T.I.A.

This Is Africa!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. Oh, wait – wrong story…..this isn’t the Tale of Two Cities. It’s the Tale 10 Countries.

Africa. It’s wild, it’s tame, it’s lush, it’s bare, it’s bountiful, it’s sparse. It’s dry, it’s humid, it’s cold, it’s hot. It’s vibrant and colourful. It’s vast, immense and boundless. It’s fickle, mercurial, unpredictable and intimidating, yet somehow comforting in its wildness.

Africa. It’s vibrant, it’s listless, it’s joyful, it’s sad, it’s welcoming, it’s reserved.

Africa. Ahh, the simplicity of my life there.  Just get up each day, pack up and just ride my bike. No cell phone, and often no internet. Some days I didn’t have clean clothes because I didn’t feel like washing them the day before. Sometimes my odometer didn’t work, and I revelled in being in the moment and not worrying about how kilometres I still had left until lunch or camp. Most of the time I didn’t know what time, or even what day it was. It really made my other life seem unnecessarily complicated.

Africa. Little by little, without me even realizing it, you crept into my being and became part of me. Now you will forever be part of my heart and soul, and you’ve set my spirit on fire.  I have left a piece of me with you and I will never be the same.  And you are beckoning me back…………will I head your call?