Mobile on a moto
on Pat in Zebilla (Ghana), 09/Dec/2009 10:57, 34 days ago
A couple of weeks ago I went to Bolgatanga with some other VSO volunteers and completed a week of moto training/practice and lots of form filling and I now have a Ghanaian licence.Driving here presents numerous challenges. The main road through Zebilla is tarmac but has lots of potholes in it, some of which are very deep and wide. All traffic therefore picks the best route round or over them almost regardless of which side it should really be on (the right).All other routes are mainly red(dust) roads/tracks which are very uneven and rutted in places and may have loose stones or gravel on them or patches of quite deep sand.On the roads there are lots of motos and bicycles, some cars, tro tros (minibuses used as shared taxis between major towns), coaches, lorries and donkey carts as well as people walking.Wherever you are groups of cows, chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, sheep, goats or pigs may decide that they are going to cross infront of you without warning. There are some individuals wandering around too. They are all sure that they have right of way!My moto was delivered to me soon after my training. It's a black Yamaha YBR 125cc. So far I've done the short journey from home to work and back several times and one longer ride.The really hard bit is getting the moto in and out of the house. This involves placing a wooden ramp across the drain that surrounds the house. It's a bit of a slope and the moto is heavy so it's a difficult manoeuvre. It's getting easier with practice. I'm not sure if my technique is improving or my muscles growing!