CAMEROON RAID
Cameroon RAID AUGUST 2004
"La femme avec la petit moto", often heard to say to all our stops, the woman with the little bike was me, I who for years dreamed of
Cameroon, the
Cameroon known as "The Passion of Africa" true story of Cloud-Njikr Bergeret.
Passion for Africa and passion for the bike, I was living a dream, my first raid with my "little bike" in that country which, through the stories of Cloud so I want to visit.
When I knew that Alex was planning this trip I decided without the slightest delay to participate, I bought the bike, and so I allenai ........ a desire to "run" on the red slopes of the lush forest was so strong that nothing could stop me.
Most closely August 6th day of departure plus voltage saliva, I was afraid of the mud of the runway soap ", I knew that it would be raining,
Cameroon in August is a time of rains and rains ...
Just arrived in
Douala we realized the situation, the major difficulty was certainly not the rain, but the bureaucracy slow ....... The Cameroonian is indescribable, everything slowed all'inverosimile, hours and hours for everything, bank car hire etc.. not to mention the release of motorcycles, four days we had, against our will, to stay in
Douala for the long hours of bargaining, the stamps and signatures.
Finally everything seems ok, the appointment is for Thursday morning at 8.00, punctual to all, but here's yet another surprise !!!!!!!! the departure is delayed, only 12.00 can forgive helmets and leave.
A crowd of local surrounds us and makes the departure even more exciting, I had the "heart in throat" I was emozionatissima, excited to the point that when I saw the car out of the window before we head to Ines with my camera, not I managed to hold back tears
Our goal was
Faumban (last town accessible by road asphalt), but a heavy rain takes us half way and we are forced to stop and
Bafoussan.
Faumban to reach the day where we visit the museum, admire the many items reserved for the worship of village heads, heads of "chefferies" as thrones and masks, Bamileke culture. Among all ethnic groups of
Cameroon, Bamileke that is among the most admired for the skill of its artisans nell'intaglio wood, so that the Bamileke wooden sculptures are considered one of the most original of the continent.
Let us go on to
Banyo, after few km hear the scream of joy of my traveling companions, accompanied by a grandiose "finally "!!!!!!!! The asphalt was up, started the track ...
Another emotional moment (I was the only inexperienced off-road) were entering the heart of the journey ..... Alex was behind me for a short stretch, then he went away ........ I was alone with the "motina" now we must learn to deal with all .........
At first I was a little 'hesitant, but the ice has been easier than expected, I felt safe, I started to accelerate and accelerating, it was the greatest pleasure to be there ........
My companions find them after about ten kilometers, we stop for a frugal meal and then restart immediately, the sky was becoming threatening, black clouds on the horizon and there were punctual to rain again, now could not afford and a lot of emotions not to hesitate, I had to concentrate and go without delay.
Mancavano still 160 miles
Banyo when Alex stops the group to assess the situation, the track stand good, visibility was poor performance by the incessant rain, but the group unanimously decided to continue.
A Mayo Darla find accommodation for the night, we decide to stop, now it is dark,
Banyo is still about sixty kilometers, we reached the next day.
It never ceases to rain all night and the next day is always accompanied dall'ormai again inseparable companion ..... rain,
Banyo and reach, just out of town this is the "runway soap" and the first daring scivolone ... . fortunately my son ... nothing serious, nor for him nor for the bike, in the meantime the rain stops and we can make all the planned 240 km of tracks and asphalt with holes ever seen, the last 100 km we have made "slalom" more than off-road!
The arrival in
Nganderè, was quieter than expected, the track, definitely challenging, mud, rocks, a true off-road, but it is not raining, we can get to kids early and make the bike maintenance.
Now beginning to feel the physical pain first, I do very bad knees, they are not accustomed to driving in standing for so long, but fortunately for the moment the track is finished, we Garu to reach 300 km of asphalt and all I can relax my poor knee pain.
Jean-Pierre (the driver) from the mechanic, Alex in search of the cylinder of gas, thus departing from Garu late, and as such we do not less than one km away and here we are still on anti rain. I had been told that the track was easy, thinking about the heat of the day before, I decided to put the shoes read, but not like that, the rain of previous days had made the track a slime, I was unable to go, and I was afraid the "shoes" certainly does not fit, I felt uneasy, I decide to stop the car with my suitcase and under a torrential rain, I put the boots. Now I feel more calm, but I'm driving badly, to 13.00 Alex decides to stop, it's raining too much, we decide to eat something with the hope that the rain will cease or at least slow down, but nothing after an hour we start resigned. I been to before, decided, I feel safer than before and I face the most difficulties with determination, suddenly in front of us an unexpected, huge ford with a strong current, Alex passes the first, is not profound, I to my fellow experts recommendations, the fear is great, do not hide, I speak with Mark which reassures me, saying that unless I felt I would have brought him the bike on the other side, I note carefully then Marco and Mirko Here I decide to try it very quietly ...... birth and arrived just on the other side know Alex's smile and applause among the companions of my smile, that smile will accompany me throughout the raid, are now so quiet the go now do not fear anything, everything becomes easier, even the sun, now we "he smiles."
Rumsiki arrive at dusk, to bar the three "pioneer" Alex, Mirco, when I arrive and Michele are already sipping a hot tea, we just wanted to honor this August 17, memorable milestone for the track and beyond, even to the dinner " Donchisciotte, succulent dinner, with dishes ever experience before, freshly baked bread, made with rice flour and corn with a tasty sauce all'aglio, soup, guinea fowl with potatoes and a large pizza with onion, all cooked with the a beacon of light for a 50 Suzuki "on
Rumsiki there was no electricity.
The next day we visited the "sorcier aux crabes" as they are called in French the fortune-tellers, and more generally the sorcerers who read the future by putting the crabs' crabes "just in a bowl studying the movements. The rest of the crab is an animal which is attributed by many ethnic groups of
Cameroon meanings. The soothsayer reading the future of my son has said a happy marriage with three sons ........ greetings Alessandro.
A
Rumsiki the view is exceptional and the sun that you are strangely ago shine of lush green vegetation, the trail that will lead us to
Mokolo is fantastic, and go on the 50 km in absolute solitude to gait