SERENGETI: DAY 10: MISSION COMPLETE

 SERENGETI: DAY 10:  MISSION COMPLETE

This morning I completed my Serengeti Challenge, with a short trip to cross the finish line, on a glorious sunny spring morning.  Achieving 140 km over ten days was not as simple as some may imagine.  But what drove me forward was the inspiration of those who are making such a difference to many lives through Project TEMBO.  Congratulations to all of you.

The Passionate Hiker

Final day pictures below, showing my own town as I biked the last few kilometres to the end of my journey:

Today's journey:   3.4 km

Progress to date:  140.0 km

To go:  0.0 km

SERENGETI: DAY 9

 SERENGETI: DAY 9

My reward for a very early start was a spectacular sunrise and - finally - blues skies.  The end is in sight - less than 4 km left to do tomorrow.

An early start today

In time for the sunrise...

...across the lake

Pockets of mist

The enchanting trail

Wide landscaspes..

...and gentle hillsides

A lonely cemetery

Herds grazing in the fields

Much better weather today

Heron

A magical view

Today's journey:   18.0 km

Progress to date:  136.6 km

To go:  3.4 km

SERENGETI: DAY 8

 SERENGETI: DAY 8

Rain, Rain, and more Rain!  At  this rate I might need a kayak to finish this journey.  But today I kept going:

Puddle-filled pathway

Not much sign of spring

Flooded grasslands

River rain

A damp journey today

Reflections

Cloud-filled skies

Today's journey:   10.2 km

Progress to date:  118.6 km

To go:  21.4 km

SERENGETI: DAY 7

 SERENGETI: DAY 7

At last, some watery sunshine, and more wildlife along my route.  Am keeping up the tempo as I home in on the finish line.

A nursery for geese

It feels quite isolated out here

This trio swam by to take a look at the passing traveller

Empty trails

Woodland avenue

A second later, this deer leapt across the path, closely followed by two others

Family outing

Today's journey:   14.6 km

Progress to date:  108.4 km

To go:  31.6 km

SERENGETI: DAY 6

 SERENGETI: DAY 6

A later start today, but keeping up the pace across this colourful land:

Setting out a little later than usual

Our town and river

A sea of yellow

The gently winding path

My tree-lined route

An old home beside the trail

Reflections in the river

Today's journey:   15.2 km

Progress to date:  93.8 km

To go:  46.2 km

SERENGETI: DAY 5

 SERENGETI: DAY 5

More dark skies and watery scenery, but I continue to make good progress across this landscape, passing the halfway point today.

Spring runoff in the fields

Touches of colour

Dark skies

Streams crossing my path

This lonely barn might make a good shelter in a storm

A watery landscape

Today's journey:   15.8 km

Progress to date:  78.6 km

To go:  61.4 km

THANK YOU

THANK YOU to the very kind donor who contributed to my Serengeti Challenge.  I am so pleased for TEMBO that you chose to do this.  It was a totally unexpected and generous thing to do.

The Passionate Hiker (or Biker!)

SERENGETI: DAY 4

 SERENGETI: DAY 4

Made good progress today, despite spitting rain and gloomy skies.

Bright colors at my overnight lodge

Past the hill

Plenty of open countryside

Signs of spring

A well-kept cemetery along the route

This sign points to a long-distance trail across Canada

Today's journey:   19.5 km

Progress to date:  62.8 km

To go:  77.2 km