A night out...

If you know me you probably know that I really don't like going out, smoke, loud noise, big crowds, all of it tends to rub me the wrong way. However, sometimes dealing with all of this has its rewards. Last night we got home from a dinner function and we were asked to come out for a glass of wine with some of our friends one of which is also the former Deputy British High Commissioner and now GM of a local high end resort Ngala Lodge. After a couple glasses of wine in the open air restauraunt overlooking the ocean we went into the more touristy area to another outdoor bar The Green Mamba we had a couple rounds with the owner of the place, who we actually saw last week on our boat trip. He was actually shooting a worldwide fishing series with National Geographic when we saw him out on the river. Well after talking for a few minutes it came out that I brew beer and it just so happens he has a microbrewery system on its way from Germany and he essentially offered me the Brewmaster job on the spot. We also met some people from, Germany, Denmark, and St. Lucia. This place is an interesting melting pot of culture and personalities, strange considering its one of the smallest, poorest, and least developed countries in the world. We shall see if the microbrewery is fact or fiction.

What the???

Apparently there is some kind of Ant in this country that when it bites you this happens to you. Not painful just ugly. This was aquired while playing golf the day before.

Marine Ball

Most American Embassies have a small detachment of Marine Guards and part of Embassy tradition is to attend the annual Marine Ball. This is one of the fanciest Military Gala events I can think of or have attended. Dakar, Senegal was the closest post that was hosting the ball, which is a long days drive North up the coast. We decided to rent a bus to make it easier and more fun, we rented a little bus that can probably seat 20 people under normal conditions, 50 in Africa with another half dozen on the roof, so the 7 of us were fairly comfortable and there was room left for the beer and food coolers. Its less than 200 miles but on average it takes 8-12 hours. We spent more of the drive going up the dirt shoulder dodging goats than on the road. The next morning we left the hotel and made it about a mile before realizing we had a flat tire. I helped the driver remove the tire and rolled the big flat bus tire down the highway looking for a repair shop, an hour later we were on our way again. 5 hours later we made it to our destination (which was only supposed to be 2 hours away). It was one of the most beautiful hotels we have stayed in with a massive indoor hot tub the size of a swimming pool, complete with a waterfall and 3 seperate cascading hot pools for soaking, including a great outdoor pool and bar. The trip home we were stopped by some completely corrupt Senegalese cops who were trying to extort money from us for according to them; Expired license plates (no expiration on Gambian plates) Expired drivers license (actually didnt expire for another 3 months) Trying to flee the scene of arrest (we were in a big bus and had to find room to pull over among the other dozen victims that were pulled over) and speeding (we had just turned out of the hotel area, still in first gear). Over and hour later we were released after paying the fine, and a mile later forced of the road by the same cops who were irrate becuase the driver pulled a fast one and slipped away with some paperwork that could have got them fired. Kudos to him!! We spent the fairy ride on top of the bus enjoying beer and pipes and a great view as we motored slowly accross the wide mouth of the river into Banjul.

She's gone.

It was a bittersweet fairwell seeing my Unicorn, my Mistress and the bane of my existance for 5 months drive off into the distance. After having the engine completely rebuilt for the 3rd time, leaks forming where brand new seals where installed and the mechanic telling me he would not trust it for any length of time and made me sign a waiver releasing him of any guarantee of work. How is that for peace of mind. So I drove it from the repair shop to the busiest intersection adorned with For Sale signs. I was able to sell it in about 2 weeks at a bit of a loss but but I could not take the constant repairs. I have to say that in the few weeks it actually did run it was without a doubt one of the best 4x4s I have ever had, which is saying something. We were able to find a little Mistubishi Pajero which is actually older but in MUCH better condition and we are very happy to have a reliable truck now.

The Flock Grows

One of the interesting things about Africa is that pretty much anything is for sale, depending on the day or even time of day. We were on our way home from the boat trip when we saw a small group of domestic ducks along the side of the road. We had been looking for some ducks to keep Thor and Moose and three the chickens company. So we sat there in the car for a few second looking at this group of duck untill someone came to talk to us. We asked if they were for sale (silly question, refer back to the first sentence) So we followed this guy up the road to meet his brother, 30 minutes of bartering and I landed us a healthy male and female duck for less than $20, bring on the ducklings and eggs. hopefully.. A short car ride home on the floor at Nikki's feet and they were home. However, getting them out of the car was not as peacefull, we each grabbed a duck and they began squirting poop like an adolencent cut loose with an overfull squeezable ketchup bottle. All over the floor of the truck, our clothes and a steady stream accross the pavement to the front gate. Inside safe and Thor is intrigued. 24 hours later they are still happy and healthy.

Boat Trip

It has been too long since I have posted. So in an effort to recall the last month I am going to start with the most recent and work backward.

Yesterday we took the embassy boat out to head up river for the day. So the embassy boat is an escape vessel for the embassy staff in an Emergency. Its about a 25ft open top boat with twin 225hp on the back, in short it HAULS A$$ especially when all the other boats are big wooden canoe looking things with trolling motors. We did a little fishing first, then went out and opened it up. Our friend Josh and I stayed on the Bow as we rocketed and skipped accross the four foot swells. About about 20 minutes of being airborn and slamming back down onto the hard fiberglass deck we threw in the towel and moved to the back. We made it to our destination, which was the site of the "Roots" story. Kutah Kinteh was from The Gambia, we visited the village of Juffreh and the adjacent Fort James Island. The Island was tiny, and its where they kept the captured slaves untill they could be loaded onto the boats, we actually found a dozen or so beads on the beach that were worn by the captured women hundreds of years ago.