Take us to the internet!

We are sitting in an internet cafe in the centre or iringa - nearly every computer is occupied by a tda rider blogging away feverishly. Internet is hard to come by at the moment and is definately very slow therfore now pictures today :( Our camp is about 3km away in the grounds of a baptist conference centre/ school, so we are camped next to where all these kids are going to their lessons. The last couple of days were tough, due to a combination of tough off roads and tiredness. On tuesday everyone was peppered with flats, i got 4 thorns in one tube and still managed to patch it and get into camp! There has been alot of debate about taking the road or the 'single track' that runs along side it. Basically the single track is what the locals use instead of the road, it is very smooth and easier to ride on than the road. However it is an absolute thorn magnet meaning you are extremely likely to attract a puncture. So i have been staying on the road the last couple of days. Yesterday started with a tough 20km climb up a hill in the rain, it took me nearly 2 hours and was pretty draining. I almost gave up and got on the lunch truck but had a change of heart and pushed for the last 30km into iringa. We have 2-3 more riding days in tanzania and then we enter malawi, probably the country i am most excited about seeing on the tour. From here on we will be covering quite a large amount of kilometers a week so hopefully the weather will be kind on us. I can't believe it has been two weeks already, it has gone so fast, the trip has a very strange effect on my ability to process time. For example, i will rarely think about yesterday or an hour ago,nor will i think about tommorow or next week. I just think about the hour ahead of me and the things i need to do. When i am on the bike i am so present in the moment, time doesn't seem to exist in the sense that i only think about getting to the end of the road or the terrain immediately infront of me. It is a very strange sensory overload, there are some many things to think about in the present moment that past and future don't seem to exist. Cape town feels very far away, it doesn't feel like i am even cycling there, i think i just take it one road and on day at a time and that is how I like it.

Sorry about the lack of pictures, i assure you there are many i wish to share with you, i hope everyone at home is safe and thank you for all your support and encouragement...

speak to you again soon,

jacob