D8 – 84.5Km
‘Same as yesterday, a light rain in the morning brings rhythm to the disassembling of the camp and accelerates the startup of our runner. Each day earlier, it is less than 02.50 and the moon is still high in the sky when Serge starts his long day with small treads. For the first time yesterday, it yielded with the rite of the long massage preceding its nap but was locked up at once in the air-conditioned cell to sleep and to arise from it only for the evening meal. More and more quickly dismounted, the remainder of the camping charged in the Saviem truck takes the road a little later in the night and at 70 kph, joined the following camp even before the day the sunrise. We just have to wait for the point of the day drinking one cup of coffee before reinstalling the camp. Serge programmed 84 K and, intractable, it will run 82 K not-stop before finishing the two last with fast walk. The conditions remain unchanged on this right and absolutly flat road. An old African baroudeur would probably find this landscape monotonous but, for all of us who discover Africa, the days still go on very quickly and without the least boredom. At the end of the stage some road curves and a some hills now announce Mali whose border is not any more that with 60 K. ‘Easy access, cordial and hospital country, Senegal constitutes an approach in softness of Africa ‘ indicates our Lonely Planet guide of Senegal and we take it as such. As Laure often repeats it, ‘until now, evrything around is very comfortable and that will not last’. Approach in softness, maybe will not be the opinion of Serge, finding from the first day more difficult climatic conditions than he had envisaged it. He will remember for its part its 8 days race on the roads of Senegal like ‘a lesson of smiles and kindness’. Tonight Rému is the Chief and we will have a pancake party (no egs, no butter but a huge appetite)..’
