Everything will be alright in the end so if it is not alright it is not the end. - Deborah Moggach

12 November 2019, Grand Bassam to Abidjan, 49.4km
Airbnb 15,000XOF (R376)

Abidjan has a population of around 5 million, making for a big city and a long ride through it to our Airbnb accommodation in the northern suburb of Angré.
It is fairly unusual to find multi-lane roads between cities in African countries north of South Africa. We have seen them, of course. The little-used highway to Soyo in northern Angola comes to mind. In some cities, such as Luanda, there are highways where traffic can move fast and freely. But, although roads often widen within cities to facilitate traffic flow, actual highways with highway rules, are rare.
A six-lane highway links Grand Bassam to Abidjan, a surprise. It has a wide shoulder and makes for easy cycling, the traffic only slowing around the market outside the capital. At times we could see the ocean, but were not tempted to stop except when we found an internet cafe that also offered photocopying and printing - we needed to get our documents ready for our planned visit to the Liberian embassy.
Thanks, as usual, to Google Maps, we managed to find our way into and through the city without too many issues. It is when cycling into a large city, that I miss our Garmin, stolen in Lubango, Angola. The Garmin sat visible on the bike frame, and talked me through the turns. In theory, I could use my mobile in the same way, but I am afraid of having it grabbed, and using it takes data and battery life - the former not acceptable to us on a budget, the latter problematic on a long ride.
We were horribly sweaty by the time we had negotiated our way through the southern ’burbs and across the Pont Henri Konan Bedie, a privately funded bridge crossing a large lagoon, cutting around 30 minutes off commute times. The bridge sports a cycle / pedestrian lane, a pleasure to ride once you have found where to access it.
The process of applying for a Liberian visa was very simple with a simple form to complete and few supporting documents required. At 30,000XOF each, the visas are also marginally cheaper than many others. We can collect our passports in 48 hours…
Near the embassy, is a Pizza Hut at a petrol station, ideally placed for a hungry lunch, and yummy. But our day degenerated after that with hills to climb in the burgeoning heat, and our Airbnb difficult to locate.
The Airbnb is an apartment in an odd and unappealing building, but comfortable enough with a kitchen, aircon and wifi (though in the end it took us 30 hours to get the wifi fully functional).

For today's route see below photos
For overview route, click on ROUTE tab above…