Africa Or Bust

The sun was coming up when took off for D.C. That was the easy part. At D.C. (huge airport) We caught the shuttle to our gate and checked in on the African Airlines. The Ladies Checked all the luggage items took our receipt of payment from Portland for the extra bags and with our boarding passes we proceeded to our plane. At the last minute they made us check Brundee's and my carry on bags (our clothes). We did not have to pay for this service excuse was too many carry ons on the plane no room left. Later we found out it is an often used ruse to go through your things and take what they want. We counted it a blessing as we wouldn't have to lug it all around being encumbered by two guitars as well as our personal items. They also tried to relieve Brundee of his computer bag at the door of the plane saying it would have to go under the belly. This he would not allow. It was over 8 hours to Dakar which is a lot longer in a plane than on paper. They do not allow anyone off but those bound to Dakar. We had to sit most of our wait to clean and service and fuel the plane. The odors of the sewer being emptied were astronomical! Throughout this time there was a heavy mist pumping out of the air vents rather unpleasant then to top it all off it was announced That the World Health Organization (the WHO which makes you wonder who they think they are!)By law required them to fumigate the plane which they did at once fully loaded with people. Two male stewards one on each side with two cans of unknown substance proceeded from one end of the plane to the other down the aisles with cans blaring off the noxious substance in the already tainted air. We covered our nose and mouth and shut our eyes and stayed bowed over as long as long as we could without breathing. The smell (like a bug bomb) persisted for even an hour after take off. The promises of Psalms 91 were real and precious to us. Then the torture continued over eight more hours. At last we saw land and touched down in Johannesburg. There we found a shuttle to take us to our hotel, a shower, some delicious fruit plates with red passion fruit yum and best of all horizontal rest.