Sénégal trip: Day 2

 

Today Makale picked me up around noon.  We went to see Owen, docked by Île N’Gor for protection against high seas.  It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Yoff, by motorcycle.  By car, much longer due to horrendous traffic.  On the motorcycle, we weave carefully between cars.  No one is going very fast and I feel completely comfortable (I do wear a motorcycle helmet.). 

To get to Owen, we take a pirogue with a bunch of other people which goes across the channel to Île N’Gor, then takes us to Owen (who is adjacent to several other pirogues).  Every day, Makale comes here to empty any water which has accumulated.  It’s quite an effort.  Sitting on the pile of nets, we had a long discussion about the fishing business, which opened my eyes to what is involved.  

I also learned that many fishermen have left to try to get to Europe and it’s essential to keep the team together.  We are a team of 12 adult fishermen and 3 younger people who go out to bail the boat during fishing.  To give you some context, Makale left school when he was about 12 to go to sea and fish.  He refused to go to school, the sea is in his blood and his parents threw up their hands.  

We then went to visit the room that I had rented for the year for the fishermen to rest.  Eight of the 12 fishermen use it. There is a mattress (Makale’s) and a TV (Makale’s).  Yes, he is sleeping on the floor where he lives in his family “compound”.  It also has a propane tank to boil water for tea (“ataya”), and access to a shower and toilet. The rent is about $200/month.  I paid for the year.  

I withdrew $200 to get the Jerry cans filled so we can get out and fish when the conditions are right.