Niger River Project

This is a quick entry to say that the official trial went well as far as I was concerned.
In terms of gear, it’s going to be necessary to get a housing for the Fuji F30 just to protect it from the elements and give more shooting options.

The canoe performed well although it’s precarious to say the least at the bow… a completely different experience in the driving (aft) seat. Ben has been able to move the bow seat back enough to give more legroom and so increase the stability forward of centre. Looking on google earth, we’re going to need some stability around Bamako, Mali, and some of the upper stretches of the river.

GPS practice needed. It seems to be effective and to work well, but obviously tracks one’s every move around camp, giving false read-outs.

About time I added my thoughts and reasons for deciding to join Ben on this trip…

I have to start by saying that this is Ben’s adventure and I’m back-up. It’s clear from the knowledge Ben has amassed from hours of research that he is driven by the early explorers and his desire communicate a new perspective on an impoverished region. I will concentrate on providing a visual narrative of the trip and the issues that present themselves along the way. The image is everything. Without it, it did not happen.

Just a little bit of background, for those that don’t know my connection with the continent:

My Grandfather, Bill Norwood, wrote a diary ‘Africa Calling’ which sat on the family shelf, virtually untouched, until a chance conversation with my Dad stirred in me a desire to visit cousins I’d never met in Kenya.
I read and re-read the pages of this exotic, intoxicating, photographically illustrated account of a distant yet tangible world, and was instantly transfixed.
Growing up in Devon, and visiting ‘Granny’ and ‘Grandad’ regularly, we were often entertained with tall stories of the African bush, accompanied by a trumpeting elephant which would turn Bills face the colour of claret and our faces would flush as we laughed and gripped our sides.
Those emotions and that sound, a gift transported through story-telling, through the generations, through time and distance, embedded themselves in me and re-emerged when I read those pages.

I decided to visit Ric and Tim, my cousins in Kenya, and experienced true kindness in their family’s care.
I travelled with the help of friends and family, using the diary as my guide, throughout Kenya in the limited time I had, and managed to track down and re-photograph from the same spot where my grandfather had stood some 70 years earlier.

My second trip took me to Tanzania and further increased my understanding of this complex continent.

Bill’s diary inspired the naming of a new Safari Company, started by a great friend, Nikos Pocock. Nikos help me in my mission on my first East African trip. Anyone interested in a well organised Safari trip should get in touch with the great man – website link to follow.

And now, preparation is going well, although the visa issue is a little tight, and I still have to get two minor accomodation issues sorted (rent house/ tent v hammock?!) but all in all I think we’ll get there. And that’s where the fun starts…

Yesterday evening saw the maiden voyage of the beautiful green canoe that is to be Dan and my lifeline in weeks to come. The evening before I peformed a brief ceremony involving the pouring of a few drops (wouldn't ... [Continue reading this entry]

I'm normally a bit of a Luddite, but I have to say when it comes to the wonders of Google Earth, I'm a fully paid up convert. I'd never used it until yesterday, but then for some reason I suddenly ... [Continue reading this entry]