Saturday, December 13 – A Slow Start
Good day. Saturday, December 13th. It was time to catch up on some recordings and take things at a slower pace. I also spent a bit of time walking around the neighborhood, getting a better feel for what’s going on here and how everything fits together.
Understanding the Land and Community
After Joe came back from Accra, where he had picked up his two sons, ages 14 and 16, from their boarding school, he explained how this area is organized. His boys have been at the school for the last two months and were homeschooled before that.
The land itself was originally purchased by a man named Herman, who later subdivided it so the parcels could be sold individually, all under a homeowners association. There are about 83 parcels in total, around 63 owners, and roughly 40% of the properties have dwellings on them. Not all are occupied, and many of the owners are foreigners.
Joe definitely has his work cut out for him—organizing the homeowners association, coordinating maintenance for the roads, and managing shared responsibilities. Water is another challenge. Wells have been drilled for some of the properties, going as deep as 72 to 100 meters because the land sits on a hill.
Overlanders on the Move
At some point, Ken and Rose from Scotland headed out. They’re traveling in a red Land Rover and have already been on the road for six months, taking their time. There’s a good chance I’ll run into them again—that’s often how these trips work.
Gearbox Trouble on the Road to Togo
Later in the day, a WhatsApp message came in for Yao from the Reliant guys with the three-wheeled car. They had left the day before toward Temu, closer to the Togo border, planning to visit some waterfalls. Unfortunately, they ran into serious trouble when their gearbox failed, leaving them with only fourth gear.
They reached out to see if, through Joe’s connections, a tow or lift could be organized, along with a place to install a replacement gearbox they’ve ordered, hopefully arriving within a week. By the time I’m recording this, it’s already late in the evening, and it doesn’t look like the tow truck has reached them yet.
At least the guys themselves are in good shape. It’s a setback for sure, and they may end up staying here for a while—most likely after I’ve already moved on.
Familiar Faces and Jungle Sounds
Adding to the mix, the French travelers with the 1985 Renault returned after figuring out what they still needed before continuing their journey.
It’s just a fun place to be—great for hanging out, swapping stories, and listening to the jungle sounds at night. Those sounds instantly take me back to Suriname, and now they’re right here again.
Thanks for coming along and being part of this.
