Stonesmen on the way South

December 30

 

Day #3 – Started : Natitingou                      Ended: Aledjo                                   Distance Covered: 120 km

 Highlights

·         Stone carvers

·         Impressed villagers

·         Lots of flat tires!

Click on the images below to enlarge them

 



A colorful mosque just outside of Aledjo;
This region of Benin has a very large
muslim influence

A bridge we passed near Ouake
(it's nerdy, but I just find bridges cool)





The pale grasses say it all - the land has already started to
become parched

Today was our longest stretch yet; we covered 120 kilometers in total, and it was a scorcher too.  And despite loads of sunscreen, my arms and thighs received enough sun for a spot-on explanation of the color a lobster typically is.  Nearly every road we took lacked any trees for shade, and everything we passed seemed to be craving for water.  The dry season has definitely arrived in this part of the country (typically it runs from December - May in this area).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after leaving Natitingou, I ran into a series of artisans alongside the main highway who were selling white stones carved into crosses, maps of Benin and Africa, and numerous geometrical shapes.  The craftsmanship was really impressive.  I talked to some of the apprentices selling the stones and learned that they break and bring the white rocks from nearby hills, and then chisel them into the shapes desired.  It’s actually a trade that has been in existence since the time of their grandfathers, but only until recently did they start to create maps and pieces of artwork, when an organization of artisans from Natitingou visited them and suggested it.  Traditionally, the stone workers only chiseled flat, round table-tops out of the stones.  I got the chance to feel one of these and it turned out to be surprisingly solid! 

During our voyage today, we were stopped in a small village by a number of men who insisted we stopped and let them treat us to a round of Tchoukachouk – a local millet beer typically drank from a calabash shell –and to some seasoned sesame seeds.  These guys were real surprised to see us roll into their village, and they were blown away by the distance we’re attempting to travel.  It was definitely my favorite part of the day, as we got a chance to just sit around and talk with these villagers; exchanges like that are the best.

 

In the end, we finally rolled into the town of Aledjo with just a few rays of light left in the sky.  The roads weren’t terrible today, but amongst the four of us we ended up having about 6 flat tires; biking was a bit slower and more tiring than we had originally expected.  Had it not panned out the way it did though, I don’t know if I would’ve seen this sunset across the dammed lake just outside of Aledjo.  So all for the best, I’d say.