The Ultimate Challenge - Jerry's online diary

Welcome to Jerry's online diary

Throughout the trip (The Ultimate Challenge 2007) Jerry sent updates which were published here, filling us in on how he was getting along and telling us a little more about the places he visited along the way.

Friday 19 January 2007

On Friday there was an emotional farewell to friends and family as I set off for the challenge with great anticipation of what lay ahead. I was met at Bristol International Airport by BBC Points West reporter, Scott Ellis, who is joining us for the first week.

Together we boarded our flight bound for The Gambia, and later touched down without incident. On our arrival we were met on the tarmac by a VIP reception party, before being whisked off to our hotel in 33 degree sunshine - weather that was in stark contrast to the hail, wind and rain we left behind in Bristol.

After we checked-in to the hotel we had our first chance to sit down, have a beer and reflect on the challenges ahead.

Later on Friday we tried to make contact with the UK by phone and e-mail but communications are quite poor here. The one piece of equipment that did work was my handheld GPS, provided by Excelerate, which I will be using to work out my position during my time here. I will also be posting my coordinates on this blog so you can keep an eye on my progress. The Palm Grove Hotel in Banjul at latitude 13 degrees, 27 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 36 minutes west will be our base to begin with, before we wave goodbye when the challenge proper starts.

Saturday 20 January 2007

Saturday began with a bright sunny start and the temperature was 20 degrees by 9am. It provided Dave Hutchings, GAFSIP patron, and I with a good opportunity to show Scott Ellis around Banjul and some of the areas we would be visiting during our stay. The day was also a good chance to acclimatise to the temperature, the humidity and the living conditions.

During Saturday we had a chance to find out what had been stolen from the support vehicle, which had been broken into en route from the UK last month. We then spent some of the day repairing the bike and canoe, which had been damaged in the break-in, before I had my first opportunity to put the canoe to sea prior to the start of the challenge.
That evening we met up with the Chief of the Gambian Fire Service, Roger Bakurin,  and his wife.

Sunday 21 January 2007

On Sunday I arranged to have my first practice session in the canoe, escorted by Gambian firefighters who operate the Sea and River Rescue Station at Banjul Port  (latitude 13 degrees, 26 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 34 minutes west). 

We went out to sea dodging ferries, fishing boats and other vessels in order to find out what the conditions would be like, but 20 minutes later we decided to go for the actual challenge, an eight nautical mile sea crossing through the Atlantic from Banjul to Barra.

The conditions when I started were calm but the tide was running against us, so the first hour was considerably harder going, particularly as the temperature was getting up to 30 degrees. But not withstanding that I completed the crossing without capsizing or being attacked by any of the exotic sea wildlife!

On my arrival I was greeted with a rapturous and warm welcome in Barra after only two hours at sea, instead of the planned half day.
Dave and I then returned to Banjul and reflected on the fact that one part of the challenge had already been successfully completed and ahead of schedule.

I’m looking forward to posting plenty more updates during the course of the challenge and of course my thanks goes to everyone who has supported me.

Monday 22 January 2007

This morning we were formally welcomed to The Gambia by Roger Bakurin, the Chief of the Gambian Fire Service, Yaya Sirreh, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of the Interior and Musa Mboob, Inspector General of the Gambian Police.

This afternoon we set out to visit three schools in the Banjul area, starting with the Albion Lower School, which is twinned with Sandford School near Winscombe, North Somerset. At the school we were welcomed by the Superintendent of the Methodist Mission, the Chair of the PTA, the Deputy Director of Education, the headmistress, Mrs Chapman, as well as all the staff and pupils at the school.

During a very impressive, and at times emotional, ceremony the children sung some wonderful songs and put on a very professional play about the hazards of drugs. We then heard welcome speeches from the head boy and head girl and I was presented with three gifts from the Superintendent, the head girl and the chair of the PTA, to commemorate our visit and the partnership.

In our next visit we stopped off at St Augustine’s Senior Secondary School where we were welcomed by the principal, Martin Gomez. We were then taken on a tour of the newly repainted school buildings, and a library and IT suite that was provided by GAFSIP. During our stop we saw the computers being put to use, as well the students exercising in the recreation area. The school is in the process of twinning with The Ridings School at Winterbourne.

Our final stop was at the Charles Lwanga Lower Basic School, where we were welcomed by the acting headmaster and shown a refurbished and refurnished classroom that GAFSIP money had helped pay for, as well as a teacher’s resource room and library. While we were there mains electricity was also being installed in the library. The school is in the process of twinning with St Michael’s School at Winterbourne.

All in all the day provided a real rollercoaster of emotions ranging from formality and protocol, to seeing first hand how some of our projects have supported the grass roots of the community and education which will form the basis and the bedrock of the future of The Gambia.

It was a truly humbling experience to see the enormous progress that can be made through just a small contribution.

Tuesday 23 January 2007

We had an early start today and were out by 7am to visit the Gambian Fire Service Headquarters in Banjul (latitude 13 degrees, 27 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 34 minutes west) where my first job was to give an interview for BBC Radio Bristol, due to be aired on the John Turner breakfast show the following day.

This was followed by a trip to Bakau Fire Station (latitude 13 degrees, 28 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 40 minutes west) and then on to an area of bush and mangrove swamps for a training exercise and a simulated call out where I was able to witness first hand how trainee firefighters prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
During the exercise I took part and offered advice, and I was really impressed to see how effective the safety wear and equipment, donated by AF&RS, was in its second stint of operational service, protecting the Gambian community.

This morning I was also interviewed for a Gambian television station where I was asked what I was doing out here and what I thought about how well the Gambian Fire Service was getting on.

This afternoon we visited the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul where we went to see four victims of a serious fire that occurred in Kanafe in November last year. This tragic fire involved liquid petroleum gas and took the lives of eight Gambians, injuring ten others, four of whom remain in hospital with serious burns.

It was a truly humbling experience to visit these victims in hospital and see first hand the conditions in which they have to recover, including the distinct lack of fluids and pain relief medication. We were accompanied on our visit by a community leader from Kanafe who is a coordinator of a local disaster relief organisation.

After the visit to the hospital we then went to see the scene of the tragedy and spoke to the householders where the fire happened and visited other householders in the community who had family members who lost their lives or who had serious burns in the incident. This included one family who lost two sons and have another male family member who remains in hospital as a result of his severe burns.

It is difficult to describe how such scenes make one feel and truly reinforces the need for the Fire and Rescue Service in The Gambia to continue its proactive work promoting community safety messages.

This was another tiring day, but it was pleasing to see what a difference GAFSIP is making here. Tomorrow we are off to Kanalai to the scene of another tragic fire where a firefighter lost his life.

Wednesday 24 January 2007

We had another early start today with a long drive into Kanilai, the scene of a serious bushfire in February 2006 where a firefighter tragically lost his life.

Although the journey was in a vehicle it gave me a stark impression of the terrible and challenging conditions that lie ahead for me under foot when I begin my run. When we arrived at around 10am the sun was already high in sky and the temperature was more than 30 degrees.

We were greeted by the station manager, Assistant Divisional Officer, Adama Sanyang, as well as the alkolo (the village chief), religious leaders, Captain Sanyang of the Presidential Guard, Captain Martin, the local military area commander, village elders and around 100 firefighters.

The guest of honour was Mrs Oumie Sowe, the widow of firefighter Ebrima Sowe, who lost his life on duty fighting the bushfire. Also in the reception committee was a firefighter who received 30% burns, and has not yet returned to work while he recovers.

The ceremony began with opening remarks from the station commander, an address by the Chief Fire Officer, Roger Bakurin, and then prayers from a religious leader.

I was then invited to address those present and had the honour of paying tribute to the bravery of the firefighters who dealt with the incident. The ceremony culminated with me presenting a bronze statuette to Oumie, the widow of the fallen firefighter.

Following ceremony, which was at times emotional, the assembled group walked a few hundred metres, in baking sunshine, to a cleared area of bush and the spot where Ebrima lost his life.  The route to, and the actual spot where the firefighter was found, have been marked out with white washed stones as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice made that day. Prayers were said at the site before we set off again by road to Brikhama.

On our arrival at the fire station we were met by Roger Bakurin’s wife, Ndey, before we went to a women’s centre that has been established with the support of GAFSIP.

There we were able to see the sewing machines we had donated as they were being used to create colourful garments. The women also demonstrated their newly acquired skills of tie-dying fabric and soap making.  Throughout our visit we were entertained by local drummers and the women and children broke into spontaneous dance to celebrate our presence and demonstrate their appreciation.

Before we left we were treated to a traditional Gambian lunch banquet, which I imagine the women must have struggled to afford, however they were keen to make an immense effort to show how much our visit had meant to them.
 
We left the centre on an emotional high after seeing how such a small gesture means so much to a community in need, and how when provided with basic equipment and the right opportunities, these women can survive for themselves.

Having started so emotionally it was good to end the day on such a high which set me up really well for tomorrow.

Thursday 25 January 2007

This morning we had a slightly slower start and I was very grateful for the overcast skies - having said that the temperatures are still very high. Today was my final day of preparation for the more physical tests that lie ahead.

Having completed some parts of challenge and dispensed with formalities and protocol we are getting ready to embark upon possibly the most challenging part of our journey, as we prepare to enter the provinces. 

We made final adjustments to the support van, including one last check of our provisions, bedding and stringing of the mosquito nets.  We enjoyed a leisurely meal in the evening and settled down for an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s challenges. 

Friday 26 January 2007

The alarm went off at 6am this morning at the beginning of the most arduous part of the challenge - the journey into the provinces. After my last proper shower for I don’t know how many days, we left the hotel and headed for Banjul Fire Headquarters (latitude 13 degrees, 27 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 34 minutes west).

I set out on foot and was escorted by police outriders through the centre of Banjul to the sound of wailing sirens, clapping and cheering from bystanders. I then made my way past the State House, where the president of The Gambia has a residence, and on along the main Banjul highway, which took me past the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital where on Tuesday we’d visited the survivors of a fire in Kanafe last year in which a firefighter died.

I was then escorted by the police outriders under Independence Arch which acts as the gateway to the city of Banjul. This was a particular privilege as the only other person allowed to travel underneath it is the president of The Gambia  - even the film crew with us had to go around the outside.

At this point we officially left Banjul and headed for Denton Bridge where I got on my bike and was joined by other riders who were accompanying me for the remainder of the journey. These were all specially selected athletes that work for The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service.

On leaving Denton Bridge we headed off past Bakau and Kotu Fire Stations on our way to Serekunda, the largest township in The Gambia outside of Banjul. The roads in this area are particularly good and we were able to make rapid progress until we reached Serekunda where the roads begin to turn into dust. With the open fires, traffic fumes, and the temperature in the 30s (even though it was still early morning) breathing was difficult. However buoyed by the adrenalin we rode through the town of Serekunda cheered on by excited bystanders who greeted us by the native tongue and chanted my name. It was clear to me that our journey has been very widely publicised here.  It was at this stage of the journey I also learnt my first Mandika, the phrase “El Sameda”, which means hello.

At 10.30am we reached at Serekunda Fire Station (latitude 13 degrees, 26 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 40 minutes west) where it was apparent that we had taken them by surprise with our early arrival. We took advantage of the stop off and took on some water before we pushed on along a difficult road and in punishing heat to Brikhama.

But despite the conditions we arrived ahead of schedule to the surprise of staff at Brikhama Fire Station (latitude 13 degrees, 16 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 38 minutes west). We had already done about 23 miles today, and we were due to spend the night at Brikhama, but having arrived before lunch we decided to press on again to Kanilai – a 50 mile stint we were due to take on tomorrow. We knew we had a very demanding afternoon ahead.

We broke for lunch at the village of Kafuta (latitude 13 degrees, 11 minutes north; longitude 16 degrees, 27 minutes west) where the riders with us also stopped to pray, something they have to do three times a day. There we waited for the sun to go overhead a little before getting on our bikes bound for Kanilai. It would be misleading to say that it was anything less than a huge physical and mental drain as the roads were more hilly and in a worse condition that I could have imagined.

We cycled on into the afternoon, but I was extremely pleased to see the sign for Kanilai at about 6pm, we arrived at the fire station about half an hour later. There we were greeted by the warm and smiling face of Assistant Divisional Officer, Adama Sanyang, and an enthusiastic group of firefighters who were surprised to see us at least a day ahead of schedule.

Having completed the formal greetings Adama offered me the full use of the service’s facilities that I hoped would be a shower - in fact it was a bucket of luke warm water to wash in!

I then sat in our van to recover as Dave Hutchings prepared a gourmet meal of pasta and ham in our home, which for 12 years served as AF&RS’s stores van. We then bedded down on our sponge mattresses where we spent the night ahead of tomorrow’s exertions

Saturday 27 January 2007

We had another early start this morning, rising before dawn. We gathered ourselves together expecting a difficult and challenging day and left before first light, travelling the eight kilometres from Kanilai to the “main” highway.

However it turned out to be a main road by name only as it was actually just a road of red sand between scrub and bushland. Known locally as the ‘Road to Hell’, the journey from Kanilai to Soma consisted of a series of ascending false crests, on a surface made up of loose sand and potholes – some of them the size of a vehicle.

This challenging terrain, coupled with the ever increasing temperatures and headwinds, made for an emotionally and psychologically difficult day in addition to the physical demands.

As we approached the outskirts of Soma I could see on the horizon what looked like a red vehicle with a blue flashing light on its roof. This turned out to be the ambulance from Soma Fire and Ambulance Station. On board was Divisional Officer Lamin Sanyang and a number of his firefighters. I realised that they had also been joined by the local police chief and we were escorted the last few kilometres into Soma by the vehicles, a number of firefighters, and others who were running along and singing.

Our route to the fire station took us through all the streets of Soma, which is the third largest town in The Gambia, and I got off my bike and ran with the escort for the last couple of kilometres.

As we entered the station yard I was uplifted by the sight of freshly whitewashed stones in the front garden that were not only highlighting the boundary of the station but also spelt out the words “Welcome to Soma Fire Station”.

Once inside the boundary we were greeted by a crowd of 100 people. After a welcome speech by D/O Lamin I was introduced to each and every person present and was then asked to provide them with a short address.

This had been by far the most challenging day that had culminated in an extremely inspirational and motivating greeting. Both Dave and I were really buoyed up by the welcome and we were particularly impressed with the quality and standard of the vehicles and equipment we saw, the professionalism and attitude of the staff and the general family feel of the environment.

Before settling down for the night we were taken on a full tour and inspection of the fire station and shown the living quarters of the staff who worked there. Perhaps most significantly we saw first hand the clinic that had been attached to the fire station, which was seeing and treating in excess of 750 people per month.

I can honestly say that given the facilities (we are in a poor West African country with a developing economy and a drastic shortage of resources) these people were providing a high quality service in a hygienic environment, and they are both innovative and creative in their acquisition and use of resources.

As exhausted as we were Dave and I settled down for the evening with an immense sense of pride and satisfaction that GAFSIP had been able to support the provision of these services in a place far away from the capital, and where they are most needed.

Sunday 28 January 2007

The alarm woke us at 6am again today, when we got up to prepare for a very long journey from Soma (latitude 13 degrees, 34 minutes north; longitude 15 degrees, 35 minutes west) towards Bansang (latitude 13 degrees, 25 minutes north; longitude 14 degrees, 39 minutes west).

The distance between the two towns is approximately 75 miles and we knew that subject to the terrain and the weather this may not be possible to complete in one day.

As we prepared to depart Soma at dawn we were again joined by a large group of officers and firefighters from the fire station who ran with us singing and chanting as they escorted us to the edge of the town. We were then treated to a tour of the eastern side of Soma, but after a couple of kilometres we reached the outskirts and waved a final good bye to the people of Soma and headed out into the provinces.

It is difficult to describe how much hotter it gets as we moved further inland where you don’t benefit from the sea breezes and the intense heat is reflected back off the ground. It feels like you are being hit by the sun from two directions.

As we progressed along the unmade roads, with the heat increasing, the difficult terrain proved to be very challenging, but that was added to as we were cycling straight into a headwind. It meant that even the slightest incline was an arduous task. The camaraderie that had built up between myself and the cycling / support team became even more important in these conditions as you begin to rely even more heavily on the support of each other when one of more of the cyclists is suffering from the effects of the journey.

Some of my colleagues came off their bikes at various points and sustained minor injuries or damage to their bicycles, however where one or more needed treatment or a rest there was always another willing cyclist in one of the support vehicles ready to take their place. This meant I had someone with me at all times, helping to keep the challenge going.

Around lunchtime, and just before our scheduled prayer stop, it became obvious to us that we would not make the full 75 miles to Bansang today. Therefore we decided to let the heat go out of the sun in the middle of the day and head instead from Kundang Military Barracks which was halfway between Soma and Bansang. The Gambian chief fire officer, Roger Bakurin, had arranged for us to stay there by kind permission of the army’s chief of staff.

Following the prayers, at around 2pm we regrouped with a long and arduous journey in intense heat and strong headwinds. We eventually arrived at the barracks just before dusk. There we settled in for a quiet evening and plenty of rest in anticipation of what tomorrow had in store.

Monday 29 January 2007

Once again we rose before dawn and collected ourselves together to get ready for the road towards Bansang. Local sources told us that the road improved as we ventured further inland, and I was hopeful that if this was true we would be able to cover the ground more quickly than yesterday, although my main concern was to get as many miles covered as possible before the sun was too high in the sky.

Almost as soon as we left the Kundang area our local information proved to be correct, and although the terrain was more hilly and the temperatures as high as predicted, we made considerably better progress than we had the day before.

The miles must have drifted away quicker than I had anticipated because around mid morning one of my colleagues leaned across as we were cycling and indicated that we were approaching the outskirts of Bansang (latitude 13 degrees, 25 minutes north; longitude 14 degrees, 39 minutes west).

This gave me a considerable lift which was reinforced when I saw a fire vehicle with its blue lights flashing on the horizon. As we neared the vehicle it was possible to see what has now become a familiar sight, a group of singing and cheering firefighters and fire officers. The commanding officer of the police was also there in his off-road vehicle with its lights flashing. As we approached the vehicle we decided not to stop but to carry on, with the vehicles that had come to meet us providing an escort.

When we got to Bansang we saw crowds beginning to line the streets and one of the fire engines from the station had come out with a full crew on board. The last kilometre or so into Bansang proved to be extremely hilly and the temperatures were in the 30s, however the warmth of the welcome and the lift it gave us meant that we were able to push on at a good pace to get into the fire station for a very welcome drink.

Once again we had some formalities to attend to when the divisional commander gave an opening address and made an introduction to local dignitaries, after which I met with every member of staff at Bansang Fire Station.

Given that we had made such good progress I was now buoyed up to push on to our next destination, the town of Basse (latitude 13 degrees, 17 minutes north; longitude 14 degrees, 12 minutes west).  However some of the support crew and Gambian cyclists were less than keen to make the attempt due to concerns they had about me potentially suffering sun stroke and practical arrangements that had already been made that would need to be adjusted in Bansang and Basse. I’m also not entirely sure that their reluctance wasn’t in some small part influenced by the fact that the Gambian soccer team was due to play Nigeria today. However my persistence was such that they agreed we should push on after the cyclists and support team had eaten lunch.

So it was with a great sense of anticipation that we departed just after midday. The one thing working in our favour in our efforts this afternoon was that the roads remained fairly good which was a huge help given that the terrain continued to be hilly, and although there was a headwind that gave some relief from the heat, it was something else to battle with.

As the afternoon wore on and our levels of fatigue increased we had to take ever more frequent stops for water and respite from the sun, but having come so far I was determined that we would reach our destination by the evening.

At around 5.30pm one of my fellow cyclists told me that we were just going through the last village before Basse, and given that this was the furthest we would be travelling into the interior of The Gambia and that Basse was the largest town in this part of the county we should expect a fairly elaborate reception.

As we got closer to the town I could see that the prediction was well founded. We were met by the chief of police in his official car, members of the military garrison on foot, and a fire appliance from Basse Fire Station along with fire staff in running kit.

As soon as we met up with those waiting for us it seemed as if every siren was switched on and everyone around me was chanting and singing, with some running ahead of me. With so many people and so much noise it made navigation challenging to say the least.

At this point I tried to take a phone call from a work colleague checking on my progress which had to be aborted due to the fact that neither could hear what the other was saying in all the mayhem. As I ended the call and we entered Basse town the tarmac ended suddenly and we were back on loose stones and potholes. Among the jubilant scenes going on around me the vehicle directly in front of me stopped suddenly. I braked and my front wheel became lodged between a pothole and a stone, resulting in me being thrown forwards off my bike. In slow motion I saw the only piece of hard road surface, in the guise of a large flat stone coming towards my face at a rate of knots.

I hit the ground and could instantly feel blood running down my face and into my eye. I was immediately surrounded by a group of shouting Gambians offering assistance, but at that stage I didn’t know the extent of my injuries and didn’t want to hang around with a 1,000 people and a Gambian film crew watching on. I immediately picked up my bike and cycled on in front of the group to Basse Fire Station for what seemed like 10 kilometres but was in fact no more than two.

Once again at the station around 100 guests were waiting to greet me, comprising religious leaders, community elders, members of the military police and fire service staff. This was the first opportunity I had to check with Dave the extent of my injuries and get medical attention. He acted as an interim nurse, speedily cleaning my wounds and applying temporary stitches to a cut above my eye. Following this we went to a formal welcome.

I then had the opportunity to sit with Dave and open a bottle of beer and reflect on the milestone I had achieved of cycling and running the length of the country, arriving at its furthest town east, Basse. I have to admit that while there was a great sense of achievement I did not experience any elation in fact the mood was rather sombre.

Tuesday 30 - Friday 2 2007

As strange as it may sound we set the alarm for 6am again this morning so that we could make an early start on the road back to Banjul.

While I was still rubbing the sleep from my eyes I heard a ringing in the station and noticed the blue lights on an appliance had come on and the engines were roaring into life. As the vehicle began to make its way down the unmade road it was obvious that they were responding to an emergency call.

I approached one of the firefighters and asked where they were going. He told me they had received the call to a fire in someone’s compound about half a mile away from the station. I decided to go and see first hand what was going on and got on a vehicle accompanied by one of the Gambian firefighters.

Almost immediately we turned out the absence of street lights and the clear but dark skies meant that we could easily see the smoke and flames rising from what looked like a well developed fire.

It didn’t take very long to arrive at the scene and there was indeed a fully developed fire in someone’s home that was now involving the whole building as well as its straw roof. We quickly determined that all the occupants had been led to safety and that the firefighters had been able to retrieve most of the their possessions. The main job facing the firefighters now was to stop the fire spreading into the adjacent properties which were actually touching the hut that was on fire.

The firefighters appeared to be doing a very professional job in limiting the spread of the fire and dealing with the incident. The scene was remarkably calm and although it was still close to dawn there were around 100 onlookers who stood back to let the firefighters get on with their jobs.

While any incident of this kind represents a personal tragedy with the loss of a person’s home, I was very pleased to see that the vehicles, equipment and training that AF&RS had provided had been put to a professional use in challenging circumstances. In some ways this could not have been a more fitting conclusion to my visit into the interior of The Gambia.

On their return to the fire station the firefighters cleaned the equipment and made the vehicle ready to respond to any further calls for assistance. Dave and I then enjoyed our last cup of coffee in the back of our ‘mobile home’ before making preparations for the long journey ahead of us.

We got on the road just after 8am and made our way back to Bansang where we were due to make the first of two river crossings. However when we arrived we realised it was a public holiday today and there were no staff to work the ferry. Having said that the word ‘ferry’ was a generous way to describe what was on the far bank. Before we could begin the crossing a firefighter had to canoe across to the far bank to retrieve the small and elderly vessel that had to be powered across by hand by pulling on a cable.

Once we had retrieved the ferry and began to load it, those in the know attempted to reassure me that this thing they had pulled from one side to another, that looked like it could only cope with one vehicle and a couple of people, would be fine with our three vehicles and 20 people that we had now loaded on to it.

It was at this point that I decided standing outside of the vehicle, clutching my personal belongs, was probably the safest way to affect the crossing, while keeping a look out for curious crocodiles and hippopotamus.

The fact that I’m completing this page of the blog is proof we reached the other side safely and were able to proceed on our journey back to the city.

The roads along the north bank were in much better repair than those we had negotiated thus far, and we made good progress, passing through Georgetown, Albreda, Fort Bullen and what seemed like hundreds of small villages before arriving at Barra Fire Station. This was adjacent to the ferry that crosses the mouth of the Atlantic back to Banjul.

This time I was not to going to need to get into my canoe to make the eight mile crossing as we would be making the trip on a substantial ferry (this time with engines) on the final leg of the journey back.

Once safely landed back in Banjul we returned some of the kit to fire service HQ before going back to our hotel where Dave and I fought over who would get the available hot water to enjoy our first proper shower in many days. At this point I began to reflect on the fact that we had completed the challenge around a week ahead of schedule which meant I would be able to return home sooner than I expected.

The last day or so in the Gambia was filled with final visits, thank yous and good byes, before we finally boarded our plane at Banjul International Airport and flew back to Bristol, arriving on Friday 2 February.