TimbukTwoOhFive

Dave and Phil's Africa blog 



January 22, 2009

Thank you

From Phil and Dave, and Andy Ieuan, Lee, Chris, Tom, Jack, Rob and Ted. Thank you to everyone at home who have kept things going while we have been away, have helped out with bits and pieces, advice and opinions. And thanks to all who have enjoyed giving these blog pages many thousand hits - hope it's brightened up your January. And finally, thanks to all the kind people, esecially in Mauritania and of course wonderful Mali, who we have met along the way and who's smiles and generosity have been humbling and inspiring in equal measures.

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January 22, 2009

Goodbye

That was a good day.

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January 22, 2009

Respect

The 205 was a legend. Total fuel cost 379 euros. We did about 800k on each tank - it was embarrasingly frugal. Technical faults amounted to a loose HT lead on the alternator, fixed good as new in a jiffy. The horn and one indicator failed after 8 hours of pneumatic hammering on the corrugated Timbuktu road. We took three spare wheels but didn't drop a single PSI. So, if we were going to do it again? Same car, def. Might just jack the suspension a bit tho, and maybe get a few more stickers. This picure is on the way back from Timbuk, after Phil slid the back end out 180 degrees more than was necessary. That's Dave gritting his teeth.

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January 22, 2009

Nice touch...

By poetic coincidence our exit stamp from Mali carried the car's registration number, K421 PAF

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January 22, 2009

KTM Power-K

The wheels of choice for upwardly mobile young Bamakoans. Mali carries it's Islam lightly, and women are very much in evidence without a veil in sight.

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January 22, 2009

Journey's end... 20 Jan

Well, the end of the driving anyway. 6,165 miles in total, and we are back at CRES (the Centre Regionalle de Energie Solar). The last day's drive is long but problem-free. Jack brings the Pajero back and flies back to UK leaving just Phil and Dave.

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January 22, 2009

Rest day, respiritory challenge

The 21st we spent unloading the car, packing, having a look around the city. It's a metropolis of two-stroke motor cycles, the usual ancient Mercedes taxis, and smoking diesel mini busses. The result is that the sun doesn't shine in Bamako, so much as kind of oozes through the choking smog.

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January 22, 2009

Roadside FGM progress

This is a campaign against female circumcision (or more properly FMG - Female Genital Mutilation). It's still a big thing in rural Africa, where ignorance and economic pressures (mothers fear uncircumcised girls may not marry well) ensure that many girls as young as 6 are left mutilated. So, good for World Vision. These placards are in most villages from Mopti to Bamako. They are all hand stencilled, not printed. The mother's tongue is depicted as a razor blade. Find out more, and get opinionated at http://www.unicef.org.uk/unicefuk/policies/pdf/fgm-br.pdf

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January 19, 2009

Djenne market

It's market day... piles of dried and smoked fish everywhere, catfish, vegetables, dried sliced ocra, chilies, onions, piles of millet (the staple ingredient here), football shirts, jewellery, cigarettes, stalls selling pills in plastic bags, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep... ladies carrying things on their heads, babies on their backs, kids hawking everything, hustling... they all say ca va, Italienne? Epanyol? comment s'apelle tu? they want to be our friend and be our guide. Hard work. All the hotels and hostels are full but a lad on a motorbite has let us a room in his grandad's house.... and his mum cooked us tea last night...chillie spag and half-chickens.

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January 19, 2009

The largest mud structure in the world

Djenne is amazing. Its an African mud town on an island. The builders are held in high esteem - and may even have magical powers (much like at home). But here they don't use plumb lines. Pictured is the grand mosque. It's the largest mud structure in the world.

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