Wed 30 May 2018, Day 178
Rest day at Butterfly Space, Nkhata Bay
Total from Amsterdam 11912

The sun rose and we were still sleeping, eventually waking up at 07h30. Took our breakfast stuff to the bar which is almost at water level and marveled at the beauty of the lake and how massive it is. Size ….. Watched six cute puppies playing in the grass wanting to suckle their mother who was trying to ward them off. Her muzzle was grey and was probably tired of giving birth to litter after litter, her poor teats hanging. I can’t understand why they don’t just have her sterilised, there are vets in Mzuzu, 50 odd km away. We had our second swim in the lake, the water so crystal clear we could see the stoney bed. Washed our cycle gear ready for tomorrow’s climb out of Nkhata Bay which is about 6 km to the turn off to carry on down the lake. We plan to follow the lake to the town of Salima and then head west towards Lilongwe. From there to the border of Zambia. We are cooking with the girls tonight, Trent has gone to Zambia see about importing tools into Zambia.  He’s an archeologist but hasn’t worked yet. Istene and I mastered the art of hoola hooping which was our bit of exercise for the day.

Istene and Pip went grocery shopping for supper and Istene cooked the four of us a delicious meal of pasta and a tomato based sauce and a salad of potato, avo and apple. The meal was delicious and having someone else prepare the food, their way, a nice change. We had no electricity for most if the day and ate our meal by candle light. The moon rose out of the Lake, the colour a gorgeous African burnt orange. We exchanged movies and one I’m looking forward to watching is Cat in the Hat. Istene and Pip sat on the deck, contemplating life and watching the moon rise. Peter and I, the two old mzungus, went to our room to read. Night all xx

Tue 29 May 2018, Day 177
Staying at Butterfly Space, Nkhata Bay
Distance 53   6512
Average 16.1
Time on bike 3 h 15 m
Total from Amsterdam 11912
Location S11.612264, E34.304854

Said cherio to the Suzuki trio then stopped at General Insurance Company so that Peter could have a chat and get a business card. Next was Shoprite and saw all the overlanders who drove past us a few days ago and met the people of three of the fifteen vehicles in the convoy. Two guys are from George … Stephen Hardcastle, a retired doctor and Sidney de Reuck … wonder if he’s a relative of my Mom, she was also a de Reuck. Also saw the Namibian couple from Swakopmund, Pat and Achim Lorenz who slowed down on the bugger of a hill the other day. Surprise !!! Peter’s got another flat front tyre. It’s now getting beyond ridiculous. Put the bike on the pavement just to the right of the Shoprite entrance and changed the tyre, surprise … that one also had a new puncture. I popped into a pharmacy for some nasal spray and cycle pimple pills and to Shoprite for yoghurt (a treat), bread, oats, sugar. I would have liked to buy a few treats but it would have just made the bikes heavy again. 10h30 and back to Blessing’s bike shop and he said the tubes were too narrow.