Location

Monrovia → Ganta → Liberia–Ivory Coast Border Town, Liberia

Episode Notes

In this episode, I finally move on from Monrovia and head deeper into Liberia. What starts as a travel day turns into something much more meaningful. I reflect on meeting Sai Buor Brewer, a Liberian-American librarian who returned to help build schools in rural Liberia, and I follow through on my plan to visit his newest project near Ganta.

Along the way, I experience the rhythm of road travel in Liberia — slow traffic, diesel fumes, friendly police stops, and the ever-present “one-liner” passport logbooks. I tour an impressive school campus, meet professors and librarians shaping the next generation, and even stumble into a chance meeting with overland travelers piloting a three-wheeled vehicle across West Africa.

The day ends at a newly built lagoon hotel near the border — a quiet, thoughtful place that contrasts sharply with the raw hustle of everyday life around it. It’s a full day of movement, people, purpose, and perspective.

Key Moments

00:00 – Moving On I start the day reflecting on November 26th and the feeling that it’s finally time to move on from where I’ve been.

01:10 – Meeting Sai Buor Brewer I talk about meeting Sai Buor Brewer, a librarian who lived in Michigan for years before deciding to return and do something meaningful for Liberia.

03:00 – Building a College in Ganta I explain how Sai founded CLT International and built a college in Ganta, about three to four hours from Monrovia.

04:40 – My Plan to Visit the High School Project I share how our conversation led me to plan a visit to his next project — a high school under construction in Cantu.

06:20 – Life on Liberia’s Roads I describe the slow movement, traffic congestion, and unavoidable diesel fumes that come with road travel here.

08:10 – Police Stops and Border Logbooks I explain how most police stops are friendly and brief, with the familiar “one-liner” passport entry in a big logbook near the border.

10:00 – Finding the School in Ganta I talk about hiring a motorbike rider to escort me to the school, saving time and confusion.

11:30 – Touring the School Campus I describe the school grounds — classrooms, future space for an elementary school, pigs on the property, orange trees, and a sports field.

14:00 – Meeting the Staff I meet the librarian and Jonathan, the economics professor who gives me a full tour and explains how everything works.

16:00 – Unexpected Travelers: Seth and Ollie I recount meeting Seth and Ollie, two overland travelers driving a three-wheeled vehicle through West Africa.

18:10 – An Invitation to Camp at a Waterfall They invite me to camp at a waterfall, but I explain why I had to decline due to my commitment to the school visit.

19:40 – A Three-Wheeler Through Guinea I reflect on how impressive it is that their low-clearance vehicle can handle routes like Guinea.

21:10 – Arrival at the Border Lagoon Hotel I arrive at a new lagoon hotel near the border, owned by the same person as my Monrovia stay.

23:00 – A Hotel Not Officially Open I describe the peaceful setting, the forest views, and how unusual it is to find a place like this in a small border town.

25:00 – Final Reflections I close with thoughts on Liberia’s hustle, what still needs fixing, and gratitude for another unforgettable day on the road.

Location

Monrovia, Liberia

Episode Notes

Today, November 25th, is a very special day for me. It marks 25 years since Suriname became independent from the Netherlands—and it also connects deeply to my own history, because it was on this same date 50 years ago that I left Suriname with the Dutch army.

The day began with breakfast at my hotel, which has become a great place to meet people from all walks of life. I had a meaningful conversation with Todd, a Lutheran missionary who works across Africa supporting leadership development and pastoral training, including efforts to expand seminaries in West Africa.

During breakfast, I received an unexpected text from the Ivory Coast embassy letting me know my visa was ready a day earlier than expected. I headed over, picked it up without any trouble, and reflected briefly on my earlier time in Ivory Coast back in 1973—and how travel logistics always shape where we can and can’t linger.

While walking around the embassy neighborhood, I stumbled upon a university graduation complete with gowns, caps, music, and traffic chaos—one of those spontaneous moments that make travel memorable.

Back at the hotel, I took another swim and later met Tim, an American volunteer who lives in River Cess, Liberia. He shared firsthand insight into daily life there, from unreliable electricity and long travel times to the challenges of bureaucracy, visas, and vehicle registration. His stories echoed many experiences I’ve had myself across Africa—where persistence is essential and sometimes you just pay the price to keep moving forward.

All in all, it was another beautiful, layered day—full of history, people, and perspective. Thanks for being along.

Key Moments & Timestamps

• 00:00 – A meaningful date I reflect on November 25th as both Suriname’s independence day and the anniversary of my departure 50 years ago with the Dutch army.
• 02:10 – Breakfast conversations I meet Todd, a Lutheran missionary working across Africa, focused on leadership development and pastoral training.
• 05:20 – Unexpected visa news I receive a text from the Ivory Coast embassy saying my visa is ready earlier than expected.
• 07:00 – Embassy visit & reflections I pick up my visa and share my past connection to Ivory Coast from 1973.
• 09:30 – A graduation in the streets I stumble upon a university graduation with music, gowns, and traffic chaos.
• 11:30 – A swim and a new conversation Back at the hotel, I swim and meet Tim, an American volunteer living in River Cess.
• 14:00 – Life in River Cess Tim explains daily challenges: travel delays, lack of electricity, generators, and slow infrastructure improvements.
• 17:00 – Bureaucracy, visas, and corruption We talk about vehicle registration issues, visa hassles, and the reality of navigating systems where mistakes—and money—disappear.
• 20:00 – Closing reflection I wrap up the day, reflecting on persistence, movement, and another beautiful day in Africa.

Location Monrovia, Liberia

Episode Notes It’s November 24th, and what should have been a simple errand turned into one of those days that only seems to happen on the road in West Africa. I went into town looking for an ATM that actually worked—no luck. It was Monday, and the weekend had wiped them all out.

I decided to pivot and get a coffee near a big hotel. I parked where I’d parked before without any problems. This time, though, I came back to find a padlock clamped onto my front wheel by private security. I had a choice: pay $80 on the spot or get towed for $250. After some negotiation and finagling, it came down to $60—making that one very expensive coffee.

While all this was happening, a man named Jimmy appeared, watching my truck. He remembered me from Aberdeen in Freetown, days and days of driving away, recognizing me by my orange scarf. That kind of unexpected human connection still amazes me.

On the way back to the hotel, I met Michael, a sincere 25-year-old who wants to attend vocational school but can’t afford it. I paid $60 to help him get started, with plans to possibly support him further once enrollment opens in February. The need here is endless, but helping one person feels meaningful.

As if that wasn’t enough for one day, back at the hotel another guest invited me to his room—to show me gold bars. Actual gold, tied to village mining operations six hours outside Monrovia, involving local chiefs and entire communities. I didn’t buy any, but just being there for that story was surreal.

Life out here keeps getting stranger, richer, and more human by the day.

Key Moments

• 00:00 – Opening / Setting the Day I set the scene: November 24th, heading into town with a simple goal and no idea what the day has in store.
• 01:20 – ATM Hunt in Monrovia I explain trying multiple ATMs, realizing it’s Monday and they’ve all been drained over the weekend.
• 03:10 – The Coffee Decision I decide to get coffee near a large hotel and park where I’ve parked before without trouble.
• 04:30 – The Padlock Surprise I return to my truck and discover a padlock clamped onto the front wheel by private security.
• 06:10 – $80 or $250: The Choice I’m told my options—pay $80 immediately or get towed for $250.
• 07:45 – Negotiating Down to $60 After some back-and-forth, I manage to negotiate the fee down to $60.
• 09:10 – Jimmy Reappears Jimmy shows up to “watch” my truck and recognizes me from Aberdeen in Freetown, days away by road.
• 11:00 – The World Feels Small I reflect on how unlikely it is to be recognized across countries, tied together by an orange scarf.
• 12:30 – Meeting Michael On the way back to the hotel, I meet Michael, a 25-year-old who wants to attend vocational school.
• 14:10 – Helping with School Enrollment I decide to give $60 to help him begin the process, hoping he’ll follow through.
• 15:50 – Breaking Down the Real Costs I explain the vocational school fees: $40 signup, $20 exam, and under $1,000 for a full year.
• 17:20 – The Gold Bar Encounter Back at the hotel, another guest shows me real gold bars connected to village mining operations.
• 19:10 – Closing Reflection I wrap up, reflecting on how the day spiraled from an ATM errand into something far stranger and more meaningful.