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An extra half hour and once again we were off on our journey leaving the camp site around 9:30. Stopped for diesel and the difference in the boutique at the gas station had us all oohing and aaahing over the cleanliness and the amount of and ordered display of all the goods. Furthermore, there was a proper toilet wth running water, soap and toilet paper. We overlanders are easily satisfied.
Within half an hour we were in Makeni. The architecture is what I would now describe as typical British Colonial: metal roofs, square columns, and laticed railings on the front verandahs the whole being cement block covered with cement of yello, white, aquamarine and others.
The road started out well and we had a nice lunch in a casheww grove. Then we turned off the main highway to Bumbuna. The laterite road was the worst yet with its pot holes, ruts, and ridges. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to do 15 cm. Along the way an anomaly appeared on the horizon. As it drew closer we saw it was a train which snaked its way across the country side dragging behind it what seemed like over a hundred containers, possibly for some mined ore. And then finally after numerous small villages, lots of double hand waves and thumbs up signs, and a played out body after all the jerking in the truck, we arrived in Bumbuna. We searched around for the falls and the dam and the over zealous locals cheered and waved and shouted at us. It was an overwhelming experience. We came to a river and our crew asked if it was safe to ford and follow the tiny trail to the waterfalls. It was.......well......to someone. The truck came to a halt after about 200 yards into it and we all got out and it reversed back. We also picked up a guy who said he would take us to the chief to see if we could camp in the village. We went back through town and stopped in front of the largest most modern home in town. The chief. He was quite annoyed we had driven through town without his permission. Also told us we couldn't go to the dam without a permit from the Ministry of Tourism. Wouldn't agree to us staying in town. So with a bit of a bad feeling we left. It was curious though. The people were so friendly and welcoming. Now you do have to remember that this was in a war torn part of Sierra Leone and the war has only been over for 10 years. Not sure if that played into the situation or not. We headed back out of town till we were almost at the railway and stopped at a container yard that we had passed previously. They agreed to let us park there among the few containers in the enormous yard. We had five security guards in beautiful black pants tucked into their boots and black jacets with "security guard" written all over them. They came around and took our names, and showed us where we could park and camp. It was a good, safe, night!!
An extra half hour and once again we were off on our journey leaving the camp site around 9:30. Stopped for diesel and the difference in the boutique at the gas station had us all oohing and aaahing over the cleanliness and the amount of and ordered display of all the goods. Furthermore, there was a proper toilet wth running water, soap and toilet paper. We overlanders are easily satisfied.
Within half an hour we were in Makeni. The architecture is what I would now describe as typical British Colonial: metal roofs, square columns, and laticed railings on the front verandahs the whole being cement block covered with cement of yello, white, aquamarine and others.
The road started out well and we had a nice lunch in a casheww grove. Then we turned off the main highway to Bumbuna. The laterite road was the worst yet with its pot holes, ruts, and ridges. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to do 15 cm. Along the way an anomaly appeared on the horizon. As it drew closer we saw it was a train which snaked its way across the country side dragging behind it what seemed like over a hundred containers, possibly for some mined ore. And then finally after numerous small villages, lots of double hand waves and thumbs up signs, and a played out body after all the jerking in the truck, we arrived in Bumbuna. We searched around for the falls and the dam and the over zealous locals cheered and waved and shouted at us. It was an overwhelming experience. We came to a river and our crew asked if it was safe to ford and follow the tiny trail to the waterfalls. It was.......well......to someone. The truck came to a halt after about 200 yards into it and we all got out and it reversed back. We also picked up a guy who said he would take us to the chief to see if we could camp in the village. We went back through town and stopped in front of the largest most modern home in town. The chief. He was quite annoyed we had driven through town without his permission. Also told us we couldn't go to the dam without a permit from the Ministry of Tourism. Wouldn't agree to us staying in town. So with a bit of a bad feeling we left. It was curious though. The people were so friendly and welcoming. Now you do have to remember that this was in a war torn part of Sierra Leone and the war has only been over for 10 years. Not sure if that played into the situation or not. We headed back out of town till we were almost at the railway and stopped at a container yard that we had passed previously. They agreed to let us park there among the few containers in the enormous yard. We had five security guards in beautiful black pants tucked into their boots and black jacets with "security guard" written all over them. They came around and took our names, and showed us where we could park and camp. It was a good, safe, night!!
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