Mini World adventure Part 2

The people were changing from Arabic to more African and after another couple of days we got back to the tarmac, the cars were unloaded and we could set off under our own steam to Agadez We had a couple of days here waiting until the Trans African truck turned up as they had  kept some of our equipment. It was the first time we had been able to make contact back home for several weeks and I managed to send a telegram to Mary my girlfriend to wish her happy Birthday.  We spent the time checking over the cars, welding rear shock absorber mounts back and general maintenance. We also visited the Camel market where hundreds of the animals were for sale and if we were going to return to the desert would have swapped the Mini’s in as they were much better suited to the conditions!

After several days the Trans African truck arrived and tried to blackmail us to get our equipment back, we tried to explain we were on a charity expedition but they were not interested apart from a couple who told us where the truck was parked. We quickly packed our personal belongings, paid the guest house and drove to the truck. We then managed to retrieve all our equipment and load back into the Mini’s just as some of the Trans African crew came back. It was then comical as we drove off they were chasing us waving their fists, luckily we didn’t need to stop for some time and managed to get away.

We were heading south to Zinder and away from the desert, road where getting better but not all tarmac, it wasn’t quite as hot but was getting more humid. In the markets you could find a greater choice of fresh vegetable and fruit, in fact all one village sold where water melons!

We crossed into Nigeria without any issues and into one of the most dangerous regions of the trip. We stopped for fuel in Kano late at night, filled both cars and went to pay and they kept all the change and would not give it back. A small crowd gathered as we then took several bottles of oil and placed inside the car, this did nothing to defuse the situation and luckily the Police arrived. After explaining what had happened there was quite a large crowd  and we beginning to feel a little intimidated, but the Police agreed with us, we put the oil back and got our change. I must admit we drove further than we would normally do in the dark to put some distance between us and Kano! The roads were very dangerous for several reasons; many of the truck drivers chewed what they called ‘beetle juice’ they said it helped to keep them awake, but many of the road may have been wide enough for two vehicles to pass, but most bridges were single track. So you imagine two very tired truck drivers head towards a single track bridge, neither willing to give away, consequently you very often find trucks beside these bridges severely damaged and sometimes burnt out. The other problem is the road surface on the straights it is not too bad but on some the bens it looks like waves in the sea, the heavy trucks have forced the road surface to sink giving enormous groves in the road 
( this is due to the massive corruption in the country and money that should have been spent on roads being siphoned off) that if caught wrong in the Mini’s could cause a major accident

Our next experience in Nigeria was much more pleasant we stopped at a village just south of the mighty River Niger and were met by Chief Stephen, a very large gentleman who insisted he take us on the river and visit his house and wives.

So we climbed aboard two wobbly dugout canoes and were taken out into the river, it seemed strange to in these boats that hadn’t changed for hundreds of years under a very modern road bridge crossing the fantastic River Niger. We met his family and he then said there was an English company a couple of miles away who were building a new link road south.

We entered the compound and were met by several ex pats who were employed to build the road and as it was by now late in the afternoon we decided to stay and make the most of the hospitality provided, most of all a proper bed with clean sheets! That evening we met the MD who explained how dangerous a city Lagos was and we were welcome to stay with him.

We set off the following day on the new road, before it was officially opened and headed apprehensively towards Lagos. We carried some food in the cars but usually stopped and ate with the locals and in one of these establishments – well it was a very small box shaped room, well made of cardboard boxes-  we were given a curry, which still to this date is the hottest food I have ever eaten. We tried to hide the smallest pieces of meat, just don’t ask what meat, in some bread but it still burnt our mouths and copious amounts of coca cola were required to cool us down.

We eventually arrived in Lagos, to say this city is a culture shock is an understatement. To start with the traffic is so bad that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays you can only drive cars with registration numbers ending in an odd number and its evens for the remaining days! We saw dead animals and even people in the street. We were taken to Bar beach where the locals were selling carvings of the last executions that had taken place that week! We were very lucky to be staying with the MD of the road building company in is lovely house on Victoria Island with a gated community and armed guards (two guards who had the share uniform, unfortunately one was 6 foot the night guard about 5 all his cloths from shoes to shirt just hung off him).

Originally the route was to drive from Nigeria through Cameron, but as it took longer to cross the Sahara and the rainy season arriving early and roads would be washed out or closed,so it was decided to fly the cars to Kenya. One of our sponsors was Kuhne & Nagel a freight company and after several visits to their local office it was all arranged. Near bye the offices we found a local garage and I managed to service and check the cars through after the arduous road so far. The heat and humidly was stifling and their working condition horrendous compared to UK. 
We parted company with our first cameraman here as he went back to India.

We drove the cars to the airport and to cargo loading bay, here the other problem in Nigeria raised its head, bribery. The loading staff would not load the cars onto pallets as it was raining, eventually after ½ hour of arguments we pad the £80.00 and the cars were loaded, we boarded the same plane and flew to Nairobi.