First Night in Malawi

Saturday, 7^th March 2026

This is my second time writing this post. Lost first draft. 😡 Photos seem to be appearing at top so they show my bedroom and breakfast on terrace. Waiter was using sling to keep monkeys away. Love the different way of life. Nothing is too much bother, everyone and everything moves slowly. Managed to have soup for dinner last night, very happy.  Went to bed at 7.30pm  but woke up at 9.30pm, 😠 read then slept till 6.30 am. That's better, still have some issues but more rested. Very warm. It's about 10am so going to assemble bike 🤞🤞. 

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Bike Assembled. TDA Group Arrived.

Saturday, 7^th March 2026

First photo is bike in box.

 Second photo is bike and packing removed. 

Third photo is assembled bike 👏👏 

Bike now assembled, no issues that I can see. Planned to go for spin this afternoon but group has been trickling in so I have been busy introducing myself and talking all things bike, and hearing about their journey. Sounds amazing although Tanzania was hard.  Everyone very friendly, from all around the world, and all have different backgrounds and stories. One lady who has lived in Hong Kong for 40 years originally came from Irvine and visits there every year. She cycled round Arran last year, thought the Boguille was hard ! A man from Cape Town, South Africa lives in the same area in Cape Town, I stayed in for 3 months. My Uncle lived there. On the trip there have been a few medical incidents and other issues but all seem to have been expertly dealt with. The first cyclists to arrive were all young, lean and fit, OMG, I should fit right in ?  I intend to pace myself and be last in, so be it. Have enjoyed lunch with them all and hearing chat. All their bikes are battle scarred and huge with lots of attachments. , I should have kept 45mm tyres on mine, not changed to 38mm.  I'm not as weary today, group meeting tomorrow afternoon. Roasting. At the moment, all good. 

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Short Cycle to Test Bike Set Up

Sunday, 8^th March 

1^st Photo Support Vehicle 

2^nd Photo James

3^rd Photo Bikes

4^th Photo Itinerary for Sunday/Monday

Had light dinner last night. Wasn't really hungry after big lunch. Joined Gail and Suzanne and listened to their adventures past and future. Friendly group, coming up, introducing themselves and shaking hands. I had long trousers, long sleeved top on in case of mosquitoes but they were all in shorts and T-shirt ?   Newcomers meeting today at 3.00pm then 5.30am bag drop in the morning. Went for a short cycle to check bike over, everything seems to be working ok. Very hot with a breeze.  Main road quite rough but side roads ok. Road into accommodation is dirt and gravel should maybe have kept 45mm tyres on rather than changing back to 38mm. Some are of to Bike Shop as bikes are suffering, most resting, washing, catching up. 

Fw: Monday, 9th March 2026

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2^nd Photo- lunch stop

3^rd Photo - Will, assistant tour leader. 

Distance : 96.23 miles Elevation: 3022 ft

A Very Difficult Day for Me. 

Didn't sleep well. Alarm set for 4.15am. However up and organised in good time. Permanent bag, which I won't see until Lusaka, is locked away. My daily bag, which I use each night, tent, mat, sleeping bag, personal clothes etc  weighs 22 kgs so I have to get help lifting  it.  A long day of 96 miles, unfortunately I have a jippy tummy so it wasn't the most comfortable of rides in the heat. Temperature varied between 26 and 32 degrees Centigrade. I am a bit burnt. At 17 miles my groin started to play up and at 30 miles my left calf was sore. Took a paracetamol which helped. Roads are potholed tarmac, traffic is fast and bulldozes it way through, coming very close. You must hold your line, no swerving, large lorry wheels inches away. Oncoming traffic overtaking onto my side. You need nerves of steel. Very impressed with 'Ride with GPS" for following route.  Voice instructions make it simple to follow. Cycling on Arran roads is a breeze. Cycling in India has stood me in good stead. 

We crossed over the border into Zambia, better roads. I bought a Local Sim Card, took an hour for lady to process it. Anyway I arrived at Campsite, greeted with soup. Put tent up and got organised. Knackered but took my time. Now 7.25pm in tent, plan to rest. Another early start, I might do half a day tomorrow, it's a longer day with more hills. I feel a bit better but I must be sensible. 

Note: I watched where I pitched my tent tonight. At a previous site, ants ate through one of the cyclists groundsheet and sleeping mat. 

Four male cyclists have returned home already, due to injuries and  medical conditions. 

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Chipata, Zambia to Petauke, Zambia

Tuesday, 10^th March 2026

Distance: 51.28 miles. Elevation: 2217 ft

Slept sporadically, up every couple of hours, that's why I camp near the toilet. Slept in liner, was slightly chilled, should have used sleeping bag. Anyway, my tummy feels better, which is a relief. Up at 4.05am, not the first, and took my time packing tent etc plus personal belongings. It was dark, thank goodness for Headtorch.  5.30 start again with info for day, then breakfast. A lot of people interested in where I come from. Googling Arran, great crowd. More hills today, not huge gradients but long. I had made up my mind to go in van after lunch, a sensible decision. Temp about 25/30C today but as we are cycling west sun was more on my back. Once I had cleared Chipata, roads were excellent and not as busy as Malawi. We had really rough off road cycling from camp to main road. I was really frightened but made it Kim. Rolling Hills but unbelievably taxing in this heat.  Biggest gradient was 5% and I was struggling. Zambia is very lush, fields of crops. Village people very friendly, kids shouting 'how are you' constantly.  At first I was waving back and saying 'fine' by mile 45 I was saying'awful'. Zambia seems more prosperous than Malawi. I have decided to cycle again to lunch stop tomorrow instead of full day. It is still good mileage and I reach camp in time to get tent up, showered without stressing. 

BTW there were 5 of us in van after lunch. 

Petauke to Luwanga Bridge Camp, Zambia.

Wednesday, 11^th March 2026 

Up at 4.00am and on the road by 6.00am. By 10am had completed 45 miles. On Monday at this time it was 45 miles and yesterday 38 miles.  Temperature at 6am was 19"C by 11am creeping up to 30. Now it's about 32"C. I had decided again today to stop  at Lunchtime , 50 mile mark. Quite a few went in van this morning but rode the afternoon as they crossed the half way line between Cairo and Capetown. I prefer to cycle in  the cooler morning. Getting up when pitch dark and dismantling tent etc is not easy ! Lovely ride through lush forests and  Rolling hills. Children constantly shouting and waving.  I am a bit burnt still from Monday and tummy not completely settled. Edwin, one of the support team, his mother is called Janice, so he has taken me under his wing and calls me Mama. Enjoying the journey and country but it is very taxing.   P.S. If you are commenting on my post could you add your name as comments are coming up Anonymous. Ta ❤️❤️

Photo. Only one at a time Uploading 😩

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Thursday, 12th March, 2026

Luwanga Bridge to Mukonkay Primary

Very hot in tent last night,  this morning at 4.00am when packing up the mosquito!s were horrendous. I chose to cycle this morning as it is  cooler but unfortunately elevation was higher than afternoon. In afternoon the sun is out and so draining. It was a beautiful ride through a lush forest valley but very sapping. At 8 miles I had climbed 1000 ft.  Lunch was at 42 miles. The road was quieter with both people and traffic but when two huge lorries met, it seemed to be at me. There would be loud honking of overtaking lorry but the hard shoulder was down a drop so I would hold my line. I don't mind traffic. Lorry with wheels that went on forever would overtake giving me barely  bike width space. One of the guys was clipped, bruised elbow. Anyway at 20 miles with 2400 ft of elevation I callled it a day and asked to be picked up. By the time Joe arrived I had done 25 miles with 2800 ft elevation. I thought everyone was riding but turns out some took day off because of hills, so I don't feel too bad, and another 3 took afternoon off too. Poor Tony said he was falling asleep on the bike. We are staying at a school rugby pitch with no facilities, so a baby wipe wash tonight. Not as many local people about, some stalls selling charcoal, others vegetable. You wonder how they make a living. You wonder if they know the troubles of the world, a basic life with no facilities. All cyclists are pleasant but some more helpful than others. One Canadien lady always helps me with tent. If I ask, the men will carry my bag, to and from truck, so I am coping. Tummy still not right, heat and exertion ? Lusaka tomorrow. 

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Now in Lusaka. Friday, 13th March 2026

Tent was soaking with condensation this morning. Unpleasant packing it away at 4.00am but has to be done. Immediately hard hill out of camp, guy from America said I was a Mountain Goat, I wish. Lovely sunny morning at 6.00am, only 20"C. I felt good and thought I could do the whole mileage of 55miles. Only one problem, a bus was picking us up at 10.30 to convey us through a busy Lusaka to camp. I didn't want to hold the bus up !!! Quandary : do the cycle as it became hotter and steeper or flag the last van going through. Joe had said if I didn't stop the last van then wearied they would come back for me later, but not immediately as they were busy organising things in Lusaka. I decided to stop last van but felt frustrated, I thought they'll pick me up ten miles in when I could do more. But would I enjoy the last miles knowing they were waiting on me ? However I was 24 miles in with 1500ft of elevation when van caught me up, now 25", C so didn't feel too cheated. When I got in the van 5 others were there already ! Lovely green, lush route, children and adults constantly shouting 'How are you '.  I felt freer today, more up for it. The bus conveyed us through a very busy Lusaka, where there was traffic signs traffic obeyed them. At a junction with none it was Everyman for himself. When we arrived at camp it was chucking it down. Some had already booked rooms but I had decided to camp, the place was swimming. However there was an extra bed in Gail's room and she gave it to me. Bliss, rest day tomorrow, hot shower and a bed. These trips introduce you to a fascinating group of people, different backgrounds, all with their own adventure stories to tell, some phenomenal. Some know Scotland well, one has backpacked coming through Arran heading for Outer Hebrides. Another worked in Fort William at Mountain Bike Shop. These guys are superb athletes but take time to talk to me about my travels. Some have had 18 punctures already, I think they bought tubes locally , not of the best quality. Just enjoyed a big plate of Chips and awaiting a Beefburger, not my usual kind of food but at last I am starving. 

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Rest Day in Lusaka

Top photo, me with some of team. 

Bottom Photo. TDA Facebook Photo. 

Saturday, 14^th March 2026. 

Although in bed I still woke up every two hours. Bliss to have the toilet handy and not crawl out of tent, sandals on, dark, hot, mossy's, find a handy bush.  Enjoyed chat last night in bar. It's a big group, about 40, and I'm beginning to pick up on group dynamics. Groups within the group. I wander about talking to everyone, I think age and the Belles have given me confidence to do this. Had a great chat with Often, one of the African support team. He is based in Kenya and runs his own Tourist Business but is not busy so joined this tour as support. He told me all about his home family life, self sufficient, trading. He says family look after family, parents look after children, when parents become older they are cared for by the adult children. He likes to talk, says some cyclists don't stop, just power on and are missing so much.  I must try and get a photo of him, a lovely dignified man.   Yesterday's rain didn't last too long but has made everywhere muddy, red mud. 

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Lusaka Roaming

14^th March 2026

Late Breakfast outside-at 8.00am surrounded by watchful monkeys. Once we had moved away they zoomed in and licked the plates. A giraffe and zebras were spotted at perimeter fence. I went for a solo walk up a dirt track hoping to spot them again but they had moved on. Then I went for a walk to main road and nearby chemist. Lemeck was in charge of camp gate and as I foolishly had no water or hat let me sit in the shade of his hut. He hopes to get a driving licence so can get a better job, money is a problem. Good chat. Back at camp I joined Gail and Suzanne who were leaving for Sandy's, walking back down the same road I had just been on. Sweltering. Sandy's is very posh hotel/restaurant some of the cyclists had upgraded to stay there. Lovely lunch. Tummy is still not 100% but ok, other aches and pains are ok too. We leave for Lake Kariba tomorrow and a 24 hour ferry journey. 

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Lusaka to Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

Sunday, 15^th March 2026

We were bused out of  very  busy Lusaka today. I can see why as huge hills with lorries, not coping, jack knifing across road. We started cycling late, 9.30am, sun up, temperature 30"C. However I was feeling ok and hoped to make lunch stop. We were told there was a continuous hill for 6 miles before lunch. Everyone stopped at a  "Coke Stop" but I had spent all my Zambian Money. Tony took pity on me and bought me a coke, a lovely couple gave me biscuits for sugar and were very supportive. Then we had a 6 mile climb in 41"C heat. Exhausting  but I made it. After that I went in the car for going through Zimbabwean Border, amazing to be here. Saw Zebra and apparently Elephants on the road. Hippos tomorrow   Now at Lake Kariba, ferry for 24 hours tomorrow then back to cycling.  Had a lovely dinner tonight, someone's birthday. Animals around us snorting and making strange noises. Can't deny it, it was brutal today, sheer determination got me through but I was a bit wobbly when finished. 

Hippo Photos. Coming out of lake Kariba to munch on grass

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