After laying Suzi down (while driving of course) as well as running out of petrol (sort of) it looks like December has had at least one more first time experience in store for me and Suzi. Rory and I were headed for Cape Coast on Wednesday morning. We were really excited about this trip. Only 30 km into the journey I got a puncture in my front tire. Within minutes several locals stopped offering their help but none of them really could do anything. We were fine. That was until we figured, that it wasn't a classic puncture. The valve had completely ripped out of the tube. I have no clue how that could have happened. Stupidly I had left my spare tube at home - very smart!
Rory drove to the next village and got their mechanic to come out. He had a very clever way of fixing the tire by cutting the valve incl. a large base of rubber out of an old tube. He stuck that one into my tube and fixed it with a nut as tight as possible. No glue, no rubber or similar to seal it. Believe it or not, it worked! It's a patch job but it brought us all the way down to the coast and back. My heart was bleeding though when I saw him butchering my rims with a screwdriver. First order I put in online when we got back from our trip on Saturday: A decent set of levers :) It will hopefully arrive together with my GiantLoop Saddlebags in time so that I can take it all back with me at the beginning of February.
I'm actually delighted the misfortune with the flat tire happened as well as the other episodes of falling and running the bike dry. It's good experience and a boost in confidence. I wish I had taken pictures of the puncture getting fixed but I was too focused on the mechanic and worried he'd damage more than do good. I'm pretty sure though next time I'll be more relaxed about it.
Before I get more smart comments how I could possibly run out of petrol with a transparent tank... :)
I hadn't actually run out of petrol. With the type of tank fitted to my bike there is around 3-4 liters of petrol you can't really use because it's lower than the carb and it doesn't have a vacuum. I knew that but since I was about 10 km away from home and although the level of petrol was very close to the carb line I thought I would make it. Turns out I didn't :) Within minutes of me trying to somehow get use of the fuel left in the tank a taxi packed to the roof with people stopped and squeezed me in as well. They took me to the next petrol station, dropped me back at my bike, helped me push the bike as she wouldn't start at first and then wouldn't take any money for their help. Silly episode perhaps, but great experience altogether.
Back to our trip down to Cape Coast... It was a very enjoyable ride. Rory was leading the way most of the time. Following him was entertaining as I watched the reactions his KTM causes with the locals. Driving through villages he sent chicken flying (rare sight!) and sheep stunned like a rabbit in the headlight.
By the time we got to the coast - it took us about 8 hours - I was well ready for food and a ring cushion to rest my aching behind. We stayed in Elmina, a Portuguese colony built in 1482 about 12 km west of Cape Coast. We took a tour through St. Georges castle, the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. It was used as a slave trade post in it's time. Pretty grim to imagine how slaves where stacked and treated in there.
We went to an animal sanctuary in Kakum. The place is run by a Dutch couple who have been living there for about 8 years. They rescue various animals but primarily monkeys from ending up in someones cooking pan. It's a tough battle and I really admire they're efforts.
It took us 5 hours to get back on Saturday, just in time for lunch and a nap to get ready for some NYE shenanigans Ghana style. Who would have thought I'd be spending new years in Africa only 6 months ago?! Let's see what 2012 has in store for us :)
Kilometers of dusty bumpy roads (left) and grave of someone who died at an impressive age (right)
No clue what they were celebrating...
Skinny cows and other dangerous encounters along the road :)
Hundreds of slaves were kept here sometimes for months until the next boat would stop at Elmina and take them to Europe or elsewhere
As the skull and crossed bones let guess if you were to step into the "condemned cell" you would not leave it alive
Boatmakers at Elmina Bay and hustle and bustle at the fish market in the heart of the city (lovely scent of fish in the air too *yikes*)
Spin to the beach and welcome present in our bathroom back in New Abirem
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