Andrew's.Enduro.Africa.2009

Andrus Enduro Africa Slide Show: 12/7 @ 6:30 PM Harp & Fiddle

2009-11-09T20:40:00.017-05:00

It's been just about a month since I returned from my Enduro Africa trek and I'm still buzzing from it all. After a 3-day respite to recuperate from the ride, I returned to South Africa and traveled on to Morocco for work. I've been home for about a week now and have been struggling to catch up with the pile that has overtaken my desk. Since returning, I've watched several amazing developments

Day 11: Durban and flight home

2009-10-12T16:11:00.023-04:00

So, for me, Enduro Africa is over. I'm now in the Durban airport about to leave for Joburg. I had a fantastic time and learned to become a much more proficient offroad rider. I'm sore, but otherwise unscathed. With help from my generous sponsors, I expect to turn over $10k in donations when everything's said and done. Thanks to the many recent new donations, which will go to the four amazing

Day 10: Mbotyi to Port Edward

2009-10-12T06:29:00.025-04:00

We departed at 7:45 AM Sunday in light rain and with dark clouds overhead. The final push was to be a 200-km run toward Durban, with a few technical sections thrown in for good measure. We immediately encountered more of the slippery goop that did me in the day before. But I'd learned overnight that it had also caught Red Cherry Adventure's Mike Glover offguard. The seasoned, ex-champion enduro

Top 5 things to pack (and leave behind)

2009-10-11T13:38:00.020-04:00

Here are some reflections on the things to pack and leave behind for Enduro Africa. Aside from the essentials recommended by the organizers, my top 5 things to bring include: Power adapter. Those of you who have traveled internationally know to bring a power adapter. But some will be surprised to find that there's a 3-pronged plug for South Africa, one that is shared with a few other former

Day 9: Port St. Johns to Mbotyi

2009-10-11T12:12:00.019-04:00

We awakened to find that it had rained overnight in Port St. Johns, South Africa and that today's short yet extremely technical offroad motorbike ride would be impassable for neophytes like me. We planned an escape route at the midway point, just in case. We traveled along goat paths, open fields, and gravel roads similar to those we'd traversed the day before. Again, people waved from the

Day 8: Hole-in-the-Wall to Port St. Johns

2009-10-09T15:54:00.021-04:00

Today's run was a mild, 140-km trip from Hole-in-the-wall to Cremorne, near Port St. Johns, South Africa. On tap for tomorrow is a very difficult route, one that takes 8-hrs to cover only 41-km. The problems are that it is very technical, and isolated, so no medical or mechanical support will be available. I just can't say enough about the Honda CRF230Ls that we are riding. They are not

Day 7: Mazeppa Bay to Hole in the Wall

2009-10-08T17:05:00.024-04:00

We began our 12-hr, 140-km ride from Mazeppa Bay to Hole-in-the-Wall with a long climb into the Qora gorge and down to a river crossing that left most riders with flooded boots, myself included. That's right: We had soaking wet socks, heels, and toes for the rest of the day. But we didn't care. The day was especially hard on the bikes, as there were many trying sections on the route. At least

Day 6: Volunteer day in Mazeppa Bay

2009-10-07T16:54:00.011-04:00

Enduro Africa riders were off of our bikes for a rest day today, which was spent at a nearby school refurbishing desks, painting interior walls, and performing other maintenance with TouchAfrica. As we arrived, children started pouring out of the buildings and began waving and dancing for us. There must have been 300 kids there, all dressed sharply in black uniforms. I know that most of my

Injury status update

2009-10-07T11:45:00.002-04:00

This morning, I interpretted the lack of swelling and bruising to mean that I haven't fractured my foot, thankfully. It is a little sensitive still but nothing to keep me off my bike. Lesson learned? Take every step to avoid dehydration, as it erodes concentration and coordination incredibly fast out here. And, yes, I must slow down a bit too! Lorraine - I'll be sure to say hello to Mike,

Day 5: Morgan's Bay to Mazeppa Bay

2009-10-06T17:35:00.010-04:00

Today, we set out early from Morgan's Bay to allow time to complete the punishing 80-km route, with its deep sandy trails, seemingly impossible climbs, and more stream crossings than I could count. It got so hot that I worried for the first time in my life about the possibility of suffering heat stroke. At about 1:30 PM, we made an unplanned stop at a remote community store that soon teamed

Day 4: Port Alfred to Morgan's Bay

2009-10-05T18:02:00.019-04:00

We set off from Port Alfred at 8 AM with the obligatory police escort to the city border, which was all of a half mile away. The morning's light rain was a mixed blessing: Less dust on the trails but a greater risk of slipping into the foot-deep ruts along parts of the route. Thankfully, the rain ceased by 11 AM or so. Team Orange, consisting of a fascinating and diverse group of 12 - 14

Lives transformed by mobile phones

2009-10-05T13:28:00.001-04:00

On my flight to South Africa, I read with keen interest the Economist's recent special report on the transformational impact of mobile phones in the lives of people in developing countries. Consider this: For every additional 10 mobiles per 100 people, a nation's gross domestic product increases per person by 0.6 - 0.8 percentage points in developing countries. Why? Because these phones are

Technical difficulties

2009-10-05T00:36:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all of the emails, comments, and requests for pix! My blackberry allows me to write, but I can't respond to facebook, post pics, or respond to your blog comments, sadly! Will do so at my next computer terminal, although pix must wait. Follow the FB links to the full blog posts. Rain this AM could mean trouble for many. Stay tuned!

Day 3: Port Elizabeth to Port Alfred

2009-10-04T17:56:00.009-04:00

Under police escort out of Port Elizabeth today, we rode to a labyrinthine network of trails that the local riders were kind enough to share, many even offered us technical and mechanical assistance. There were steep inclines and declines, stream crossings, logs, sand, mud, and miles of incredible single-track through the bush. It was on the first major descent -- long, rutted, and strewn

New poll: How many falls will Andrew take??

2009-10-04T13:57:00.003-04:00

For your entertainment, I've added a poll to my blog. Whomever guesses correctly the average number of times I fall off of my bike per day gets a special prize. To do the poll, just look in the righthand column on here on my blog, just below my donations widget. Go ahead. Fire away. Be sure to email me your answer, so I can follow-up when I get back!

Day 2: Pre-ride dinner and briefing

2009-10-03T18:12:00.006-04:00

By 5 PM, all riders had arrived in Port Elizabeth. We assembled for a quick introduction to team leaders and each other, and for a pre-ride check of our trusty Honda CRF230Ls.The excitement was palpable. At 7 PM, we met again for a group dinner, talks by reps from each of the sponsored charities, and performances by local school children who tried in vain to teach 80 weary EA riders an

100 red motos, fueled and ready!

2009-10-03T07:50:00.003-04:00

The morning fog and rain clouds burned away by 10 AM in Port Elizabeth, but not before dozens of dolphin swam past the hotel, some even playing in the chest-deep shorebreak. I've been in the ocean a lot, even seen sharks, seals, otters, and dolphins surface next to me. But I've never seen numbers like those. I wandered over to the Radisson at 8:30, hoping to find others. No luck. When I

The Republic of South Africa

2009-10-02T18:23:00.003-04:00

The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) coastline[6][7] on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.[8] To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.[9] Some quick facts about South Africa: Capital: Pretoria (Joburg

Day 1: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

2009-10-02T03:46:00.004-04:00

I awoke to a cloudless, spectacular day on the Eastern-most shore of South Africa, with its lush greenery, palm trees, and colorful birds. The small, mushy waves mean no surfing for me today, sadly. I'll spend the day visiting the University and PE Museum as I await the arrival tomorrow of the other 100 Enduro Africa riders. I am here.

Refueling in Dakar

2009-10-01T02:59:00.004-04:00

It's 3 AM ET and dawn is breaking over the Western Sahara. We're being treated to a 60-min pitstop in Dakar, following an unremarkable 8.5 hour trans-Atlantic flight. Approximately 50 people departed and others boarded. Another 9 hrs to Joburg. I learned later from a South African Airlines (SAA) pilot that the planes make this stop only when warmer temperatures in departure cities prohibit

2006 Enduro Africa Video - repost

2009-09-30T08:07:00.002-04:00

Curious about what I'll likely experience during my 2000-km off-road motorcycle Enduro Africa ride in October? Well, take a look: Source: Enduro Africa. Video by Cass Productions. I should add that the 2009 ride will be only 8-days long and that the organizers no longer donate the bikes to Riders for Health at the end of the trip. Donations will go to the four

Chocolate Enduro Africa Birthday Cake!!

2009-09-28T18:03:00.002-04:00

And, yes, it tasted even better than it looks. It was amazing. Simply. A heartfelt thank you to Elizabeth, my talented and clever sweetheart.

Enduro Africa - Rehydration Sachets

2009-09-28T09:53:00.001-04:00

Here's a friendly update from the trip organizer. Thankfully, gatorade powder's already on my packing list.----- Forwarded Message ----From: Enduro Africa To: Enduro Africa Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 9:38:50 AMSubject: Enduro Africa - Rehydration Sachets I’m on the road again this week, this time at the National HIV Prevention Conference (NHPC) in Atlanta. The updates so far have me thinking about the need for an Enduro America, which would be a long, awareness-raising motorcycle ride through the rural Southeast, heading north along the coast and through many of the 20% of counties that account for 80% of the cases of AIDS.

UNAIDS Photo stories

2009-08-20T14:33:00.000-04:00

Portraits of Commitment© 2008 UNAIDS. All rights reserved. The Love Factory - Preventing HIV, preserving the environment © 2007 UNAIDS. All rights reserved. Photos by John SpaullStars Against AIDS© 2008 UNAIDS/Serge Golovach.Nairobi 2007© 2007 UNAIDS. All rights reserved. Photos by Damien Schuman.

Bang up job there, fellas

2009-08-17T22:19:00.008-04:00

A recent UNAIDS report on HIV transmission was released last week at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Bali, raising new concerns about the trajectory of HIV infection in the region. According to the report, an estimated 50 million women may be at risk for HIV infection by virtue of a single risk factor: Being married or in a long-term

Photo Series of Supporters: Birgit & Elizabeth

2009-08-13T19:29:00.007-04:00

Birgit & ElizabethEngineer & School PsychologistLacanau-Océan

Rider puts body on line for science, donations - and fails

2009-08-11T19:17:00.008-04:00

This week, I had hoped to participate in a promising H1N1 vaccine trial being conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine that is testing the immunogenicity and efficacy of two doses of a vaccine that may be used later this year to prevent infections and to save lives. But I got punted out. And not for the reasons you might have thought. In fact, I screened out and wasn’t allowed

$210.91 (or more) for this??

2009-08-05T19:07:00.007-04:00

At present, the U.S. is in the midst of a rather fierce ideological battle on the topic of health care. On the right, we have freemarketeers who prefer to give Wall Street even greater influence over a system wherein profits trump patients. On the left, we have progressives who believe in a role for government in keeping healthcare accessible, cost effective, and top quality (e.g., Medicare,

Off-road Rider Gear, Part II

2009-08-03T07:27:00.012-04:00

Last week, the rest of my riding gear showed up, including helmet, goggles, and chest and knee protection. A few extras also arrived, such as extra goggle lenses and hot weather socks for the monster motocross boots I'm taking. I'll plan to use the Camelbak I always use for long bike rides, which has plenty of capacity for water and assorted gear (wallet, tools, phone, energy bars). And I have a

Next up: Enduro America?

2009-07-30T07:10:00.004-04:00

I'd really been hoping to avoid a posting under this title, but the news yesterday effectively demanded it:The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has approved spending cuts of more than half a billion dollars to the state's budget. Most of the savings are being made in social services - with deep cuts in child welfare programmes, health care for the poor, and HIV/AIDS initiatives.

Ride preparation continues ...

2009-07-29T07:55:00.017-04:00

It was a busy week for Andrew's Enduro Africa. I spent Monday's lunch at the local AAA getting an international driver's license. The resulting document left me feeling underwhelmed that my money was well spent ($15). And yesterday morning, I was at the doctor's office getting prescriptions for inoculations and preventive medicine for the trip (i.e., Hep A, typhoid, anti-malarials). I decided

Motorbikes selected for EA 2009

2009-07-27T10:56:00.000-04:00

70 days and counting: Fitness update

2009-07-26T07:12:00.005-04:00

With only 70 days remaining to the start of Enduro Africa, I've stepped up efforts to meet 3 fitness goals: getting physically fit, building strength and endurance specifically with the off-road ride in mind, losing another 10 pounds. Here's what I've done so far. First, I started an account with a free online fitness tracking tool to log exercise activities and weigh-ins. Second, I set a

How to make a map with Google Maps

2009-07-25T07:00:00.014-04:00

Since so many have asked how I made a Google Maps and Enduro Africa Itinarary mashup, I thought I'd simply point readers to a brief video demonstrating how to make one's own map. And trust me, these things are simple, useful, and very cool. I have a collection of maps for motorcycle rides, hangouts in D.C., and general maps for new cities I've visited (don't you hate finding something interesting

TED Talks: Bono on AIDS in Africa

2009-07-22T22:36:00.002-04:00

Back in Feb. 2005, U2 lead singer and co-founder of the ONE campaign, Bono, accepted the TED Prize and offered a provocative talk with this challenge:“The fact is that ours is the first generation that can look disease and extreme poverty in the eye, look across the ocean to Africa and say this and mean it: We do not have to stand for this. A whole continent written off. We

New Sponsor: Coles' Martial Arts Academy

2009-07-21T22:00:00.013-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce a new business sponsorship from Coles' Martial Arts Academy in Bethesda. I'm especially pleased because Coles' is the academy Elizabeth attends for her Tae Kwon Do training.In the years since we left California, Elizabeth has tried a number of a schools to continue her training but has been disappointed by the social promotion and lax standards she encountered. Having sat

Photo Series of Supporters: Gary

2009-07-20T18:30:00.002-04:00

GarySan Jose, CaliforniaPsychologist/Entrepreneur

Blogger finally finds voice (only it's not his)

2009-07-19T19:37:00.037-04:00

Today's Washington Post features a fantastic article by William Powers, who writes of traveling the whole of Liberia by bush-taxi, motorbike, and foot. Powers offers a brief glimpse into the history of this unique Sub-Saharan African country, comments on its under-appreciated ties to the U.S., and shares a unique insider's view into its language, culture, food, and people. Here's a snippet:"

Off-Road Rider Gear, Part I

2009-07-18T19:11:00.008-04:00

Of the out-of-pocket expenses associated with my participation in Enduro Africa (e.g., postcards, postage, international transfer fees, t-shirts, etc.), none has me feeling giddier than this one: Off-road riding gear.Last night, I placed an order for Fox Racing 360 racing jersey, pants, and gloves (rugged, padded, yet fully vented for hot conditions), and Moose Racing M1 boots with all terrain

CDC: Vaccinations and Preventive Medicine for travel to ZA

2009-07-17T06:55:00.012-04:00

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance on vaccinations and preventive medicine for travel to rural South Africa, including the recommendation to visit a health care provider at least 4 - 6 weeks before travel to permit enough time for vaccines and other medications to take effect.###Vaccine-Preventable DiseasesVaccine recommendations are based on the best

Media coverage of a 2008 Enduro Africa rider

2009-07-16T21:42:00.010-04:00

Here's a short news clip about Canadian Mark Jennings-Bates' experience of the 2008 Enduro Africa ride and fundraiser, including the impact of donations on the region's children, the determination of other riders, and the rides effect on his own life.Perhaps a Dakar Rally entry will be in my future, too?

2009 IAS Conference - Cape Town

2009-07-15T21:18:00.009-04:00

I don't often re-post others' texts in their entirety, but this introduction to the 2009 International AIDS Society conference, which begins later this week in Cape Town, seemed a fitting piece of background on the social, public health, and political contexts in which Enduro Africa's four selected charities operate. And it offers a glimpse into an incredible country and a resilient people who

Enduro Africa 2009 Itinerary Mash-up

2009-07-14T14:53:00.022-04:00

Go ahead - click the blue pins, scroll in/out, switch views from satellite to map to terrain. It all works!Enlarge map Credit: andrewsenduroafrica2009.blogspot.com

Enduro Africa Rider Profiles: Bob & Neil

2009-07-13T06:42:00.002-04:00

Recently, I made contact with two other Enduro Africa riders, Bob and Neil, who are Warwickshire Police Officers with extensive off-road motorcycling backgrounds. One of them is a bag pipe player and will probably be good for plenty of entertainment during the trip (see below).Bob and Neil organized and hosted a successful Pub Quiz event not long ago that helped put them over their required

Glover examines the spread of HIV: Tanzania

2009-07-12T05:28:00.000-04:00

A recent UNICEF story highlights the critical absence of men as participants in HIV prevention, the adverse impact of stigma and discrimination on persons living with the virus that causes AIDS, the challenges of engaging youth, and other factors that worsen the epidemic in developing country contexts: Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover visits HIV/AIDS programmes in TanzaniaDAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania,

Photo Series of Supporters: Mike

2009-07-11T07:54:00.004-04:00

Mike, Syracuse, NYScientist/Mentor Extraordinaire

85 Days and counting (and a Google challenge)

2009-07-10T06:28:00.010-04:00

In the 3 months remaining before the start of my Enduro Africa adventure, I'm beginning to feel a bit daunted by the number of things I still need to do, including immunizations, off road riding training, completing a final round of fundraising, building my physical fitness and endurance (and losing 10 lbs.), finishing my EA soundtrack, buying off road riding gear, etc. But there's a new

andrew's EA soundtrack - coming soon

2009-07-08T21:49:00.021-04:00

Many of you know that I'm compiling a soundtrack for my Enduro Africa project and you have generously suggested a number of African musicians to add to the mix (please keep the recommendations coming). Leading contenders include the likes of Maryam Marsal, Thomas Mapfumo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and others. I am still considering a track by Algerian-born DJ Cheb i Sabbeh, despite having

A donor speaks out

2009-07-03T12:05:00.004-04:00

One of the most rewarding parts of my participation in Enduro Africa thus far has been the chance it has created to raise awareness about the devastating impact HIV continues to have, both globally and domestically. And from time to time, I hear the most touching stories from others. Not long ago, a generous donor sent the following note:I read about your upcoming journey in The Gazette. Your

Health care via text messaging

2009-06-27T13:56:00.004-04:00

A recent Guardian article on FrontlineSMS described a new effort to improve health care in low-resource, remote communities by using a basic function of the ubiquitous mobile phone: Short message service (SMS) or text messaging. According to the World Health Organization, Africa accounts 24% for the global burden of disease but has only 3% of the health care workforce. The shortage has important

Enduro Africa 2008 on UK television

2009-06-22T05:37:00.003-04:00

In this month's Enduro Africa Newsletter comes word that a film of the 2008 ride was made into a 5-part series on the UK program Men and Motors and will be aired at the following times: ENDURO AFRICA 2008Thursday 2nd July until Thursday 30th July @ 19.30Friday 3rd July until Friday 31st July @ 11.30, 13.30, 17.30Saturday 4th July until Sat 1st August @ 18.30Those of us in other countries may need

2009 Enduro Africa Itinerary

2009-06-20T05:53:00.009-04:00

Here's the official Enduro Africa itinerary for this year's ride:Day 1Depart from Heathrow for Johannesburg, South Africa.Day 2Arrive in Johannesburg and catch a connecting flight onto the 1820 settler’s city of Port Elizabeth. This is where the fun begins! After the introduction to your team, a quick warm up on your trusty Honda CRF 230 will ensure that you are well prepared for the adventure

Who says white collar crime doesn't kill?

2009-06-18T05:28:00.008-04:00

Greetings from sunny Beirut, where I'm participating in a fantastic manuscript writing workshop for Middle Eastern and North African scientists who are contributing to a special edition of AIDS in the coming year. As usual, I've been monitoring HIV/AIDS updates in the news and came across an alarming Inter Press Service article that breathes life into concerns about the impact of the global

Travel plans are set!

2009-06-12T22:02:00.002-04:00

A week or so ago, I finalized all of my travel plans for my Enduro Africa adventure. I was fortunate to have enough air miles to get to/from South Africa, and I've now set up a flight within South Africa from Joburg (JNB) to Port Elizabeth (PLZ), where the ride starts. I'm also booked for the return trip out of Durban (DUR) to Joburg, then home (IAD).Finally, I've reserved a hotel room for a

National HIV programs in Africa fall short

2009-06-07T10:39:00.005-04:00

A recent UNAIDS and World Bank report claims that the National HIV prevention strategies in 5 African countries are not reaching those most at risk of infection with the virus that causes AIDS. Epidemiological data collected in collaboration with health authorities in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Uganda suggest a significant mismatch between the most common modes of transmission

$7,500 Raised for Enduro Africa!

2009-06-06T21:06:00.007-04:00

It’s true, sportsfans. With your help, I’ve raised the minimum amount required to participate in Enduro Africa, the fundraiser and off-road motorcycle ride that will benefit 4 fantastic charities in Southern Africa. You’ve heard me it say tens of times already, but here it comes again: Thank you! Without your incredible generosity, encouragement, and expressions of interest

New business sponsor: Cosi

2009-06-05T06:52:00.005-04:00

I'm thrilled to report that my local Cosi has generously donated a gift card to my Enduro Africa 2009 project. I'm just tickled that they were interested and willing to help.I'll offer the Cosi gift card, along with my custom embroidered Enduro Africa tees, to donors in an upcoming pledge drive. Stay tuned. The adventure continues.

My apologies for the silence

2009-06-03T21:40:00.002-04:00

Sad news, these past two weeks. First came rather sudden news that my paternal grandfather passed away while he was traveling in the UK. Then, without missing a beat, came news of a rather concerning cancer diagnosis in the family. Needless to say, it has been a challenging few weeks. Many thanks for your warm thoughts and best wishes.

Fly to Johannesburg for <$60 (RT)

2009-05-26T22:10:00.043-04:00

I just received confirmation of my flights to/from Joburg from Dulles for my Enduro Africa trip. Two highlights are worth mentioning: 1) I scored the semi-direct RT flight on South African Airways (refueling in Accra), thereby sparing me many hours of layover and the cost of a Yotel room at Heathrow or Schiphol; and 2) by using air miles accumulated from work-related travel, I got away with

Off-road rider training

2009-05-20T06:39:00.009-04:00

I'm closing in on an off-road rider training course on July 11 & 12 in Romney, WV.Better still, a friend may let me to use his 250 cc dual-sport bike for the course. I'll write more as plans solidify.

TED Talks - Hans Rosling: HIV in (not so) tiny bubbles

2009-05-13T20:45:00.029-04:00

Here's yet another reason to love statistics and data: Hans Rosling's incredible talk at the 2009 TED Conference using data presented in graphical form by GapMinder, a non-profit seeking the "increased use and understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels."Rosling uses Gapminder data - which are online

Enduro Africa 2009 - important flight information

2009-05-12T06:12:00.009-04:00

The excitement builds. Following is the flight information for the early October cohort for Enduro Africa 2009. I can now move forward with using my frequent flyer miles for the flight to/from Johannesburg, South Africa. Fingers crossed that I can score the Dulles - Joburg direct flight, which is only 17 hrs (going through Europe adds another 12+ hours!). By donating my air miles, I increase the

Must see video

2009-05-08T08:11:00.007-04:00

The video captures nicely the same sentiments I feel about my October 3d trip. Some key differences between actor Ewen McGregor's and my adventure are worth noting: I'll be riding with ~100 others, broken into groups of 10 - all of whom will be strangers to me.Unlike the 550 pound, 1200cc, $20k BMWs shown, we'll ride 300 pound, 200cc, $4k Hondas or YamahasOur ride is only 8 days and just through

Leading causes of preventable mortality, U.S.

2009-05-03T09:03:00.018-04:00

Ok. This is not so relevant to Enduro Africa (more so to Enduro America), but indulge me: A fascinating study was published recently by Danaei and colleagues that used comparative risk analysis to estimate the number of preventable causes of premature deaths in the U.S. in 2005 from 12 modifiable dietary, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, including blood glucose, blood pressure, physical

Top 10 reasons to donate now

2009-04-30T06:41:00.029-04:00

In February, I kicked off my fundraising campaign for Enduro Africa 2009. So, it is a bit of a surprise, three months later, to be in the position to say that: I’m now ~80% of the way to the required $7,500in donations to participate!! You read that right – I’ve successfully raised over $6000, including online and offline donations, and my own personal contributions to

Poor thing...

2009-04-29T20:33:00.007-04:00

Enduro Africa: Kit List

2009-04-24T14:14:00.006-04:00

Many of you have asked what exactly I'll need to pack for Enduro Africa 2009. Well, here's a start, from the organizer's website:Apart from those items listed as essential, please use this list as a guideline only; you really do not need to bring excess clothing unless you are planning to stay in Africa after the trip. Do not bring clothing, baggage or any equipment that you are worried about

BBC: Mobile technology fights HIV

2009-04-21T06:21:00.008-04:00

Two weeks ago, the BBC featured a story highlighting a Ugandan health clinic led by Dr. Paul Williams that is using promising new technology for HIV treatment and monitoring, one that has the capacity to improve HIV care in rural communities in developing countries. The PointCare NOW, is an automated, portable device with the capacity to obtain hematology parameters and CD4 t-cell counts within 8

Weekend fund drive update

2009-04-19T10:07:00.020-04:00

Just a brief, heartfelt thanks everyone who has donated to my Enduro Africa project this weekend, including Birgit, Ed, Charlotte, Julia, Sridar, and others. I'm well over a third of the way toward my $1000 weekend fundraising goal. But I still need your help. To donate, just use the secure PayPal donation widget to the right. Also, with the recent Gazette article in hand, this weekend I visited

Local Media Covers Enduro Africa 2009

2009-04-17T06:51:00.022-04:00

On Wednesday, I was tickled to receive an email from a colleague alerting me that the online edition of our community paper, the Gazette, had published an article on my participation in Enduro Africa 2009. Here's a snippet: On his next motorized adventure, he may not find a lot of stress relief. But Forsyth, who works at the National Institute of Mental Health at the National Institutes of Health

Enduro Africa T-Shirts are here!!

2009-04-15T08:32:00.011-04:00

They're here! My first shipment of customized, embroidered Enduro Africa t-shirts has arrived and, let me tell you, they look and feel great - and they'll make you happy and smile, just like in the picture.I've started distributing these exclusive t-shirts to everyone donating $100 or more to my 2009 Enduro Africa ride and fundraiser. So, keep an eye out for yours (or for one on a hipster near