things we wish we had a camera for

Everything below is true and NOT exaggerated:

• We were driving in rush hour and traffic on the "interstate" and traffic was down to one lane. When we got to the problem we saw that a semi-truck was broken down in the middle of the lane. We're not talking a flat tire here people, the entire back end of the truck was jacked up and the rear axel was missing...drive to the front of the truck and we found the back axle. The "mechanics" were using the partition as a bench and were bench pressing the axle...seriously.
• Also while driving on the "interstate", on two separate occasions we have been behind a truck or bus taxi with a roller skater/blader in tow, Marty McFly style. Meanwhile the free rider is waving and smiling at police while the police wave back as they pass by them on the side of the road. This was not stop and go traffic this was while going 80 km/hr (50 mph).
• Everyone tells you, "things in Africa take more time". Case in point, yesterday we were driving to Dakar when the clutch went out on the truck. Here we are broken down, on the highway with two lanes, one way, concrete barriers on either side (no shoulder) about 10 km from home. We call Herma for help, then...phone battery dies. We sit, ON the highway from 8am-4:30pm waiting for the mechanic Herma called to come help. During this time several pedestrians stopped to help, one went home and got tools to work on the truck, he and Scotty crawl under the truck. It's not unusual to see feet sticking out from under cars on the highway, it IS unusual for those feet to belong to "toobaubs" aka white folk. After much trouble shooting they found what they THINK is the problem then proceeded to look for the broken part at 7+ stores, they came back with an off brand rebuilt kit and replaced the part, which then immediately broke when trying to bleed the clutch. We then sent Djibi to go into Dakar to buy a genuine part, about 2 hours after he leave, the mechanic showed up. There was a bit of a communication breakdown when the mechanic wanted to drive the truck back to Malika and we wanted to wait for Djibi to return with the replacement part. We finally convinced the mechanic to wait, once Djibi showed up he drove the truck back to Malika, through pedestrian crowded side streets all the time with NO CLUTCH....we had lunch at 5pm. And now the entire underside of the truck is disasembled .

Not all days are as exciting as these, sorry we don't have any pictures to go along with these, I know they are kind of hard to believe, but I promise they have not been exaggerated.

Lesson learned: ALWAYS carry your camera with you, you never know what your day will hold...especially in AFRICA!!!!!