Trip of a Lifetime

No, no, no! I am not referring to the 2022 odyssey around the lower 48. I am pleased to report that it has been nearly 3 months since I completed that trip and I have not been on a bike seat since. I have gone out and looked at the bike a couple times, trying to keep the sneer off my face and to make sure the back tire was still flat so that I couldn't ride it if I wanted to (which I don't). As if I needed any further discouragement, we had snow here yesterday, thereby officially ending the bike season and the golf season in a single act of climatalogical outrage. For those of you that secretly enjoyed my agony, I am planning a weeklong trip with Dan McCormack next May. Let the torture to recommence!

Instead I am talking about a trip to Zambia in July. You may recall a post in early June where I talked about an organization Kelly and I are involved in called Courts for Kids. As a quick refresher, CFK partners with communities in developing countries around the world to build basketball courts so local children can have a place to play. From time to time, the courts might be modified for volleyball nets or small soccer goals as well. We have taken family trips to Peru, Costa Rica and Cambodia, while our girls have also gone on trips to Panama, Nicaragua and Jamaica. In the summer of 2020, we were slated to take a trip with my brother and his family to Namibia but it got wiped out by COVID. Summer 2023 will be our mulligan Africa trip.

I'm putting this out there to extend an invitation to anyone that might be reading this to join us on this amazing trip in July. You might think you're too old. On our first trip, we had a couple trip participants in their 70's, including one with Parkinson's. You might think your kids are too young. On that same trip, we had a 2nd grader and a 4th grader. They were limited in what they could contribute to the court construction, but they instantly befriended kids their age from the local village even though our kids didn't speak a word of Spanish and the local kids didn't speak English. The Zambia trip runs from July 25 - August 3, 2023. Realistically, you have to leave the US on July 23 to get there in time (it's roughly 36 hours of travel time - at least from the West coast). After the court construction is complete, the group always has a sightseeing day together before the official end of the trip. On this one, we'll be visiting Victoria Falls - one of the 7 Wonders of the World - and going on a 1-day safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana. The trip price is $1600/person, excluding airfare. It includes travel from Lusaka, Zambia to the town of Pemba, food and accommodations in Pemba. The local community provides the food and lodging. It will not be restaurants and hotels. Past experience would indicate it might involve sleeping pads on the floor. The trip cost also includes the trip to Victoria Falls and the Safari.

Kelly and I would love to have you join us. There are currently 16 people registered with room for 9 more. If you're interested in coming on a CFK trip but can't make this one, let me know. We'd love to join you on one that fits into your schedules. If you have any questions, please contact me or check out the CFK website at www.courts for kids.org.

Happy Holidays!

Jon