13 June, Thursday: the Mushroom Farm -> Adios Camp

Last night was cold but once we were up and looking down into the mountain range we had the sun warming up our bodies. It wasnt long before we hit the road, continuing up the mountain. Yesterdays cycle was really beautiful through the forest, passing some random water outlets coming out the rocks. As we past Livingstonia the road construction started and wow, it was hectic. Seeing how these bulldozers are sitting on the slopes and the amount of soil being removed to create the road was insane.

The whole way down the mountain was full of road works and we cycled on powerdy red soil, covering us in dust. Finally Chris has his strength back and were both on the saddle together, it was so great to have him next to me...well in front me but supporting me and just being there. After 20 km of dirty, gravel road, we eventually hit tar, heading towards Rumphi. A group of motorbikes went flying past all waving at us, seeing that their number plates were CA. This was very exciting and just a wave from a fellow Saffa was enough to lift our spirits. Madam stopped to get lunch supplies from stalls on the roadside and the car was mob attacked with children, some climbing onto the trailer, hanging off the roof rack, about 20 children completely over crowding the car. Chris and I came cycling around the corner hardly noticing the car it was so surrounded but as we approached with our bikes, the kids all jumped off and the car managed to get away. All of a sudden the landscape changed from mountainous green forestry, to dry bush veld. We were still cycling through hills though and we got to the turn off to Rumphi we cycled along a gorgeous river with potholed rocks, making a stunning setting. In Tanzania every village we went through we always saw At least one church and a mosque, here, we have hardly seen any, it's interesting seeing the differences between the countries.

At our lunch break, we were trying to find where we staying for the night. We used the ioverlander app, saying there's a campsite nearby so we followed the map, leading us to Adios Camp. Just before the town of Rumphi, we turned off into the rural village and cycled into a quiant camp with reeded cabins suspended off the ground by thin lutter stilts, a few thatched structures in the trees and a lovely open tree house. We saw an old mini van painted in zebra stripes and decorated to the zebra theme which they have converted into a small room. We were warmly welcomed by Sten, a local Malawian running the camp. We had the afternoon to relax, hang up our laundry, having a cold shower before the sun goes down. I spent some time in the tree house, enjoying the view of the sun rays colouring the mountain range a beautiful orange.

Arriving at Adios Camp, exhausted

An old van converted into a room

Cycled: 58.3 km

Time: 3:06 hrs

Ave speed: 18.8 km/hr

Ascent: 320 m