Category: Africa

2015 Motorcycle trip from West Wales to West Africa and back.

  • Day 77: Nursing the bike

    The rear tyre is down to about 2mm of tread at it’s centre which is close to the UK legal minimum of 1mm. Also the steering head bearing has got worse.
    I decided to go to Agadir in the morning because I found two motorcycle companies on the Internet that may be able to help.

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  • Day 76: Mountains and Wealth

    Day 76: Mountains and Wealth

    Afterr 5 days crossing the Sahara Desert I have finally reached the Atlas mountains and the relative affluence of Morocco.

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  • Musings: Living without instruments

    Since I took the bike for a swim in Sierra Leone the instrument cluster only displays in Klingon.

    This means I have no idea what speed I am doing, I have no fuel guage, and the odometer and trip distance counters are not usable.

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  • Musings: Fuel consumption

    Will I use more fuel on the way home going North than I did going South?

    I am going uphill !! Ôÿ║

  • Musings: Deepest Darkest Africa

    150 years ago anybody exploring Africa would not have any contact with friends or family for at least one or two years and may never be seen again.

    I have been blogging on the Internet daily and even when I cannot do that I have sent a text to Amy saying I am ok and giving my location.

    Africa, or at least the parts I have visited, has very good mobile coverage and Internet access. Communication has radically changed the world. Hopefully it makes it a safer place, not just for travellers but for locals.

    I just think it would be nice if we had as good coverage in rural parts of the UK

  • Day 74: Cold in the desert

    Day 74: Cold in the desert

    Here I am in the Sahara desert and for the first time in months I have had to do up my jacket during the day and put a warm fleece on in the evening. Tonight I will have to sleep inside my sleeping bag rather than on it.

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  • Day 73: Wind and Sand and a Goat

    Day 73: Wind and Sand and a Goat

    After breakfast with Steve in Noukchott I started North through the desert. The wind was fierce from the start and 90 degrees to the road. At least it was a steady constant wind not gusting.

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  • Day 72: Another President!

    Day 72: Another President!

    After my ordeal at the Rosdo border post on the way down, I decided to head for another smaller post called Diama to cross into Mauritania. Everyone said it is better, unfortunately it is now closed to all but military personnel so I was turned away. Rosso it is then…

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  • Musings: Africa and rubbish

    Musings: Africa and rubbish

    Throughout Africa I have been struck by the amount of rubbish there is lying around.  Senegal seems to be the worst although Gambia amd Mali were pretty bad as well.

    Mostly it is plastic bags,  any perishable waste is either eaten by the local goats or even pigs in some towns,  the plastic stays in the environment.

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  • Musings: Naming the bike

    Musings: Naming the bike

    I was thinking today that I had not given the bike a name. So then went through various options.

    I eventually decided on Dora as a tribute to the 102 year old lady I met in Sierra Leone who is now the carer for 4 ebola orphans.
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    They are both strong characters that despite life throwing a lot of trials their way, they just keep going.

    Read Doras Story