Blog Sep 1, 2007, Tilibery, Niger

Quick update from the road here folks. Getting an internet connection to work enough to just post this has been an adventure, I tell ya!

I just spent three glorious days of riding and filming from Niamey to Tilibery and I'm taking a day of much needed rest. The desert riding is tough if you ride after 10AM as the temperatures are well into the 100's. Out Peace Pedaling I often am on the schedule of my guest riders and all three days was out I was in the midday sun cooking like a white egg while my guests got chilly in the shade! Nuts!

But I had a blast riding with three amazing new friends Koudede, Moussa and Hassan. After my ride with my musician buddy Koudede out of Niamey I camped out with a caretake of a golf course (yes, golf in Niger!) named Ali the first night on the Niger River. The next night, after my ride with Moussa who I picked up in the town of Karma, I slept in the village of Lossa with a lovely man named Hassan who I met on the road and his family after a great meal of village grub and a dance fest at someone's wedding. It was a long day that day, about 75KM, and it took a lot out of me riding in the heat.

Yesterday Hassan joined me and we rode here just 45KM but it took every bit of life out of me as we got a very late start due to a morning rain storm. Add to that the fact there was no real food of any power to eat after the rain cleared at 11AM and we rode until 3PM in 110+ degree heat with minmima fuel in our bodies. How tought was it--even Hassan passed out in my hotel room when we finally arrived and showered up. We were toast!

I had planned to ride today but am totally spent. Going to hydrate and stretch and hop a Bush Taxi later this afternoon the next town for a rest day then charge on to the colorful Sunday market in Ayorou tomorrow bright and early before the heat feeling strong and rested. I'll be hitting the Mali border in a few days.

Loving Niger--very peaceful, GREAT PEOPLE, and truly a pleasure to travel in if you can minimize the time in the sun and are patient enough to find good food. Note to self...:)

Over and out from Niger :)

Jamie