Heading up the Gambia River
W2N 'Where to Next?'
Rob 'Bee' Clark
Fri 19 Dec 2008 17:19
|
13:40.8N 14:53.4W
Yes, sorry for not updating the blog for a while.
It was so ridiculously peaceful at Lamin Lodge that I was happy to
just relax for a few days before making a decision on the next leg of the
journey.
So, what can you say about a man who gets spooked
by a Senegalese fisherman but within just a few days is stroking a crocodile
eh!? Redeemed... yes?
Well, this is just a short update on my position so
I'm not going to go into too much detail about Gambia but the simple fact that
I'm still here, having an adventure and heading deeper and deeper into the
depths of Africa each day are testiment to the fact that I've ruled out
getting to Ascension Island for Christmas. It's just not possible and, well,
let's face it, you can't come to Gambia and not travel up The Gambia
River can you? Gambia is the river. It would be like going to
Egypt and not visiting the pyramids or perhaps Belgium and not... um... well,
you see my point?!
So, I'm cruising with a Dutch boat
Lady of the Lowlands up the river and we've been travelling for three
days now anchoring at the river's edge each night. We haven't seen any other
other cruising boats yet and every tiny village of huts we pass seem quite
bewildered to see not just one boat but two. I can tell you that I've seen
vultures, parrots, eagles, kingfishers, pelicans, terns, monkeys,
iguanas and goodness knows what else along the way. There are rumoured to
be rhinos and crocodiles near where we are now but I've not seen any yet. Nor
were there any elephants on Elephant island. The crocodiles I did see
were in a nature reserve in Bakau and it's no exageration when I say I
stroked one. I've got pictures! It was absolutely unbelievable. The public were
able to just wander into the enclosure where about twenty crocs were sunning
themselves. I was told that they keep them sufficiently well fed that they are
not interested in taking chunks out of tourists - a very strange experience
indeed. Imagine getting that past 'Health and Safety' in the UK!
So, I've just anchored up for the night about 140Nm
up river. Unfortunately, the wind has been easterly all the way so we've had to
motor for most of it but I'm looking forward to downwind sailing all the way
back to Lamin Lodge. I may even aim to spend Christmas there before
heading towards Ascension Island but the river is navigable for another 20Nm or
so we're not turning around just yet. The river was mostly bordered by
mangroves until this morning when it became very jungly - junglish - like a
jungle. It's noisy too. Constant screeching, hooting, chirping, twittering - not
from my new Dutch friends Henk and Maria - from the river banks.
So, I hope you're all set for Christmas. I'll try
to write something a little more informative when I get to Georgetown but, my
goodness, where to start?
Bye for now
Bee
|