📍 LocationBo → Freetown, Sierra Leone📝 Episode NotesOn November 17th, I woke up in Bo reflecting on the conversations from the night before—especially with Francis, a dedicated pharmacy student at the Central University of Sierra Leone. His commitment to becoming a medical professional, one of only 97 in his class, really stuck with me.The morning brought another unexpected meeting: a driver for the ECOWAS ambassador. Sierra Leone currently holds the ECOWAS chair, so hearing what his job is like—and how often I’ve had to explain why my Dutch-registered vehicle doesn’t need ECOWAS fees—gave me more insight into how regional systems work on the ground.After some warm interactions and friendly police stops, I started the long journey back toward Freetown. I exchanged the last of my Sierra Leonean currency, grabbed diesel, and even turned down a very enthusiastic marriage proposal from a woman at a roadside food stop.The border crossing was its usual adventure—stamping passports, signing the carnet, getting recorded as a one-liner in the big book, and inching under ropes raised and lowered by the border officers. No surprise charges this time, which was a welcome change.Once I crossed, the final stretch toward Freetown tested my patience: 40 kilometers of neglected road that took two full hours. By the time I reached the city, traffic was dense, chaotic, and full of life. I eventually made it to the Diana Hotel in the old part of town—two stories above a restaurant, with my reservation waiting and dinner ready.Now settled in Freetown, I’m preparing for a bit of maintenance and whatever comes next. Thanks for coming along as I continue navigating West Africa’s roads, borders, and everyday surprises.⏱ Key Moments00:12 — Remembering my conversation with Francis, a pharmacy student committed to a long medical journey.01:15 — Meeting the ECOWAS ambassador’s driver and hearing about Sierra Leone’s current ECOWAS chairmanship.02:10 — Explaining my Dutch-registered vehicle (again) at checkpoints, and how friendly Sierra Leone and Liberia have been.03:00 — Filling up on diesel and exchanging the last of my cash before the border.03:45 — The Sierra Leone woman who insisted she wanted to marry me — a fun moment on the road.04:30 — Border crossing rituals: getting logged in the big book, passport stamping, carnet processing, and the rope gates.06:10 — Two-hour crawl over the worst 40 km of road before reaching Freetown.07:00 — Navigating the intense traffic in the capital with people, trucks, and training happening on all sides.07:40 — Arriving at the Diana Hotel, a two-story stay above a restaurant, just before dark.08:10 — Settling into Freetown and preparing for the next round of vehicle maintenance.

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