Cycling to Timbuktu.....

You may or not be aware (it has been a question on University Challenge!) that Hay on Wye in Powys is twinned with Timbuktu in Mali. This has been an interesting journey for both communities with many local projects under the Umbrella of Hay2Timbuktu the charity. It was particularly hard recently when the political unrest there meant that we knew people being affected by the harsh regimes. It really brought home what news stories mean when medical centres and schools you have worked with are ransacked, ancient manuscripts in libraries you have visited burned.

I am on sabbatical from the project at the moment for family reasons but today I turned out as official photographer ( invited myself) while Mr Julesey looking silly resplendant in his green cycling jacket took part in the "Cycle to Timbuktu" fund raiser as part of the Hay Bike Festival. Hopefully there will be more cycling events until the community of hay have collectively cycled the length of the journey to Timbuktu bit by bit.

If you fancy seeing more about the projects you could always click here