'Tough day,' they said.
Day 7 of 7! Last section of dirt and then back on the tar. Bacon for breakfast. No bread, but bacon and egg chapatis....wheatabix available too :)
Delayed start because David's back wheel wasn't aligned properly and so wasn't turning. Then his reflector was in the wrong place. It was raining. The road was busy. The road was bumpy.
We met the fourth type of dirt road this morning: rocky. The worst dirt road of the whole trip. i have likened it to a few things. Cycling on a cobblestone road, with a lot of missing cobbles. Cycling on the cratered surface of the moon. Being in a tumble drier without the warm fuzzy feeling.
It was hard work. Relentless. Unforgiving. Painful. Constant jolting through the wrists and the knees, and even my brain. David, Alistair and I were about the same speed, and definitely all enjoying the road conditions to the same degree. Not at all. It took us two and a half long hours to cover 35.5km. Where to dirt was meant to turn to tar. Lies. I tell you. Lies. It stopped at 37km.
The bikes were feeling it. Mine actually probably faired the best this morning. Alistairs developed a squeak. David's wheel jumped out of alignment again. We were all glad to wave that section goodbye. We had a celebratory coke with Neal and Marty, although spirits were damp (no pun intended).
Setting off for lunch, only 15km. Yes. Only.
David got a puncture within 2km of our coke stop. I stopped to help him, while cursing him for smugly saying that he had never had a puncture on that bike last night. Anyone who knows me, knows you do not tempt fate in that wait. It's as good as saying 'I am going to get a puncture tomorrow.' Anyhow. Keen to prove that we can do tyres without Alistair, I set to work. Up pulls Maurice and offers to help. 'Yes, please. Neither of us have any experience' jumps David. I am a bit miffed, he didn't even give me a chance, and just assumed I wouldn't be able to do it. I mockingly commented, but accepted Maurice's help nonetheless. Tyre changed the rain starts in earnest. I am getting cold and very over the stop and start nature of the morning. I get back on the bike and leave them to put the wheel on.
My pace is slow, only 20km/h. It is slightly uphill, but still, I am disappointed with myself. I get overtaken by David. Slightly annoyed asI stopped to help and am then too slow to cycle with him. Five minutes later Maurice passes. That's the last straw. Physically tired. Emotionally drained. Wet. Cold. Another 65km to cycle, and 1500m of climbing. Feeling inadequate once again. Guartaneed not to be able to get a room at camp. Sick of damp everything and nothing being easy. The tears start rolling. First proper tears of the trip. Long enough to induce snuffling. I approach lunch and manage to rein it in.
Marty, Neal and Alistair are pulling out of lunch. Having not had to stop with a flat tyre. I avoid most people, apart from to proclaim how rubbish the whole situation is. The rain is as heavy as it was on the first dirt day. Maurice comments that it is nicest day riding yet, I just started crying again. I had to walk off into the rain and pretend to wee behind a tree...to be honest, thats a normal thing to do at lunch these days. Anyhow, I drowned my sorrows in bacon rolls and nutella. Told Jordan to pick me up when he comes across me huddled in a ball at the side of the road, plugged myself into Backstreet Boys and set off again.
Backstreet Boys, in conjunction with my thermal top, did make me feel a bit happier inside. I had my hood up over my helmet and was bracing for the remaining 55km uphill. David disappeared off into the distance, but there was no one chasing behind, so that was nice. It was a long, wet and cloudy slog. It reminded my of driving over the Carter Bar in the Scottish Borders in winter, actually in Summer too. i felt I was about to turn the corner and see the 'Welcome to Scotland' sign, and the guy playing the bagpipes.
At one point some kids were running beside me, laughing and shouting, not phased by the rain. I didn't have the emotional energy to respond and so kept looking forwards and pedalling. The kept up for quite a while.
Alistair was struggling with his knee. We completed the climb together. Reaching the 'Highest Point on all trunk roads in Tanzania.
Disappointingly the road dipped and then climbed again. Eventally we reached out promised downhill. We descended from about 2500m to 1700m over 10km. I reached speeds over60km/h and got air off the speed bumps.
The best downhill since Cairo! Almost worth the long slog and climb.
We reached camp, and got a round of applause. I was tired. Sophie even said there were alot of people still left to come in. David had arrived earlier and gone off to look at hotels. Much appreciated. I set my tent over the volleyball net to dry it out and went off for a shower. I felt alot happier after some warm running water, and a hair wash with shampoo and conditioner. I had no towel though, as i had left it in the rain last night, so had to use a pillowcase! While waitong for David we enjoyed a drink - Konyaki and tonic. :)
Checked into a hotel called Peace of Mind,about 5mins walk from Mbeya Hotel. Best decision ever. I just needed some personal space. And somewhere dry. It had quick internet, a bathroom with a bath, and its only 55000shillings a night ($27USD). I also handed in my washing- hugely smelly, but I gave up hand washing for 2 hours on a rest day over 1 month ago now!
Rest day tomorrow.
