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 ❤️❤️