Location: Buea to Douala, Cameroon

Summary:

My morning in Buea started with an early breakfast at the incredible Ricochet's Villa with Marek, who was heading to Yaoundé. After he left, I discovered a nail in my right rear tire—the first flat of my entire journey. With help from the hotel staff, I changed it on level ground. Since it was Sunday, getting it repaired would have to wait.

I had arranged to meet Elvis, someone I'd met by chance in Morocco during my journey. He lives near Douala and deals in tiles, shipping them along the coast on a small freighter he bought in Albania. We met at a gas station, and it was wonderful reconnecting with such an entrepreneurial spirit.

After our meeting, I walked around the area where vendors sold food and goods. As I headed back to my car, walking pa ...