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I had been starting to think my stomach was invincible to Africa's street food .. how wrong I was! After a second day of sickness and having cycled 130km on a bottle of coke, a fanta, a pro plus and a couple of glucose biscuits I was feeling pretty weak by the time I got to Mopti. Fortunately I found some great value digs that even has a swimming pool plus other Westerners to hang out with and chat English so I've started a course of antibiotics and...

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> Sands of time

Posted On: Monday, 14 December 2009 - 23:28

Day 75, 7867km, Djenne, Mali

I spent the early morning pushing Bertha through soft sand along barely recognisable trails, surprising remote village folk, fixing flats and running for the bushes thanks to some dodgy market grub yesterday. Thankfully I found the main dirt road to Djenne with enough time to make it for the impressive Monday market that draws traders from across the Sahel. Unfortunately my stomach was in no state to maximise the taste testing opportunities and it's a...

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> An African adventure

Posted On: Monday, 14 December 2009 - 23:22

Day 74, 7791km, Lost on the Niger floodplain, Mali

Leaving the paved road behind to explore along the Niger, little did I know that I was setting myself up for hours of bone rattling, ass numbing and pannier wrecking conditions! I also had to take two punting trips (swimming was unfortunately off limits because of the crocs) across the Niger river and carry Bertha et al across a 40m tributary before following single track bush trails southward in the absence of any roads...

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> A dance exchange

Posted On: Saturday, 12 December 2009 - 23:35

Day 73, 7688km, Niger Delta, Mali

After a leisurely start exploring Segou and sampling the food on just about every street corner I got myself into a sticky situation with the army/police by trying to take a photo of a dam across the Niger river which had hundreds of fishermen hanging from the frame throwing nets into the thundering sluice outlets below. A spectacular sight that almost cost me my passport, fortunately I'm a natural at playing the ignorant tourist, a title I lived...

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> The lonely road

Posted On: Saturday, 12 December 2009 - 14:12

Day 72, Fri 11 Dec 2009, 7564km, Segou, Mali

Travelling alone makes for a great adventure but, on days like today, I really miss the companionship of the French trio: Kevin, Sharon and Biscuit Boy. Their communication and negotiation skills were invaluable for someone as linguistically challenged as me and with my French barely stretching to the larger denominations of the CFA I am more vulnerable than ever to being ripped off. Even when I get the French right my accent is rarely...

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> A right cheek

Posted On: Friday, 11 December 2009 - 23:28

Day 71, Thurs 10 Dec 2009, 7390km, Foret de la Faya, Mali

Having successfully obtained my Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana visas, reaffirmed my limited attention span with 4 museums, had my stomach turned by various animal parts in the fetish market and inhaled enough smog and dust to feel like a "I've been a 30-a-day man" my whole life, I decided it was time to move on from the music capital of West Africa this afternoon. While staying in a live music,...