As is our habit now, I woke up and checked my tires immediately. I had a rear flat.
Almost all of us paid for the $13 breakfast buffet at the resort. For as calorie-deficient as we were, the portions were relatively small. They were unprepared for the amount of food we consumed, and the late arrivals had to wait for additional food to be prepared.
About eight of us signed up to take the Chitimba village (population 3,700) tour at 9 am.
Wisdom was our tour guide. Our first stop was at a government installed well pump. With hydraulic innards, the pump handle was effortless to use. The well water is at a depth of 60 m.
Next stop was at at the village market, which was quiet because it was Sunday. Dried sardines and smoked fish in the foreground.
This is the village mill to make corn into flour. The mill is from Dubai.
Presbyterian Church.
The church service in English had just ended when we arrived. English is the official national language, but there are at least eight other recognized regional languages.
The pastor, who resembled Ray Charles, came out to greet us.
We stayed for the next service in the local language, and were serenaded by a very large and boisterous children’s choir.
The 72-year-old woman is using a giant mortar and pestle to pound fermented cassava. We all took turns trying, and it is incredibly hard work.
As per protocol, we stopped by to pay respects to the village chief. She is the daughter of the former village chief.
A slaughtered goat being prepared for barbecue.
What a Malawi school playground netball hoop looks like.
We were back at camp by noon. I ordered a burger and fries, which took an hour and a half. This is pretty normal, as food service is on “African time”. After that, I got to work repairing my flat tire. I had to re-tape my handlebars again. Finally, I cleaned my chain and re-oiled it.
It was a pleasant afternoon with a refreshing breeze off the lake. We all settled in for another buffet dinner. Riders retired early, because our bags are due at 5:45 AM, with breakfast at 6 AM tomorrow. We have an almost 2,100 m total ascent tomorrow, so we need to get an early start to beat the heat.
A thunderstorm started brewing over the lake, and the rain arrived by 9 PM. We are now used to being rained on in our tents.
Almost all of us paid for the $13 breakfast buffet at the resort. For as calorie-deficient as we were, the portions were relatively small. They were unprepared for the amount of food we consumed, and the late arrivals had to wait for additional food to be prepared.
About eight of us signed up to take the Chitimba village (population 3,700) tour at 9 am.
Wisdom was our tour guide. Our first stop was at a government installed well pump. With hydraulic innards, the pump handle was effortless to use. The well water is at a depth of 60 m.
Next stop was at at the village market, which was quiet because it was Sunday. Dried sardines and smoked fish in the foreground.
This is the village mill to make corn into flour. The mill is from Dubai.
Presbyterian Church.
The church service in English had just ended when we arrived. English is the official national language, but there are at least eight other recognized regional languages.
The pastor, who resembled Ray Charles, came out to greet us.
We stayed for the next service in the local language, and were serenaded by a very large and boisterous children’s choir.
The 72-year-old woman is using a giant mortar and pestle to pound fermented cassava. We all took turns trying, and it is incredibly hard work.
As per protocol, we stopped by to pay respects to the village chief. She is the daughter of the former village chief.
A slaughtered goat being prepared for barbecue.
What a Malawi school playground netball hoop looks like.
We were back at camp by noon. I ordered a burger and fries, which took an hour and a half. This is pretty normal, as food service is on “African time”. After that, I got to work repairing my flat tire. I had to re-tape my handlebars again. Finally, I cleaned my chain and re-oiled it.
It was a pleasant afternoon with a refreshing breeze off the lake. We all settled in for another buffet dinner. Riders retired early, because our bags are due at 5:45 AM, with breakfast at 6 AM tomorrow. We have an almost 2,100 m total ascent tomorrow, so we need to get an early start to beat the heat.
A thunderstorm started brewing over the lake, and the rain arrived by 9 PM. We are now used to being rained on in our tents.
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