10592km of travel - Kedougou - Senegal
23 Aprill 2015
Riding from St. Louis down to Dakar was pretty much easy and joyful. I had opportunity to stay with Lutz - great machine inventor and philanthrop. Instead of slepping in the tent I arranged back of the truck to be my home. Lutz was kind and supplied tracker bed and brand new mosquito net. I have spend around two weeks for exploring city and their surroundings. We went to see Ile de Goree and Lac Rose another day. Searching for my motorbike back sprocket and chain we went all the way around Dakar to see their "System Africa". And this was far more you could see from standard hotel attractions. I seen people making things and repairing and old ones. I was lucky to get closer to society as we were eating together with senegalese people every day. After couple of days I was happy to replace my worn back sprocket and the chain which I got from Madou from Mad Bikes in Dakar - the only one proper workshop in the city. The only difference was that sprocket was 40 not 45 teeth - 45 was available in 6 weeks from Yamaha dealer in dakar. So I made this 40 teeth to fit in my Zebra.
Gambia border attempt
Plan was to get to Gambia and trying to find more shipping opportunities as in Dakar the only chance was cargo ship but the informations wasn't clear enough. At the border Karang with Gambia - I moved smoothly through the Senegal side and on the Gambian side I meet corrupted resistance of the police force. For European passport I don't need visa to Gambia so I went to the police station with some confidence. Border police was asking me for my job and some information to track how wealth customer I am. I just have to wait for they call "Big Boss" to come. I only understood that he's trying to sell me visa. I knew that this is the only money for his pocket and others there - this time I could not resist and ask him for his name and the paper copy of visa requirement. He refused so I took my passport and said that this is no right and this is killing tourism and money flow to his country and I walked away "exited". I sat on my moto and back onto Senegalese side.
Accident
I slept on the dry salt lake 10 km south-west from Kaolack. Than moved towards Mali border to make border town of Kedougou for the night. Stopped in Tambacounda for rice and chicken and than off west. Weather was hot and no wind, temperature was reaching 42'C this days in the region. Water in the bottles was almost boiling. First time in my life I see this heat. The target was much over 350 km this day and I was trying made Kedougou before sunset. At some point sun was low and visibility poorer. Tarmac (asphalt) was radiating heat of the day. I start go faster and thoughtless. I had 72 km to make today. Half of the liter of water left... I stopped last time for a photo. Few kilometers after I went into uneven patches of road, cruise speed was around 80-90km but I slowed down to possible 60-70km and this was over. I lost control of the machine. I knew I was done. Couldn't do anything anymore. I felt weight of the bike and magical catapulting force directed to the right of the bike - that was scary. My right feet stock between motorbike and the red gravel and than I was shoot in to the air. I landed and filing like the sun between my back is shaded by the falling down overloaded Yamaha. I only leaned forward to make room for machine to crashed behind my back.... silence and stoping big truck who must see what was happening.... than soar of my right feet and my right shoulder. I crawled away. All luggage from right side zebra pannier was spread all over for about 10m of lengh. I tried to stand but my feet was in pain. I smoked cigaret. Last water bottle was burst. I try to communicate with first truckers stopped. I asked them somehow for the water. Their water was very hot and taste diesel...
The next minute I see that man in military uniform - he act professionally and speak some english. He checked my bones for damaged. He organized transport for my motorbike and explained that he will take me to the hospital in Kedougou. He's name is Henri S. He is senegal lieutenant from Kaolack. He saved me this night. Thank you Henri!
The rest of the story is hospital and than a hotel. The X ray didn't show broken bones. I was enough in pain from scratches and wounds on my left palm and right feet. As well suspected damaged to right arm wasn't make it easier. However I was happy I'm alive. I was happy that Henri - Soldier came same road and helped me. At the hospital I remember I asked someone to bring me water from the shop.Taste of water was amazing. After all this pain and stress and unknown few hours in hospital water taste was truly amazing
I will write you more about hospital next time
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| On the way to Mali. Last night wild camping |
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| Very hot day, an hour before accident |
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| Zebraless Yamaha |
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| Day after crash I got my motorbike from Gendarmerie |
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| This is Henr S. He saved me from further pain taking to Hospital |
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| Thank You Henri, Thank you Senegal |
