Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/68789
cultural diversity from, as the Toronto-based organizers say, "the best seat in the house – the seat of your bicycle." The tour launched in 2003 with a few dozen riders. Today some 400 cyclists tackle the demanding continental ride. Entry fees support efforts to donate bicycles to com- munity health and development groups in Africa, and the riders serve as ambassadors for the bicycle as a viable means of transport. Furthermore, these intrepid riders are encouraged to raise funds for the charity of their choice. Since Tour d'Afrique's incep- tion, participants have raised more than 700,000 euros ($910,000 Cdn.) for non- profi ts such as the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Equiterre and WaterAid. In an effort he has dubbed H20pia, Edmonton resident and AMA member Michael Paull is raising funds for Hope Inter- national Development Agency, a Canadian organization that delivers potable water to communities in Ethiopia. When reached by email in Malawi, the halfway point of the journey, he'd already raised $67,000 for his cause. Paull underwent a gruelling routine in preparation for the tour: running six days a week, (right) Tour d'Afrique participant Michael Paull (silver helmet and beard) poses with locals in Ethiopia; (below) elephants rest under an acacia at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand; a volunteer helps feed some of the park's elephants. spin class five days a week and weight training three times a week, plus stationary-bike riding and aerobics. And it paid off – the days in the saddle are long, he says, and the searing sun takes a toll. But the experience is infi nitely rewarding. "Each country is so unique, and there are constant hellos from everyone you pass by," Paull says. "Sometimes . . . they're not used to seeing people like us on bikes. But when we stop and try to communicate with them, the open arms and the friendliness are amazing." Botswana reminded him of home: "Think of a perfect summer day in Alberta and that is what it is like to ride through Botswana," he wrote on his blog (h2opia.ca). 2 (top) Courtesy Michael Paull, (above) Richard van Kesteren, Matt Travel/All Canada Photos "The temperature was 28 degrees and there was a nice tail wind and tall grass as far as the eye [could] see." But later that day came a reminder of the difference between there and home: an elephant came to camp and "slowly passed several tents with a glare of 'don't mess with me' as he walked by." Paull estimated he was burning a whop- ping 5,500 to 8,500 calories per day on the journey. Luckily, the tour package includes four hearty meals a day, centred around starchy energy-makers such as porridge, sandwiches, soup, pasta and rice. Accommo- dation is self-provided, in the form of tents – the group sleeps in campgrounds and bush camps (a.ka. roadsides) along the route. Tour d'Afrique's ride-along staff always includes at least one nurse or doctor to deal with health issues – most commonly sunburn, sores, blis- ters and stomach ailments. A fee of $13,900 covers meals, lodging and ground support (flights, cycling and camping equipment, travel visas and food on rest days are the rider's responsibility). Aspiring participants without the time or ambition to tackle the entire route may enter at various stages, start- ing at $1,400. tourdafrique.com Do feed the elephants The people of Thailand revere the symbol of the elephant – its image appears in the mod- ern and ancient art of Siam, on T-shirts and the labels of ubiquitous Chang beer bottles. However, this iconic species is under threat. Historically, the Karen and other hill tribe people of northern Thailand have used domesticated elephants for logging or as trekking animals in tourist camps. Sadly for the elephant, life after this (often dangerous and abusive) service is even less kind, with many of them ending up abandoned or neglected. Which is why, in 1999, Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, an idealistic Thai woman, decided to do something about it and WESTWORLD >> JUNE 2012 39