Round 2 Ding ding ding

I just rode 19.1 kilometers! Check it out on #strava: http://app.strava.com/activities/45368841
Up and away at a good hour  - Beautiful time of day - I cycled as far as Chimusanya and realised that there was something wrong with my drive train  - I hadnt experienced this kind of problem before - but it was time to replace some of my running gear which I thought I was going to get a bit further on - allgood as I  pondered what to do sitting under a tree  - Lusaka was the only real option  so I walked back to this village and waited not long until this white double cab ute pulled over - after I waved at them to pull over - I was so lucky  to have met Peter Aagaard  on his way back to Lusaka  -   early in the morning - have to say it was a quick trip which was great it was funny to see where I had cycled the day prior -Peter was so cool in getting me to a bike shop with a driver asap .  However this bikeshop was not meant to be - more for the Local style of bike so the driver dropped me off a shopping complex called Manda Hill - I rung Derek and asked if I could stay again  - he was so cool about it all  and within 5 to 10 minutes he was there in his blue VW Beetle -what a turnaround! ! Turns out  Derek had a friend and was probably THE only guy in Lusaka with the parts for my bike- well ill be! I managed to pull my bike apart and fit it in Derek's beetle to get around to Jaco's house before he left to fly to Capetown the next day-Sheesh - cutting it fine! Jaco was so cool in helping work through the problem  - honestly such a cool guy! He washed my bike and fitted a new chain and did everything possible until we realised that my chain had stretched causing my front chain rings and rear cassette to wear mainly on my front lower ring and back three lower gears - basically the gears I use the most so I needed some new chain rings and a new cassette - what was even cooler was that Jaco invited me for a braai -got to love that South African /Zambian banter sitting around a fire in the back yard!  Jaco was so into his bikes and bike repairs - when asked if he would do what I was doing - without even thinking he straight away said yes with attitude! Love that spirit Jaco !!!  - A generous legend of a man -  Thankyou so much Jaco !! He asked if I could put his contact details on my blog : lucycleparts@gmail.com  -so if I  Lusaka you know where to go!!

Um no offence but you are not touching my bike

Bike in the back of Petes Ute on the way back to Lusaka

Jaco you Beast!!

A worn back cassette - Mainly the three smallest cogs -they got the most wear !

The Best bike mechanic and shop in Lusaka

Worn chain rings

VW rescue , my bike in a taxi

On the road again

I just rode 140.4 kilometers! Check it out on #strava: http://app.strava.com/activities/45368900 Left Lusaka in reasonable time- stopped off at the hardware store to buy a tool to fix my front dynamo hub which had become a bit loose .Lusaka looked like an interesting place but I needed to make up some time .Another day  of perfect weather and charcoal couriers, I ended up at this little village and asked the nurse Teresa if I could stay - it was a Catholic school and they had a few concrete rooms - sweetas bro - these guys made some soshema and I supplied the colas we sat on the concrete and ate with an awesome lightening storm in the background - they gave me a bucket to stand in and have a wash -I went to my thermarest while they sat out side and smoked their ganja.

A Charcoal truck under repair

1234567   8  Stacks of charcoal mate ! Making a living off charcoal deliveries the more you deliver the more you get paid , why not one more?

Spectators at my puncture repair

If you ever want to start a business heres how

Friendly guys showing me their houses

Two bottles of fizz thanks

A cute photo with the butterfly too

Lusaka

I just rode 120.7 kilometers! Check it out on #strava: http://app.strava.com/activities/45102922
It was so awesome to be able to stay with Dawn and Clinton on their farm -Thank you so much for your generosity and hospitality in my time of need!
Another absolutely stunning day - good to get away early - only 120km so no pressure.When I arrived at Lusaka and saw a big tall building , the thought crossed my mind that this could be the capital so I asked one of the security guards and sure enough it is.2 strawberry milkshakes later and an Australian by the name of Brendan came and introduced himself to me - he is organising a charity bike ride thriugh th Lower Zambezi National Park and wanted some ideas etc si we organised to meet at the intercontinental hotel for drinks.I had a place to stay also - I met Derek Pollard at Jolly boys backpackers -he was away but had organised for me to stay at his apartment - Julia was living there also and was so cool in letting me stay .

Buying some food on the side of the road - plenty of competition everytime a new vehicle rolls up

Do you want some goat mate ! Whats that thing on your head!

A Hard Working and Busy man -Clinton a Dairy Farmer from Zambia and his Wife Dawn showed me such hospitality and generosity ! Thankyou so much guys!

Stones for sale

Replacing the bearings in my back wheel - First time for everything

Let the Revolution Begin !

Couple of blokes from Downunder

Best breakdown-ever!

I just rode 114.7 kilometers! Check it out on #strava: http://app.strava.com/activities/44820798
Wow what a day ! The weather has been absolutely awesome  - sunny -settled and great for cycling!  The first people I met were some fellow cycle tourists from Holland and Latvia -They had cycled from Europe and were heading south - it was great to meet these guys and share some experiences and see how other people are travelling. Up and down the road all day there was a constant stream of bikes - big friendly smiles , hellos , how are you's  and  fist pumps . A lot of guys ride out of town to buy the charcoal of the people from the villages then cycle back to town and sell it - the great thing about my helmet mounted camera with wifi remote is that I can do interviews with people while they are riding along  so cool , this one guy cycles 30km to buy charcoal at 18 kwatcha then cycles back and sells it for something like 35 kwatcha .They also know how to slipstream and do well to keep up , one guy overtook me through Monzie  - he looked pretty happy about it -- until I overtook him and put the foot down - had to laugh!   These cool little dudes came up to me while I was pairing my remote to camera interested in my bike  so I took a photo .Another interesting thing I saw was a log that someone had chopped through - no chainsaws around here ! So I was heading to Kafue to complete a 180km day when something felt wrong with my back wheel initially I thought I had a flat tyre then on closer I spection I realised  that one of the back bearings had given out - I dont think I had even had the chance to figure out what was wrong or come up with a plan when a white ute pulled over with two woman in it -  Wow ! They were in a hurry but Donna explained to me how to find  her husband Clinton at their farm so I walked my bike back about a km and made friends with a couple of  farm works who escorted me to the farm.It was nice to stretch the legs  and see the view of the Mazabuka sugar plains 2nd biggest sugar producing region in Africa.So we pulled the wheel apart also with the help of Lou - A South African mechanic with a Kiwi wife  who also knows Darryn from Living Earth (who drives a blue Toyota Hilux)-If your reading - Hi Darryn and Lisa! Eventually the bearings came out thanks to Lou and Clinton had a truck going to Lusaka a 3am the next morning  -Who's the lucky boy cycling around the world with friends in high places! Man - Eye fillet beef , beens and carrots out of the garden , gravy , potatos -fantastic people helping me -  JESUS!!

The Charcoal express - This guy was a bit alarmed at me coming upto him

Wazzzzuuuupp!

Copper ingots

Cool Kids

A Mechanic from Churton Park in Wellington NewZealand -Classic

To guys showing me the way

A young family on the move- Sustainable living

Not many chainsaws here