Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
forasnackandaftereatingafewIpackedtherestandheadedout.Iwalkedupthefirsthill
to warm up the legs and resumed cycling. For the rest of the day, the few climbs I faced
were short and the gradient was very gentle.
When I arrived at the outskirts of Likasi, I stopped to oil my chain. A group of four
Belgians, who were driving toward me, stopped for a chat. After passing a few pleasant-
ries, Isaid good-bye and headed into town to look forSt Joseph'sParish to dropoffFelix's
letter (the boy who had the train accident.) En route, I met another Belgian, Bruniaux, a
few kilometres from the parish. We chatted for a while and then he invited me to stay with
him and his dad. I accepted and followed him as he drove to his home.
As he made me something to eat, he explained that his family worked in Kolwezi
and supplied parts for the mining industry. Bruniaux had motor-biked across Africa and
was presently working in the missions. He invited me to go flying in his small airplane
which he used to visit the mission stations scattered throughout the jungle. Our conversa-
tion was cut short for he had to leave and pick his father up from the airport. I left my bike
atthehouse,andhitchedaridewithhim.HedroppedmeoffattheparishsoIcoulddeliver
Felix's letter
An Incredible Story: Felix… My Purpose For Cycling Through Zaïre?
Outside the parish, I met the Spanish priest and his secretary, Andre. I introduced
myself and presented the letter from Sister Louise. I elaborated Felix's story, his predica-
ment and where he was in Kaniama.
Father's jaw dropped and looked at me in disbelief.
He said that when his friends returned from the north, they told the family what
happened and explained that Felix had died. The parish had the funeral mass for Felix and
the family mourned his death for two weeks. That was when my jaw dropped and I started
to choke up. I told the priest that he was very much alive and wanted to go home but had
no money.
I could only just imagine how the parents must have felt to be told that their son
died and finding out that he was still alive. Sadly, I never met the family for they lived out-
sidethetown.FatherAndrepromisedmethathewouldgoanddeliver theletter personally
to the family. What happened to Felix? Well, I found this out about 13 years later after I
wrote to Sister Louise. Details will be found in the Afterword section of this topic.
Father then invited me for coffee and afterward, we went to visit a home he built
for children with special needs and was run by the sisters. I was invited to lunch after the
children's mass the next day. He then drove me back to Bruniaux's home where I met his
dad (he was the driver in the car full of Belgians I met earlier.) I got ready for dinner and
for the first time had a most amazing barbecue. The best part of the meal was when they
told me that the road leaving Likasi to the border was excellent asphalt…no more bedrock.
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