Tri Cycling Africa

HomeBack to the homepage. JourneyThe filmmakers cycled a tandem recumbent tricycle over the dusty landscapes of West Africa. Over two months they crossed five countries from Bamako, the capital of Mali, up to the legendary city of Timbuktu on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, south through Burkina Faso, Ghana, then Togo and Benin. This is the motivation behind the journey. TrailerDownload an extended trailer for the documentary series. Media KitDownload an electronic press kit (includes full synopsis, crew bios, episode breakdowns, director's statement and more), brochure and white paper. PhotosSome images from the trip. BlogsOutside the making of the documentary, this is a series of emails sent home during the trip. They are completely honest accounts from the filmmakers of the highs and lows of travelling in a foreign place. ContactThe series is currently seeking distribution. Click here to contact the producer. CreditsThis project would not have been possible without...

JEFF McLEAN'S BLOG | MARTY POUWELSE'S BLOG

23/11/2002 - Kokrobite (the original side), GHANA

Well. The contrasts are starting to drive me crazy.

This morning I checked my email for any news from the Australian embassy in Nigeria or the British High Commission here in Accra. It's now the weekend, so they've scarpered off down the pub, but who should write me but Wendy herself from Big Milly's Backyard in Kokrobite.

Apparently, in the wee hours of this morning my bag with most of it's contents including all of the important documents: passport, health certificate, plane tickets, etc, was thrown over the fence of Big Milly's Backyard. I started shaking with nerves reading the email, and told myself not to get excited until I had the passport in my hand.

We then headed back to our favourite African beach-side resort with haste.

It was certainly hasty while we ran. Unfortunately, the roads out of Accra leave a little to be desired and our beaten up old taxi chugged along at an intensely frustrating pace. Now was the perfect opportunity to realise that the time it takes to reach your destination is inversely proportional to how urgently you need to be there. Why do I think these absurdly unnecessary thoughts at the most inappropriate times?

I did the best I could do pass the time: think about my passport, think about my passport, think about my passport.

Here was a point in our little doco where Jeff would need to operate the camera while I approached the staff at Big Milly's.

I entered the premises amongst big smiles from the staff: "ahh, we told you, yes!"

Marshall, a senior staff member, brought it out, and there it was. Covered in dust with other bits of rubbish inside, but the important stuff was there. It was actually there. I couldn't believe it. What thief would actually bother about returning a bag?? I was stunned. All the villagers and staff had told me that thieves often returned stolen bags (sans cash) but I never believed a word of it. I took it as a token of their sympathy and an effort to make me feel better.

Was it the security staff's influence that brought the bag back? Was it the chief's announcement? Was it Mercury in retrograde with Taurus? I guess I'll never know, but I don't really give a shit!

Jeff and I can now leave Accra together with the trike as planned, cycle across the borders, and maybe even clock up our 1000kms.

That would be icing on the cake.

Meanwhile, our next two cities are supposed to be less safe than Accra, so I will have my documents surgically attached to just inside my rectum in an attempt to prevent their theft.

I just hope we can actually leave Accra, because we're currently staying at Hotel California where you can apparently check out any time you want but you can never leave.

Cheers!

Love,
Marty.

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