THE SPONSOR OF MY BICYCLE SPARE PARTS IS COMPANY PRODUCING FINE BICYCLE SADDLES
www.abi.com.pl Certainly, I was a "special guest.” On the way here at every police and gendarmerie check post, and there were many of them, I was stopped, my passport checked and notes taken. "For yours security", they say!
The road sometimes is good and sometimes is bad; in general is "under construction." The country here looks a little bit like Mongolia; bad roads, villages full of tents and Nomads, who live in them. In shops, there is not too much to buy; a very little selection of products. It’s more likely to get some milk than the real food; but bred is good, sardines and macaroni are available, so I wouldn’t go with hanger.
I got to Kaedi with great difficulty. Not only because of the road, which was poor, but also because I was very weak. I wasn't sure what was going on. And the next day I decided to do some blood tests in a local hospital.
Kaedi is said to be one of the hottest cities in Mauretania, so I was very happy to find a nice and air-conditioned spot for camping…right at the airport! The sand was getting cool very fast thus I had a very comfortable night.
In the morning I was packing up when I found a scorpion under my tent right next to my head! It was quite big, but fortunately, it wasn't really interested in doing any harm to me.
Next, I had to queue for the blood test and malaria test with a ticket from the cash office in on hand and syringe in another. Lucky me,While I was waiting for my results I met, a Polish Catholic nun doing voluntary work for this hospital. It was a peculiar surprise for her and for me as well. We talked briefly and laughed a little bit. She glanced through my blood results and said that all seemed to be OK. The severity of the previous day was just a result of undergoing treatment for malaria and it was normal. Julita suggested taking a day of rest, which I reluctantly did. She invited me for coffee and we had an lovely evening.
The next day I was like a new man. Full of fresh energy, after having a good breakfast and with the back winds, I did 130 km to the northwest enjoying a tar road and Mongolian-like landscape.
I entered the real Sahara where nights were getting colder with my fully approval! A fireplace, a diner and a tea the starry sky made a fine beginning of a long crossing ahead! That night I slept like a baby!