February was the end of the dry season for our project – the bulk of our funding finally became available to us in Kumasi here (as they say in Ghana here)
THIS IS WHAT SERIOUS PURCHASING LOOKS LIKE
Jeremy, Bob, and Justin got busy buying all the things they had put on hold while awaiting cash. The sight of Jeremy at his ergonomically correct desk at the dining room table was common all month.
THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT CONTAINER
Bob, Jeremy, and Eric went on a search for a container to use at the site as secure storage for equipment. Container prices have doubled here in the last year as demand has surged due to a growing economy. After looking at a few containers at random places around town (read 4 hours in traffic) it was time to find a set up a crane truck of suitable size to move the container to the site and get it in place.
THAT FRIMPONG!
Eric Frimpong is much more than a driver. He found us the container – one we hadn’t looked at yet. He made the down payment while we were gallivanting up north in search of elephants, and found an elephant of his own.
BATTY
You see the strangest things around Kumasi. The trees at the zoo are perennially laden with roosting bats. Bob was taken by the lineup of obroni mannequins outside of a hip-hop clothing shop.
ALWAYS A BIT MORE EXCITING THAN IT NEEDS TO BE
After going to contract with the crane drivers union and informing them how far their crane would have to extend to place the container over the ditch onsite. We were told that their truck could easily do it. Once they got onsite, it was a different story. They got it almost across the ditch – about 10 feet short. As the guy on top of the container unhooked the cable, the container predictably started to roll downhill towards the ditch (as Bob had told them it would). Fortunately, it stabilized as soon as he got off of it – his weight was making the difference!
MORE THAN ONE WAY TO USE A CRANE
After nearly rolling the container, we did what we really didn’t want to do – move one of our incoming tanks aside and have the crane truck come up top to re-position it. The last time a truck of this size came up top, we had to repair our stairs. This time, patience prevailed, the crane arm (spewing hydraulic fluid) was used to push the container towards its proper place. Then the truck moved up and used the crane (and the last of the hydraulic fluid) to place the container. As usual, Eric is in the middle of the action.
NOW ALL WE NEED IS A COUPLE OF RAINS AND A PAINT JOB
The container will help us keep our equipment appropriately stored and secured.
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[Latest] * [Troutsfarm] * [Green Ranch] * [FS2BD February] * [Journey to Asempa] * [Mole National Park] * [First Two Safaris] * [Final Safari] * [Meeting Savannah Plants] * [Mbanayili Village] * [ Tamale]
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