Bed-sharing and bed-nets

I slept with a fireman at the end of my first day’s walk in The Gambia. That is to say we shared the same bed – his bed. I assumed that finding a hotel in a capital city would be easy. Not so in Banjul. This city has a population of less then 35,000. I walked most of its main streets within an hour, after having walked 15km along a deserted beach, and soon realised that beyond a few colonial buildings there was little else to detain a visitor.  Not a hotel in sight. I later thought it might be the World’s smallest capital, but have just checked and found that honour goes to Adamstown, if that counts.  Read more... (3346 words, 20 images, estimated 13:23 mins reading time)

“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” (Friedrich Nietzsch)

“Anywhere is walking distance,  if you’ve got the time”. (Stephen Wright)

The book and the morning walk provided the inspiration. It was 7am, the sun had just risen and the birds were full of voice. It’s the best time of day to be walking in Africa. The light is soft, the air cool and people have fewer worries.  The day ahead still offers opportunity. People  you meet have a purpose. They are walking to work, setting up a stall, waiting for a bus. It dawned on me as I began my morning physio of flexing the left wrist and fingers, that rather than waiting to be strong enough to ride my bicycle, and in the process growing increasingly restless, I should be exploring my surroundings on foot.  Read more... (722 words, 4 images, estimated 2:53 mins reading time)