2nd October 2008,
Europe at a slow pace.Well, I finally manged to set off from the UK after so much faffing about, getting the bike ready, quitting the job in Iraq and leaving the loved ones behind. Setting off with a lump in my throat to the adventure ahead. I'm a month into my trip and have only managed to get an internet cafe that'll allow uploading of pictures, But, the pictures are too big, Aaargh! Next time.
settling into a routine, well sort of.......After getting down to Malaga with the boys and taking part in the HU meeting, I did a presentation on first aid for bikers and really enjoyed it. 
With the expert assistance of Elle, the organisers lovely daughter as the casualty and the nerve wracking feeling of being filmed I managed to settle into it and even have a laugh or two, if it gets on the dvd the outtakes will be hilarious.
I Think..!?Mark and I met at the airport as planned and we quicly managed to get his bike out of customs without much bother. Once out headed for the campsite in Lisbon where Id been staying for a couple of days then out for dinner and getting to know each other; sounds like a mills and boon doesn;t it:
Senegal Getting into Senegal was a hassle but it's a pretty cool country and the city of St Louis is as chilled out as can be.
Take heed all ye who read!Well, again it's been a whike and the search for an internet cafe that allows the uploading of anything for the blog is proving to be a task and a half. Pobably too many people trying to upload virus's etc and probably dodgy pictures too...! So at the 'mo, Peter has generously allowed me the use of his laptop,which I think I'll name the 'Battletank' as it's the 'take anywhere type and has a certain solid construction necessary for the rigours of motorbike travelling in Africa.
the search goes onAfter an interesting time in Dakar, Mark and Migo arrived in town which was great to be reunitied with the boys again and tell them of the times of woe in Rosso and making up for it in St Louis and Dakar (purely medicinal and sensible alcohol consumption of course!) and after a couple of days with the boys and Migo getting his package comprising of a tyre, badly needed for himself and a chain breaker for myself, not necessarily as badly needed but I'll need one at some time for sure! I have a spare chain but fitting it would be a pain.
Arrested in Senegal Our entry to Southern Senegal went without a hitch and the three of us (Peter, Mark and I) headed down for a couple of relaxing days by the river in Ziguinchor. A relaxed little town where Peter and I did some bike maintenance after the rattling we took crossing from the north. The bike got a good clean in the towns main petrol station, even though we did the washing we still got stung for 2,000CFA.
The day started early with final checks and locating the road, a dirt track and certainly not obvious as the road to the fabled city. I almost expected something bigger, more used, signposted even! But it was flat or it appeared so at the start but one thing certain, it was daunting and exciting. The scenery initially was breathtaking with the rock formations in the distance too much to ride straight past but to photograph as well as could be, the sun was shining and the weather wasn't too hot to be uncomfortable.
The route to one of the World Heritage sights, the Mud Mosque at Djenne, was interesting as it incorporates a 'roll on roll off' ferry. I love taking ferries. Dunno why? It must be a boyish thing of anything mechanical that can be incorporated into a trip, then the more the better. The ferries themselves are a strange affair. A simple flat deck, a control/steering tower to one side and hand raised/lowered ramps front and rear.
My last real blog insert was from Senegal and the hideous events that were the arrests of Peter and myself. Shame really as the impressions I got from Senegal is that it was a really beautiful country. A lot of really nice people, the cool cities of St Louis and Dakar, vibrant night-life and general good feeling. Only for it to be upset by a person who thought it okay to have us arrested in an attempt to extract money and misery from us! B****rd! I hope his balls turn square and fester in every corner. Not that I hold a grudge Tee hee hee!
Meeting up with Mark at the 'Maison des Artes' was a cool thing. He writes his own blog (www.ridefar.typepad.com) a great writer about his trip, meetings and reunions with fellow riders, the whole catching up with stories, experiences and thoughts of the whole biker mentality. A shameless plug for him but deservedly so.
For the trip back from 'Tim' and Douentza I was looking forward to heading back South on the bearing that would lead us eventually to South Africa. Off the piste that had so nearly cost me and Bully a downturn I rode a more attentive ride toward the bike. The gearbox wasn't feeling as crisp as it had, it felt clunky and stiff as if protesting the changes I asked of it.
Dodging elephantsThe entry to Burkina Faso was a strange one, a 'no-mans' land of 30+kms where we took the time to make a little video for Migos blog, the three of us riding together towards the camera. We also rode past three strange tourist buses, pink in colour, a Swedish group touring West Africa. They'd stopped and what seemed to be camped for the night in the no-mans land! We enquired as to their well being, for they could have been broken down. But all was well.
Not to my wisest decision and to one that I told the boys I would definitely NOT do was to travel through the Niger Delta but here I am! And WOW! What a place!
Riding the 500+kms from Benin City to Calabar was exhausting work! The roads here are as dangerous as hell, many driver not caring by taking HUGE risks and the littering of the roadsides with smashed vehicles goes to show it doesn't always work. Mainly trucks wrecked but they drive at foolish speeds relying on their size for everyone to get out of their way. Nutters!
Just pulled into 'Chez Monique' a camp-site and Auberge which is in the 'book' (Lonely Planet). After having a difficult day I've dived straight for the easy option, getting myself a room and a beer quickly! The run from Lomé to here wasn't bad save for the accident this morning when some idiot on his scooter ran into the back of me! I was just pulling up to the insurance office to re-validate my cover, Crap timing for an accident! The guy and his passenger were fine, a couple of scrapes but nothing bad. But you'd have thought they were going to die the way they were putting it on.
The Eldorado of The Congo!I can't believe we made to Brazzaville, what originally was 300kms+ of Michelin Map red tarmac road was nothing but a myth! 4 days of very hard work but the sense of achievement was amazing when we dragged our weary bodies and bikes onto the tarmac, kissing it in sheer joy and took a team picture. There were 3 local boys watching us from a ledge overlooking the start of the tarmac, laughing at our silly actions but we didn't care, hey, we've looked strange and silly since we've been here anyhow!
The border town on Ndende, Gabon is a small one of maybe 2 thousand people, situated on a junction and our arrival was smooth as the only hotel is behind the only petrol station. Easy peezy! Alas no chance of changing money again, so the 'Bank of Migo' is in full swing, good lad! For some reason there's a demand for s but non for $'s.
Cape Town,
22nd February 2009
Big sky and lovely people. South Africa, what a lovely place. I've been here before to Cape Town, doing work training in 2006 and have been looking forward to getting here but it wasn't easy. The bike was getting more problematic everyday.
