The routes I planned before coming over were specifically all pavement or asphalt and I’d had no intentions of going on the dirt backroads. Hence the decision to go with my skinny Continentals. However, the river trip was a happy surprise that put me into the thick of the country side where often not even an ox cart could pass.…

The next day, with an even earlier start, and the very unceremonious drop off at the finish, gave me the impression that they just wanted to be rid of me and headed back home (and when I was able to get at my phone to look at my GPS I found that they’d dropped me off a village early; only…

Starting the day with a big cup of tea was nice, but after a quick stop at a market at one of the many villages to get coffee, the morning was perfect. Feet up, herons and other birds flying along the shore, big cup of coffee = happy. The occasional light sprinkles were a relief from the heat. The second…

I needed more recovery before getting back in the saddle, and serendipity answered; I decided on a course correction that was three days by dugout canoe downriver towards the coast. This got me closer to Morondava and gave me much needed rest and pease and quiet. Two guys paddling me and doing all the work, one would cook meals on…

I can’t say enough about how friendly the people are here (in the country side at least)! I feel like I’m constantly waving back at kids, returning greetings, smiling back, etc. I’m getting a sore face from smiling so much 😅 And when I end up riding at the same pace as someone else we end up having separate one-sided…