okay, so.

here’s the big idea.

I wanted to wait until I had a bit more time to talk it over with some folks,

but this is the last night I’ll be at Ryan’s – with his free wifi and beers.

a dangerous combination, usually, but hey.

I made enough, thanks to people like you, to get to Africa.

but I can’t just do a few pyramids and say ‘yep – been to Africa.’

I want to experience it in a way that only being poor could.

tourism, it’s all be tourism – just longer than most, I think.

I want an adventure.

so here it is:

cairo to capetown…with no money.

[the only cash I'll keep will be for internet access, as this depends on it - $15 a week]

no money.

overland.

quick – look at a map.

that’s a long way down.

and into some dicey areas.

Sudan? dangerous in places, yes.

even Brother Scott had a few words of warning for me about Sudan – and he’s the bravest cat I know.

so, a week or so ago, I wrote it off and was just going to try and find a few NGO’s to work with.

but it kept at me, this little thought.

and then there was this fantastic lady I shared a cab with who just so happened to have lived/worked in Sudan.

so I took that as a sign.

and I finally spent money I don’t have on the domain.

fuck me, I’m off topic and haven’t even explained it.

sorry.

no money, just asking, in advance, for friends-of-friends

or charities you might know

who’d let me show up, do a bit of work, or help get their message out

in exchange for a bite to eat, a blanket and a ride into the next town.

I might have to hitchhike.

I might have to have a few pages of phrases translated each place I go.

I might, as a semi-healthy white guy, get some funny looks when it’s me begging for food,

but I’m living proof to the kindness of strangers.

I’m living proof on how Facebook/Twitter helps you meet people.

and I’m living proof you need not be educated, wealthy, nor informed to travel.

this is the project I spoke with Nat Geo a few times about – still don’t think they’ll legally be able to do it.

and that’s okay, it was the confidence I needed to get me to the next step.

so – I’ve bought the site, and admitted it publicly.

and in a few weeks, I’m going to try and do it.

but will, once again, need your help.

…

we’ll start with the first three countries – who do you know in either Egypt, Sudan or Ethiopia who’d be willing to help?

what am I not thinking of?

what should I prepare in advance for?

and if you don’t think it can be done, tell me why.