Today (Wednesday)has to count as the most frustrating day of
this entire project… so near yet so far. Of all days, the President has to pick
today to drive through Bansang, so of course everyone and his dog has to wait
for hours in the baking sun, rather than get on with their work. After much
cajoling, I did manage to get the orderlies to half-heartedly clean a few of
the beds and get them into the ward albeit, damaging a couple of wall corners
on the way… Then everyone just downed tools and headed of to stand by the
roadside.
It’s now 11.50 and the President has finally just driven
through, not even slowing down, never mind stopping, so hopefully we might now
be able to get some work done, although I very much doubt if we will get it
sorted today now. So departure now looks set for pm Thursday at the earliest.
Oh Well, so much for my nice relaxed ride home.
Barring a couple of little jobs for which we require parts,
everything is now finished in the Children’s ward, with just a small amount of
concreting and painting left outside which I am very happy to leave to Morro to
complete without me fussing around him. With that sorted the focus has now
turned to the Mite house accommodation units. All the windows and doors are now
here and they should be fitted by Monday with the plumbing following straight
after. They should certainly be ready for occupation by their new tenants by
the end of June, just as I arrive back in the UK !
Beds are all now back in place and first thing tomorrow
should see the nurses station and the children moved back to the top of the
ward. 
So Thursday it is that I will finally leave Bansang after
nearly 4 months with just a couple of short breaks. Will I be glad to leave?
Well the truthful answer is yes and then again no… I’m ready to move on, the
project I came to sort is just about finished and everyone seems to be happy
with the result; even the BOSS! I’m also looking forwards to travelling once
more with Allie and whilst I have been to Poland before there is much of it I
haven’t touched and of course Allie and I have always travelled well together
over the many years since our first foray into France in our VW camper…. But of
course leaving here is always tinged with sadness at leaving behind so many,
many friends, both old and new, some of whom I will most probably never see
again… that, I guess, is the fate of the traveler.
My aim is to be on the Santander to Plymouth ferry on
Tuesday 25th June if at all possible. Sailing to Plymouth puts me in
a nice place to pop in to see Les and Jane at Traveldri Plus to pick up a nice
new intercom system and a few other bits and pieces no doubt by the time Les
has finished with me. Then it’s off to try to meet up with a potential Scoots
Trip rider before heading home to Wales for a couple of days! But before all
that I have a few more pics to take in the morning, a meeting with the Chief
and Wandifa, plus a whole load of goodbyes before I head off once more toward
the Janjangbureh ferry, Faraffeni and
Senegal !
Thursday
I think I checked my watch just about every hour last night,
I think it was a combination of many things that stopped the sleep fairy from
entering my room; thoughts of leaving certainly, a few concerns about the run home with not
only the sand of the mine field to contend with but also the 100 plus
kilometres of the Diama piste which I had managed to avoid on the way out by using the Rosso
crossing, but at a huge cost both financially and also in stress levels… And of
course thoughts of not only returning home but to then heading off with Allie,
travelling together, alone, for the first time on the bike in a good few years
! Yes, more than enough to keep me from getting my much needed beauty sleep!
 |
A small village Nr Faraffeni, The Gambia! |
So by 5am I’m up, showered and finishing my packing. Most of
it I did yesterday evening, just clothes and wash kit to sort, strip my bed and
put the bed sheet and pillow case ready for washing and I was about set to go.
By 7am I’m at the hospital saying goodbyes to friends that were working nights;
they finish at 8am. Then back to the house double check I’ve got everything
then back over for a last meeting with CEO Baba and Wandifa to hand over the
balance of the monies due to our builder Morro as the project are finished off.
Money checked and counted, last minute issues gone over I I’m off to collect
some ice cold water from the fridge, jump on the bike and roar off. By now it
was close to 11am and the sun was HOT!
The ferry was of course just unloading on the opposite side so I sat and
tried to chill… somewhat difficult I find in 40+ degrees ! Once across and
through the Army check point I was running clear and inspite of little sleep I
felt good! It’s one of those things that you never ever explain properly to a
non-biker, just why it feels so good to be running free with the miles slipping
by under your wheels; the sense of freedom, of joy, of escape! I think part of
it is simply because of the concentration required, there is little space left
for everyday worries to creep in, but it is far, far more than just that !
 |
The Gambia looks quite spectacular after just a couple of storms... |
I’d been debating whether to take the short route, straight
up to Senegal from Farafeni, or to head right down to Barra before heading
north, where I knew that on last years return journey we had enjoyed a hassle
free border crossing. In the end I opted for the untried but shorted route and
it paid off really well. Less that half an hour from arrival to departure into
Senegal with not a cent leaving my pocket… Even the unpaved road north seemed a
lot easier than on the way down, I guess I was just “in the groove” today.
Having left so late I had no idea where I would end up tonight, but lo and
behold I’m now happily ensconced at the Zebrabar having arrived at dusk after a
little over 500km. I think I’m going to stay put tomorrow, as inspite of what
you dear reader may think, I have not been on holiday, I’ve been working damn
hard (just ask the Boss!) and a day off just relaxing and doing a little
writing sounds really good to me before I tackle the dreaded Moulay at the
border crossing and the Diama Piste.
 |
Lunch stop in Senegal |
Hopefully I’ll also be able to log on to
the WiFi in the morning and get this lot up loaded, as I have no idea at all
when I will next get ant sort of WiFi Amazingly I am the only customer on site
tonight, and Martin was saying that this has been their worst season for years
with people worried about the situation on Mali, Muaritania and even north
Senegal, hmm just hope my luck holds, but as Martin also said, it’s probably safer
here than in the center of Paris or London… a sentiment with which I heartily
concur. Atlantic route crossings from Mauritania into Sengal, I also think that
the hassle and costs of just entering the country may also play a part as of
course most of the Zebrabar visitors are overlanders. I shall certainly be
writing to the Senegalese Embassy when I get back to try to get some
clarification as to what is the exact position with regards to entry into the
country with a motor vehicle.
Friday
After the best nights sleep I had in weeks, I still awake at
6am !!! The temperature last night was mercifully cool, in fact I even slept
with a sheet over me, something I certainly couldn’t have done in Bansang. And
I awoke without being bathed in sweat, oh the joy of such little pleasures.
Breakfast was a leisurely affair, if a little lonely sat in such a paradise as
this all alone. The Zebrabar is without a doubt (in my view) somewhere that
would be far better enjoyed with a special someone than alone. When we drop in
on the Scoots trip we are usually to worn out to think about such things, but
this journey home has hardly started so plenty of time for relection…. I’m not
too sure what I shall do with my time today other than sit writing this rubbish
! A little work on “the book” later I think, but for the moment time to chill,
although I have to run into St Louis to find a bank as I have neither local CFA
or Euro, only sterling; what a mistake to make as nobody like sterling these
days….
 |
How many people can you fit into/onto a pickup truck ???? |
No comments:
Post a Comment