Manage crisis; reduce impact

The Easter bunny is hydrophobic, and so am I! 731km cycled in 5 days, taking us smoothly to the outskirts of Lusaka. Well, perhaps not so smoothly...Characteristically of TdA the last 7km of our 5 day stint were on a dirt road. We were staying at Pioneer Camp, 14km outside of Lusaka - the Capital of Zambia. About half of the riders had opted to get a hotel room in town. Unusually, David and I were camping. This was namely because of the distance from camp to town, and because of the cost of the hotel rooms. Pioneer Camp is pleasant but basic. The camping pitch is a grassy area at the bottom of a hill. The toilet and shower block, along with the seating area, restaurant/bar and chalets are at the top of the hill. With 104km, and 1000m of climbing, we made it in by 12.30. The sun was shining and it was warm enough to dry out our damp abodes. It didn't rain the night previously, but there had been a heavy dew, so by default everything was packed wet. I deliberated where to put my tent for a while. There is a strategy to selecting a camping spot. Just like when choosing a permanent residence, camping real estate is a tricky business. 1. Relief and drainage. The prime spot must be well draining, but not so well draining that it is, in fact, a drainage channel. Maximum elevation within the neighbourhood is recommended, often with a slight incline. The incline must not be so great that it interferes with sleeping. 2. Shelter. In the rainy season, pitching under shelter is a question of canopy effectiveness. If the shelter is impermeable to precipitation then pitching under will provide a definite advantage. Should the shelter be semi or fully permeable (for example a tree), then stay away. Your tent will still get wet but, unlike if you pitch out in the open, the shelter will then limit drying potential should the rain stop and the sun come out. Furthermore, should the rain stop, moisture settled on the leaves will provide a slow release drip onto your canvas for the night. 3. Foundations. A comfort consideration, but moreover a tent longevity consideration. Thorns, rocks, mud, ants, animal faeces, grass tufts, sand, harrowed fields...we have encountered them all. It is important to select a region with minimal thorns and rocks thus reducing risk of damage to groundsheet and thermarest. Grass provides a comfortable underlay, however appears to trap moisture more than others. It is also a favourite among the insect population. Should no desirable foundations be available, the use of a broom or other instrument to clear a site is recommended. 3. Neighbours. Canvas, especially the modern lightweight varieties, are particularly thin. Flatulence, snoring, sleep talking, alarm clocks, x-rated shuffles; they are all audible. Choose your neighbours wisely. It is a compromise between pitching your abode before everyone else, and selecting a good spot but risking future neighbours, vs waiting until everyone has selected their spot and then picking the best of the rest. I have a circle of people who I have become particularly familiar with, I know they are quiet during the night, and have become familiar with their routines in the morning. Despite moving house on a circadian basis, I seem to find myself in the same neighbourhood most nights. 4. Artificial lighting. Not a problem in bush camps, but campsites, parks and hotels. Some lights do not turn off overnight. Pay particular attention to where potential light sources are, which direction they are orientated, and if they are manually controlled. 5. Toilet facilities. A personal preference. Some prefer to be close to the facilities, others would prefer to avoid the potential food traffic and aromas. 6. Solitude vs safety. When camping in a group there is a choice to be made as to whether to camp at the edge, or within the pack. Within the pack has obvious disadvantages, as discussed above, along with the risk of standing on pegs, and tripping over guy ropes. It does, however, offer a safety advantage. Much like zebra in the Serengeti, those grazing at the edge of the group leave themselves susceptible to attack from outsiders. Possessions in tents on the outsiders of the commune are a far easier target for passing kleptomaniacs. The spot I selected was slightly raised, not in an obvious drainage channel, and most importantly in the sun for maximum drying. I also hung my sleeping bag over a nearby tree to air out, the smell of wet dog has somewhat subsided having had a few dry days since Tanzania. While hanging my sleeping bag I noted that I would need to be careful removing it from the tree as there was a small easily snaggable branch. I also reflected that the whole camping area was poorly selected, being at the bottom of the hill. Washing handed in, warm shower enjoyed, Alistair treated us to Gin and Tonics at the bar. It was a pleasurable few hours, until I developed cabin fever. We had been told there were shuttles available to take us the 14km into town. What was not mentioned was the $40us one way for the liberty. This frustrated the majority of is greatly. Especially as rest days are days when we are to be self sufficient- providing our own food, water, transport, entertainment. In the end a compromise was reached - there would be a group trip to the cinema and mall at 5pm. That was 3 hours away. I am not very good at sitting, and waiting. I found solice is talking to Katherine, Erin and Liz which was nice. I do not routinely hang out with these guys as they tend to cycle nearer the back of the group and come into camp later, so having he opportunity to talk to them was appreciated. At about 4.30 I was about to make a move Down into camp to sort my stuff out and get ready to go when the heavens opened. It was a hilarious sight. 15 of us sprinting down the hill to our tents, like rabbits to their burrows after a threatening noise. I didn't know what to do first, Alistair grabbed by sleeping bag and liner from the tree and handed it to me as I passed. Do I zip up the doors or do I put the lid over the skylights? Do I open the inner tent to put the sleeping bag in, or just put it in the porch? It was like those games with a ticking clock and you have to make decisions under pressure. I compromised, throwing the lid over the top, the sleeping bag in the porch and then doing up the doors, before going back to pull the lid over the open skylights and attaching it to the frame. By this point balls of ice were falling from the sky and I was soaked through. Even my pants were wet! It had come from no where and within 5mins everything was saturated. I sprinted back up to the shelter of the seating area, shivering. Steph wrapped me in a warming hug. We stood watching the calamity unfold and the water fall from the heavens. Alistair, who had returned to the bar, was seen sprinting shirtless down the hill with a shovel. We all thought he was making a joke about needing to use the bathroom in the rain. It was no joke, both his tent and my tent were right in the run off. He had gone down to dig a trench around his tent to protect it from flooding, but too late. Both our tents were in a puddle of water. My ripped sleeping bag (yes the branch had snagged it) was wet, along with my liner, and saturated cycle shoes and down jacket. Alistair has a picture of a tshirt someone was wearing in Lilongwe: We joked about this being the situation. Cinema mission aborted. The lunch truck disappeared off the rescue the Hilux (which had gone to the supermarket to stock up for the next 3 riding days). Apparently a tree had blown down on the road, and the power cables, so they went and pulled it off the road so the Hilux could get back. Needless to say the power had gone out. When the rain eased (didn't stop), I went and rescued my possessions. It was Not as bad was it could have been, but not exactly a good start to the rest day. Aedo had a room, he said I could borrow his sleeping bag. I also asked if I could sleep on his floor. He very kindly agreed. Alistair took his spare bed, and I would have the floor. How to deal with a crisis. Minimise impact. Dry out sleeping bag and liner. Find somewhere dry to sleep. Change out of wet clothes. Gather essential possessions for immediate future. Start drinking. As darkness fell, the rain continued and the power remained non existent, the staff produced numerous bottles of liquor. Malawi Gin, Malawi Vodka, Glenfiddich Whisky. For the record the Green Glenfiddich Whisky is extremely drinkable straight. I am not a big drinker full stop, so for me to be recommending and appreciating it's taste is noteable. The green apparently is the 12 year single malt. Anyhow. We sat around the picnic bench, drinking and discussing life. By 8.30 I was tired and wanting my space and bed. Alistair showed my to my floor space. I was appreciative of a roof but missed My personal space. The boys came to bed not long after. I woke in the middle of the night with a headache, so trekked the 700m back to the truck for some water. In my effort To be stealthy I couldn't find my shoes, but had brought my head torch and blanket. I decided I would Just sleep on one of the benches by the truck rather than walk back. I had a nice Jack Russell for company. The rain continued all night, keeping the mosquitoes at bay. I actually slept ok, despite being on a bench in the open. We were hoping the sun would rise on the rest day and dry out our possessions. No such luck. Rain and thunder continued for the morning. We ordered a taxi to go to the mall. Escape the reality and insular feeling at camp. While waiting for the bus I moved My tent up the hill. We also got our washing given back to us, unwashed, as they didn't think it would dry. Another pit fall. Now I had a bag of damp and smelly Clothes, to last me 3 days, and no Time to wash them myself. The shuttle run by the lodge wasn't running because the person who drives the shuttle is on holiday. The taxi was an hour and 15mins late. They had no biltong at the bar because they had run out. I had no apples, raisins or Chocolate left. 'This is Africa' is the mantra. In the end the bus arrived. We piled in, and I am now sitting at a cafe called Mugg and Bean, having enjoyed a chesse, Ham and tomato toasted sandwich and a Latte. Restocked on raisins and apples, and a chocolate fix obtained, I am feeling slightly better. Everyone from the bus has gone to the cinema, so I am waiting until 5 to go back. I guess I will just continue crisis Management. Wash my clothes so they are atleast clean, put up camp bed and sleep in tent tonight, wear wet but clean cycle Clothes tomorrow. Hopefully be able to charge some items overnight. We have three long cycle days to Vic Falls, with basic camping. Soccer Field, basic camp site and then camp Site at our next three rest days :). Hopefully sun comes out and can dry My stuff tomorrow. Now it is a mental Game. Get up, get on, don't dwell. Everyone is in the same boat, it's not the end of the world and he situation will improve within a few days. Just don't let the mental fatigue cause physical fatigue. Focus on the cycling and keep them separate. It is interesting. This could potentially be the 'worst' 24hours of the tour for me and I wouldn't say I have been happy, but I would say I am still enjoying it. I have to remind myself that it will seem so boring at home when I don't have to sprint down the hill to close my tent and ensure by belongings remain Damp Rather than sodden, then dig a trench round it to stop it flooding, then evacuate and hope I have dry clothes and somewhere dry to sleep! I'll just be able to look out of the window in dry clothes, maybe even get into bed and appreciate having a dry duvet (not a damp sleeping bag!).