Letter from Africa (8)
The homeward journey was as eventful as every other part of my trip. It stated with a farewell party on Thursday and very nearly finished with a train breakdown just north of St Pancras the following Wednesday. It included a city-wide power failure in Yaoundé, a sustained insect attack in the mangrove swamps of Douala, a common cold in the tropical paradise of Kribbi and a visit to Mount Cameroon, at 4100m the highest peak in west Africa - not to mention hundreds of kilometres on Cameroon's by now well-known roads. Even the final flight was threatened by a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.
Mount Cameroon Foothills
Yaounde
Leave-taking is always sad and I was sorry to have to say good-bye to all my new friends in Bamenda, but all good things must come to an end and my time in Cameroon was drawing to a close. On my last Sunday I was ceremonial dressed in a traditional African robe as a farewell from the church. On the following Thursday a group got together to eat, drink and make speeches in a typical Cameroon send-off. Although the Yaoundé government may not agree, I think I am now an honorary Cameroonian - I even had a grandstand seat at the official National Day parade.
Cameroon is not a small country. It is about twice the size of the UK and travelling around it is a major undertaking. Forgetting the potholes (some of them big enough to swallow a small car) and the drivers who seem intent on causing mayhem wherever they go, there are no service stations or rest places on route. There are, however, endless roadside stalls which, together with the occasional village, provide for most of a traveller's needs. But hours sitting in a car in tropical sun is no fun and I was always glad to arrive at the end of each days journey.
Motorway services - Cameroon
That being said, Cameroon is a beautiful country and although it has many deep-rooted problems it has many friendly people and I was glad to be able to take some time to see more of the country than just Bamenda. Even catching a cold (goodness knows where from) could not spoil the beauty of the tropical beaches of Kribbi. Only Douala and its swamps and attendant mosquitoes would have been better avoided.
Kribbi beach
I am very grateful to Beeston Baptist Church for releasing me from ministry and making it possible for me to go to Cameroon and for Nelson and Nancy and all the people of Redeemer Baptist Church, Bamenda, for welcoming me into their hearts and homes.
Every blessing,
Kevin
24th May 2011
