On our way home

It has been a while since I wrote. We travelled to Outambe National Park last weekend, didn't see any big animals but did see monkeys and lizards and crazy spiders. The drive there was insane, 120 kms took 8 hours in first and second gear the entire way. 12 gallons of diesel fuel. The solitude was appreciated after a week of early mornings in Mapaki. We did a canoe trip to look for hippos but the water was too high. We even got out of the canoe and travelled on foot through the bush. I was a little nervous at the prospect of coming face to face with hippos on land, kind of glad we didn't see any.

The trip back was equally exciting. We ran out of fuel in Kamakwie, near Outambe. Our plan had been to refuel there on our way back Sunday but there was no diesel to be had at any of the stations. We visited the Paramount Cheif and he scoured around the farms and construciton sites to see if he could get any for us, no luck. In the end, we waited 5 hours for diesel to be delivered on motorbike from Makeni. Filled up and then drove home in the dark and rain. Africa is like that, things that should be simple can quickly become incredibly challenging and you need to rely on the goodness of strangers. It is the dark and light of Africa, nothing is simple and yet everyone manages to make do.

We chatted about all the nasty diseases we could have could at Outambe- they have sleeping sickness, river blindness, elephantiasis, in addition to the usual malaria and schistosomiasis. Beauty always comes with a price there. All of us were covered in fly bites with various degrees of reaction to them. Fortunately they are settling down but wait till you see the pictures!

After Outambe we returned to Mapaki, did laundry and headed to the beaches on the coast, south of Freetown. We stayed at Pauls in Lakka. It was a little bit of heaven for our last 3 nights. Ate lobster, fish, shrimp, fries right on the beach. Had flush toilets and showers- cold water but running water and what a treat that was. Showered every day just because I could. The water was so warm, I have never been in ocean water that temperature before, it was bathtub warm. Sugary white or yellow sand.

Thomas came and picked us up Friday morning for our return to Freetown and the airport. Once again this is where things get crazy. Our flight left at 11 pm, we were 30 minutes out of Freetown and there are 4 ferries, the latest leaving at 9 pm. Thomas picked us up at 8 am, we got to the airport by 4 pm after catching the 230 ferry which left at 2 pm by the way, waited hours in the airport, hot, dusty, hungry. But to be sure we caught our flight that was the only way. The ferries are unreliable, we needed lots of time in case we had to make alternative arrangements to get there. So needless to say we are all a little tired right now.

Landing in HEathrow was a bit overwhelming. I stood and looked at all the food choices, it was a pleasure to read the ingredients and imagine what each would taste like. After 2 weeks of rice and ground nut stew with fish, I was so happy to eat something different. The other thing that strikes me is how bright it is. Electricity is a given here, not a luxury.

We were so well cared for while in Sierra Leone. Thomas made us his priority while we were there. It definitely eased our travels, without a vehicle transportation is difficult- not impossible but definitely on the adventurous side of things. I know I will go back at some point, I need to check up on everyone, see how life has treated them, give something more back. Our life style really comes down to the luck of the draw. Any one of those children could do great things if they are only given a chance. Sierra Leone is dirt poor in so many ways, and I am worried still may have some difficult times ahead; she is also a place of simple beauty, gracious people, and land of plenty.

Safe journey to all my friends in Sierra Leone until I return.