Day 8 - Muyinga to Kirundo to Ngozi

The longest day of cycling and the most hills! 137km with 2200m of elevation! The first 35k we did as a whole group, long downhills followed by some long uphills. After that we split into two groups, one going straight to the hotel, the other going 34k to Kirundo and back to add another 68k to the day! Obviously dad and I chose the extra 68k! And also to tick off another province of Burundi and see more of its stunning scenery!

There was so many long downhills which were very enjoyable, until you remembered that we were coming back on the same road so they were soon to be uphills! The scenery was beautiful and after a couple of hours we reached Kirundo, so we turned back knowing what the next 30k was going to look like (well except dad who didn’t realise we were just going straight back!)

The hills were long. For some reason they feel short when you’re going down them and very very very long when going back up! We had a few breaks on the way, which always attracted a crowd of people, especially when they see 4 white people lying on the side of the road (see photo!). Eventually we made it back to our route after many hills. Only to be greeted by more hills and more dodgy roads! At this point we were all very tired and our legs weren’t moving quite as well as normal. But fortunately we were able to ride in a peloton which made it a bit easier! One last stop where Simon managed to get a group of people to start singing on their way back from church! Before a massive hill up to Ngozi where we were spending the night.

Food awaited us at the hotel which was very much needed! Before we walked to another hotel down the road where they had a sauna and a massage - which did wonders for the legs!

Back to the hotel for dinner and now to bed before hopefully a slightly less taxing day tomorrow!

He made him ride on the heights of the landand fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag,

Deuteronomy 32:13Read more