Sanderlin Journey in Africa: August 2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Bum: Motorcylce Trip of a Lifetime!

Yesterday, Ezekiel and I set out for Bum on two motorcycles. We drove a Yamaha 200 that belongs to Tom Needham as well as my "new" Honda 600 TransLap. Roger who is from Bum rode with me as we climbed to about 8,000 feet by Lake Oku and then down again through many villages to Bum. It took us about 4 and a half hours yesterday. This trip was my first time driving a motorcycle to Bum, and I am now officially initiated as a motorcycle driver here in Cameroon even though I had one last term.

Yesterday, was about a 6 out of 10 in difficultly level. Today, we took a different way back which proved to be a mistake...it was an 11 out of 10, at least for my own ability level. For those of you who drive motorcycles, how many times have you dropped your bike on its side in one day? Well, I dropped my Honda at least five times and the Yamaha maybe two or three! Thankfully, the damagas were minor, just some of the plastic protectors and lots of bruises on the driver :) What made the journey almost impossible for me today was the following factors: rain, tires not meant for extreme bush, a heavy bike, and an 8-10% grade going up through rocks, mud, water, sand, grass, etc! We were wearing mud boots thankfully, but I honestly ran out of steam and asked Ezekiel to let me drive the lighter Yamaha. Ezekiel is taller than me and did an outstanding job getting my bike up the mountains when I couldn't do it! It took us close to 7 hours today to drive back!

The purpose of the trip was to visit Roger, plant an iron windsock base at the new airfield, and arrange for the grass on the field to be cut again. Please keep praying for this airfield to be approved by the aviation officials. We have been ready to use it for a long time. I would rather fly there in 20 minutes than drive a motorcycle in 4 to 7 hours!

Leaving from Ndop on Monday (the date on the pictures is wrong).

Oku Lake is a lake that litterally sits on top of an 8,000 foot mountain!

Buying cement at Kimbi, Bum for the airfield

Roger, his wife, his two children and some nieces and nephews that he cares for.

Checking the iron base before we left. There was tons of rain after we worked it yesterday and rain through the night, but it held up great. We'll install the rest of the pole and sock when the airfield is approved.

I couldn't get pictures of the boulder roads, but Ezekiel got this one of mud...it was the last of about 5 long mud "roads" coming down into the town of Fundong. From Fundong to home was a few hours of rain and paved roads!