Luangwa Bridge Camp

After 195km, first full cycling day in Zambia, understandably most riders awoke this morning with tired legs. There was commotion from a few locals around our school ground camp at 5:30am as they all started moving along the nearby pathway as we surfaced from our tents.

The road for the first 50km kept riders alert as they negotiated large potholes and crumbling shoulders. By lunch it was clearly another day of good cycling weather with clear skies and a fresh breeze. The pavement after lunch improved and the road started winding its way between and over increasingly hilly terrain. The surroundings also started to change from scattered trees and elephant grass to sparsely populated low lying indigenous forest.

According to Harrison Keenan, the 50km section from lunch to the refreshment stop was “how Africa should be.” At the refreshment stop, we managed to find some more than hospitable locals that dusted a shaded, open walled grass roofed hut and set out some bamboo mats for everyone to sprawl upon. It is great to be received so warmly, rest the legs and take in some of the Zambian atmosphere. Onwards to camp, after a final steep climb, we turned to a dirt track along side the Luangwa river where we are now enjoying a great view from the bar overlooking Mozambique. A great way to finish off the challenging last few days.