30 May, Thursday: Dodoma -> Chipogoro

We left Dodoma this morning feel strong and ready to cycle. Mom woke up still with a bit of a cold but so ready to continue our journey. We climbed a bit getting out of the city and over the hills we cycled into this valley of beautiful grape vine fields and there were people all along the road selling big dark purple grapes. I never expected to see grapes growing here, literally in the middle of nowhere. At the Hut of Wine and Cheese we actually drank the most delicious bottle of wine, Ambassador, a local Tanzanian product. The cycle was going so well, we had a bit of a front wind, but nothing we couldnt handle. We managed the first 20 km in just under an hour. I can really feel my fitness increasing as the days go on.

Baobabs EVERYWHERE

We left the grape fields and the landscape turned into dry, overgrazed land with lots and lots and lots of massive baobabs. Despite Mom being sick, she is still the most amazing support woman, without fail waiting for us every 5 km, waving us past with a big smile on her face. We cycled through fewer villages and what villages we did pass had no food markets like we have seen before. It kind of feels like the further south we go, the poverty is more pronounced. The people arent wearing shoes, the houses are mud huts rather than brick with reed roofs rather than tin. Water is scarce, we havent seen much of it cycling through.

A local Tanzanian walking on the road

Having done 87 km now, we began looking for somewhere to park off for the night. There were no schools or churches in the villages we'd pased so we drew wary of what our sleeping arrangements were to be. However, Chris and I followed an off road path which lead to a secluded, quiet piece of land surrounded by tall chunky baobabs. We found a homestead about a kilometre in and in sign language and cash notes we were given permission to sleep on his land. In our negotiations we offered apples and it was so fascinating they had no idea what they were and were unsure of how to eat them. We set up our campsite in the hard red sand watching the beautiful orange sun going down. We could hear the sounds of livestock being hearded back into their kraals and after finishing 91 km today on the bike, were so ready for a peaceful quiet night under the African stars.

Our camp under the baobabs in the sunset

Cycled: 91 km

Time: 4:35 hrs

Ave speed: 20 km/hr

Ascent: 119 m