Category Archives: Endurance Sports

Lilongwe via Lusaka to the Restfulness of Victoria Falls

So I’m way behind in blogging, it looks like we left Lilongwe way back on March 31, and I still haven’t posted about it. I’ll blame lack of good internet and having too much fun in Victoria Falls.

Instead of cycling the day out of Lilongwe, I got shuttled to the Zambia border and ran from Malawi to the first town in Zambia, Chipata, exactly 21.1km (a half marathon) away… Was so happy to get this run in and prove I could at least still bust out a half if I needed!

I’m mostly gonna just post some pictures because I can’t remember a whole lot about these days… Zambia was pretty but it was also very boring… Everything was very similar, day after day. At least the people were nice and we had some good rest days!

In Lusaka a bunch of us went to Captain America and out for dinner after… It was nice to feel western and human again!

For me the beginning of the end was a day or so outside of Lusaka… I got dropped off in town for a run and just got harassed one time too many for money with the ol’ “Hello friend…” African greeting and I just had a terrible 11 km walk instead of running at all. By the time we hit Victoria Falls, I knew I wanted to go home… I wouldn’t be cycling to Cape Town.

Perhaps this is why I haven’t blogged yet.. I don’t really have a great explanation for my feelings, other than I was just sick of Africa, the trip got easy again (though supposedly more challenging in Namibia, it’s back to the ‘roads’ that are for mountain bikes), and we’re staying in lodges, and it’s hot all the time, and I just wanted to go home and get on with things there, do some runs, enjoy some cooler weather, stop having to wake up at 5am every day whether I was cycling or not. Many people on the trip tried to talk me into staying, but once the decision was made, I was happy for it.

Erica, Jill, and Randy’s bikes got stolen at a camp in Zambia and Danielle asked me how I would’ve felt if it was my bike and my answer was relieved… It was clear I was done with the trip, and even though it’s only a few weeks more, I just didn’t want to finish. I lent my bike to Erica for her to complete the trip (she also had a Surly Long Haul Trucker!)… I’ll go up to Alaska and get it someday… or something!

Anyways, here’s some pictures! Still some beautiful scenery and interesting Africa-ness! 😀

Ready to run! Always happier on run days.. haha
Ready to run! Always happier on run days.. haha
These guys and their bike loads!
These guys and their bike loads!
What'd I find at km 21 of my run? CANDY!
What’d I find at km 21 of my run? CANDY!
And a burger joint!
And a burger joint!
I was still 8 km from camp so I took a bike taxi.. Where I just sat on his rack.
I was still 8 km from camp so I took a bike taxi.. Where I just sat on his rack.
The day after the half marathon I cranked out 176km by myself mostly, with some chats with Michel and Diederik along the way... Very fun, pushing harder!
The day after the half marathon I cranked out 176km by myself mostly, with some chats with Michel and Diederik along the way… Very fun, pushing harder!
My tent and dry-tree. I lost at least one pair of bike shorts like this though, lol.
My tent and dry-tree. I lost at least one pair of bike shorts like this though, lol.
#camplife
#camplife
Alex delivered this to Steven at lunch and I thought he was joking, but Stevie took some pieces off it and ate it, omg!
Alex delivered this to Steven at lunch and I thought he was joking, but Stevie took some pieces off it and ate it, omg!
Luangwa Bridge, which we were told not to photograph, so of course I really wanted a picture.
Luangwa Bridge, which we were told not to photograph, so of course I really wanted a picture.
Luangwa Bridge Camp... Nice place, but the owners seemed really unhappy to be in Africa and didn't have much nice to say about the locals... Why would you live there and do this for 10 years then?
Luangwa Bridge Camp… Nice place, but the owners seemed really unhappy to be in Africa and didn’t have much nice to say about the locals… Why would you live there and do this for 10 years then?
#yolo
#yolo
Nice view from the pool!
Nice view from the pool!
Justin and Bina!
Justin and Bina!
Drinking wine from a cup... We're classy on the TDA.
Drinking wine from a cup… We’re classy on the TDA.
Kept up with Ina the next day for 81km before I bonked and caught a truck... was a nice day of riding with her though!
Kept up with Ina the next day for 81km before I bonked and caught a truck… was a nice day of riding with her though!
Super was beef kabobs! The best meal yet, I had 11 kabobs... There was so many!
Super was beef kabobs! The best meal yet, I had 11 kabobs… There was so many!
Moustache March results get announced!
Moustache March results get announced!
Lusaka! Wimpy burger!
Lusaka! Wimpy burger!
TDA buys some African bikes for us to ride into Vic Falls with.
TDA buys some African bikes for us to ride into Vic Falls with.
100mL packs of booze... the best. lol
100mL packs of booze… the best. lol
FIRE! This is the day of my 11k walk.
FIRE! This is the day of my 11k walk.
Riding into Vic Falls on the Atlas bike! 50km, Bina and Justin and I rode it together... Justin and I could've won the male race, but we assumed we weren't in it, so we stopped at Steers (burger place) for about an hour... Alas! Could've had a stage plate. lol. Instead German Dave won again after Ina towed him in due to a lost chain.
Riding into Vic Falls on the Atlas bike! 50km, Bina and Justin and I rode it together… Justin and I could’ve won the male race, but we assumed we weren’t in it, so we stopped at Steers (burger place) for about an hour… Alas! Could’ve had a stage plate. lol. Instead German Dave won again after Ina towed him in due to a lost chain.
Then we gave the African bikes away! They really are terrible though.. =\
Then we gave the African bikes away! They really are terrible though.. =\
Sunset on the Zambezi river!
Sunset on the Zambezi river!

Victorial Falls Activities!

Lots to do in Africa’s adventure capital! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves! 😀

… Actually some things of note. I got a double entry visa going into Zambia so I could go across to Zimbabwe and do something there. This cost an extra $30. Then I got to the border and it was $75 for Canadians ($30 for basically everyone else). Apparently this is due to sanctions that Canada has imposed on Zimbabwe goods and politicians. Alas. $105 to goto Zimbabwe for under 3 hours. Worth it? lol.

Victoria Falls bridge itself is on the border between the two countries, kind of in no man’s land? It was built in the early early 1900s as well, and has lasted!

Lion Encounter! It was nice to find out that the lions we pet do not go into the real wild! They're used as breeders for other lions that do. These ones get the fake wild.
Lion Encounter! It was nice to find out that the lions we pet do not go into the real wild! They’re used as breeders for other lions that do. These ones get the fake wild.
Oh hey, a Giraffe.
Oh hey, a Giraffe.
Whoa!! LIONS!
Whoa!! LIONS!
Justin petting a lion.
Justin petting a lion.
Bina petting a lion.
Bina petting a lion.
Birgit petting a lion.
Birgit petting a lion.
Me petting a lion!!
Me petting a lion!!
Now it's walk time...
Now it’s walk time…
And play time...
And play time…
Whoa buddy! (*yawn*)
Whoa buddy! (*yawn*)
Pretty cute for cats!
Pretty cute for cats!
Mid walk pets...
Mid walk pets…
They got playful near the water! Then ran off to hunt.
They got playful near the water! Then ran off to hunt.
Giraffe was still there on the way out, love giraffes!
Giraffe was still there on the way out, love giraffes!
Hanging out at the Royal Livingstone Resort for drinks and food after...
Hanging out at the Royal Livingstone Resort for drinks and food after…
The hotel had Zebra!
The hotel had Zebra!
Victoria Falls Bridge Slide!
Victoria Falls Bridge Slide!
Victoria Falls Bridge Bungee!!
Victoria Falls Bridge Bungee!!
Victoria Falls Bridge Swing!!!
Victoria Falls Bridge Swing!!!
Victoria Falls Hotel, the real one built in 1904 in Zimbabwe, not the fake one on the Zambia side (Royal Livingstone, built just a few years ago)
Victoria Falls Hotel, the real one built in 1904 in Zimbabwe, not the fake one on the Zambia side (Royal Livingstone, built just a few years ago)
$15 tea! ... ok, it came with snacks... High Tea!
$15 tea! … ok, it came with snacks… High Tea!
Guess who in Victoria Falls Hotel!
Guess who in Victoria Falls Hotel!
Too much water to see the falls properly... Will have to go back in a drier season!
Too much water to see the falls properly… Will have to go back in a drier season!
The gorge up to the hotel from the bridge.
The gorge up to the hotel from the bridge.
Victoria Falls Hotel from the Bridge!
Victoria Falls Hotel from the Bridge!