Do not leave my matching funds "on the table"!! $6,508 USD more to reach my target!!

I hope that you have found some time to follow my blog on the Burundi visit, which is now complete.

Our team of 21 riders totaled 770km (478 miles) in 8 days, including climbs of a total 10,200 meters ( 33,464 feet)!!  With just 7 flats and 1 accident (Geoff is ok), we were fortunate.

The trip has solidified my belief and confidence in the projects that Great Lakes Outreach are supporting, further incentive for me to reach my donations goal of $30,000 USD.

With $23,492 raised so far, please consider making a donation if you have not already done so.  I stand ready to match.

Thanks for your support of Burundi.

Best regards,

Mark

Pics and videos from the trip

As an added "bonus" for those with great interest, please click below for all photos and videos from the trip.  The videos from the "interactive" zoo visit might be a bit much for some (crocs eating guinea pigs), but generally I thought there might be a few interested souls out there!!  All the best, Mark

Picassa Web Album for Burundi Trip

Day 7 - Tougher than expected 67k finish

We were far to happy and relaxed on Saturday morning after a visit to the YFC Homes for Hope site in Burundi, expecting a flat and easy ride "home" to Bujumbura.   It was far from that as the 67km ride had some early short climbs and the entire route was against a strong wind gusting off of Lake Tanganyika!  As an added "bonus", there was a 20km middle section of the route with a "road" of non-stop potholes, rocks and cars.  We really struggled through that obstacle course at 15kmph, but surprisingly with no blow outs or flats!!  After 3 1/2 hours we arrived into Burundi and were greeted by some local families and friends, followed by smoothies and sandwiches at a local cafe by the Burundian Board of Tourism!!!  Awesome!!

Home for Hope orphans sang and danced for us before our ride. 

Donut-like balls were part of a generous breakfast at the orphanage.  YFC's model for its 2 up and running orphanages (Gitega and Cibitoke) is a large ground area with an orphanage, food producing farm animals and a bread making hothouse, a public school for locals and orphans and a health clinic.  This model is getting perfected.  Funding of course is the need to roll this out further, but what we saw was indeed impressive in both locations. There is also the opportunity for child sponsorship via GLO at $50 per month!  Consider this as I have seen this firsthand and it is working. 

These boys enjoyed seeing a few of my family photos, the. Wanted me to take one of them too.

Mural on side of orphanage building.

Cotton fields on the route today

Another alternative if we felt our cycling was too challenging

Even more demanding!

Anything and everything via bike transport

Celebration at KCC dinner with Burundian drummers (you tube Burundi drummers and you WILL be impressed with their show!)

Some serious leaping!

On the 8th Day, we rejoiced!

As inspirational as the Burundian people and the aesthetics in general of a country as lush as any island in the Caribbean have been, my joining Steve (guest pastor) and 4 other riders for Sunday morning services at a local Anglican Church added a new and even higher level of inspiration!  We arrived to a non-descript building in a residential area of Burundi and upon leaving the bus were immediately hit with music and singing bursting from inside.  We were sat on the "stage" area and the music, singing and dancing continued for a good 60 minutes more when we jumped in (literally) and joined the fun.  Amazing service and boy do they know how to give it all in song and dance for God!   It was a truly exhilarating (even Steve's sermon 😇) 3 hour service that felt like 30 minutes!  Each of us were asked to share one thing with the SRO crowd of 500 as well.  I spoke of the inspiring perseverance, hope and determination that I saw all week.  All with vision towards a greater future in Burundi. 

This was such an emotional morning that intensely matched the physical challenges of the preceding week. 

A parade of different choirs (12 or so?!) led the first 60 mins of the service

It was 36c outside (98 degrees F), but a wonderful breeze was blowing through the building.

Wow, 131km and 2,411m climbing!

What a day.  The toughest day of the week, with seemingly club after climb after climb.  We reached 2,200m elevation this morning at a temp of 12.6c (54f).  That was very cool and for the first 2 hours of the day, body heat only came from tough climbs and they waited at every turn.  Our descent today was big as well but not wholly enjoyable as we braked so heavy as they were so steep.  I am not sure at the end of the day, we are exhausted and elated!  There is another 32 flat miles tomorrow into Bujambura, but that is icing on the cake. 

Quite a crowd as we prepped for departure, everyone w a bit of nervousness as we knew what waited. 

Storm clouds but thankfully no rain on us. 

Jungle on each side of us after about 30km.  More stunning beauty in Burundi. 

That is how babies are carried here and often by young siblings too. 

Very colorful attire. 

I got passed by a man with a duck!!

Day 5 - Surviving but Day 6 Lurks

Today was a long 67 miles (105km) with significant climbs (1700m, 5,100ft).  To say the least, we were knackered as we reached our hotel.  Physically my legs feel strong but my butt is losing its battle with the seat.  Right now, laying on my bed, without being too graphic, my rear where it hits the seat is throbbing (we finished 35 mins ago!).  There is a developing rash on both sides along with something like 3 blisters.  I can only guess that tomorrow's ride, already the toughest physically, will also be painful in more ways than one for me!🙈

Today's ride to us to Kayanza, which looks to my eye to be worse off than Girenga and similar to Muyinga.  The countryside vistas continue to impress.  Just stunning!

Here are today's photos:

Lest any of us forget how easy our ride is, reminders everywhere!

At every rest stop, kids gather to see the "Muzingas"

Stunning, storm just missed us

My "shower" awaits (letting the water get to room temp!)

A prayer for ALL of us tomorrow.  We are low on energy and 87 miles with big climbs looms large on everyone's minds right now.

Day 4 - Muyinga

Some respite from the pain today as just 57miles (95km) of wonderful rolling hills and mountains.  Most every climb was manageable and followed by "recovery" ascents. Beautiful scenery made for a great day and ride.  

Gitega - Day 3

Today's ride was.a "manageable" 67km, w 900m of ascents.  That should have been enough along with visits to the Gitega Academy, Shammah Health Center and Orphanage/Primary Scool, but we were at GIA as basketball club was starting at 3pm and I could not resist. What started as 2 on 2 with some 14 year olds evolved into 5 on 5 vs 16 year olds, including a couple of 6'1 boys that were big!  Hoosiers don't play half speed and 30 minutes of happiness in the midday sun turned into a remainder of the day woozy and weak.  Fully worth it, but...... 

We heard more visions and stories in the afternoon.  Josh and his wife, Nadine, led us through the Shammah health center and their vision for it. They are here atleast through 2016 and given what they have accomplished to date, the clinic may become a full scale hospital. I am impressed and inspired by how well organized, professional and successful they are. at the same time, they are continually fighting thru red tale and politicians wanting bribes. 

Malaria is a huge problem (45% of their treatments) and by law mothers w children under 5 are to receive them for free from all health services here. Yet, the Ministry is slow to distribute USAID nets (motivation money needed!) and USAID will not distribute directly to the clinics in Burundi.  These are such terrible but recurring problems here that many in leadership (govt) are not helping but holding back the efforts underway here. 

GIA is hoping to address that need for leadership. Excellence, Integrity and Leadership are its mottos.   Their 3rd class of 7th graders will start in September, joining over 200 8th and 9th graders that are hoped to evolve into Burundi's future leaders.  They arrive with almost no English skills, but are conversational by the end of 7th grade. We met with JD, the Academy Director. The goal is to reach a US high school 12th grade academic level at graduation, then place 85% of kids in foreign universities, before they return to Burundi. 

The beauty of Burundi is everywhere on the ride

A lot of farming, all by hand

The things we see on bikes here!

JD discussing GIA with us.  They urgently need $240,000 to finish dorms for their incoming class. 

Exercised the "Love of the Game" clause in my cycling contract!  Full court required the zip-off bottoms off but no pics of it!

Josh ( 2nd from left) and Nadine

Local pet!!

Reality Hits........Hard

Day 2:  Almost 7 hours start to finish today!  58 miles (97km) and 2,600m total ascents (8,800 FT). I lay here in bed now, 40 mins removed from my bike's saddle and fresh from a cold shower. My legs are tingling as muscles try and stop twitching, a few fingertips are numb ("normal" cycling issue) and my lower back is occassionally spasming. THIS is Day 2, challenging, painful, oh and 5 more to go!  

1,400m climb from lake, 12km, 8-12% grade

Not enough, so BIG headwinds added.

I could not make it, walked about 1km😟

Started to fast into the big climb, heart rate jumped, legs said "no!", walked.  10 of us made the climb.  Recovered and made all of remaining climbs, including final 8km. Lesson learned:  ease into climbs, keep heart rate low (145), gut it out at 8.5kmph (next time a 3rd and smaller crank will be on the bike too!).

Always drawing a crowd at stops.

Just in case we think we have it tough on climbs, locals provide perspective. One rider today had 10 bricks balanced on his bike!

Road was closed due to "market day"

Finished the day just before sunset, adding to the beauty of this mountainous and hilly country!

Final "road" to hotel with extra obstacles.

We did have a bad accident today. Geoff was going down from our 2nd big climb and lost control of his bike at maybe 55mph and went flying over the front, skidding to a nasty stop on the road with a cracked helmet flying off.  Luckily we were still all close by (but no one so close as to be taken down as well) and he got immediate attention from Craig, a rider that is also an MD.  Lots of skin lost on the back and shoulder as well as elbow, w a slight concussion. We have all re-committed to the 60kmph limit.  A tough lesson for us. 

Now it is post-dinner and 20:30.  I cannot stay awake. 55km ride tomorrow and allegedly easy.  After we have time in Gitega to visit the newly opened hospital there (where Geoff is) and the Gitega secondary academy.

Amahoro Burundi!

DAY 1

Amahoro (like Anna but with m and then horr and long O) is a popular way to greet or say hello here in Burundi.  It means peace and I must have said it 50 times per hour today on day 1.  The ride was 120km and largely flat (800m elevation increase).  All along the route though were Burundians, going about their normal day to day.  As soon as any of us came into view though, yelling, cheering, weird stares...you name it!  We were spurred on throughout the route. Kids would come running to the side of the road and want high fives or just to say Amahoro.  It was a blast and really a great distraction from a long hot ride.  We had water and energy bar stops each 20-25km and I downed 6 or 7 liters of water today just trying to keep up with the sweat.  All in all, a great day with no blow-outs, wipeouts or problems aside from Simon's Dad having to skip riding due to a flu but of sorts.  Here are some photos I snapped from the bike:

Preparations

Prayer at KCC with well wishers and family before departing. 

Security detail traveling with us

Lake Tanzanika is the longest freshwater lake in world at 500 miles.  Beautiful scenery for most of ride with mountains inland to our left and the DOC across the water to the West. 

Kids all along the way.

Selfie!!

Roads were great 60% of time, but crater-like potholes and crazy mad taxi buses kept us on our toes. 

Gorgeous view from surprise super hotel tonight with pool AND wifi. Cold showers and mosquito nets provide all we need. 

We have been told the remainder of the nights will be spent, let's say in less aestetically pleasing locations!  Certainly this was a great surprise after a long hot ride!

Crocs, Hippos and the Congo

Today flew by. The morning was spent with GLO project leaders.  Simon then took us to the King's Comference Center, hence the internet access this morning. There we learned of the vision for the KKC, which will raise $2.4m USD for a further expansion of its conference facilities.  These facilities are the best in Burundi and generate profits that are then plowed back into GLO's local projects and mission works. 

Simon sharing vision for KCC

We moved from there to the World's most interactive croc and snake zoo!  This was a less cultural treat for us "boys" and it did not disappoint. We were privy to feeding time for some crocs and even a jaguar (guinea pigs).  I cannot upload the videos but, ahem, cool!

Cool banana snake w blue tongue!

After the show we decided for a test ride to the Congo border (just 20km away).   Talk about sensory overload!  Riding down a crowded 2 lane road, dodging local bikes (carrying about anything!), cars, cows, potholes....you name it!  What a blast!

I will handicap Manuel like this on our next ride together back in Spain!

Moooooo!

Beautiful mountains of Congo in distance

Aside from our taking in the sites, we were quite a site ourselves for the locals. 12 white men in various colors of spandex cruising along at 20 mph!!  It was a good warm up and without any incidents or flats!!

As we headed home near the beaches of Lake Tanzanika, we stopped an saw a small hippo family floating in the wild just off the shoreline!  

We were then back to the KCC for an evening birthday dinner celebration for Twins on our ride, Geoff and his brother Chris, celebrating 55 together.  Before dinner am impressive display by a traditional Burundian drum core team.

They danced with these 50lb drums balanced on their heads, still beating the drum while jumping around. 

I at least had it on my head but you cannot see hand helping it balance at back).  Unbelievable skill and strength to do what they did!

A day of inspiration and some entertainment, easing us closer towards the bike tour set to start Sunday.  

Back to the inspirations of the day and yesterday too. Two common themes from the GLO leaders.  

One, they do not start anything by telling the locals in an area what they will do. They go first and LISTEN to the locals and get them to say what they NEED.  Learning the needs and priorities of the people they are helping has been a success, rather than forcing some grand plan onto people and wasting time and resources on what is not wanted. This process was part of at least 3 success stories we heard the past two days. 

The other theme goes back to Everest and the cows. He said he had to create hope for something better (simply more milk) to get those with no hope to actually dream.  With hope, it was then only a matter of showing the change for the better (new cow, more milk, less resources used, kids at school instead of watching grazing longhorns) before the step towards better is achieved.  

My words are summarized but simple and true summations of many details we have heard.  Everyone and everything here has been about lessons learned, implementation strategies gleaned and visions of the future.  There really is great momentum and things are happening towards a better lBurundi!