This final leg of the crossing of the Sahara takes us through Niger. I would dread to think what this track would be like in the wet season:
This next group of photos take a little explaining – we were near to Abalak. We were looking for a water source as the radiator in the Transit was leaking a bit. We saw a group of people and some goats so we stopped to investigate. What had happened was they had a well but the water was some 30ft down with no way of reaching it. Two men were desperately trying to dig a new well (in the blazing heat).
So we gave them a plastic bucket and a length of rope and they started hauling water up from the well. First the people drunk the water, then they gave it to the livestock. Part way through this the bucket came of the handle. Before we could stop them they tied a rope around a small boy and lowered him down the well to retrieve the bucket. He enjoyed splashing around in the water at the bottom.
While we were there two Tuareg travellers met up:
We also collected some of the water for the Transit radiator leak. This sealed it permanently – no more leaks for the trip!
And yes, we left them with the bucket and rope.