Sitting in an hotel in Philadelphia, I am wandering what the hell I have got myself into. It doesn't help that my head is a bit thick from those cognacs that had been so kindly offered to me after dinner at Supper restaurant.
Reality is setting in. My trip to the States has come to an end and I now have to face my commitment at the other end of the world. Why am I nervous? Well, when I committed myself to riding through Mana Pools it was months away and the animals were just a dream. As D-day gets closer the blooming things are getting bigger and more vicious. I don't think I will be pulling the lions tail after all. I can't remember - is the elephants mock charge when it's ears are pulled back or pushed forward? Have I remembered all the spares I need for my bike? Are my tools all there or have my kids borrowed something? Luckily Beth has everything else under control.
What is all this about?
A few months ago I decided to combine my love of traveling, the bush, adventure and mountain biking to join Jeremy Borg of Painted Wolf Wines www.paintedwolfwines.com and Pedal4Paws www.pedal4paws.com on a cycle across Zimbabwe to raise funds for the conservation of the African Wild Dog. Beth and I have been desperately looking for these beautiful animals in the wild for years and have never had much luck. I have also been trying to get some guys to join me riding on the edges of the Kafue and Luangwa rivers in Zambia without much success.
So that is how I got committed.
Now for the reality. Lists are made and remade. I even need a list to remember all my lists. Landy stuff, camping stuff, riding stuff, photographic stuff, food stuff..... Thank God for Beth. While I am in the States she is sorting out my Landy spares. Not that I think I'll need them, but just maybe. ... I have learnt over the years never to be arrogant enough to chirp about vehicles, mine could be the next to embarrass me.
Over the next few weeks, Beth and I hope to update you on how our trip is doing. Hopefully lots of animals from a distance just far enough to be safe, but close enough to be exciting. The lion and hyena are renowned in the Zambesi for being aggressive and the odd person has had an altercation with an elephant, but if we keep our eyes and ears open we should be OK.
Well, ........I hope so
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