The Day Everything Was in the Way: Mud, Winches, and Fallen Trees

October 31st – Norwegian Army Rations

Good day. I forgot to mention we obviously had to eat last night, which became the first time we had Norwegian army rations, brought by Johan. You just add 400 milliliters of hot water, stir it, let it sit sealed for 15 minutes, and it turns into a pretty decent meal. Not too bad at all.

Morning Routine and Hitting the Road

In the morning, we opted not to make coffee since Johan doesn’t drink any. We preferred to get on the road because Johan wanted to be back by the first of November. Even though we left four days later than intended, that was still the plan. We were ready to go—but not so fast.

Stuck in the Mud

The little rain had turned the dirt where we were standing into mud, and with my tires, mud is not a friend. We tried rocks and other tricks to get out, but it wasn’t working. Locals stopped by to help, which was great, but the real solution was the winch.

Using the Winch

We hooked the winch to a tree, but the first tree moved instead of the car. We tried another small tree tied to the bottom, and it just worked—strong enough to pull the car free. It took time, but it worked. Johan got to experience the rough, unplanned challenges of travel firsthand.

Fallen Tree on the Road

After driving for about 15 minutes, we encountered a fallen tree blocking the road. Others were already clearing it with axes and saws. Motorbikes could go around, but not us. It took about half an hour before the road was clear, and we could continue.

Slow Progress and Daytime Driving

After reorganizing the car, we drove very slowly—sculpting our way around holes, water, and pavement. By the end of the day, we had only driven about 105 km, often at 20–25 km/h. It was intense but necessary to keep the car in good shape.

Coffee Break and Local Interaction

We passed through some small towns and bought tiny cups of coffee for 500 francs. Often they were sugary, but we could add our own sugar. It was fun to chat with locals and see life unfold around us.

Camping Near a Gravel Pit

With no hotel in sight, we found a much better camping spot next to a gravel pit. The terrain was solid, and we were able to pitch the tent and sleep. Cows wandered around our tent, but that wasn’t a problem.

Charcoal Guardians

The next morning, we noticed people sleeping nearby guarding charcoal bags. Charcoal and wood are transported to Conakry, often stacked on top of vehicles, sometimes with people riding on top. Safety is somewhat disregarded in this process.