our pictures failed to load & post in the last blog post...

So, in continuing with the Kigali story... 
here are the other photos!

Cheers, 
Mike T

The Genocide Burial Site we visited

Sandstone paleo ripple marks seen in Museum rock wall

Dendrites seen in Museum rock wall

Riders relaxing and watching some soccer on the TV at the Backpackers 

Off to the Ethiopian Restaurant 

Judith and Rob enjoying their meal

Philip enjoying eating Ethiopian 

Kigali City by day

Kigali City by night

Liz and Judith at the Mediterranean Coffee Shop

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Days 51+52 - In Kigali, Rwanda

2-3 March: TDA booked out all of the accommodation at the Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel, and we spent two great rest days in Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda. It's not our first visit to Kigali, but it was definitely more rewarding than our initial visit to the City a few years back.

Good Rwandan coffee & black forest cake

Day 51: Backpackers offer a continental breakfast, so we enjoyed great fresh bread baked on the premises (must be the French influence) and a good cup of Rwandan coffee.

After breakfast a group of us took a taxi to the nearest Mall, to draw money, do some necessary grocery shopping and to frequent a Coffee Shop (Cappuccino & Black Forest Cake). 

Eleven of us take a couple of taxis to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum, where we spend the best part of the morning going through the extensive display at the Museum.

In April of 1994, the Hutu ethnic group turned on their fellow Rwandans the Tutsis, and slaughtered approximately 1 million Tutsis, with another million displaced (refugees) out of a total of 7 million Rwandans. This happened while the West, especially the United Nations (UN) just stood casually on the sidelines and allowed it all to happen.

The Genocide Museum was definitely worth the visit, and is a testament to the firm belief of the current Government, that this dark period and episode of Rwandan history will never be forgotten, nor allowed to be repeated. But at the same time, preaching and ensuring that there is genuine reconciliation and forgiveness between the two ethnic groups.

We visited the Memorial Garden, where approximately 250 000 bodies are buried in an open grave. Open in the sense, that any future bodies which are still being discovered periodically throughout the country, are reburied in the Memorial Gardens.

After going through the various Exhibitions and Garden, we have lunch at the Museum Cafe, and all are in agreement that the visit to the Museum has been one of the highlights of our trip so far.

Back to the Backpackers, for a peaceful evening, with quite a few of the riders either out on a tour visiting the Mountain Gorillas, or  preparing for a tour to the Gorillas in the morning. Judith and I not going on a Gorilla Tour, as we had previously seen them in Uganda a few years ago.

Genocide Museum Entrance

Genocide Museum Amphitheater 

Exhibit at Museum Reception

'Wanted' Poster

Just part of the Wall of Remembrance

Riders at the Kigali Genocide Memorial

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Day 52: Another Backpackers continental breakfast (I could get used to this freshly baked bread).

Phone and speak to Sean the Bike Mechanic at the Rwanda Cycling Club (Rwanda National Team) about my rear wheel failure and the  possibility of a rear wheel rebuild. Receive some great news, he tells me he can build me a suitable rear wheel and can have it delivered to me later in the day, I am ecstatic, that it can be done in such a short time period!

Spend most of the morning relaxing on the veranda, and we go off to an Ethiopian Restaurant situated within walking distance, for lunch with Philip, Murray, Rob and ourselves.

Later in the afternoon, my new rim arrives by kind assistance of Peter, one of the riders who went to see the Gorillas. Murray helps me to fit my old rear cluster and hydraulic brake rotor to the new wheel, and I am now fully equipped to continue cycling on my own bike without the assistance of Sharita's rear wheel.

Judith, Liz and I went to a Mediterranean Coffee Shop later in the evening for coffee, smoothies and cake, before having an early evening. Have to get up early to pack our bags and get ready for the next section of cycling. 

One more day's cycling in Rwanda, before crossing into Tanzania.

Cheers,

Mike T

Discussing the pro's and con's of Rwanda's home grown coffee beans before buying a suitable blend.

Riders enjoying the ambiance of the Mall Coffee Shop

Murray enjoying his thick strawberry milkshake at the Coffee Shop

Backpackers in Kigali

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