What a wonderful time we have had with Chloe and friends in Abengourou and we are sad to be leaving early tomorrow morning. Yesterday was busy with visits to the Capitain of the judiciary, followed by interviews with the Préfet de Police and Monsieur Préfet of the Indénié-Djuablin region (currently occupying the Presidential Office), both giving their approval for us to make one or more balloon flights, thanks to Chloe's standing in the community. (I need some French accents on this keyboard!). We then went to the Grand Marché for a discussion with Michel Rizkaller about gas and returned to the Hotel Newman with 2 bottles for refuelling. Lunch was at La Ranche run by one of Chloe's Burkinabe friends, who also has a building business and was agreeable to renting us a double cab pickup and driver. After a short nap for me, but no rest for Chris who was busy filling balloon gas cylinders, we met up with Chloe again before sunset to have a tour of the area in Franki, her Mercedes Sprinter to survey launchsites in all directions. On the way back we met up with Gendarme friend Ya at the Maquis Manchester for beers in the street where Mali was playing Egypt in the Africa Cup (CAN) football on the big screen and lively music. We 'built' the balloon basket and loaded the pickup before bed, eating a braised chicken and achi take-away on the steps of the hotel.
That was yesterday. Today has been so successful in every way with a 20 minute balloon flight for Chris and me, launching from the triangular junction on the main corridor road through town at 7.15am. Chloe kindly followed in the pick-up with the driver and a student neighbour who was an enthusiastic crew. Everyone seems to have mobile phones and we were photographed and video-ed throughout the flight. Even before we landed a video of our progress was on the Abengourou Facebook page. The sky was overcast but there was some steerage in a northerly direction and we flew almost over the C.R.E.E.R. Centre on the Jehova's Witnesses Crossroads on Plateau and came to land on a dry area of the paddy fields below the Hotel Newman, causing little frogs to leap out of the vegetation. The first people to reach us were photographing us on their tablets (such a change since we were last in West Africa). We had controlled help to pack the balloon and returned to the Centre for a delicious breakfast. Another gassing session followed in preparation for a 2nd balloon flight either in the evening or tomorrow morning. However, our plans changed after talking on the phone to Steve, the driver of the Oasis Overland truck who are now in Ghana. We are hoping to meet up with them at Big Millie's in Kokrobite for advice on visas for onward travel, especially Angola, and maybe travel with them for the more difficult bits. That means that we need to set off for the Ghana border tomorrow.
This evening we had a final celebration dinner with Chloe in town - absolutely wonderful food. Unfortunately Ya was unable to join us as he was still on duty and then 'confined' to the Police Station for the night due to some slight unrest over pay, so we called to see him at the Gendarmerie on our way back. He had a present for Chris. Those of you who are in the know will probably guess at his new acquisition - a fine example of its kind.
We have future plans to return to Abengourou, perhaps as a base for seeing more of the country and a jumping off ground for the countries we missed visiting. We'll be on the move for the next couple of days. There is some unrest in Abidjan but Ya has assured us that there will be no more than firing guns in the air, if that, and no concern for us.
That was yesterday. Today has been so successful in every way with a 20 minute balloon flight for Chris and me, launching from the triangular junction on the main corridor road through town at 7.15am. Chloe kindly followed in the pick-up with the driver and a student neighbour who was an enthusiastic crew. Everyone seems to have mobile phones and we were photographed and video-ed throughout the flight. Even before we landed a video of our progress was on the Abengourou Facebook page. The sky was overcast but there was some steerage in a northerly direction and we flew almost over the C.R.E.E.R. Centre on the Jehova's Witnesses Crossroads on Plateau and came to land on a dry area of the paddy fields below the Hotel Newman, causing little frogs to leap out of the vegetation. The first people to reach us were photographing us on their tablets (such a change since we were last in West Africa). We had controlled help to pack the balloon and returned to the Centre for a delicious breakfast. Another gassing session followed in preparation for a 2nd balloon flight either in the evening or tomorrow morning. However, our plans changed after talking on the phone to Steve, the driver of the Oasis Overland truck who are now in Ghana. We are hoping to meet up with them at Big Millie's in Kokrobite for advice on visas for onward travel, especially Angola, and maybe travel with them for the more difficult bits. That means that we need to set off for the Ghana border tomorrow.
This evening we had a final celebration dinner with Chloe in town - absolutely wonderful food. Unfortunately Ya was unable to join us as he was still on duty and then 'confined' to the Police Station for the night due to some slight unrest over pay, so we called to see him at the Gendarmerie on our way back. He had a present for Chris. Those of you who are in the know will probably guess at his new acquisition - a fine example of its kind.
We have future plans to return to Abengourou, perhaps as a base for seeing more of the country and a jumping off ground for the countries we missed visiting. We'll be on the move for the next couple of days. There is some unrest in Abidjan but Ya has assured us that there will be no more than firing guns in the air, if that, and no concern for us.
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