Sun 02 June
The day started well; I was informed by Nevisson (duty manager at the Villa) that I was not being charged for my stay at Villa Habsburg! Thank you Frank (and Gerry). Then an excellent breakfast before setting off at about 0830.
The direct road bridge to Malawi was closed to traffic, so it was a 20km detour to take the New Bridge.
En route I noticed a few other bikes. The girl on pillion had one arm around a 20-litre bucket, and her other arm around an infant, whose head protruded above her elbow. The next bike also had a woman clutching an infant, but this one was looking at me as I caught up. She also had a large bag and squashed between her and the driver was another child. The third bike had a driver and a female pillion too. She also had an infant but instead of a bag or a jacket, in front of her was a second child and, then, to my surprise, in front of the driver were two more kids. All this reminded me of Vietnam; don’t you just love it? I was to be thankful for this ability to carry odd loads on small bikes in the coming days!
The road to the border was not bad. Some potholes with a few bumpy bits but I made good progress until the road forked at Massano. One fork goes to Blantyre and the other to Lilongwe; however, they are signposted Malawi and Aginare. I took the road to Malawi; wouldn’t you? Wrong!
Luckily, I noticed the GPS telling me to do a u-turn fairly quickly, and only went 5km wrong.
This new road is a credit to whoever built it! It was smooth, cambered correctly, and pothole free with practically no traffic, no pedestrians and no villages. It was a road the match of any anywhere, – I was really enjoying myself – gently undulating hills with long sweeping curves, bright sun with some scattered cottonwool clouds. This was motorcycling – I had to keep telling myself to slow down!
My sunny parade was spoiled a little later when I dropped the bike. I had stopped to take some photos, and parked on a downhill bit of road with the camber falling away from the bike.
When I tried to get it upright, it rolled forward, still leaning sideways, out of control and I couldn’t hold it. Thankfully, there was no damage, except to my thumb, and a passer-by helped me get it up again. I am now traveling with a rock to place under the side stand.
All along this stretch of road towards Dedza, charcoal making seemed to be the main occupation.
It’s a surprise there’ are any trees left. Then you climb a hill, round a bend and it’s all gone.
Getting out of Mozambique was easy. Go to immigration and get a stamp; hand TIP in to customs; and go!
Belfast-2-Belfast-By-Bike 