Hello everyone. Yeah still here, still bumbling along. Sorry it's been a while. I dropped off the net for a while and then when I was somewhere with the internet it was so hit and miss it just drove me crazy. I swear the electronics, the phone, the computer and the sat nav are the hardest part of this whole traveling business.

So now I have learnt a few things! I now know I do not need a dongle, in fact because the airtel operating platform in Ghana is not the same as in Burkina when I cross yet another border it will be obsolete! So of course I have to get another sim card, I am on I think my fourth now, and then use the data connection and make the phone a portable wifi hotspot and link it to the computer. I guess to many people this is just obvious but to me........... Well I still write letters and I can make fire! Hahahahahahaha

I have obviously left Burkina. I took a few days and went back country, just the way I like it. I will post a few times over the next day or so and get the wayward tale up to date.

Right Burkina, lovely place. I liked it and the people very much. I got some route information from the owner of the hotel I stayed in. He used to run trail tours so when I explained my phobia for the tarmac he was delighted to draw on my map and give me some pointers.
There then followed 7 days or so of wandering into Togo with the rough plan being to get to Lome for shipping questions. I wild camped I think it was 5 nights out of 7. I found some fantastic trails many of which although marked as a road there is no way you would get a car down them. I some cases they simply weren't big enough. You would be there forever cutting back the scenery. And wow! What fantastic scenery! Togo is Jurassic Park. The place is just amazing, green, impressive and mind blowingly beautiful. The route was along the mountains that separate Ghana from Togo. Just winging it sometimes, but always mindful of the overall direction. Solid days of trail, tarmac only to get fuel and supplies.

Togo was without doubt one of the best places so far. I like the desert, it gives me a chance to open the bike up and really use it. The forests of Mali were amazing, on a scale I had never experienced in Europe. And Togo, tropical forest in all its glory and so full of sound. Mother nature showing off and showing who is boss. Trail riding at its best.

So for the first instalment some pictures of the roads and scenery I rode through to get to the coast.

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Good to hear from you mate places sound and look great really envious

Phil

Looking good mate keep it rolling

Try that with your iPhone tech nerds

Hi Zedsdead,

I have heard on the grape vine that the border to Nigeria and Cameroon have closed? Do you have any up to date info on this? Im heading down taking the same route. If they have closed the borders what is your plan?

Cheers

Patrick

PS here is a link to my blog for my West Africa Adventure ride

https://www.facebook.com/drcanafrica...homepage_panel

You on that boat yet mate ?
Phil

And breathe........................................... ......... Hahahahahaha

Hello everyone. I think this is the twentieth time I have tried to do this. The internet is such a nightmare out here. So I have come to a ridiculously posh hotel to get a good connection. Prices for a drink rival London hotels. This is Africa! I just paid more for a Drambuie and coke that many people out here earn in a day! The world is a mixed up place. The girls by the pool look cute though .

Ok so an update is needed. I am back in Togo. The boat business has progressed. I do not want to tempt fate so I will say no more about it for the minute. When the roller coaster is over I will write the whole thing up for others benefit.

Now I do not read the papers and as I haven't had a reliable internet for a while I am behind with the news. My travel among the coast from Ghana back to Togo was met with a lot more road bocks and question about my travel and Ebola. No problems just a lot more open questions about where I had been and for how long. The level of awareness seems to have gone up a bit. Maybe it was just because I was on a main road for a change and I know Ghana is proud of its no Ebola status. Maybe I am reading too much into it? I don't know but for those of you traveling as well just be aware, be polite and be careful.

Pat. As for the Nigeria/Cameroon border, well I have no idea. My best, limited advice is use the Sahara Reporters and World Health Organisation web sites. They seem to be good for advice. I had no wish to ride through Nigeria. I wore a uniform for 20 years and I clash strongly with others in uniform who abuse their position. I always knew I would find Nigeria a challenge, one I am just not bothered to push. For me this is not a trip with a route and a list to follow. I am free of responsibility and can wing it. I don't mean that too sound arrogant, I am just lucky that way at the moment. So I will take a boat go somewhere else and ride again.


Right lets see if an overpriced drink will let me get some pictures up!

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How's it going Zed, been a while?

Sorry everyone. Yeah you are right it has been too long.

So the big news is I am back in England....... And I want out! Hahahahaha! The container was sorted, both myself and my travelling companion loaded the car and bike. Customs sealed the box and that was that. I hope to be reunited with the big box of fun in Namibia. But........................ it's Africa! At present we are unsure if the container has left Lome. It was supposed to have gone last week! Hmmmm.................... You just have to love Africa. I am chasing the shipping company here in England and Albrecht my container sharing buddy is doing the same from Johannesburg. It will get sorted I am sure and at the moment I am not worried. We will see, after all this is an adventure not a sanitized holiday.

I have taken the opportunity to pop back to Blighty and sort things out. The best bit is seeing my children for the first time in four months. I am also using it to refresh and renew a few things based on the knowledge the travel has given me. Boring stuff that makes life on the road a lot easier.

And I want to get back! Wow do I want to get back. I like life on the road, I like the freedom that life is giving me. I am under no illusion as to how lucky I am to be able to do this. My return to Africa will be like going home. Back to my bike, my tent and my choices. I intend to carry on in the same way. There is a very rough plan, but essentially I wing it. I do not look further than a week in front of myself and did at times have no idea where I was going next. It worked out well so I see no reason to interfere with a good system.

I will as promised write up the whole shipping experience when I am back there reunited with my bike. Hell I may even write more on here as I go stir crazy waiting to leave.

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Good on you , nice to see your keen to get back to it

Hope all goes to plan and you don't have to sit in that cold wet place for to long
all the best

Good to hear Zed and hope it works out for you.

Managed to get down to Gambia myself and on my way back in the Sahara at the moment.

Anyway keep us posted.

Man! I wish I was there!

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Young and rebellious

Yeah me too, reading all this makes my heart ache for life on the road. I really like your seewhatcomesnext attitude. I leave in three weeks for South America, my first solo motorcycle trip, and this is exactly how I want to experience it. Go with the flow and no planningstress Looking forward to updates!

Odiel, enjoy it my friend. Be safe, be aware and be open minded. I know I am biased but for me it is just a great way to live and travel. Everyone has their own way and they are all right!

So Jim Lad where are the pics? I never made it to the Gambia, I talked myself out of it after all the corruption bs in Senegal. It's good to hear you are still safe and enjoying it. I hope one day to return to the Sahara. I have many places to go first, but one day. It is just such a special place for so many reasons.

I hope soon to be leaving Blighty and returning to Africa. The container is finally on its way. A 30 day passage has been hinted at but I will get to Namibia before then. To be honest I am kind of done with England, it no longer feels like my home. I have no idea where my home is and I like that feeling. I know it is in my tent but other than that it could be anywhere.

I am very much looking forward to returning, getting sorted and then riding again. The route? Hmmm........... I'm not sure yet, but as always something will fall into place. I do know though that I have to ride over the equator. The bike will have gone over by sea and I will go over by air. But that is just cheating!

It's exactly how our travels have been since being on the road from June...no plans, just thinking " Nice here lets stay" or "Jeez what were we thinking, lets leave"
Good luck on your next trip...we will keep an eye on where you are and you never know maybe we will bump into each other for a .

Cheers Kevin and Heike.

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