Just like the crossing from Morocco to Mauri, the Mauri to Mali crossing really changed the trip; we are now in Africa proper. After sorting out the insurance for the CFA countries for two months - Euro60 each which isn't too bad - we found the first Baobab tree and pitched our tents. The next morning we went into Nioro for fuel, water and money; all much easier to get than in Mauri for some reason - maybe it's a border town thing?
Peter is still suffering a bit with his had leg and didn't like the off-road section too much so we split up and he went one way and we carried on along the graded track. Awesome riding through some awesome scenery; mud huts and half dressed kids in mucky Man United shirts lined the roads. It was hot work interspersed with some really welcoming villages who even gave us some peanuts as a gift and cheered as Simon arrived after a worrying delay due to a dropped pannier. Arrived in Kita hot and bothered searching for a cold drink and found a tiny shop with just a fridge full of some fizzy drinks called 'Quench'...that first sip was heaven and nothing has come close to tasting like that since, not even the first beer in a while.
Staying in a Catholic mission in Bamako for a few nights, although Bamako isn't the most welcoming or interesting cities in the world.