Just a quick update from here in Burkina Faso. I had an unforgettable 2 week adventure in Mali including an off-road adventure of the magical Dogon Country and a few days in Djenne. I had several setbacks with camera and bike equipment as well as transport that set my schedule back several days so I’m afraid I can’t take time to write too much. I WILL tell you all that Mali rocks and you should put it on your travel schedule, especially the Dogon region. The people, nature and culture are truly stunning. I only have about a week to ride and capture Burkina Faso so I’m deep in planning and fixing mode right now before shipping off from here in Bobo Dioulasso. I’ll try to write more later but for now I’m a busy boy! Here are a few pics :)

Sorry for the delay here folks, had some technical difficulties...

After three extremely hot, wild and wacky days of 4 wheel transport I FINALLY made it to the live music capital of the world Bamako, Mali! I had to huff it out here to pick up some camera and bike parts that could unfortunately only be delivered to the capital of Mali.

After 5 great days of riding in Niger with so many sweet souls I hit the end of the road and all that was left were dusty, sandy, barren terrain all the way to Gao in Mali. I decided to take a lift with a Land Rover and it turned out to have no brakes, horrible tires that blew out twice, a dead gear box and flat battery that died when the lights came on. It took us 33 hours to go about 250 kilometers. Somehow I kept my cool—perhaps over a year in Africa has helped me cope with lunacy like this.

Then it was a connecting bus from Gao to Bamako for another 19 hours of hot, stinky, loud and wild bussin it to Bamako! Needless to say, I was a mess upon arrival.

I’m happy to report that I was welcomed by a great Danish chap Joachim for my first night and am now being hosted for 3 days and two nights of five star luxury by the Kempinski Hotel right on the Niger River to clean up, charge up, regroup and prepare for the Mali adventure.

I’ve already got several great contacts for live music to record for you guys (and me, of courseJ) and have a sweet route of some epic Mali adventures planned for next week. Below are some of the Niger adventure—I’ll get an update sooner than you normal too!

Over and out from Mali!

Jamie

Sorry for the delay here folks, had some technical difficulties...

After three extremely hot, wild and wacky days of 4 wheel transport I FINALLY made it to the live music capital of the world Bamako, Mali! I had to huff it out here to pick up some camera and bike parts that could unfortunately only be delivered to the capital of Mali.

After 5 great days of riding in Niger with so many sweet souls I hit the end of the road and all that was left were dusty, sandy, barren terrain all the way to Gao in Mali. I decided to take a lift with a Land Rover and it turned out to have no brakes, horrible tires that blew out twice, a dead gear box and flat battery that died when the lights came on. It took us 33 hours to go about 250 kilometers. Somehow I kept my cool—perhaps over a year in Africa has helped me cope with lunacy like this.

Then it was a connecting bus from Gao to Bamako for another 19 hours of hot, stinky, loud and wild bussin it to Bamako! Needless to say, I was a mess upon arrival.

I’m happy to report that I was welcomed by a great Danish chap Joachim for my first night and am now being hosted for 3 days and two nights of five star luxury by the Kempinski Hotel right on the Niger River to clean up, charge up, regroup and prepare for the Mali adventure.

I’ve already got several great contacts for live music to record for you guys (and me, of courseJ) and have a sweet route of some epic Mali adventures planned for next week. Below are some of the Niger adventure—I’ll get an update sooner than you normal too!

Over and out from Mali!

Jamie

Sorry for the delay here folks, had some technical difficulties...

After three extremely hot, wild and wacky days of 4 wheel transport I FINALLY made it to the live music capital of the world Bamako, Mali! I had to huff it out here to pick up some camera and bike parts that could unfortunately only be delivered to the capital of Mali.

After 5 great days of riding in Niger with so many sweet souls I hit the end of the road and all that was left were dusty, sandy, barren terrain all the way to Gao in Mali. I decided to take a lift with a Land Rover and it turned out to have no brakes, horrible tires that blew out twice, a dead gear box and flat battery that died when the lights came on. It took us 33 hours to go about 250 kilometers. Somehow I kept my cool—perhaps over a year in Africa has helped me cope with lunacy like this.

Then it was a connecting bus from Gao to Bamako for another 19 hours of hot, stinky, loud and wild bussin it to Bamako! Needless to say, I was a mess upon arrival.

I’m happy to report that I was welcomed by a great Danish chap Joachim for my first night and am now being hosted for 3 days and two nights of five star luxury by the Kempinski Hotel right on the Niger River to clean up, charge up, regroup and prepare for the Mali adventure.

I’ve already got several great contacts for live music to record for you guys (and me, of courseJ) and have a sweet route of some epic Mali adventures planned for next week. Below are some of the Niger adventure—I’ll get an update sooner than you normal too!

Over and out from Mali!

Jamie

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