I have many pictures of my bike. Some all adventurous, some looking decidedly worse for wear and some of it just plain old tired and used! For me riding my bike is being alive. Big distances are no issue. I look back over my picture collection and going back years there are different bikes in different places all providing me with an adventure of some kind. A head full of memories and too many stories. My bike is my way through the world, to ride is just the best thing, the most instant freedom I can get.

My current beast of burden has done me proud. It has evolved over the years I have had it. Twice it has taken me to Morocco and into the deserts. I have broken it in more countries than was good for it! For the last 20,000 miles it hasn't been serviced. Just regular oil changes and abuse. It is in a box somewhere on its way back to me. Like another bike I have it will be rebuilt and I will never sell it. It has done now somewhere around 75,000 miles. It has been through over 30 countries. I know it will still start first time and will take me many, many more places yet.

I have a plan....................:scooter:

Shipping
 

Just curious why did you skip so much of West Africa ?

Cheers
Paul

Hello Paul. The simple reason was Ebola. At the time I was in West Africa the Ebola virus was around. Countries were closing borders and travel restrictions were being talked about. I did at one point go to a Guinea border post and was told I could go in but may not be able to easily go out. Whilst in Bamako we were told to be wary of our travel plans and met people who were leaving the coast to get away from the troubled areas. Whilst in Ghana the Nigerian/Cameroon border was closed. People were crossing Nigeria only to be turned back. A friend who cycled the length of Africa waited it out and was held up for some months. Also in Ghana the tension was increased. Ghana was Ebola free and was being touted as a staging post for international agencies, more road blocks and more questions. Having a passport with stamps from an Ebola infected country was bad news. People were not happy and West Africa has it's own rules and way of doing things.

Now I must counter all this by saying West Africa was in many ways my favourite place. The freedom to roam was astonishing. I never felt threatened and was way off the beaten track a huge amount of the time. Once away from the corruption that is endemic with authority the people of West Africa were some of the warmest, most helpful and generous people I have ever met. I would without hesitation go back tomorrow and again travel alone without a care. West Africa is a stunning, welcoming and beautiful place.

The pictures are wild camping in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo. As I said freedom in a way that is hard to describe.

Maple Syrup isn't that good anyway John !!!!

You'll make there i'm sure mate great closing pic.......loaded and leaving :thumbup1:

Phil

Ebola
 

John,
I thought it may of been Ebola related...why I ask the question !
I am heading up there myself from South Africa in June or July.
One more question have you got co-ordinates for your free camping spots ???:innocent:

Cheers
Paul

Hi Bigman....

keep the chin up I know exactly how you must be feeling after we returned from a while in west Africa to have to return to the Uk was not waht we wanted but had to because of a coupe...

Arrived back to be told at the Airport we dont except cash just cards..had we really been away that long , should have just jumped on the first plane anywhere...but then we wouldnt have meet you nice folks lol..bier

Its also a age thing ..:oops2:....I`m far less tolerant of others and if i dont like a situation I just walk out the door and sit in a open green space letting the world keep on spinning...

A bike means freedom....new friends around every bend and new destinations so...


:taz: :scooter:...Some folks are just ment to wander:rofl:....my camper is my second natural home,feel so at peace in it wherever we go..