Recently we pedalled 700 km through the Republic of Côte d’Ivoir. I think this is where we built on our riding strength with rolling hills … that just never stopped rolling!
We noticed more infrastructure, a strong agricultural industry, a lot more trucks, buses and cars, and most villages seemed to have access to electricity and running water.
But the tropical climate is still ever-present and some mornings were so humid I had moisture dripping from the tip of my helmet, my eyelashes were heavy with dew and the air so thick and sweet, it was almost like holding my nose over a fresh pot of honey.
We passed rubber, cocoa, coconut and palm oil plantations, and factories. As well as avocado farms where we were gifted a full bag - it was avocado for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next few days. 🥑😋
We discovered that Côte d’Ivoir also offered a few more options in the drinks and snacks department, so in the mornings we would hunt down warm pastries from the boulangeries and in the afternoon, cold drinks such as fizzy Orangina or even a chilled chocolate milk.
Red dirt roads took us to point breaks that we surfed alongside just a few locals. And we even checked out the @surfcotedivoire Surf Open where we caught up with friends from @robertsportsurfclub and @bureh_beach_surf_club !
On our last day we rode 30km on the beach at low tide, spoke to fishers who had just pulled in their nets and got stamped out of Côte d’Ivoir at an immigration hut sitting below coconut trees (and where the officer emerged from a swim in the ocean), and crossed over the border into Ghana.
A short but sweet time in Liberia, with much of our time spent in a little paradise called Robertsport and the big city of Monrovia. In Robertsport, kids of all ages are getting into surfing thanks to the incredible work of @robertsportsurfclub , @thelastwaveliberia and @providetheslide .
In Monrovia, we dodged and weaved amongst the trucks, buses, tuks tuks and motorbikes and met many great people along the way. Thanks for having us Liberia!
Happy Birthday mon amour! Life is the best with you ❤️✨
It’s @duck_whispering birthday! 🥰 We’re not at home to celebrate with family and friends but if you are feeling like sending Ben a little virtual beer, I know it would mean more to him if you could support the cause we are riding for (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in West Africa) by donating a little amount (equivalent to a beer 🍻) to the link in our bios! But no pressure, we know there is a lot going on in this crazy world of ours! 😘😘
And if you’re wondering where this was taken - Nouakchott, Mauritania 😁
In Sierra Leone we cycled along dirt trails through the steaming jungle, the sounds of cicadas and birds all around us. Arriving at villages, we were met with massive grins, waves, and the friendly chants of ‘opotho’ (meaning white person). On the side of the road, women were selling bananas, papaya, and coconuts.
In the city of Freetown we got visas for the next three countries (a big achievement!), and in Bureh Beach we scored a few waves with the crew from the surf club.
A highlight was the Old Railway Trail - a mountain biker’s dream - singletrack that kept us fully focused for over 100km. By the end of the day we were rocking some serious red-dirt tan lines, with little rivers of sweat forging their way through the dust caked on our skin.
Despite the extreme hardships of the past and the tough living conditions of today, this feels like a country of perseverance and positivity.
A postcard from Senegal, arriving a little late seeing as though we are already in Sierra Leone! 😆
It was great visiting Dakar and returning to the Casamance region - we caught up with our dear friend Lamine and many others, surfed, ate delicious local meals, and learnt more about artisanal fishing and the challenges they face. Pulling our bikes out of storage after the wet season required some scrubbing and maintenance, but finally we were ready to hit the road again…
A little update on our campaign to raise awareness and funds for IUU fishing - we are currently at $17,059! Every little bit helps, so if you can spare a dollar or two it is a huge help. Massive thanks to all that have supported so far! 🐟🙏❤️
While we were having fun, we learnt about a crisis…so this is our attempt to help. Thank you all for your support.
Link to the donation page in the bio, if you can🫶🏿.
With all of your support, we have so far raised $9k (45% of our goal) to help @ejfoundation combat illegal fishing in West Africa and stop the humanitarian and environmental disaster!
Learning about it may change your views on what you consume at home: the catches from these illegal European and Asian bottom trawlers end up in supermarkets all around the world. Donations are very much welcome - they pay for devices local Senegalese fishers use to report illegal activities. 🫶🏿🙏
A 2 year journey from Torquay to the shore lines of the Southern, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Seeking wonders and friendships to be made, unspoiled nature they sometimes saw and hardship shaped by western flaws. Yet through it all one truth was clear, humanity shone bright and near. Join us this coming Tuesday 2/12 for a fundraising film premiere “NIOKOBOKK”
