Senegal

 Yesterday after finally managing to get visas for Senegal we went for the border crossing, regrettably arriving around 1pm. The border is known as the most hectic and/or corrupt border in the world.

Fortunately our crew took care of us entirely and we barely interacted with any police or fixers at all. We even got a good rate on currency exchange from the Mauritanian oogle-woogle to West African Franc (CFA).

However after all the scams and bribes and “fees” it was 7pm and dark before we left the border, and around 30mins before we could get to a bush camp. Given how late and dark it was it was quite a good camp. 

One of our members celebrated their birthday last night, and another member celebrated their 100th country, and Senegal allows alcohol, unlike Mauritania, so the vodka was flowing and more than a couple of hangovers this morning.

My chest cold is almost done, and hearing has almost fully returned in my right ear (from the cold). I’m starting to feel I’m getting into the swing of things. My tent gear bag (eg sleeping bag, mattress, and other things I need) is down to quite a small bag.

Maybe border crossing

 We’ve spent the last 4 days in Nouakchott waiting for visas for our Aussies and Kiwis for Senegal. The first day we were delayed because there were elections in Senegal (the incumbent won, this is good for us), we tried to get visas faster than normal but reading between the lines the Ambassador was pretty hung over for the last two days and didn’t get to them.

Today we, the whole bus, is heading to the embassy in hopes that our numbers might convince them to do the visas today. 

Hopefully by the end of the day we will have crossed into Senegal at the infamous Rosso border. We’ve been warned it is extremely hectic and we should stay together as an entire group the whole time, and many many people will try stealing stuff.

Speaking of border crossings, we are giving a lift to the market to two Madaventures people who got left here to sort out their own visas.

We have found that, unlike Oasis, Madaventures will leave you behind if you have visa issues, including if you can’t get a visa before you start (30 day visa) or have to apply in person. They don’t wait.

Oasis coordinates everyone’s visas as best they can. 

Our Oasis crew are shocked, and so are we. These two Madaventures people, if they continue to struggle to get visas (because they don’t have experienced people helping them), then they’ll have to work out how to catch up with the truck.

It makes it very clear that we all made the right choice going with Oasis.

This is Africa

 

Road days

 Road days can be long days, and there’s not a huge amount to do. We are sitting in the truck and while some people chat, there’s only so much that you can say. When we have the tarps up, you can see out and enjoy the view, but since we are facing inwards it’s not really a good view from your seat.

The best view is if you turn around and kneel on your seat and look out. Occasionally you’ll get a few people all looking out at some beautiful sight

When we pass through a town there are sometimes kids playing near the road and they wave and you wave back. Bunch of strange people in a bright yellow truck comes driving past, I’d wave too.

A lot of the time it’s reading or snoozing — especially in the morning, catching up on those few extra minutes you wish you’d had this morning.

Sandy Morning

 Note: this post is from almost a week ago, I don’t get to post them on time due to bad internet

One of our new members as of a few days ago is Sandy, and she brought her namesake with her this morning.

We setup camp on a cliff next to the sea and setup tents. Most people have Oasis supplied tents which are single walled domes that people typically don’t peg down or guy out. 

It was an onshore wind, but I have to crow and say I knew the wind may well change and pick up by morning. Tent into the wind and fly off, the wind blew straight through my tent all night. It was a 20C wind, so I barely used a sleeping bag (just to stop heat loss).

Morning rocked around and everyone discovered why those of us with mesh didn’t put up a fly, and why you put pegs into the ground as deep as you can. 

The wind picked up to around 20kts 

“I thought I was getting spooned, but it turns out it was my tent”.

Fortunately by everyone working together they were able to get their tents down without them becoming expensive untethered kites.

Mornings

 Mornings are frustrating. There’s no sleeping in, no pushing back your alarm. If you want an extra 5 minutes you needed to set your alarm 5 minutes earlier.

If we need to be on the road by 8am (a relaxed start), then we need to have done breakfast by 7:30am, which means tents packed and ready by 7am. It takes me around 20mins to get up and pack up now, so that’s a 6:30am start for an 8am departure.

If you’re on a cook group for breakfast, then you need to arrive at least 15mins earlier to setup, longer if you’re gonna actually cook something.

An early start is 7am, so that’s a 5:30am start. I’ve been told later in the trip we will be having even earlier starts!

Still alive

My goodness cellphone data can be hard to find. I’m currently in Mauritania. Border crossing was fine. Spending two nights in this camp before moving on. One night in bush camp and then maybe two nights in a real camp ground!