Day 11 | Nyika to Karonga Distance: 69.4 km cycled + 57.7 km hitched | Terrain: Plateau hitch then technical single-track descent to lake Stage 1: Hitch through Nyika Park (no cycling) | Stage 2: Hitch to Nthalire | Stage 3: Single-track descent, 1,500 m drop to lake Said goodbye to my little bushbuck neighbour this morning. Bambi, as I'd nicknamed her, was grazing right outside my door again, completely unbothered by my packing chaos. Hitched a lift out to the North Gate, then another 25 km toward Nthalire. After days of grinding climbs, it felt almost illegal to move that fast without pedalling. The ride turned into some of the best single-track of the whole trip, pure mountain-biking magic. I dropped about 1,500 metres from the escarpment down toward the lake, weaving through fast, flowing sections, rocky bits, and a few solid hike-a-bike moments. One of those days where the legs complain but the trail gives you everything back.