My journey through the beautiful country of Malawi has come to an end, and it’s time to move on to the next chapter—Zambia.

The heat, daily ride distances and road conditions continue to be extremely challenging for me…and sometimes unbearable 🥵. However, despite that, my time in Malawi has been very special. Before arriving, I knew very little about the country, but the lush landscapes and rolling hills quickly captured my attention. However, what stood out during my travels was the people. Although I rode through more rural and less populated areas, every person I encountered was extraordinarily friendly and welcoming. Despite Malawi being one of the poorest nations in Africa, the people I met were making the most of what they had, working hard to care for their families. As I’ve since learned, Malawians have strong community ties and a deep respect for family and elders. I find this sense of connection and resilience deeply admirable.

One of my absolute most memorable experiences was when I saw a very old man (pic included) on the side of the road pushing his bicycle with 3 large bags of charcoal (weighing up to 300 lbs!). I pulled over to acknowledge his efforts. He looked at me with a sense of wonderment (& i think…a look of, ‘where the heck did you come from?!’ lol) and I looked at him in aw of his hard work. We couldn’t communicate beyond the stares back and forth. Somehow we both nodded, then reached out and…FIST BUMPED🤜💥🤛…and off we went! What a memorable moment.

Now, onto Zambia. I look forward to discovering a new culture and continuing my journey through this incredible continent.