Take On Africa

When slavery in Africa was still big business, Ghana didn’t exist. The region we now know as Ghana was called the Gold Coast then. Gold was big business until slaves made more money.
I visited a few of the old forts and castles, which are still standing. Thankfully, slavery was abolished in the 1800’s and since [...]

This is the long awaited update of my last days in Ghana before I returned to England for a holiday and to get a new passport.
Hopefully you won’t have to wait so long for my take on Ghana part 2.
Road to Larabanga
Yet more corrugated roads. It is impossible to describe the effect that trying to [...]

For a second time I happened to be near Hay-on-Wye in Wales when the Hay Festival was in full swing. For those who haven’t heard of this, it’s a book festival that runs for two weeks in the summer and has an exceptional line-up of speakers.
While perusing the programme I came across a talk by [...]

It’s 10 month’s since I left the UK. I’ve made it to Ghana. And it’s time for a summary of the trip so far, by numbers. I’ve posted some statistics on my main sponsor’s, Webtogs, blog: Togblog
I’m currently back in the UK getting a new passport, which I’m eager to fill up with lots more [...]

Entry into Ghana was overshadowed by leaving Burkina Faso, which I was a little sad to be leaving.
But the immigration officials were friendly enough. While one slowly and meticulously filled out my immigration form (I could have completed it in a fraction of the time, but time is no matter here), I watched cartoons on [...]

Ouagadougou – Bobo – Banfora – Bobo
Any Which Way
Leaving is always hard. It’s not that I fear the open road. I don’t fear the unknown. On the contrary. That’s why I travel. That’s why I travel by bike. But no matter how much I know I will love the freedom and the new experiences, leaving [...]

I spent two weeks in Ouaga. Camping in the car-park of the OK Inn Hotel. Sandwiched between  a truck park and the hotel reception. Doesn’t sound so OK. But what more do you need when camping than a flat piece of ground in the shade? Not much. Included in the free camping was use of [...]

Leaving Mali
Leaving Mali was tougher than I thought. Not due to any particular attachment, although I did enjoy my time there. It was the wind and the rough, corrugated, roads. Mostly the wind though. It tried it’s hardest to blow me right back into Mali, even after I’d got the Burkina Faso entry stamped permanently [...]

Earlier in the year when I was in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, I visited the Ola During Children’s Hospital. This is the only paediatric hospital in Sierra Leone. It is the paediatric hospital that the Welbodi Partnership is working with. The Welbodi Partnership is the charity I am raising money for [...]

Last week I was asked by explorer Mikael Strandberg if I would write an article for his website. How could I refuse?!
The tricky part was he said I could write about anything. That immediately meant I couldn’t think of anything to write about. Nothing. Nada. In the end I had a beer and just started [...]