ST LOUIS DAY 216

SENEGAL DAY 215 3-12- 24

Nouakchott Mauritania St Louis Senegal.

The Chinese guys were at the hostel and Robert tried to help me with my Garmin In Reach but to no avail. 

There was  ten Portuguese on bikes doing a tour and we ended up chatting for ages and then they gave me some supplies and stopped phone numbers. Then there was the Japanese guy, 69 years old that left from Japan on a 250cc and such an inspiration. We were meant to meet at this camp tonight but he has not shown up, hope all is well. We were going to ride together down here but agreed it would not work and I left after him but did not see him. 

After 240kms I was at the Senegal border after passing through numerous police checkpoints points where they ask for your fische or take your passport. 

Leaving Mauritania was easy, except for the women that were protesting and blocking the road and setting tures alight, don't know what it was all about but am sure it was justified seeing the way they live. The border was easy leaving and the policemen that checked my bike registration said I had to pay ten Euro's and I asked him why and I need a receipt, knowing full well it was BS and just walked out and crossed into Senegal.

   The Portuguese and Japanese and  Chinese bikers.

    The water plastic bottles are everywhere, it is mindboggling to see it throughout the country......

SENEGAL

CFA 4000       to cross bridge

€ 10                Passavant for 5 days

CFA 1000       Community tax

I used my SA passport to enter because they have VOA but it is only if you fly in, but they allow US people in, but not Africans, so used my US passport to enter again and the visa is free.

Did not get insurance at the border and took the risk of riding to St Louis and getting it tomorrow for the region in town. I was given a Sim card for Senegal and The Gambia by a guy back in Noudhibou and like a nimrod I didn't put it in at the border and asked someone where the Zebrabar was and followed their directions. It was 35 kms out of the way but had a great experience in the fishing island, was quite amazing at the activity and the amount of people and goats and it had such a good vibe and evryone looked so happy and busy with beautiful coloured outfits on, so different to Mauritania.

I finally stopped and put in the sim card and had internet and rode to Zebrabar through town which took forty minutes.

Pitched the tent ,showered and had a few beers and a good meal.

NOUADHIBOU 1st December 2024 DAY 214 + 215

Was a lazy day did all my laundry for the week, two socks ,two underwear, two shirts and done. Organized my bike and got it camelized from some remnants I found in the desert.

My Garmin In Reach Mini has died on me, so that's a problem cause there's no Garmin help over here and I have no tracking and SOS now. Hoping when I get to Dakar I can get some help or mail it back to the US. 

Two bikers showed up today heading to Cape Town, a Swiss and German both solo and another couple in an Iveco. Was the one guys 60th so we had a nice cake after a curry dinner, but no alcohol still, only a few more days and will be able to have beer again.

DAY 214    Monday 2nd December 2024

477 kms.

Finally left Villa Miguela aka Hotel California and headed south to Nouakchott on the coast and Capital of Mauritania. The asphalt road was not good, same road I came up in the taxi but now could at least see the desert as it was nightime on the way up.

Got here at 3pm and then went to fish market by the beach which was rather interesting, not what you would normally expect. Got a bungalow on the roof at Auberge Triskell ($16) and met the Chinese guys again. Had a good fish meal and a shower and am ready a peaceful sleep which is not possible here with all the Mosques.

    Bungalow on roof.