We all agreed to the same procedure as before – clock in and out together for the same times but free to ride with whoever and get through the border. I decide to ride with Kendra’s group. There is a pretty steep climb early on and I struggle to go as slow – I just don’t have the gears. So I am sometimes with the group, then get a little ahead and the re-join. It was good to climb for the scenery. We were once again travelling along a ridge line and the views were brilliant – gorgeous valleys on both sides – amazing scenery with Lake Malawi off in the distance. There were some good rolling hills – at one point I just free wheeled for about 12 km – just messing around – it was a really nice ride! We really took it easy with at least 4 coke stops.
10 km short of the border we see riders stop to change money – why? But we carry on to the border where we are immediately mobbed by money changers – I found it really annoying so rode on through – only to discover I had missed the clock out so had to go back!! We had agreed we were going to have the same time today and Jorg and myself thought we were the last ones through so ours would be the time that counted. So we then went in to the bar and ordered chip omelettes. But we were still being hounded by money changers – really in our faces and bugging us – even trying to sit with us. Very annoying and very pushy – I didn’t really have much to change – I was actually trying to spend it – but I didn’t want to go through these guys anyway!! Suddenly Scott arrives – whoops – we had thought we were the last to badge out. Anyway we made sure it was clear that we were all going to take his time today – so that was fine! I ended up eating three omelettes here.
Malawi was easy to enter – an dfree! Our passports were dealt with quickly. Once through the border I found a more official exchange office to change my remaining money and then found a bank to withdraw some more! I thought it was only 10 km to camp and had lost Kari who I had been riding with so carried on alone. It was a fairly bumpy surface and very flat with a headwind – the few km seemed to drag on and on. The kids were everywhere – and horrible – “Money, money, money ….” And sounding quite angry. I was of course right at the back and we have always said they get more wound up as more riders go through – so I was experiencing that today! Finally after 12 km there was camp. As I am one of the last there are no decent spots left – though to be honest it was all pretty awful – a ploughed field again! It was looking like rain so I quickly set up – we had also been warned about the likelihood of things being stolen here – but I am usually pretty good at keeping all my stuff together in my tent! It was a short afternoon in camp – also the clocks changed which added to the confusion. Basically when it got dark I went to bed!!
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