Day 55, 5822km, Saint Louis, Senegal

Wow what a difference a few hours in the saddle can make! Taking a scenic and rarely used route into Senegal via the Diawling national park in Mauritania the desert sands have been replaced with vibrant reedbeds and acacia thickets ringing with the sound of birds and crickets. The border crossing was quick and laid back by comparison to the 5 hour multi check point ordeal getting into Mauritania that included negotiating a 5km sandy trail through the no mans land mine field. Progress has also been slow over the last couple of days with sandy and thorn covered corrugated tracks leading to multiple punctures, numb bums and the learning of some new french expletives. In return we've been rewarded with sightings of a rich variety of birds, warthogs and monkeys while listening to the eerie call of jackals at night.