Sunday, November 9, 2008

Hammock Camping in the Bush

For those who haven't heard about my recent adventure or misadventure (however you want to look at it), in the bush, it was quite an experience...

About a month ago I decided to go camping out on a mesa not far from my market town. I biked out from my village on a Saturday about 15km to a beautiful mesa not far off of the main road. Arriving in late afternoon, I went searching for a good tree to set my hammock up in. Finding one that would serve me well, I made several trips carrying my belongings up the tree and set my hammock up on a limb about 20-25 ft above ground. I got all settled and watched the sun set from the comforts of my hammock. I went to sleep around 9pm, quite content to be there and enjoying the silence of the African bush.

Around 1am, the fun (or something like that) started...
I woke to strong winds and looking back to the East I saw a storm quickly approaching. Damn. There wasn't much I could do to prepare as I did not bring a tarp or any kind of rain gear. I decided I would brave the storm in the hammock, hoping it would quickly pass. As the storm got nearer, the winds were so strong that I was forced to hold on to the tree for fear of getting blown out of the hammock. Once the rain hit, all hell broke loose. I just curled into a ball in my hammock and tried to stay warm as the rain poured down for an hour and a half. By 2:30am, the storm had passed and only the cool wind remained, somthing that I am usually greatful for. As I was completly soaked and all of my gear was as well, I just covered myself with my wet sheets and shivvered myself into something resembling sleep.

By 4am I couldn't stand the cold any longer so I decided to climb down and try to start a fire. With a small box of Nigerien matches and just a few scraps of paper, I was unable to get a fire going with everything saturated. I gave up an hour later and climbed back up into my hammock, waiting for the sun to rise.

It wasn't until the sun came out and began to warm things up and dry my gear that I was able to get some real sleep. I woke to birds singing and a beautiful view, promises of a better day...
I definitely can't say that I regret going on my solo camping trip, it was just a combination of bad luck and me being unprepared. I got some great pictures and a good story out of the trip! Ironically, I was dripping in sweat on my ride back when just hours before I was miserably cold. So it goes in Niger. "Kala suuru" or "have patience" as they always say here...

3 comments:

Unknown said...

www.niger1.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Jamie,

This is owesome!!! I like the pictures of Africa. I am going to a church now whose members are from Niegeria, Africa. They still speak their dialect. I have a hard time understanding their strong accent.

How are you doing? Are you having fun? Do you like it there?

We miss you!!!! When are you coming home?

Sorry, I do not get to write to you much. I get home very late and have so much to do!
My house is a mess I need to take time and get it back in shape.

Jenny & Richard are fine. they send you thier love.

I have to go.... need to get back to work.

Ohhhh!!!! The pastor and wife maybe going to Nigeria Africa in July 2009. I will like to go. If I do I let you know so that we can see each other. I think Niger is not to far from Nigeria, right?

Anyway, I do need to go.

Love always,

Millie

Anonymous said...

Hi Jamie,

This is owesome!!! I like the pictures of Africa. I am going to a church now whose members are from Niegeria, Africa. They still speak their dialect. I have a hard time understanding their strong accent.

How are you doing? Are you having fun? Do you like it there?

We miss you!!!! When are you coming home?

Sorry, I do not get to write to you much. I get home very late and have so much to do!
My house is a mess I need to take time and get it back in shape.

Jenny & Richard are fine. they send you thier love.

I have to go.... need to get back to work.

Ohhhh!!!! The pastor and wife maybe going to Nigeria Africa in July 2009. I will like to go. If I do I let you know so that we can see each other. I think Niger is not to far from Nigeria, right?

Anyway, I do need to go.

Love always,

Millie