Riding with the Sweep - April 3

Woke up and already feel awful – I was not happy! I had shared the hotel room with James and we had already decided we would have breakfast there at the hotel at 6..30 which is after the trucks have left. So I was up at 6 , went for coffee and put my bags in the truck. Watched everyone leave in a manic rush – quite funny to watch them all. Then all the racers left and at the last minute I too badged out., just before the truck left! After breakfast we all left – I knew I was with the sweep so tried to get a little ahead! I wanted to ride a little quicker than yesterday – but it was really hard – I felt so sick. When I stopped for a pee break they all went whizzing by – shows how slow I was going!! The scenery was good but I wished I had some music. There were slight rolling hills – and definitely more money here – nice cars and electricity in the villages. They were also selling fruit along the roadside – tomatoes and pumpkins. Various seeds and tobacco could be seen drying alongside as well. They seem to be growing a wide variety of crops as well – corn ,tea, coffee, tobacco and even rice paddies. At about 40 km I stopped and sat under a tree for a while – the guys rode by and checked I was OK “Yes I’m fine!” Carried on and stopped at about 65 km for crisps and water at a petrol station. I decide I would try to drink a load of bottled water as the stuff we are given at camp is very heavily treated with chlorine etc – a lot of riders believe it is making them feel sick!! There were a few people at the lunch stop where I had a cheese and avocado sandwich – the bread was so bad I threw it away!! I suddenly realize after Wendy leaves that everyone else there was riding the truck. Whoops – I am really far behind now! Still – the sweep hadn’t turned up yet – it was Claire so she must have stopped off somewhere. Gabe would take over from her for the afternoon so I had some time before they caught me up. I had been feeling quite good at lunch but it didn’t last for long once I got back on my bike. The roads were good but there was a slight headwind to contend with. After about 20 km I caught the tail group as they had been at a coke stop – we chatted for a while but then I let them go off – I am not very good company! Then we started to descend – downhill now to Lilongwe!! I stocked up at a garage with some smarties and an energy drink. The last part of the ride now was down into town – it was a little bit confusing with the traffic lights and traffic as I had to check I was going the right way. There was a nice wide hard shoulder – nice except when it was full of glass – just like the bike paths in England!! I finally rolled into camp – looking forward to two days rest! Scott and Len had booked us into a hotel – with air conditioning – which is so nice when you are lying in bed. And I need to lie down in that bed – I feel as if I have gotten worse over the last few days not better as I had hoped!!