Finally, we received the official document to get the car out of the harbor. After four days of waiting and meetings, the word ‘released’ has become a special word to the expedition team.

TK is one of the manager at UPT, an important stakeholder in the project, and our big help. Without his fixing skills we would be lost in the harbor. Especially his smiles and enthusiasm proof very effective in solving problems.

Now the car is out of the harbor, we prepare ourselves for the journey to Kumasi. Osu and Lamous, two of the most loyal mechanics of the Turtle project travelled to Accra on their own expense to help us out. At 8:00 we are awaiting our departure. The Turtle is however still stuck in traffic and it will take to 10:00 until we finally are on our way.

Last check up before our journey that will take us through the mountainous central part of Ghana, Eastern region and finally to Kumasi. A good test to see how the Turtle reacts to the challenges of the rough Ghanaian conditions after a period of hibernation in Europe.

In the Eastern region of Ghana the Turtle feels at home and cruises at a comfortable speed.

At lunch time we stop for a traditional lunch: Fufu, a soup with bushmeat, goat and ‘cassava balls’ where all lunch guests join in. It is always a pleasure to dig in and some members of the team cannot wait to get started.

There are some small problems with the gas tank. Nothing that the mechanics cannot fix. Still, we have to wait for an hour. Meanwhile, some local cacao farmers, join us and want to learn more about the car they heard about on the radio but have not seen before themselves.