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                   420Km Charity Cycle ride across  7th - 16th May 2009

Poor access to transport is seriously undermining the health and wealth of people in developing countries and part of the solution is to ensure that the resources that are available are well managed.  That's where Transaid can help!

As a result of the work of Transaid more local healthcare is provided, more people get to hospital, more food gets distributed, water sources get repaired and maintained, surplus crops get to market, economies flourish and the lives of many people are improved.

For more information about Transaid please visit: www.transaid.org

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Thank you for your support.

Jim

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My Adventures so far:

08/05/09

We arrived in Lusaka having transferred at Johannesburg. 33 degrees heat and clouds looming. Visit to the ITC training centre where funds are used for driver training and mechanical training in very basic surroundings with few training aids. As we were about to be given a presentation by the ITC Director the heavens opened and we had to move inside as torrential rain passed over! On to our lodge for the night.

09/05/09

Today we started the challenge itself and after a short trip by road we collected our bikes, fit our saddle and pedals and make final adjustments before we set off from Kafue.  73kms lie ahead of us with only the first 10kms on the road and in 30+ degrees it's a tough ride. We met loads of really friendly people in the small villages we pass through with a hero's welcome at our last village before Mazabuka. Tough but great day.

10/05/09

We set off early this morning at 7.00am from Mazabuka with our first 20kms of today's 94km total on road before heading off on some of the best off road. Fantastic riding with spectacular scenery and really friendly people. The locals are really great and all flock round when we ride into town. A really tough day, but we all made it through to the end and arrived in Monze at around 5pm. Naturally all tired and after a few medicinal beer and a bbq of spare ribs we head off to bed. Another early start tomorrow!

11/05/09

This morning we set off from Monze by road for today’s 105km route to Choma.  Our first stop after 20kms is in the village of Chisekesi where we are met by locals coming out onto the street to talk to us which is a really welcome sight.  We continue on as the heat is blistering at 35 degrees.  It’s a tough route for the group with many hills on the way taking their toll.  I find myself riding from the rear today offering support to people struggling in the heat or with low energy levels.  We all finally make it to the Choma museum for a brief tour and then head on just another 6kms to our welcoming lodge for the night just in time before the sun sets.  What a day!  We’re all suffering mild sun stroke and feeling the pain of the days ride.

12/05/09

As we set out from Choma on today's stretch of 78kms heading for Kalomo we cover the first 8kms on road. A good way to warm up, but the sun is again today relentless. We turn off the main road and begin the 70kms of the rest of our journey on most definitely the toughest terrain yet, sand and lots of it. I find myself continuing from yesterday helping one of our team get through the days terrain as she was about to give in on the demanding surface. We make it through each 20km break and stop for lunch at with approx 30kms to go. Sticking with it we push on to our penultimate stop just 10kms from the Kalomo and with a final push we all make it to the end! Just our final stretch of 69kms to go tomorrow to get to Livingstone!!

13/05/09

It's our last morning and we are all up and about having breakfast at our guest house in Kalomo. Just 69kms to go and we're all excited about finishing the challenge. All being well we should reach Livingstone by around 2pm local time. The people we've met enroute especially in the small villages have been superb and great fun. For the seeing a white person is a novelty let alone a whole heard of us brightly dressed on mountain bikes. The kids we've met are really fun. Taking their pictures and then showing them the digital result instantly really makes them laugh. Watching them identify themselves and their friends is really great to see. Something we now take as being so normal for them is amazing!

09:30am - Just stopped for our first stop of the day 22kms of today done and just a few more stops to go before Livingstone!  Another 22kms to our next stop.

10:40am - We're now in the Livingstone district at our final stop.  Just 15kms left to do of our total 420km trip!  Donna (the lady I rode with for the last couple of days) and I were the first to arrive at the border!  How's that for improvement!!  Everyone is really excited about the ride through town and the finish atVictoria Falls.  Thank you all for your support.  The trip so far has been absolutely amazing!

11:50am - We are now riding along side the Zambezi with just 2kms left to go and we can see the spray from the Victoria Falls dead ahead!

12:40pm - We're here!  Stood on the bridge of the Victoria Falls!  Absolutely amazing, what a fantastic place!  Whoo-hoo!!!

                        Thank you once again for your valued support!