SANQUILLE - LIBERIA DAY 241 294km

MONROVIA TO SANQUILLE   29-12-24

Got off to an early start and met Swiss Chris at his place for breakfast and then we rode up here. Had two big police checkpoints but had no issues as Chris yakked with them cause he's a retired policeman from Switzerland, so they love talking to him and never ask for our documents, luckily enough.

The tar road was good all the way today with heavy jungle foliage with very little traffic.

    Police checkpoint

   Most police don't want their pictures taken.

   Almost around the Bulge, but still a few more days.

Got here at about 2pm to Jackie's Lodge ($35) with a decent room. 

LIBERIA - MONROVIA DAY 240 274km

BO - SIERRA LEONE TO MONROVIA - LIBERIA    28-12-24

 Luckily I checked my WhatsApp when I woke up and saw that Chris was also in Bo and sent me a message. So went over to his hotel which was way nicer than mine and had a huge brekfast with him. I met him in Nadihbou, Mauritania 🇲🇷 just briefly. 

We rode together all day to Liberia 🇱🇷 and then down to Monrovia and then he went north and I went into Monrovia to the Methodist Guest House ($35) which is on the ocean and very nice and clean with a bathroom , towel, soap and toilet paper.  I am the only one here and there is no food or beer and the nuns don't work on the weekend, so basically I am screwed and have to to go forage for food and libation.

Crossing the border was quick and easy and had zero issues, I did not go to the customs as nobody told me to and they told me I was done and could go afre I was stamped in. Trying to save my CDP as I only have ten pages. We exited and at all the police checkpoints they waved us through. Chris doesn't even have insurance for any of the Ecowas countries and nobody has ever asked, the police have no idea about that or a CDP, all they ask is your name and where are you going and are very friendly and polite. 

    Exiting SIERRA LEONE

    Exiting SIERRA Leone 🇸🇱

   The lovely Immigration officer welcomed us to Liberia 🇱🇷

   Then got stamped in.

   The border building.

    Another well packed load at the border waiting for a departure and terrorize oncoming traffic.

   Chris had his shirt which he was drying tied to his luggage come off and end up there, was lucky.

   Took about thirty minutes to get it out , using his Swiss Army knife  🤣

 Methodist Guest House.

   You can get USD here, which I did and then exchanged it for Liberian Dollars at this exchange bureau.

   This is a local clothes store with a gutter so you don't get wet when it rains, unless you at either end.

   Had a salad here for dinner, my place is the building on the right, sticking up above the restaurant roof.

   Ceasar's Salad, furtherest thing from it, was lettuce and mayo and some ded chicken.

BO SIERRA LEONE DAY 239 234km

FREETOWN TO BO     27-12-24

WWent down for brekfast at seven but was an hour early, the chef's hadn't arrived yet. Came back at eight to a delightful breakfast.

Met Charles again as he was staying in the Y and he was going to have some work done on his bike and leave tomorrow. I was in two minds of staying as it was getting late and am always one to leave early and then packed up and left. Was 10:40 am by the time I left left and was already 28*C. 

Was a good asphalt road all the way to BO, the first section was a toll road which even had lines on, motorcyclists didn't have to pay. 

Arriver at Fear Hotel at 2:30pm and got a room for $16 with a shower and toilet and a towel and a cake of black soap. 

They arranged some fish and chips for me which was welcomed .

Took a moto taxi into town to get some cash, the first two ATM's didn't work but Eco Bank did. Went to a local place and had a few beers amongst the locals and they don't quote know what to think but it is really interesting just sitting there and watching the interaction of everyone. They operate in a totally different world to mine which is not a bad thing. There was a taxi van, a six seater that had even people inside , one on the roof and one standing on the back bumper and I believe they were going a long journey. Every vehicle you see is overloaded, with people or goods or both. 

SIERRA LEONE DAY 238 234km 26 December 2024

Rf7CONARKY to FREETOWN  

Yesterday was Xams and I changed my oil on the bike,did some laundry and then helped clean up at the front entrance of this place. You would never know it was Xmas here, almost like a normal day, there's a guy replacing the A/C and some guys painting.

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Departed at 5:45 in the dark to beat the traffic and it was nice and cool. Once you have left the city, about 35kms outside the road was good all the way, even with lines on it,Chinese have done a great job. I took the 15 minute shorter route which took four hours longer because I had to wait hours for the ferry, not like Norway. Did not see any trucks or cattle on the road, no goats around and the vegetation is tropical with lots of Palm trees and Banana trees and other fruit trees and tall grass and way cleaner than Guinea. They don't just drop evrything when they are finished with it like Guinea. Still not perfectly clean but no heaps of trash and no plastic bottles everywhere.

    Exiting Guinea need your particulars

    In the ledger.

    Then the polimen at Immigration 

     stamps your out.

   Entering Sierra Leone bike info.

   Paid $25 for visa and he stamped me 

   Into Sierra Leone

   Road tax $23

   My lunch.

   My buddies while I waited for ferry.

   The guy next to me wanted me to take a photo of us so when I get home 

I can show everyone him. 

    Even although they don't have two times to rub together the woman wear some beautiful outfits.

    View from my window in the Y

   This is breakfast and a cup of coffee

The people here were fascinated about the bike and Camel jaw and asked hundreds of questions and can't figure out why someone would travel down Africa. People here live day to day, there's no holidays or retirement or leisure time, so it's understandable.

Got to the YMCA at about 4pm ($23) and since I had'nt eaten all day I walked into town but could not find any restaurant's but found the main shopping area which was jamming.

So had some Pringles and beer for supper and then fell asleep with my clothes on unexpectedly. 

   View from my window at the Y