ouagadougou wagadagger

Hi

Here we are in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Since the last post 2 days ago a few things have changed; we met a load of other teams and are now going in a different direction.

Spent the night in Djennè in a building based on an escher drawing. Djennè is definately one of the nicest towns we have been to so far; on par with Chefchouen in Morocco probably but a lot more brown. After a brisk tour of the town including the stunning Grand Mosque in the morning (even before 11!) we set off for Burkina Faso along another pot hole infested road. Sailed passed the border without a perfect set of documents, but we found that if you show a border guard some pens and balloons, passport necessities seem to be forgotten as does their austerity. Made it to Bobo-Dioulasso for dark and got some goat stew at the side of the road before setting up camp just after the town. It took us back how cheap Burkina is compared to Senegal and Mali: it cost about 90p for 2 big portions and a baguette each and they even did our washing up.

Set off early the next morning and were aiming to catch the scaredy cats and team zebra in Benin so we could convoy safely through Nigeria. As we were passing Ouagadougou and had read that there were a fair few highly rated pattiseries we decided it was time for a tart.In the carpark out side the cafe, low and behold, we saw the team triumph and two men and a micra cars. Waited for the drivers to return then found out that they were planning on going to Ghana as soon as the Speedy Gonzalez girls had fixed their Suzuki SJ. Bonus! I felt rejuventated like i'd just abused a range of skincare products. Ghanan surfing awaited. We rushed to get our visas at the embassy and had our burning excitement doused slightly when we were told we were 20 minutes late for the day and would have to apply the next day. well, c'est la vie!

Went back with the other teams to a bar near the garage where the suzuki sat waiting for its engine to arive. After a few extremely tasty beers we drove along a road, then along a path, then through  a straight up river and finally docked in at the suzuki dealers house. He had put us up in his warehouse for the night while we waited for the elusive SJ enginge. I think it might have been the heaviest rain that i have ever seen, but i do seem to think that every time it rains very heavily. Anyway it was rainy and almost flooded where we were sleeping but thankfully we had dry dreams.

Dropped our passports off at the Ghanan embassy this morning and failed to convince the ambassador to go against convention, breaking his very own rules, and issue our visa the same day. Another night in Ouaga then. It was outside the Ghanan embassy that another landmark of our trip occured: our first critical part failure. Our exhaust has fallen off and we had to change an air filter but both of these injuries were minor and did not stop the car from moving. today though we experienced a failed starter motor. after a painless repair job by James we were back on the road though.

Just hanging around now to tie up the Burkinan ends before heading to the English speaking Ghana where surf awaits!

Laurence 

Senegal

hello

we are currently in Dakar in Senegal, biding our time waiting for a pretty erratic Nigerian consul to issue us a visa. got a real nice surf in yesterday though at N'gor rights. fun head high rights in warm water over rocks.

Anyway enough of the jargon. Since the last entry, we have travelled a very many miles generally in a southward direction. After staying in Boujdour we drove for the rest of the next day towards the town of Dakhla located on a spit of land about 400km from the Mauritanian border. we were in a convoy of 5 cars at this point and democratically decided not to go to Dakhla because it meant doubling back on ourselves the next day. This meant the we stayed in a big tent behind a petrol station just outside the town of El Argoub. Before we bedded down though me and James went to check out a surf spot near the town of N'Tirift just up from the turning for Dakhla. If anyones is in the area and surfs i would highly recomend checking it out. it was too small when we were there but the potential was obvious.

After having a very short sleep in this tent we got up and headed for the border. it took us 2 hours of waiting around to actually get out of Morocco before the no-mans land. This was about 3 km of unpaved barely visible track through an apparent minefield. there were quite a few distorted car carcases at the side of the track but im not sure whether they were mine victims or had just had a crash. anyway after a few sandpit rescues we finally got to the Mauritanian side where we were told the entrance was closed. only for 10 minutes though before we got through. had a slightly hassly time getting through before following a car straight to the auberge du sahara in Nouadibhou. Just after the 5 of us got there, another 3 cars turned up as well, so there was a bit of catching up to be done.

The next day involved a moderate drive through what was probably the most saharan part of the trip so far. it even included a short excursion onto a real life saharan sand dune! We made it to Nouakchott not too long after. Nouakchott is the Mauritania capital and has a funny mix of grand looking mansion built on unpaved rubbish covered roads. we stayed in another tent place and went to get some pizza.

The next day we said bye to the other and were off on our ownsomes. To Senegal! Drove along icreasingly lush roads to Rosso at the border where we endured 3 hours of scorching heat and hassles. Finally made it acoss the river through the most chaotic border i have ever seen. after quite a bit of money and hassle later we journeyed to the Zebrabar  near Saint Louis. I highly recomend this incredibly tranquil campsite on a small island in a nature reserve.

The next morning after i managed to go for a canoe. tried fishing with the line we got in spain but to no avail. After this we drove with our very helpful american hitchhiker to Dakar. The next few hours were lame as we tried to find a place on the cheap to park up. we ended up staying in a hotel taxi rank. we paid off the hotel security guard and slept in the car with the lovely high pitch whine of mosquitos circling my head. After little sleep or anything else that is nice we headed for the Nigerian embassy. found it but of course it wasnt open for another 2 and a half hours. spent a load of money getting food before finding the campemant Poulagou in Yoff. Driving in cities is definqtely the lamest possible activity. managed to get a nice recouperating nap for a few hours. once revitalised we decided surfing was needed. we drove over to NGor and paddled out, stupidly in our wetsuits. had a nice surf and then it was sure time for the pillow.

Time is against us now. we are going to have to drive very far very fast to make things in time. we'll see

anyway until next time

Laurence and James

Mo rock

Currently getting very sandy on the edge of the Sahara herself staying in a millatary campsite in a place called Boujdour. Seeing more camels everyday! We have been doing lots of miles recently; hit up Casablanca and Marrakech briefy, then headed west to the cost to the famous surf destination of Taghazoute. Caught some chunky but messy surf then headed south to place called tan tan where due to our late arival, we had to stay in cockroach hotel (I thought it was nice). Hoping for some better surf down south. Check out the pics. Mauritàin on friday hopefully

Africa ca ca!

Hello 

so we have finally made it to the continent of choice. admittedly we still have the vast majority to complete, but getting here is a little weight from the shoulders.

After the last entry where we enjoyed to truly relaxing environment of a house (anywhere but a truckstop) we drove down to algeciras. we did the drive pretty non stop until we got there. there were some nice roads along the way through the very dry hills with amazing looking rock strata lines. I have decided that my favorite roads to drive on are raised bridges that follow the middle of steeps valleys.

When we made it to algeciras at 2 we went and found ali and chris next to a marina before getting an oh so revitalising sleep for 1 and a half hours. we had to be by the ferrys at 5.30 but the ferry didnt turn up til 6.30. c'est la vie eh.

Got to Morocco by 9 and waited for 45mins to sort out the car stuff. afterwards there was a slightly heated debate about how much the guy who helped out was owed. once that was over we were free in africa! so we headed for a petrol pump. got out of town relatively easily and started on the way to chefchouen.

Found a canpsite and did nothing for the rest of the day which was nice, before heading into town for the internet and a meal.

We are now heading towards the coast for rabat eventually so we can get our visas.

until then

Laurence and James