TP: So on Sunday we said goodbye to Gillian* and set off with our sore heads, poorly packed car and new haircut. First up though I displayed fine mechanical prowess by successfully changing the oil...I can probably fix anything now...
The only possible complaint we can make about Cameroon is that its too easy...tarmac roads complete with white lines, very friendly locals, and non-corrupt police! I did get slightly ripped off by an old lady in a village...but even that was entertaining! She told me I could buy a sachet of "whiskey" for 100 CFA so I humoured her, but didn't seem to get a sachet in return. It turns out she meant I could buy a sachet of whiskey for her because it was Sunday!
A very leisurely couple of hours later we arrived at the outskirts of Kribi and took the first dirt road to the beach where we found the Residence St. Benoit and Roger, the lovely owner/guardian who was very happy for us to park our car with him and camp on the beach. Very picturesque beach and the sea was such a perfect temperature it was hard to get out. After being invited to a graduation ceremony next week, we inquired from the guy sweeping the floor about getting some food and drink. Roger's kids were swiftly dispatched to buy us beers and our friend offered us spaghetti....it turns out he was just another very hospitable guest! We shared dinner with him and his friend (not wife - put my foot in it there!) and had great chats. He's a tour guide and will soon be leading a trip to Senegal and back.
In the morning, we went running. Yes, this is what happens if you go travelling with PHiggins apparently! I know its good for me and I should do it, but I really did not sign up for this shit! Anyway, we got to Kribi which doesn't really exist as a town then Alf ran back while I more sensibly took a mototaxi. Must remember to eat before running in future.
After getting our car washed by Rogers kids we rolled out, and went for a quick canoe trip inland from Kribi during which we bought some still wriggling prawns to cook up later. (We had to reverse haggle for the car wash - they wanted 15p, we gave them £1). Unfortunately we don't have visas for Equatorial Guinea, so had a fairly major obstacle to get around. We hoped to stay in the Campo nature reserve, but it soon transpired that while we were very close, there were no roads to access it from this side. We stopped to confirm this fact at a village, and Daniel, the chief promptly invited us to camp in his village, which we accepted. The hospitality far from ended there though. After running Mama Ingo back to her village we got upgraded to a room in a house, they made a fire for us, and then the cherry on the cake...they peeled our prawns for us! They even scooped out our pasta onto our plates when we displayed such ineptitude in doing it ourselves. These people really are incredibly kind, and absolutely didn't ask for anything in return. Its difficult to imagine similar levels of hospitality would be found in the UK if tables were turned. Our host, Richard, also highlighted how much of a pair of wetters we are by happily picking up red hot coals from the fire with his bare hands...absolute animal! We dozed off that night to the sound Richard and his wife gently humming God Save the Queen as a lullaby to their 7 month old twins.
In the morning we washed in the river then set off for the border. By taking a road unfairly dismissed on google maps as being much more minor than the dirt road to Ebolowa we managed to shave off some time and were at the border in just a few hours. Easy peasy! Now though to contend with the border crossing....often a long and difficult process in Africa. Not so here. A quick chat, a couple of stamps and we were out of Cameroon within half an hour! Thank you Cameroon, we couldn't have asked much more of you and your people!
*Gillian has flown to the Central African Republic to report on the situation as everybody who can is fleeing the other way. Great big balls!
The only possible complaint we can make about Cameroon is that its too easy...tarmac roads complete with white lines, very friendly locals, and non-corrupt police! I did get slightly ripped off by an old lady in a village...but even that was entertaining! She told me I could buy a sachet of "whiskey" for 100 CFA so I humoured her, but didn't seem to get a sachet in return. It turns out she meant I could buy a sachet of whiskey for her because it was Sunday!
A very leisurely couple of hours later we arrived at the outskirts of Kribi and took the first dirt road to the beach where we found the Residence St. Benoit and Roger, the lovely owner/guardian who was very happy for us to park our car with him and camp on the beach. Very picturesque beach and the sea was such a perfect temperature it was hard to get out. After being invited to a graduation ceremony next week, we inquired from the guy sweeping the floor about getting some food and drink. Roger's kids were swiftly dispatched to buy us beers and our friend offered us spaghetti....it turns out he was just another very hospitable guest! We shared dinner with him and his friend (not wife - put my foot in it there!) and had great chats. He's a tour guide and will soon be leading a trip to Senegal and back.
In the morning, we went running. Yes, this is what happens if you go travelling with PHiggins apparently! I know its good for me and I should do it, but I really did not sign up for this shit! Anyway, we got to Kribi which doesn't really exist as a town then Alf ran back while I more sensibly took a mototaxi. Must remember to eat before running in future.
After getting our car washed by Rogers kids we rolled out, and went for a quick canoe trip inland from Kribi during which we bought some still wriggling prawns to cook up later. (We had to reverse haggle for the car wash - they wanted 15p, we gave them £1). Unfortunately we don't have visas for Equatorial Guinea, so had a fairly major obstacle to get around. We hoped to stay in the Campo nature reserve, but it soon transpired that while we were very close, there were no roads to access it from this side. We stopped to confirm this fact at a village, and Daniel, the chief promptly invited us to camp in his village, which we accepted. The hospitality far from ended there though. After running Mama Ingo back to her village we got upgraded to a room in a house, they made a fire for us, and then the cherry on the cake...they peeled our prawns for us! They even scooped out our pasta onto our plates when we displayed such ineptitude in doing it ourselves. These people really are incredibly kind, and absolutely didn't ask for anything in return. Its difficult to imagine similar levels of hospitality would be found in the UK if tables were turned. Our host, Richard, also highlighted how much of a pair of wetters we are by happily picking up red hot coals from the fire with his bare hands...absolute animal! We dozed off that night to the sound Richard and his wife gently humming God Save the Queen as a lullaby to their 7 month old twins.
In the morning we washed in the river then set off for the border. By taking a road unfairly dismissed on google maps as being much more minor than the dirt road to Ebolowa we managed to shave off some time and were at the border in just a few hours. Easy peasy! Now though to contend with the border crossing....often a long and difficult process in Africa. Not so here. A quick chat, a couple of stamps and we were out of Cameroon within half an hour! Thank you Cameroon, we couldn't have asked much more of you and your people!
*Gillian has flown to the Central African Republic to report on the situation as everybody who can is fleeing the other way. Great big balls!
Nobody ever signs up to run with the PHiggins, you just find yourself doing it. More like, "if you can't beat them; join them."
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