A bit of biking on the Zambian’s roads and especially the chapter dedicated to the Victoria falls. 
 

I won’t spend much time in Zambia and I will drive only one hundred kilometers in the country. I am crossing the bridge from Zimbabwe over the Zambezi, this mythical river infested by crocodiles, hippos and especially the source of life from Angola until Mozanbique, the second larger river of Africa after the Nile. I have only 4 USD left in my pocket and I can even not pay my visa, which costs USD 25. - -. I’m begging for some money and finally a guy who works for a safari company is helping me. (Later, this rescuer will change himself into nightmare; I will meet him one evening, he will be quite drunk and ask me again for the same money I already gave back to his driver, the guy who really gave me the money in hands... A general fight will almost happen until I, Rob and Christine will leave the bar and go somewhere else to finish the party. A Typicall African history, the money makes insane on this continent...). After having left Switzerland since almost 1 year and an half, I am arriving 20 minutes in advance for the appointment with Christine (okay the appointment was made 3 weeks ago in Harare but well, it’s still a good example and performance of the swiss precision....).
We are finding a free way to the Victoria falls. From the Zimbabwean side the sight is much impressive and so beautiful. I am in front of one of the 7 wonders of the world. And suddently I am dreaming and thinking of the long way I made to arrive here. I’m also thinking that I don’t find these falls that big and impressive as the people told me. I dreamed them more beautiful, larger. Sometimes we should keep a dream as a dream because some dreams looked nicer than the reality.

At the same time, I think that we should live each of our dream because if we don’t do it, or if we don’t see it, how to know ? The knowledge comes by the experience and not by staying in our warm nest, away from the life and its surprises. For me, it is by surpassing myself physically, psychologically and by taking risks and exposing myself to the world that I find the essence of life. Having made so many kilometers I realize how I changed. Not changed, because it’s an evolution, nobody change, we juste evoluate, learn. We follow our path and we grow, we mature and we transform ourselves to re-transform ourselves ove rand over again. Noting is granted and except to, like Buddha, obtaining illumination, life is a long road. Nobody arrives at the end of the journey before arriving at the end of its life. This is for me the secret of life, journey and freedom… In fact, there is no answer! To follow one’s way, to listen one’s heart and to live in harmony with oneself and especially with the others, also by respecting them. To learn and relearn wisdom. Well, here is what these falls inspire me even if I find them less impressive that I thought. I find in these falls a kind of interior serinity and a treasure without price: the value of life, its beauty, its power, awareness of what is freedom and the meaning of my journey. Well, it is not by looking at the Zambezi’s water falling from the top of the plateau into the valley that I have all this philosophical thinking. It’s all the road achieved and like the image of the Zambezi which threads through the rocks, it’s the obstacles crossed that make me stronger and somewhat more mature. All that gives me the power, motivation and desire to go on. The journey by bike is still my « brandy » and all these experiences push me to go on, to suffer, and to appreciate this hard life, simple, so beautiful and natural.

Let’s enough of pseudo-philosophy of a lonely cyclist, it’s time to take the road again. I’m staying a few days in Livingstone, I am spending some nice days and especially a nice crazy evening with Christine and Rob (Rob is an English guy with who I partied at the New Year’s Eve, together with some others nice crazy people in Vilanculo, Mozanbique, 2 months ago. With him, the night never finished before sunrise. We haven’t forgotten the old good habits in Livingstone). On February 25, we are leaving and immediately finding ourself in a national park. Disappointing, we haven’t seen any single animal on the fifteen kilometres. We have the chance to have the rain which is regulary offering us free showers. Until now, the rains are "pleasant", a shower and then the sun is warming us up und is drying our clothes quickly. These are the first kilometers for Christine by bike, she still doesn’t know yet how it is to drive under the rain and the feeling you get when it doesn’t stop raining anymore… me neither in a way.   All’right, here is already the border. I wouldn’t have seen that much of Zambia. Here, the border is a bit strange; it is a four countries border corner.  Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and, of course, Zambia all have a commun border at the same place. Why not launch a coin in the air to let it decide where to go? Bad luck, no more coins in the pocket. Let’s go straight from here to the botswanian border. The direct road for the Caprivi Strip in Namibia is announced as boring. Go for a short first stage in Botswana. Next destination Botswana ! The last weeks in Damas, I am getting my first real "holidays". Relaxing, reparing my bicycle (I got a new front rack in steel for usd 10.--, it took 5 hours on 3 days with two men, welcome in Syria), I am cleaning my materials and having a good time with the foreigners leaving in Damas. But now, that's it. The call of freedom is coming, I have to ride again. A part of my heart will remain in here, but the spring is taking place of the winter and it's already warm. If I want go to Africa it will be warmer and warmer, everyday. Now I know, after having suffered of the coldness, I will suffer under the sun (but I think to get hot is better than be in the very cold, we'll see.)

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