Log in
Join travelers community
Your Profile
Logout
Rather than take the popular Tete Corridor the team made their way on worsening roads to the Southern tip of Malawi. Mozambique proved much more undeveloped and remote than expected, often in the early days only passing through one small town a day with very limited supplies. But help and hospitality was at hand, from a much appreciated and unexpected source. The Indian Ocean was reached again after many testing days cycling and with it civilization 'as we know it' was slowly restored.
Cycle to the Summit Part 18 - Lilongwe to Maputo
Toby Hammond2006-06-25 20:20:17
Displayed times (last time: )
war and the devastation caused by the even more recent flooding. The stretches of water I had noted on the way into the town were initially a result of floods four years earlier and they had never dried out. Also there was a large impressive looking hotel that was government owned in a very prominent spot on the headland. It had been used as a hospital or something in the war but was now only maintained in its derelict state, the grounds being tidied up by a team of gardeners when I passed. Our huts were more cosy but dripped in a little and it proved very difficult to dry out our wet gear.
Sunday 21-Jul-02 Vilanculos to Nhchengue 117km
After a brief interlude the rain persisted. We huddled along with the rest of a village under a small sheltered area, except for poor Toby who was trying to mend a puncture down the road somewhere in the rain. Apparently he couldn't persuade his tyre to stay on the rim. The rain did not look like stopping so we set off. We noted that people were filling water containers and taking advantage of the excess water by washing their clothes in the puddles at the side of the road. The roadside food was now in the form of delicious tangerines. Although we could have collected some from the side of the road, they were being sold so cheaply that it was worth paying the local vendors to pick them up and vet them for us. We could literally fill a pannier for about twenty pence. We noticed as we moved south a slight increase in trade and wealth. The old colonial style buildings were being used and maintained. I had become very good at meditation of sorts cycling down some of the relentless roads. The scenery would not change for hours and the punishing straights that vanished into the horizon would drive you crazy if you could not distance yourself from the reality of it all. I could cycle ten kilometres or so on automatic pilot and not consciously remember anything about it.
Monday 22-Jul-02 Nhchengue
...
See photographs from:
Malawi Gallery
,
Mozambique Gallery
