TRUE or FALSE: A plateau is flat. (Monday)

From Webster’s Dictionary: plateau—a level land area considerably raised above adjoining land. While I didn’t have this definition exactly worded in my head it is what I believed about plateaus…of course had a paid more attention on our ride in we would have realized that at least this plateau is not flat…

So after thawing some and having some bread as breakfast we decided to hire (rent) the mountain bikes and bike to Chisanga Falls. When we told them what we wanted to do they said it would take all day but should be good. We imagined we could do it in 4 hours and get a ride back out with Gilbert (man who brought us in). (they told us our walk yesterday would be an all day affair and it took about 4 hours at a nice leisurely pace)…so off we went with lunch and water and ready to warm up. We could have even taken a hint from the first part of the “ride” it was uphill and we had to walk most of it. but we are optimists (really?) and continued on. It was hot (when the sun is out—daytime—it is quite hot) and dusty. We reached the junction (16k from camp) and had 7k still to go to get to the falls. This ride is going to take much longer than we imagined but still doable though not with a ride out from Gilbert. And on we go. The downhills while fun, in the back of my mind I realize we’re going to have to come back up them on the return trip—don’t think about that too much…and it is dirt roads and sometimes softer sand so you have to stay vigilant about guiding the bike around the rocks and getting through the deeper parts…exhausting. We reach a sign that says Chisanga Bridge-3k. so off the bikes and down down down the side of a mountain. We reach a bridge and no falls…maybe they are a little further but no luck. We try to follow the river a little to find the falls but the undergrowth is too high so it is back up the 3k…we decide to go a little farther (500m) on the road where we find the sign for Chisanga Falls-3k. we take stock and realize that we’ve come this far we might as well go for it because it would be really sad to get this close and not see them. However, after 500m downhill the path splits into many goat trails and disappears…so try as we might we couldn’t find the falls. Found some shade to have our lunch and then it was past time to head back.

The way back was even harder as we were already exhausted and I think the uphills might have been longer than in the other direction. Get to the junction and just want the guys at camp to come in their truck looking for us…or to wait for another truck to come into camp but realize we can’t count on either option so we keep going. Get up a hill about 7k from camp and have to take a break…while sitting we hear a truck coming from “outside.” Hoping and praying and almost in tears we flag it down and it stops! It is an empty lumber truck so we lift our bikes on the back and climb on with the 6 people already on the back. We stop to pick up some other Malawians and you can hear the people telling about how they found the azungu on the side of the road…I don’t even mind being laughed at at this point—as long as they don’t make me get off the truck.

Rhona asked if I was ok as I was closer to the edge than she was. I’m fine. Just don’t fall off—that would hurt. Actually falling off and breaking all my bones would hut less than having to get back on that bike…we got a laugh out of that (but I think it might have been true)

Camp staff were quite impressed when we rode up to the office (the truck went to the lumber camp so we did have to ride the last part but knowing the end was close made it bearable). We must have looked a sight—and we couldn’t imagine trying to camp again…so we asked about their cheapest room--$150! There is no way we can do that. They talked to the manager and got us the room with dinner for half price and we decided we’d have to because we wouldn’t make it through another night of frozen camping (turned out there was no frost the next morning). Then being in the pitiful state we were in we asked if they would drive us the 1k (uphill) to the campsite to get our stuff. They agreed and came with us…they even took our tent down for us. got us to our room, built us a fire in the fireplace and all was good for the rest of the night…