Peace, love and all

What cracks me up a lot of times are the rather unlucky and comic choices of titles for the numerous stalls and enterprises along Ghanaian roads. One is spoiled for choice doing business with Blessed Electrical Services (what can possibly go wrong?!), Blood & Fire Barber (how reassuring), Abotere Carpentry & Haircut (diversify!), Justice Shop (the price will tell), and Thank You Jesus (how very Irish). 

  Many Ghanaians (or perhaps Africans for that matter) like to choose epic first names for their offspring. Along the many males named Moses, Elvis and Prince you will be introduced to individuals called Comfort, Bright, Saviour, Prosper, Foster, Aswell, Sabbath, Mercy, Gifty and Legzzy just to name a few. You could nearly build a conversation or riddle around these names. J

  Apart from the more creative names there’s a clear preference for the biblical such as Obed, Dinah, David, Solomon, Ebenezer, Moses, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph, Isaac, Esther, Sampson even Shadrach with “Emmanuel” being the distinct overall winner. It’s not surprising really, if you consider the amount of churches of all kinds of Christian orientation rubbing shoulders with each other in the tiniest of villages. 

  Talking about love thy neighbour… we’re currently on lockdown due to civil unrest. It’s all about the money, money, money… Enough said!
 

Blessed Electrical Services and Bike Emporium -
The coffin maker has settled next door...
 

Twentythirteen

A belated happy New Year to everyone! It started off on a good one for us with "Silvester" in Berlin and an unexpected and accidental upgrade to Business Class on the return flight to Ghana with Champagne, Prawns and the likes being served. Travel in style! The good start to the year took an unpleasant turn though when Rory noticed the loss/theft of his wallet including credit/bank cards, driver license and about 400 EUR in cash. Shame!

   Good thing I guess, I had finally decided to memorise the pin of my credit card when we were in Galway. I have had the card for something like ten years and never bothered :)
   Our first Sunday back in New Abirem felt like an extension of the holidays with unusually pleasant temperatures and very low humidity. We spent most of the day outside the room enjoying the usually unbearably intense sun, reading and sipping on cold beers. We did a small tour on site in the morning as I was hoping to be able to take snaps of some of the incredible fauna and flora. Slightly depressed when I realised most plants are currently not blossoming as we're finally in the dry and dusty Harmattan season. It turned into a who can find the tallest tree seeing. Ah well... It'll all be full of life in a couple months again.
    On a more important note: We've been given the green light to move our bikes on to site which is most likely going to happen tonight after work. Yeah! This is going to be very good. It is much safer, we'd possibly be able to work on them at nights and during the week as we might be allowed to move them into the Mining Warehouse temporarily. If not working on them they will be parked outside in a relatively sheltered area which is great.
   The preparations for the big trip can continue and both my Suzi and  Rory's Katy can look forward to some much needed TLC in the coming weeks, beginning with new rear shocks for Suzi. My present from me, to me :)

 

Gold Digger (quite literally)

Bootcamp

The tire/tube changing bootcamp was a full success! We managed to break the bead on Rory's KTM which most people will agree can be a pain in the butt. Well, it was for as when we had to get Rory's tire fixed the first time in Accra a while ago. Thanks to a nice bead breaker tool Rory purchased recently, it was really easy and well worth every penny. 

  Personally I am also quite pleased with my achievements today. I managed to change the tube with very little (muscle) help from Rory. Getting the new ultra heavy duty tube in actually proofed to be the biggest challenge today but also this worked out fine. After this practice session I'm confident I would be able to fix a puncture on my own. The only challenge remaining is to get the bike lifted, given the fact Suzi hasn't got a centre stand. I don't see how I would manage that on my own at the side of the road. We're both really pleased how this went and with raised confidence and don't mind the sweat and sunburn it took to get there.

  We also fitted "camel toe's" to both our bikes. They increase the surface of the side stand to avoid the bike to sink or fall over on softer ground.

  Unfortunately the moment I had fitted mine on Suzi I discovered a leak just behind the bash plate and below the rear suspension. Looking closer and going by the consistency and smell of the fluid it seems to be hydraulic oil from the suspension. Just when you think punctures are your biggest problem :( 

  One guy here said I should rather take it as a blessing this has happened now. It would have most likely happened on the trip otherwise and that would be far worse than having to deal with this now. Though and unfortunately it means, I won't be able to ride down to Accra on Suzi on the 14th Dec when we're heading out on our next break. It's either 2 up on Rory's KTM or the bus... May this as it be, we're having a beer to celebrate. Slainte!

Breaking the bead

Fitting the camel toe on KT(M)

New "shoe" :) and new leak :( 

Curious spectators

Birds

 

Look at these guys. They sound friendly but I think they're actually invading. Alfred Hitchcock style!

 

 

 

On a more serious note, Rory and I will do a tire/tube change bootcamp this sunday.  I need fit a new tube into Suzi's front tire anyways before we head down to Accra in about 2 weeks and after the last episodes we both feel the strong need to get our own technique right. I gots to be able to do this! I shall report later.

Surrounded by Beauty

Amazing sunset last night. Only had my mobile to take the snap unfortunately. The locals didn't understand what I was taking a picture of... I guess you don't appreciate beauty when you're surrounded by it all your life? It usually gets dark in a matter of minutes and quite early (around 6 pm).

It just got real

Great thing to wake up and to look at the map of western and northern Africa first thing in the morning, no longer dreaming of but planning the big trip home. Roll on June 2013!

More pics

Unfortunately it's a bit overcast today. Was hoping to sit out on the bench for a while and work on those freckles before the sun is too intense. Ah well... indoor studying it is so. We will move the motorbikes to their new home some time today. Haven't started Suzi in 4 weeks. Hope she won't feel too neglected and not give me any problems. Here are some very recent pictures from site and our camp. I've highlighted where we live and my office. Enjoy!

 Camp A, where we live (see yellow arrow).

 

Ball and SAG Mill making progress. Basically 2 ginormous spinning washing machines :)

 My office in the back, an 8 minute walk from the camp to work.