The Rains Down in Africa

The rainy season has officially started which means by about 3 p.m. everyday a storm front rolls in and it pours down rain until morning. I've put some black plastic up on the inside of my grass roof to ensure I will remain with at least a minimal amount of comfort. My first cycle in the rain was last week when I left at 730 am to cycle the 60 km to the boma and then to catch a bus to Lusaka for In Service Training. Because of roadwork being done the cycle was horrendous. The machines couldn't compact the soil enough with the 8 inches of rain falling every night and it turned into a muddy, mucky pain in the ass. I ended up carrying my bike and bag for 5 km because the tires couldn't roll in the mud without locking up. So 7 hours later I arrived in the boma completely covered in a dull red colored mud. Although it was possibly the worst cycle yet in Zambia, I'm hoping it earned me some street cred with the villagers. A week of civilization in Lusaka has been nice but the copious amounts of good food and beer are tough on the health. But I'd take an upset stomach because I ate too much pizza anyday over puss filled lesions attacking my ankles and feet. Tomorrow off to Solwezi to feast on a turduckin. To the leyman that would be a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey.