Day 80, 8333 km, Nessega, Burkina Faso

I’ve just entered my 8^th country after over 8,000 km & I’m still not even half way yet! Burkina is already living up to its laid back cycle friendly reputation with the main road users both men and, for the first time, women, on bicycles transporting all manner of goods. I am now being referred to as “le blanc” rather than the usual “toubab” but it isn’t being yelled quite so incessantly nor gifts demanded so adamantly! The great news is that less than 15% of the population speak French fluently, so I’m in the majority, & all I’ve got to do is learn some choice local words to get street rates. Indeed food prospects are looking good after an “all I could eat” 25p rice and sauce lunch, I even detected some veg & recognisable meat! Much to my tender nerve and bums relief I also returned to paved roads this afternoon. Special thanks to Burkina’s sponsor of the moment Lancashire’s finest architect & elite boules player Nick Gillibrand. Camping wild.