Sunday 3rd March

Today we went on a boat trip to the islands. Unfortunately Tim wasn't able to come with us as he was busy with the ship and riots, etc. We went in a canoe type boat with an outboard engine holding 25 passengers. 

They took us to Roome island which is about an hours ride away, which was a bit hairy at times! We passed a few other islands on the way which were good to look at. There seemed to be quite a varied selection of wealth on some of the islands, with some big, posh houses and some shacks. We saw locals fishing on boats and off the rocks, playing on the islands etc.

When we got to the island we couldn't get right to the shore so we had to get out of the boat and wade to the shore. 

There was a short walk through the woods to get to the beach on other side of the island. It was a lovely beach. 

We found our spot and set up. Not long after a man came and said that we could only sit there if we bought drinks, which we knew would happen as the beach is part of a hotel and restaurant. We ordered drinks which came in the old glass bottles!

Soon after, another man came round with a blackboard from the restaurant to see if we wanted to order any food. We thought we ought to order something, so we ordered one meal. You order the food and say what time you want it ready for - you have to give them a couple of hours notice! They have a saying on the ship 'TIA' which means 'This is Africa!'. This expression just sums up lots of different random things that happen here. I guess this is one of them! Sharon thought they brought the meal to you on the beach so we could all share it, but when the time came they came and got her and she had to go and eat it in the restaurant on her own!! We had taken sandwiches, crisps, etc with us so the rest of us didn't starve, we just didn't have the nice meal that Sharon had! She said it was lovely though! 

Dave and Nathanael played in the sand, in the sea and on the rocks. They had a great time.

In between times we had several men coming round trying to sell different stuff to us - jewellery, leather boxes, knives, musical instruments, etc. They come and sit in front of you, spread out a sheet of material with all their stuff on and start going through it piece by piece showing you and laying it out nicely. There was one man who was from Sierra Leone who spoke really good English so we chatted with him for a while. We bought a couple of things from them. They said we were their new friends and wanted to show us the island next time we come as there is a school etc. and he wanted my address! When they had gone Sharon said don't give them your address or they may just turn up at your house or use you for a visa! A woman also came round selling peeled oranges she was carrying round on her head.

Just as we were starting to make our way back to the other side of the island to catch the boat back to the ship, a group of men came and started playing music on a range of African instruments. It sounded really good. They wanted money, but they had only just started playing as we were leaving so Sharon said she didn't give them any money because we had hardly heard them play. 

We stood on the beach waiting for another boat to unload and ours bailed out with a bucket! and get close to the shore as possible.

Some of the locals were on the beach selling drinks, fruit, etc. Behind them was a massive pile of rubbish with chickens and all sorts walking all over it finding scraps. We had to wade back to the boat and climb in although there was no lady-like way of doing it so quite amusing! It was soooo hot with no breeze and the first part of the boat trip was almost unbearable as we'd been sat in the heat all day and knew we had an hours trip back. Thankfully, when we got round the corner of the first island there was a very welcome breeze so the rest of the journey wasn't too bad. We had to drink LOTS of fluid today. 

When we were coming back into the port we got a really good view of the ship from the other side and we took lots of photos. 

Also on the way back we could see a lot more of the many wrecks which are all around the port and islands. Ships come to die here. 

It wasn't until later in the evening that Sharon and Tim told us that just after they arrived in Guinea 35 people had died after one of the canoes we had been in capsized and they hadn't been wearing life jackets which is why it had been insisted upon that life jackets had to be provided if they wanted Mercy Ships people to use their boats. Thanks for telling us that afterwards!