A P-day Visit to Aburi

We don't often take a P-day; we just do what we need to when it is convenient. But occasionally a little sightseeing is fun. Elder and Sister Huff invited the Markhams and Armstrongs to lunch and we decided to add a short ride up the mountain behind their town to the village of Aburi. Aburi is at the edge of a plateau about 1000 feet above the coastal plain where Accra is situated. There are several attractions in Aburi, including an arts and crafts village and a botanical garden. Sister Markham agreed to this adventure hoping to find a small drum to add to our souvenir collection.

Lunch at Farmer Huffs

In case you haven't noticed, the Huffs are Doers with a capital D. Sister Huff saved...	...seeds from watermelons she bought and planted them. Here are the fruits.

Their garden includes vegetables and a nice bunch of plantains.	There is also a pawpaw (papaya) tree. Sister Huff sent Elders Markham and Armstrong to get fresh fruit for lunch.

The idea is to use a long stick (in this case a mop handle) to gently bump the ripe ones, then catch them before they hit the ground.	Elder Armstong displays the 'catch of the day.'

Lunch was fantastic, as it always is at Sister Huff's Chop Bar. Then the Markhams and Armstrongs headed out on their adventure. The Huffs explained that the nearest road up the hill was under construction, but they have usually been able to talk their way through. The alternate way was 20 miles down the road towards Dodowa. We decided to try our luck on the nearer route.

There was a bamboo barrier blocking the closed road. Taxis and tro-tros were arguing with the barrier attendant trying to get through. One tro-tro ran the barrier, hitting the pole which knocked the guard down. The tro-tro was blocked a few fifty meters up the road by a very large power shovel and a heated discussion ensued. We stayed a hundred meters behind the barrier to see what would happen. A big dump truck that was part of the construction crew came to the side of the road where we were waiting. The driver got out and came over to our car. We expected a lecture but instead he said, "Go ahead. I will tell the construction crews to let you through." He did and we did, much to the chagrin of the taxi and tro-tro drivers. The road was definitely under construction with heavy equipment at work, but as we approached each construction site they literally cleared a path for us. There was no dash (tip/bribe) involved, just courtesy to the obrunis.

The ride up was breathtaking, with narrow, steep roads and heavy equipment to dodge. Sister Markham almost turned blue, but finally let out her breath when we crowned the hill. She was mumbling something about Moki Dugway near Bluff, Utah, as we drove so far in first gear. At the top, the vista was beautiful! A few shops soon had her back to full strength. After the ride up the hill, we didn't need any more adventures.

Is there anything scary in Aburi?

Mountain vistas aren't scary, even with vultures flying around.	Looking out over the coastal plain isn't the least bit scary.

Finding the home and recording studio of Bob Marley's widow, Rita...	...is exciting, but not scary.

There is nothing to fear from this beautiful teenager fetching water for her family...	...or from these two wooden handicraft shop owners, Eric and Richard.

Angel, the shop owner's daughter, made us happy, not afraid.	This young lady put a welcome flare in her pose for the camera.

The only thing scary about this handicraft strip mall...	...are the difficult decisions of what to buy from whom for how much.

Sister Markham conquered those fears at Richard's shop.	And Sister Armstrong showed courage at Cynthia's (Angel's mother) shop.

There is nothing to be afraid of in Aburi...

Big, Ugly Mask	Smoked Grasscutter

...or is there???

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