Last night’s bush camp was a bit of a throwback. We ended up at the same power line access road we camped at the night before. It’s hard to describe it poetically, as it’s decidedly not scenic or glamorous, but overlanding isn’t always sunsets and riverside camps. Sometimes it’s just a dirt and bush patch under a buzzing power line and a shrug of, “Eh, it’ll do.” We take the good with the bad, and this was squarely in the “it’ll do” category.
Today, things got interesting. We set out bright and early for the Sierra Leone border, only to be hit with a wave of updates, each more surprising than the last. First, we heard that our plan to stay in a YMCA in Freetown had fallen through. Instead, we’ll be bush camping outside the city and commuting in tomorrow. It’s not ideal, but we’re used to rolling with the punches by now. (By the time I’m readying this post it’s changed again, we are heading to Bureh beach instead of Freetown, and will commute from there!)
The next curveball came courtesy of Sierra Leone itself. It turns out they’re not big fans of right-hand drive vehicles like Nala (she’s from the UK, after all). Their solution? A police escort to make sure we’re on the correct side of the road, as if Paul might suddenly decide to swap lanes just for fun. While it limits our flexibility, the silver lining is that we now have a built-in VIP convoy experience. The police seem more concerned about our road skills than the drivers around us, which is… well, charming, in its own way.
But the real bombshell came later: Madventures—a competitor company—has bought part of Oasis. This could mean big changes for how trips like ours operate, and Paul and Liz, our fearless leaders, are understandably frustrated and concerned by the changes. They’re both passionate about the Oasis style of travel, and it sounds like they’re working hard to keep that spirit alive.
It’s hard not to feel a little uneasy, especially since we’ve already had a less-than-stellar impression of Madadventures. Early on, we crossed paths with their truck and we helped some of their travelers who had been left stranded by Madaventures to sort out their own visas. It wasn’t exactly a glowing endorsement of their operation. Seeing Oasis potentially absorbed into that doesn’t sit well, but for now, nothing’s certain.
Whatever happens, it’s just another chapter in the unpredictable book of overlanding. We’ll adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward. After all, overlanding isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing the chaos, dirt, and occasional drama that come with the adventure.
No comments:
Post a Comment