Welcome back to biking with 43 hilly miles. Thankfully, more down than up, but my legs are tired. Beautiful scenery today, but my heart wasn’t in it. I think I am officially burnt out on cycling for now — especially with the challenges Africa brings. Heading back to Lake Malawi tomorrow. I thought I had a lot of climbing again tomorrow but maybe I’m just one ugly hill. Otherwise, downhill is the word of the day.
It didn’t quite go as planned, but in a decent hotel even if I do have to be very tricky to get to the toilet. I have to push the door to the toilet, then suck in my stomach so I can push the door back so I can sit. Speaking of toilets, I stopped at a school today thinking I saw bathrooms. They said I could use it, but then they were further back. I asked if they were sit down toilets and was told yes. Imagine my shock when I opened the door, a couple of lizards scurried away and the toilet was a cement floor with a pretty small square hole in it. Umm, nope. I closed the door and since everyone was staring at me, I said I would go in the bushes later
Rhumpi is off route a few miles, but the ride to it was actually pretty nice. Very scenic. Was nice to see a river as well. I had a place picked out, but when I stopped there, I saw the tail of rat scurry into a hole on the outside of the building. The room was okay and the people were friendly, but I was still a ways out of town and I appeared to be the only guest. I felt kind of bad, but I decided to head into town. I was able to find a nicer hotel and on my way to it, I noticed a very similar name to the one I had picked out. That was the one I had been planning on staying at. At this point, I was just happy to have something clean and hey, the building are all bright pink. What's not to love?!
I thought the hat was a nice touch. For the locals, it's a little cold out today
I never have to feel bad about a hill climb when the cars/trucks are struggling to get up. There was actually a back up of trucks, but I couldn't quite get my camera out in time
After my failed bathroom stop, I pulled off onto a dirt road and found a peaceful place and enjoyed a longer lunch break. Pulled out my chair and everything.
Speaking of toilets, I stopped at a school today thinking I saw bathrooms. They said I could use it, but then they were further back. I asked if they were sit down toilets and was told yes. Imagine my shock when I opened the door, a couple of lizards scurried away and the toilet was a cement floor with a pretty small square hole in it. Umm, nope. I closed the door and since everyone was staring at me, I said I would go in the bushes later 
