Hello everyone! We completed our fourth consecutve ride day today and have a rest day tomorrow, Good Friday.

Thank you for all of the e-mails of support and suggested names for my ride. Ones I like the best are "Intrepid" and "Marine." Marine has several referrence points: 1) in support of our defenders at home and abroad; 2) the color of my bike, light blue, has a marine feel to it; and 3) my other major physical accomplishment was finishing the Marine Corps Marathon last October. If anyone has other suggestions though that may be Philly-inspired I'd love to hear them. The tour is dominated by Canadians and they wear their pride on their sleeves, their ankles (socks), their chairs and anywhere else they can plaster a big red maple leaf.

OK, riding update. First I need to make a correction. Total distance I rode up to March 27 was was 562, not 443. I had omitted a day. I'll give a total daily count at the end of this report.

The day we left Iringa, Tanzania, 3/30, I rode the full 101k.

Wednesday, 3/31, a full day of 135. Cloudy, misty, then hot. Butt blisters-turned-sores, hurt like hell. Distance was supposed to be 120 but the racers were making such good time with the tailwinds that course was extended. Isn't that great?

Thursday, 4/1, rode full 92k to Mbeya, Tanzania. Distance, we were told, would be 120 again but as a nice April Fool's treat, we camped at the very nice Stockholm Hotel at 92k. Really tough climbing that day. I was last to finish (about 3:30 p.m.)

Friday, 4/2, I did not cycle. Rode the truck as we crossed into Malawi. Went to the market with the crew to buy food for the group.

Saturday, 4/2, rode 82k of 130. Humid, windy at times. Rode 70k to the lunch truck, then let the truck pick me up as it was coming by to head to camp.

Sunday, 4/3, Rest day for all in Chitimba. Got my hair rebraided for the equivalent of $3 (hear that, Rena? three bucks!)

Weekly total: 410k

Monday, 4/5, Chitimba toward Mzuzu. 71k to the lunch truck. First 12k were along Lake Malawi, then we began the climb from hell. Ascended to 1500 meters above sea level. It took me and the three Canadians I rode with 3 hours to do the first 26k (with stops)

Tuesday, 4/6, rode the full 118k. Rained as we left camp for about 40 minutes. Morning had three really tough climbs. Even the racers complained when they got to the lunch truck (and they usually ride straight through). After lunch much better. Beautiful forestry in the a.m.

Wednesday, 4/7, rode full 125 getting closer to Lilongwe. Light rain again first hour or so, then windy but fine. Great course. Flat mostly, fun curves. Beautiful terrain.

Thursday, 4/8, rode just 61k to the lunch truck, then got on. Took me till close to 11 to get there. (I leave between 6:50 and 7 every day). Tough wind and some tough climbs. Knees killing me.

Good Friday: Rest day for all.

One thing I should clear up also - The tour was organized loosely as 10 days on the bike, two days off, 10 days on, etc. But it's been working more like 5 days on, 1 day off. Longest stretch has been 7 days on the tour. And when even the leisure riders in the back like me get done by 2:30 p.m. heading into a rest day, it's like having 1 3/4 off.

Back on the road Saturday toward Zambia border.

So out of 18 cycling days since I have been here, I have cycled 16 of them, 7 full days, 972k total. Woo-hoo! (Incidentally, is somebody taping "The Simpsons" for me while I am away?)

Some days, I look at this as my 7 a.m.-to-3 p.m. job in which I want/need to be fairly efficient. Other days I peace out, listen to the Ipod, stop a lot. Happening upon a cookie break or soda stop that other riders are having along the way is great. It brings us all back together because the cycling itself is so isolating. No two people cycle at the same speed so you are out on the road a lot by yourself. But don't worry. I am safe. Through many towns we have police escorts. We are out on the main highway (picture I-95 between Philly and Maryland) and there is always someone behind me.

Keep those tips coming. A friend sent me some wet-weather cycling info. Very helpful.

And to all of you who say how proud you are of what I am doing, please think about this: When I see the African women walking the roadways carrying their babies on their backs and 20-pound sacks of rice on their heads, or men pushing their bicycles up the hill as it is loaded down with wood or grain or whatever, I think that every person at home who kills him- or herself providing for family but laments not having the time to work out should give him/herself a a serious pat on the back.

I also think one other thing quite a lot: Being away from home for two full months is no big deal any more. The newspaper will still be there when I get back. My house will be there. My family and friends. (One of you will tape "The Simpsons" for me, right?) So why the hell not be here in Africa?

I see that the U.S., the center of my universe for 34 years, is but a speck in many respects. There is so much to see. For me, now, it's Africa. For one of the Canadians leaving the tour today, it's Antarctica in a few months. (Can you stand it?) I hope you all take whatever trip or job risk or whatever that creeps up in front of you or has been nagging at you or frankly you've been quick to dismiss as crazy or unaffordable before now. Several of the people here quit their jobs to do this. Several tell me they will be broke when they get home. They don't care. Interesting.

Happy Easter and Passover.

Posted April 09, 2004 10:50 AM