Final Days in Salone

[ Foya City, Liberia ]

Koidu Town, Sierra Leone’s fourth-largest city, is tiny—roughly 125,000 beings in a town founded on diamonds and blood. To me it seemed a sprawling metropolis after so many weeks in the rainforest. There were supplies of all sorts, chocolate and cold beer, replacement parts for my bike (brakes! At last!), and an endless supply and variety of street foods. My body needed rest, so I provided it.

A week later I rode south expecting to make great time, but it was not to be. Halfway through the first day, I knew something was wrong: rather than riding strong and feeling well, I felt weak and discouraged. I suspected the malaria wasn’t done with me, and learned of a large government hospital in Kailahun where I could get a proper blood test.

I reached the hospital three days later, had my tests and (surprise) and another round of meds, and crossed the border into Liberia six days after that.

Here are a few pics from these final days in Salone.

Namaste,
—jim

Last Days