We havent done much tarmac training yet so today took the chance to get a lift up the Great North Road towards Tanzania with mum and dad who went to collect a new dog. Dad promised us coming back was downhill and there was a tailwind the whole way, but we beg to differ. It was c.80km (Dan's longest ride ever - Peter reckons he did 142km one day in Laos earlier this year), in 3.33hr, average speed 22.5km/hr and max of 51.5km/hr. It's an interesting road - on the plus side, it has lovely views and pretty good tarmac. On the negative, it is narrow and has huge trucks and buses pounding along, and some pretty big potholes, one of which caused my motorcycle accident 2 years ago.
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| Cruising along - we encouraged locals to join in the drafting- when this guy took the lead, we could hardly keep up, even though with his one-speed bike, his legs were flying round at an astonishing rate |
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| These guys waved us down for a pump. The second time we saw them, the cyclist asked Peter not for his pump, but if he could carry his passenger! |
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| That is one special moustache. |
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| These girls walked past Peter giggling and then sat gazing at him |
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| an overtaker |
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| An endless convoy of new army trucks |
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| Trucks thundering past were pretty intimidating - discretion was the better part of valour when two were passing |
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| One of many bad truck accidents on the road - cab and trailer separated |
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| Peter has a 'wing mirror' that attaches to his glasses and is invaluable in spotting trucks and photographers sneaking up behind |
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| Cutting across the TAZARA railway |
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| Promo shot for Zambikes and Wheelbase |
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| Teamwork makes an nshima for supper |
How many water bottles did you allow yourselves today?
ReplyDeleteGood blog - can picture the scene and wish we were with you...
Brilliant to get a flavour of everything - yikes, scary great north road!!! Pete - am assuming that the moustache is because Monica is away???!!! Gutted about the visa, or lack of but am sure you will have fun none the less!
ReplyDelete@Rachel/Mike - Dan and I were both carrying 2 water bottles, and I was carrying an extra 2L in a skin. We used almost all of it, in addition to two cups of tea.
ReplyDelete@Sharon - the mustache actually gives me super human powers, and a license to misbehave. Is also good at breaking the ice. No one can take me seriously...
Sharon, I'm glad you broached the subject of the moustache, I couldn't quite find the words. Mike is worried that the current trend of Rea men to grow a moustache will rub off on him (not as worried as I am). We are quite surprised that the moustache didn't get you your visa Peter - aren't the Portuguese partial to the moustache? Or maybe is reminds the Angolans of colonial oppression?
ReplyDeletewell, "Movember" is coming up soon, i am fearing i will have to endure the moustache growing again...
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