Thursday, September 17, 2015

2nd day of motorcycle training,in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

For our 2nd act we got started early Tuesday morning. We went to the SIL dining hall and sat at our reserved table and waited for breakfast. It was a morning feast delivered with a smile. Goes to show that when one cooperates with the system good things can happen.

Our driver was right on time. In route I asked about the field marking lime and he offered several different options and ideas. He turned around and went to the closest hardware store, which didn't have it, but directed us to another, then another, then to the one who actually had something. It was just basic white wall plaster. It will work!



Once at the Wycliffe center our students were close enough to on time so Ken got things started and two other staff and I went to the practice field. It was not actually on the police compound, but a soccer field right next door. It had rained really hard a most of last night and we had to hunt for a semi dry spot, 125 foot long by 50 foot wide. I paced out the dimensions for a grid complex specifically made for motorcycle training. Then marked everything at ten foot intervals. It should work great, as long as it doesn't rain any more.

The national Bible Translation Center

Ken had moved to the provided shop and the group placed the motorcycle to be dissected on a table. I got my old video camera and started filming. Hey, they said to bring it as they didn't have a digital one. 21 students with a few guests gathered around a motorcycle operating table; that was a bit of a crowd. I found a chair to stand on  and came in high filming from the back. Slowly and methodically, screw by bolt they disassembled the beast. 


We split the group in half and I directed my half towards the motorcycles. The bikes were delivered with about a tablespoon of fuel in the tanks. The director gave an envelope to one of the students with money for fuel. They went to a local vendor, not a gas station. On the wooden shelves, it looked like it could be a vegetable seller, except the shelves were full of one liter glass whiskey bottles of fuel. Not the type of place I'd recommend one get fuel. But the fuel is discounted and it seems most motorcycles get one liter at a time. I meet them at the driving practice area. It's the community soccer field. The field is defined by the goal posts and it's mostly a flat dirt surface.They could probably fit eight more full size playing fields on the site. The area we picked and marked off to one side and is slightly higher and drier than the balance. All ten bikes line up and one by one they get turned off and the bikes say, very loudly, in French, "The motorcycle is turning off", over and over and over again. I think its finished and start to speak, but get interrupted by one last motorcycle. This is a very annoying new feature. Eventually we disconnected "the voice", from most of the motorcycles.


They are an experienced group of riders. My focus for them was on safety and precise technique. Wear the safety equipment, even when its uncomfortable. Practice safe driving habits, even if it takes more time, Be very precise in driving habits, be the best rider you can be at all times, not just when its convenient. Remember, EVERYTHING out there on the road wants to kill you. Be aware and stay alive.


It was a good day.
Jim Mc

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