JUMP TO:

A circular tour of Africa

IMG_9975

Most folks can find South Africa on a map.  After all, if you can find Africa, you can find probably find the southern portion.  Simple enough, right?

Welcome to Ghana

But what about finding Accra?  Well, ya probably need a bit of a lifeline there.  No worries, I’m going to help ya out with some map-action.

image

Accra is the capital of the country of Ghana, which is located on the western side of Africa, nestled in between countries like Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso.  What?  You haven’t heard of them before  (no, the Togo sandwich place doesn’t count)?  Say it ain’t so!

Well, either way, that’s where my first flight dropped me off.

IMG_2475

Except, I wouldn’t stay there long – only about 8 hours before catching my next flight.  I’d be back though the following week for few days, so I’m going to briefly talk about it now.

IMG_2413

I can’t say I saw a lot of Accra (during either stop) – or Ghana for that matter.  Most of my time there was limited to work…and the gym treadmill.  I saw lots of that:

IMGP4138

Though, it was actually safe to run there outside.  In talking with some folks at work there I could easily have run outside should I had the time.  But the only time I had was in the dark – which would have been a bit…non-ideal.

So…lots of treadmill.

IMG_2486

There isn’t really a big tourism industry in Accra, the result of which manifests itself in a number of interesting ways – from airport efficiency to finding touristy fridge magnets and postcards.

IMG_2488

Nonetheless, it’s always interesting to go someplace new and see a different area of the world – even if you don’t get to see as much as you want.

Kenya

From Accra it was off to Nairobi.  I’ve been to Kenya a number of times before and love it there.  Though this time, I would be staying within Nairobi, so not quite as much to see compared to being out in the bush.

image

I had one ancillary objective for Nairobi though (aside from work), which was to finally pick up one of them totally awesome rockin’ bikes that I checked out 18 months prior during my last trip there.  You may remember this post about them.

They’re totally awesome, right?

Well, this time, I went everywhere looking for them…but they weren’t to be found.  The place where they had them last time – a giant department store of sorts, had down-sized their bike selection from gigantic to nothing but some tubes and pumps.

IMG_2426IMG_2425

On a tip from my cab driver, I then went and checked out another place…this one was even worse, and had virtually nothing.

Now, to be fair – both places did have a handful of the super cheap $50-70US bikes.  Except they weren’t quite ‘the same’.  They lacked the awesome front and rear lights…and many of the other fine touches the ones last time had.  They essentially just weren’t what I was looking for.  And that made me sad.

IMG_2437IMG_2436

So no bikes for me.

Instead, I just went to Carnivore and ate Ostrich balls.  Well, meatballs.  They’re awesome.  But you can read my previous post on that.

IMG_2428

And then I left the country.  Simple as that.

South Africa

IMGP4116

Of course, you already saw my post on Cape Town.  While I technically also spent a bit of time in Johannesburg – the amount of time there was so limited that there wasn’t much to show beyond the hotel and the hotel gym.  Thinking on it…I spent a lot of time in hotel gyms this trip.

Anyway…go check out my awesome Cape Town post for all the cycling fun there.

IMGP4100

After South Africa, I hit up Accra again – but since we already covered that, we’ll get onto the last city of my circle.  And in case you’re curious, I didn’t fly straight back to DC from Accra as that flight is only offered a few days of the week – not every day.

image

Amsterdam

I didn’t originally plan on visiting Amsterdam this trip.  In fact, I didn’t plan on visiting Europe at all this time around.  However, as is common with my trips – someone pressed the ‘mix well’ button on the blender midway through my trip and things got mixed up, this time having me transit back through Amsterdam.  So to the Netherlands I went…I haven’t been to Amsterdam in a number of years now – so I was looking forward to a quick visit there.

Upon leaving the train station the first thing you notice is just how many cyclists there are – they’re everywhere!

IMG_0004IMG_0007IMG_0009

Of course, it’s easy to get distracted by all the cyclists.  So ya have to refocus back on the really cool canals that are intertwined throughout the city.

IMG_9995IMG_0030

But before ya know it…you’re back at bikes again…

The below is a bike parking garage just outside the central train station.  Yes – that entire structure is filled with bikes (pictures inside/outside follow it).

IMG_0035IMG_0038IMG_0056IMG_0063

Given I didn’t have a lot of time, I soon found myself back on the train and headed to the airport – ready to catch my flight home.

And after nearly 8 months of almost non-stop international work travel I finally get to take a bit of a breather.  One where I won’t be puddle hopping across either the Atlantic or Pacific each week, and one where I’ll get back to enjoying some time at home (and…yes…that always present bike trainer).  Looking forward to it!

Enjoy your weekend all!

FOUND THIS POST USEFUL? SUPPORT THE SITE!

Hopefully, you found this post useful. The website is really a labor of love, so please consider becoming a DC RAINMAKER Supporter. This gets you an ad-free experience, and access to our (mostly) bi-monthly behind-the-scenes video series of “Shed Talkin’”.

Support DCRainMaker - Shop on Amazon

Otherwise, perhaps consider using the below link if shopping on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. It could simply be buying toilet paper, or this pizza oven we use and love.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked.
If you would like a profile picture, simply register at Gravatar, which works here on DCR and across the web.

Click here to Subscribe without commenting

Add a picture

*

7 Comments

  1. I am just amazed at all the travel you do and that you still get training completed. That is awesome and shows true dedication. Good on you!

  2. I see the $70 bikes still mostly have rod brakes! I had a bike with rod brakes in the UK in the 1980s, and it looked very dated then – when a part broke, I was lucky to find anybody in town who could repair it. And that was in Cambridge, which has no shortage of bikes or bike repairers. It does have a shortage of hills, though, which is good when you have a heavy bike with rod brakes.

  3. Anonymous

    Your itinerary reminds me of Amazing Race, and your mention of Accra took me instantly back to last season’s episode in Accra when contestants had to locate Ghana on a map.

    Speaking of Amazing Race, you and The Girl would be great! Maybe I should start a petition on your behalf. With your time mgmt skills I’m sure you fit the race into your schedule with no problem!

  4. Imagine trying to find your bike in that parking structure after a day at work. Someone sells a gadget for bicycles where it flashes and beeps from a wireless signal when you press a button on the other part of it that’s on your key ring.

  5. @lumpynose the bike racks are numbered, so if you remember your number, or take a picture of it, you’ll always find your bike back :-)

    Well that’s how I do it anyway ;-)

  6. Oh, to live in a city that has bike parking garages…

  7. Soha's Africa Trip Planner

    Great Post..I have been to Nambia and Nairobi..Nairobi is too great specially the wildlife sanctuary is the great gift god has given them..I would be a most happiest person to stay in Africa for my future life with all those lovely animals..