Day 51 – Beginning to have Serious Bike Trouble

Stage 51 – Mbeya Tanzania to Korongo Malawi

162kms, 21 kph, 7:45hrs ( approx )

Good thing the hills didn’t go on much longer as I wasn’t sure how much climbing I had left in the old legs. The week before was challenging with seven days of tough riding.

The Rest Day before was rushed making bike repairs, laundry, sorting and catching up. I was not able to get a SIM card set up in Tanzania, which has backed up the blogging and halted communication.

Southern Tanzania highlands has been the nicest part of trip yet in my view. Banana and Tea plantations. Friendly people and a big descent and we cross another border into Malawi. Now there is water and rice.

Many churches, you can choose the religion or no religion i.e. The Church of the “Pool of great God” painted on the side of small building. It’s Sunday and some have music and dancing as we pass.

Beginning to have serious bike trouble, the bushing has come loose in the carbon crank arm. If I can make it through today I will try a repair the day after, which is rest day.

Very tired because of the little sleep I had the night before. I’m catching the journal up at 1:15 am, but was woken by rain and lightning. I covered my leather bike seat and got my bike shorts inside tent. Fireflys land on outside of tent and the rain is gentle with occasional distant flash of lightning. There is a chorus of crickets and frogs.

We are on the edge of a very large lake Malawi as we continue south.

Highlights:

• Tanzania people and space
• Mbeye tailor
• Hair cut
• Boiled peanuts.

Back in civilization.