Senegal - The Lions on the Road: Cycling London to Cape Town - page 100

as I was told and rather quickly began to feel better. I even went for a twenty-minute walk
and played 1.5 seconds of football with some local children. At 7:30 p.m. I heard mass and
afteragreatdinner,weplayedCleudo(anItaliancluegame.)EvenwhenAndreatranslated
the questions into French, I still couldn't answer them. But it was a blast and then I hit the
sack finally managing to fall asleep.
A Joyous Occasion?
The next morning I felt great having had the best sleep in nearly a week. Even
thoughIwasanxioustogetontheroad,Idecidedtostayonemoredaytocontinuebuilding
my strength. As odd as this may sound, I also wanted to stay to make sure I had a healthy
bowel movement. I didn't need to wait long for in the late morning, I was successful. I
came downstairs to share my news with Andrea and Patrizzia who shared in my happiness
(as if I just gave birth.) I went for a walk in town and played football with the local chil-
dren- this time for 20 minutes. I took it easy for the rest of the day and after lunch just sat
in the office to write in my journal. At times, I gazed out the office window and pondered
on how to say thank-you to my hosts. I also reflected on the work that so many of these
volunteerswereinvolvedin.InthewholeweekIwasatCOMI,notoncedidtheycomplain
about their paperwork, their constant meetings or this lump of a Canadian who crashed in
their home. After my journal entry, I folded my clothes and prepared my bicycle for the
next day's departure.
In the morning, Andrea and Patrizzia woke me up at 6:45 a.m. just as they were
getting ready to go out in the field. After all my consideration of saying good-bye, I did a
very stupid thing. To say good-bye, I just lay in bed and shook their hands! My God, after
a week of staying with them, I only shook their hands! When they left, I got out of bed
and found the other Andrea in the dining room and joined him for breakfast. Afterward, he
watched me as I set up my bike. This time, I said my good-bye with a hug and big thank-
you. Just before I left, Rose, the housekeeper took our photo.