Firstly, hope everyone is doing well and coping physically and mentally with the drastic changes and challenges we all face.
Sadly our trip has to end, 3 months prematurely. We fly back from Accra to London on Wednesday 25th March (assuming no last minute flight cancellations).
Lenny has gone into social isolation in a shipping container from Accra port and we hope to collect him from London Gateway dock in a month. Here’s Lenny’s new temporary home being delivered.
To fit into the container we had to take the roof tent and the fuel Jerry cans off the roof.
We spent a good 5 hours at Tema port getting customs to complete the paperwork and it was a sad moment when the doors closed Lenny into the container.
Nearby, through a broken section of wall, cocoa powder was being loaded into containers, so Lenny returns to the UK with a dusting of cocoa powder like a fine truffle.
Understandably the countries we were planning to visit have closed their borders to visitors and imposed measures to slow down the spread of the virus.
Ghana seems to be taking this very seriously and providing clear information on how people protect themselves. This poster was outside Elmina Castle.
Accra Mall was still open when we went to buy suitcases for the flight home. We went early in the morning, but it felt uncomfortable being on the streets with many people wearing masks and plastic gloves. Information banners were displayed in various places around the Mall.
Let’s hope the spread of Covid-19 isn’t as severe as it has been in Asia, Europe and the US.
Many people live in multi-generational families and communities where social distancing and not working is just not realistic.
No health systems are ready to cope with this outbreak, although there is vast expertise and experience of dealing with the Ebola virus epidemic (2013-2016 in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone).
Take good care of each other and I hope it’s not too long til we can catch up with you.
Due South 
Very strange times! Sad for you but at least iy wasnt right at the beginning of your trip.
I hope your trip home goes well xx
Thanks Ru, we had a brilliant 3 months, so no complaints! Take care, keep strong & look forward to a glass & a hug as soon as it’s safe.
Love you Zoe and Rob……returning is going to be strange and so disappointing. Safe journey XX
Glad you have tickets for your journey back. Safe trip home you guys ( and Lenny) x
Really sorry you are having to cut short the adventure but can’t but think it’s the right thing to do. You had a great trip so far. Will hook up when your back. Safe journey.
Rob and Zoe
I have loved following your exploits over the past weeks
Your resourcefulness and determination have been fantastic
I am so sorry you’ve had to cut the adventure short, but I know you will get back and complete it or find another challenge as soon as you can.
Get home safely
Peter
Safe journey home
I will miss the great blog you have been writing. You will have to keep it up on your return to London.
Incredible you managed to organise your return so efficiently! Andrew was just worrying about you this morning! Good luck with the flight home today xxx
Sad that you’ve had to return early but looks like you got to see and experience a lot. I hope you had a good flight home. Stay safe.
Thanks Andrew, our flight was cancelled last minute & Ghana has closed its borders to flights, so we’re still here, but in touch with FCO and hopeful they can arrange a flight next week.
Hope you & Karen are both doing well and finding ways to cope.
Ah Zoe and Rob, so sorry to hear you’ve had to cut your amazing trip short, but as Rupert said, at least it wasn’t at the very beginning of your trip. Hope you have/ are having a safe journey home back to a very different London to the one you left. Do give us a call or a text when you are back in your flat. Xxxx
Thank lovely, we are still in Ghana, our flight was cancelled last minute and there are no more commercial flights! We’re in touch with the Foreign Office who are organising repatriation flights, hopefully next week. Will call once were back Zxxx