What it MAY be like there (a few of your questions answered)

There will be 22 of us riding in Burundi for Great Lakes Outreach.  Including Simon (GLO's leader), there are another 4 riders that are living in Burundi and managing GLO or other NGO projects.  The rest of us "tourists" I am sure will have wide open eyes as from the 14th of May when we land well through the end of the biking on the 24th.  As I have received quite a few inquiries about what it will be like there, let me try and answer a few (though I am only relaying info as I have no idea what it will be like!!):

Where will you be staying?  Yes - 5 star Starwoods for the lot of us! :)  Actually, Simon has told us to enjoy hot showers at home on the 13th of May, as those will be the last ones we experience (aside from hippo spit) until returning home on the 26th of May!  Thus, I am not packing a razor and may become a bit grizzled by the time Ola and the girls see me again.  Our first nights in Bujumbura we will stay at the Rainbow Center, an orphanage for HIV positive and/or abandoned babies.  While outside of Bjumbura and on the Tour, we will stay in relative (to typical Burundi) luxury hotels, with running water, individual rooms, mosquito nets and possibly electricity.  Internet may be available (24kbps) - so probably not a lot of blog updates!!

What is the food going to be like?  We have been told to expect to eat well as a Burundian chef will accompany us on the tour.  Meals will be carb loaded and typically stews with rice.  Tropical fruits like papaya, pinepple, banana, mango and tangerines will readily available.  American riders are bringing a lot of pancake mix with them for breakfasts!

How safe is it?    There are always unavoidable risks and certainly bad luck.  Politically, Burundi has had a very stable period and until recently, very little in the way of "old issues".  Tensions have risen a bit recently as the President would like to change the constitution and allow himself a 3rd term (contrary to the Arusha Accord, which ended Burundi's civil war in 2005 - here's a not so positive Economist Article on such matters.  Nothing is guaranteed of course, but Simon and the folks on the ground there live there with their families and we are not expecting problems, but precautions are being taken while we are on the ride.  Aside from riding accidents and food poisoning, there are health risks, but I have loaded up on my vaccinations the past few weeks and am reasonably prepared aside from malaria (side affects can be as bad as the disease and they are not foolproof protectors).

Our first three days there do include some fun:

• Cultural do's/don'ts session;
• Visit to see (play!) with crocodiles and snakes at the "World's Most Interactive and Zero-Rules Zoo".  Hmmmm, right up my alley….

•  2,000-strong youth worship event on Thursday night;
• Visit to the BBAC (Friesian Cow Import project!) site to see new solar powered processing equipment and a "few" cows ($1,000 buys a cow, so a $500 donation along with my match and "we be mooing"!!!);
• Friday evening dinner/reception to meet many English speaking locals and some expats as well;

Cranked out 102km today - my longest ride to date.  Feeling ok, but man oh man, seven of those in a row down in Burundi will no doubt take its toll.

Adios!!