Senegal - The Lions on the Road: Cycling London to Cape Town - page 94

if I gave money to everyone I would not be able to continue the tour. However, I came to
a simple realization: I was in fact helping a vast amount of people through an organization
that reached more individuals than I could have ever done.
The next day was Sunday and after the earliest mass, I planned to depart the city.
However, I was so moved by the choir and the pipe organ that I stayed for the 9:00 a.m.
mass as well. I wish that I had the means to record the music for what I was hearing was
absolutely breathtaking. Afterward, I returned to my room to pack and went to see the
bishop.Ithankedhimforallowingmetousetheroomtosleep,andalsoapologizedformy
behaviour at the breakfast table a couple of days earlier. We hugged and I said good-bye
with a promise that I would write (which I did).
With a renewed spirit I made my way out of Dakar. I quickly found the road and
stopped by the garden centre to say good-bye to the gardener from Sierra Leone who I met
as I entered the city. I also stopped by the gas station where I had my first flat tire to say
hello and good-bye to the clerks. The air felt thick and muggy but at least I had a tailwind
and it wasn't raining. Also, the road was quite impressive with only a few large
potholes.AsIheadedfurthereastthefloragrewthickeranditfeltasif IjustenteredaNa-
tional Geographic magazine. The vibrant colors and songs of the exotic birds took my at-
tention awayfromtheheat. Thebutterflies werenumerousandsoincredibly diverse. Their
intricate patterns and colours amazed me. I wish I had a deeper understanding in this field
…not to mention astronomy, languages, African history, among other things.
I visited a chapel on the side of the road which was circular in shape with a tin roof
and benches made from fallen trees. As I rested there, a local villager told me that there
was a priest in residence in Mbour. I cycled rather effortlessly and found the church with
the help from a local who insisted that I give him a present. Since he only gave me verbal
assistance, I did the same. I looked at him and said “ Merci, vous êtes très gentil .” (Thank
you, you are very kind.)
I attended a funeral and after the service asked the priest if I could pass the night.
He agreed and showed me to a guest room. After I placed my bike there, I walked to the
open market where it seemed that Senegal's mosquitoes and flies vacationed- the number
that swarmed the area was incredible. I wish I brought my camera with me into the market
forthere weresomanyopportunities tocapture thiscoastal village'sbeauty especially dur-
ing the incredible sunset over the ocean. A thought occurred to me: if I had great eyesight
and was 30 kilometres off the ground, I could see Canada!
After I bought some milk, cakes and bread, I slowly made my way through the
crowdedmarketbacktomyroom.WhenIreturned,Isharedmycakeswiththerectorashe