A conclusive entry

So after a few days to gather thoughts and re-align ourselves back to the left side of the road we can bring the trip to an end. The last entry made was very brief because as usual, we were in an internet cafe with a timer quickly running out. That was in Kribi, the day after the party. We had one day to put our feet up and acclimatise to not driving for hours on end every day before we had to get to Douala. This day was spent chilling on the beach and in the sea, both of which were the same warm temperature. We spent the evening trying to control a crazy crowd that had formed to buy our belongings that weren

SMS Update

finaly made it to cameroon afta driving the car thru 5 rivers. Stayed on a hospital bed last nite. Hopefully make it 2 kribi tomoro nite 4 the party

SMS Update

Been a busy few days in Ghana. found an awsome surf spot, met a chief, campd on th beach. Nw into togo getin ready 4 th big drive thro nigeria.

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 

SMS Update

Had a sweet time in mali met some intrstin ppl. Cruisin throt burkina enjyin th gd roads nd cheep food. Crosin 2 benin ths aft. Not yet carmarooned

Just a little update

Last time we left an update we were enjoying the accomidies of the Nigerian embassy in Dakar. Well that didnt go well for some reason they didn't want to give us a visa but they were quite happy to keep our money, lovely. So we got out of Dakar as fast as we could and headed for the Mali border along possibly the worst road in the world. Pot holes in pot holes and trucks with blown tyres every 100 meters, but dont worry there was a nice new road being built to be opened next year!! The car took abit of a battering exhaust fell off and the undercarraged got a nice screape clean but all was ok.

Mali

The best border yet sailed through and didnt have to pay to get out of Senegal! Met a couple of swiss guys at the Mali customs trying to import a Merc to sell in Bamako I dont think this is done to often in Mali as they were having some issues. Once that was resolved the four of us set up camp not to far from the border and dinnied of rice and tinned fish courtesy of Loz. Cuised on down to Bamako to stay in Catholic nunnery, no beer then. Had our first real sucesful day on the friday managed to get our Nigerian and Birkina faso visas score. The Nigerian consulate came and had a chat with us, ask how the queen was usual banta then issued the visa no prob!

Now in djenne visiting the largest mud mosque in the world then hedding south to Benin to meet up with some other teams before the trip into Nigeria!

Just found out we missed a military coup in Mauritainia by two days, gutted

SMS Update

In mali at th moment going to be in bamako by this evining. if there are any other teams there give us a shout. 00447870895594 team carmarooned

SMS Update

No nigeria visas in dakar. Lost 200 euros in the process. Gonna see in bamako otherwise we're in trouble. Viva mali!

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

SMS Update

in senegal, a lush country. Made it through the desert of mauritania and onto dakar. Had a nice morning canoeing on the senegal river