Riding the Dirt
Game Post #1 to Soccer Field Camp
Waking up to rain, and a wet tent. The tent is pretty good to take down in the rain. I am able to pack everything and take the inside of the tent down, without touching the fly. This is what I did. I was going to leave tent up to dry, but realised half an hour in the dark, when it is still raining would make no difference whatsoever. I had a quick breakfast, having decided last night that I would try and leave early and ride by myself. I was slower on the dirt than the others, and also wanted to get to camp early enough to dry out my tent and shorts. The road was quiet so early- 6.45, which was safer and also more enjoyable. The rain eased just after I left, meaning that the road remained as packed dirt. Ok to ride, as long as you pick the right line. Essentially we are riding a dirt road through farmland, along the Western border of Ruaha National Park. I overtook Frank and Moolah after about 10km, before being overtaken by Anton and Aedo...both on bikes better suited to the dirt. Maurice was stopped by the road, rejoicing at having seen an elephant! I saw no ginormous beasts, but a fair amount of elephant poo. Aedo and I actually ended up riding together to the 40km coke stop.
It was nice riding with him, he was definitely going slower than he would otherwise, but it took my mind off counting the kms and motivated me to cycle a bit quicker, without burning it. There was allegedly a muddy patch at 36-39km where, if it had been raining, there would be lorries and bikes stuck in the mud. I had a nervous anticipation excitement. When we reached it, it was a non event- insufficient rain meant the road was the same. Relief and disappointment. I found cycling at the edge of the road provided the smoothest experience. Getting the wrong patch of road really slows you down, and is uncomfortable on the hands. Jarring in fact. We caught up with the steam train at the coke stop. We didn't find coffee, but my four day ritual morning chapati/donut was sourced. The donuts once cooked are displayed by vendors in plastic tubs, with lids. This guy tried to charge me 1000shiings, but his mate had already told me they were 100...so I paid his mate. Only 60km left to lunch and he heavens opened. The game changed completely! There were rivers of water running down the sides of the road. The road itself turned to a dirt slush, with muddy patches. Aedo and Craig disappeared off into the distance, but I just put my head down and pushed on. The rain was driving me forwards. It was a weird enjoyment/acceptance and therefore embrace situation. Lunch was on the right at the bottom of a hill. I was going to simply stop and make a jam sandwich, and continue. But by the time I had taken off my gloves and washed my hands to make the thing, I realised I would be just as quick to eat there and then. Too wet and cold to eat we huddled under the gazebo, which was intermittently purged of water by Ryan and Jordan.
I probably stopped for 15mins max. Getting pretty cold I put on my polypropylene top under my jacket. Best decision ever. Then I was on the road again. Just in 15mins the road had got even more wet and muddy. I narrowly missed slipping over cycling up to the road. It was a hard slog for the next 2 hours. Cycling through flooded sections of road.
The grit had got in my chain and jammed it, I tried to wash it off with my water bottle but it didn't even touch the sides. I ended up tracing the chain around with my hands and yanking it free. The grit was in the brakes, in the chain, in the cassette, everywhere. Just turning the pedals was hard work. A grinding sound came from the drivetrain. I thought it was that my bottom bracket had gone, but it really was just the chain churning. My speed dropped from 20km/h to 10km/h. I was overtaken by David and Alistair. Still I pushed on. Head down against the rain. There were still many villagers out. I managed to occupy myself for atleast 35km composing poems: Tanzania Four days cycling in the rain Shrivelled like a prune Precipitation Makes everyone wet and muddy Some people like it Not me TDA bike tour Pedalling in sand, wind, mud, rain Oh! My bum is sore. Tanzania Cycling in the rain season It's wet and muddy There was a bit of a theme, and very little variation. Nonetheless it kept me occupied and content. Then I hit the sand. Cycling on wet sand is like having something constantly sucking and grabbing at your wheels. It's good I imagine your feet would feel if You were walking in quick sand, but they are tyres and rolling over it. Or like trying to cycle over Velcro, with your tyres made of the Velcro counterpart. It was hard. I managed without falling off. Changing gear was limited due to the grinding drivechain. I managed to stick in a low enough gear to push through the sand, but high enough to pedal on the almost non existent former stuff. At 90Km some blue sky appeared. Still it rained. I continued to pedal downhill, against the sand, through the flooded roads and past the friendly school children. The blue started to fill the sky, and the rain gave way to sun! The traffic increased along the road. The worst were the buses which beeped, drive quickly, passed close and sprayed you with dirt and water. There was also a lot of bike traffic, locals on push bikes transporting charcoal, water, each other. Amazing given the road conditions and antiquity of their bikes. At one point I passed a truck stopped in the road. It was.m blocking the whole path. It had run out of diesel. No motorised vehicle, larger than a motorbike, would be passing unless the could supply some fuel to first move the roadblock truck! The final 20km to camp was pleasant but hilly.
The temperature was rising and I was trying to dry out my gloves and clothes while riding. I passed many rovers which looked to be in the midst of flash flood. Camp is in a soccer pitch by a school. There was no water so the first thing I did was go to the local guesthouse and ask if they had a shower. English wasn't spoken, and there was 10mins of faltered communication. 'You want soap?' 'No water and soap.' I was finally taken to a tiled room, and present with a bucket of water and a jug. Result :) I told the. I needed to get my soap! Came back to camp, told the others of the situation and then returned with towel, change of clothes and shampoo. I had planned to ask a local for a bucket, if there was non provided. She did overcharge at 3000 shillings, I don't think she realised she would soon have 30 people's business! The dinner truck had only arrived about 30mins before I did, because the road had impeded travel. I took the opportunity it's to wash while the other early arrived pitched their tents Tent pitched and drying out, it was time to wash the bike. Well the drivetrain, I haven't seen the point in washing the frame. It took about 40mins to get as much grit out of the cassette and chain as I could, and sip it making the churning sound. We have water limitations, and so I had to use recycled handwash water.
Did the trick. Much to my relief. Maybe shouldn't have put a new cassette on in Arusha. Should have waited until after the dirt section. More and more people arrived.
And went into the village looking for people to fulfil their needs- someone started cleaning bikes for 1000shillings, someone doing laundry... TdA is probably very lucrative for a lot of the settlements we pass through. A good day in the end today. Although another three left to go. I am hoping it doesn't rain overnight. And will try and set off early in be morning, being ahead of he pack pushes me. I often find I have a good day, and that's my peak. Also it's Nan's bday today. I was going to email her but we have no internet. :( it will have to wait.
