Back in Accra

Before we write our blog (after, actually, if you must know) we wanted to comment on your comments:

FastmanNH - As far as the Ted William's Tunnel is concerned, I am sure it was constructed with the same precision and elegance as the dirt roads we are riding on!

Michael Walker - We hope so too, this is a magical place.

Rachel D. - I suggest closing your eyes, screaming, and then run as fast as you can.

Ar Kid - It is great to hear what is going on back at the ranch. Thanks for keeping it clean for the kids! You can send the juicey stuff in a message. Tell Frank, Peter, and Eileen I am thinking of them, and will talk to them as soon as I can.

Salvo - Gracia!

Shirley - So glad you are with us. Thanks!

Dad - You put a lot of thought into that last comment huh?

Lucille - If that was you on the net last night... Thanks for following along and being part of the trip. (Don't forget you're buying the coffee in September when we are both broke!)

Kylie - Hurray, you're there! You should know that we get your comments but we have to 'approve' them before they are posted to the site. Since internet access points are somewhat hard to come by, this takes a few days, sometimes. We have both LOVED what you have had to say. I don't know if you being a member will effect how quickly your posts show, just keep writing. It is nice to know you're there.

Suze and Gia - Thanks for the messages. Keep them coming. Interesting to hear about Gia's experiences at the Rocky Horror, must have been a laugh. Break a leg tomorrow, Gia, at the folk festival! Keep your spirits up Suze, we're both thinking about you.

Auntie Donna, Michelle, and Nick - No snakes yet. Plenty of lizards though. We shared our hotel on the beach with one. He ate all the evil mosquitos for us!

Mom - I am eating like a king, perfectly healthy, and although I have my moments, perfectly happy. Thanks for the warning about the sunscreen, too late though! Shoulda listened to mom, once again.

Gabrielle - You got the emails.

Lizardboy (Kevin) - there was a cute little lizard as big as the tip of my little finger that lived in our house on the beach. Guess what we named him?

Zach - Having second thoughts about the skydiving after those bridges.

Christina - Save some berries for me...please?

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All of our hints of masterplans came to naught. Basically, our taxi driver friend turned into a cockroach before our eyes. I know that sounds strange, but amongst the dozens of fine and wonderful people we have met, there have been a few people who were only interested in relieving these poor teachers of their hard earned booty. Unfortunately, Kwame turned out to be one of these people, and the masterplan turned to ashes - but in it's place rose Brenyu Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches either of us has seen.
Miraculously, the weather turned magnificent, the people were great, the food was lovely (Mike eats the same food every day - it's called 'Redred' -beans, chicken and fried plantain - yummy), the waves were huge, we had this paradise to ourselves, so to speak, and we even got to visit the local school, where Eric juggled and gathered a fervent band of admirers in the village who followed him around mimicking juggling all week. Our mantra became 'one more day' until today when we realized two things: 1. we need to get moving if we're going to get to Dakar on Sept 1, and 2. we needed to change some money or else we would be broke for the weekend.
So that was it and here we are back in sweaty Accra - the weather turned humid again - we saw it as a sign. No more lazy days splashing in the giant waves on borrowed boogy boards, no more walks along coconut fringed beaches watching the sun go down, no more doomed forts and David Attenborough moments with crabs, no more Theo, Rudolph, Josephina and the others, no more swarms of kids draping over us joyfully. This was a great place, and while we agonized endlessly about whether we were on a vacation or an adventure, we both feel like we stayed there exactly as long as we should have.
Tomorrow, we go back into radio silence for a few days. We are going to a place called Akosombo to buy a ticket on a two day ferry up Lake Volta to a place called Yeji. Once there, it will take another couple of days until we get to Tamale for the next post. After that, there will be time for one more adventure in Ghana, Mole National park, where we hope to see some of the creatures that Africa is famous for. So that's it for now.
love mike and eric.

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