The day Ride Easy MC rode hard...

So the REMC rest & recreation ride was last weekend and boy was it a tight fixture? Those of us who know how we used ‘2do’, know we have to make it. Friday 28th was the date, take off points for the mainland and island groups were set, now the issue was the time. A couple of us had to be at work on Friday so we opted to leave later in the day. Daniel Flame (Host #1) and Dr. Jo (Host #2) were meeting us up on Saturday from Kotangora and Enugu respectively.

Batch 1a (Mainland) Leaving Lagos at 8 am

Batch 1b (island) Leaving Lagos at 8 am

Batch 1a & 1b hook up.

The clock struck 8 and batch 1 left from the mainland and island take off points to regroup at ijebu-ode. Batch 1a (Mainland) comprised of Ogbonnaya Kanu aka FD and Seyi aka Learner. Batch 1b (Island) comprised of Ayodele Richard aka Ara, Tolu Akintimehin aka LawBay and Ayo George aka AG. With the pictures and departure info coming in, I had become uncomfy in my office chair from wanting to be on the road so badly. I kept checking the time, adjusting my sitting positions and wiping imaginary dust off my lappy. Trust the forces to mess with your mind. Friday the 28th of April must’ve been one of the slowest days in the history of man. Prove me wrong!!

Take off time for batch 2 was 2 pm and at 1:30, I set out to the rendezvous point to await the others. Batch 2 comprised Kwesi aka Amanor, Abiodun aka Dicta and I. Kwesi was with me in no time but we awaited Dicta for a while. He called to inform us he had a flat on third mainland bridge and was fixing it. Dicta arrives a lil after 3 pm and at 4 pm, we set out. Obviously we couldn’t meet up with the others at Okomu national park, so we gunned for Abraka directly. Lagos to Mowe had quite some traffic but hey, these are bikers of Lagos. What is traffic? 

Hunta gets a flat.

Batch 2 ready to leave Lagos

Batch 2 setting out.

Batch 1 at the Okomu National Park. Edo State.

Bikers who ride....Legally. Lol

Okomu Park done. Its Benin from here

 In no time we were at the interchange and heading to Ore. Now, that road is quite eczematous and not judging correctly could earn you some serious rim problems. Just before Ore tho, we get on the very good new patch that leads you to Benin and Dicta, Kwesi and I open up our throttles in a bid to catch up Agbor before darkness falls. For where? Darkness did meet us on the Benin – Agbor stretch and this reduced our speed to slightly below 100kmph as the roads were not too smooth and had quite some traffic.

Agbor - Benin Express pee stop.

Meanwhile, Batch 1 had already arrived.

At about 7:30 pm, we turn into Agbor and are now faced with the Agbor - Abraka stretch. Road conditions were ok and smooth but again it was dark, and unfamiliar territory so we kept to our low speeds. Enjoying the scenery and night ride. 9 pm and there it is. Tucked away in the serenity beyond the Abraka community is the Abraka Turf and Country Club. Words wouldn’t do justice, but I’d try.

Gas flaring lights up the night in Delta state.

The silence, the nature, the serenity. It was something that couldn’t be paid for. We had dinner, checked in and quickly went to bed being exhausted from the tasking ride.

Batch 2 arrives The turf

Pool section

Off to bed

  I woke up at about 7:00 am to find Dicta awake and Tolu quickly joined us as we three set out in our bath robes to conquer every aspect of the turf. We took on a long walk to the stables to check out the horses, then the quad circuit, the beach house and kayaking pond before we went in search of water. 

Metallic horses grazing

Natural horses grazing

To the stables

Kayaking and boating channel

Polo pitch

Meanwhile Daniel was dealing with a flat on the Lokoja - Auchi stretch.

The river Ethiope runs right beside this property, so we headed in that direction. A single wooden narrow and treacherous bridge led to the river and a couple of us got stung by it. Thankfully no casualties.

The walkway tries to get us down. but we say no! no!! no!!!

At the bank of the river Ethiope

Awaiting brunch

Dicta clearing his head

Brunch is served

Departure time

We gear up and depart this awesome turf at about 3:00pm and head in the general direction of Asaba. First fuel stop and oh snap my radiator is leaking. We diagnose and find out it’s a little hole and nothing to really worry about. Tanks full and we head out.

Signing Out

 On getting into Asaba, we pick Daniel up at Ibuzor junction as he leads us to The Grand hotel Asaba, right on the edge of the Niger at approximately 5:15 pm.
Awesome reception from Christabel, Joel and the bell man (I didn’t quite get his name). We check-in and jump out in search of Nkwobi. At this point the FLOREMC Dr. Jo had arrived, we give her a grand welcome and saddle her with Nkwobi duties. She leads us to a nice spot, off infant Jesus road. Where justice is served to a couple of fish and goat by yours truly and co. After almost overfeeding, we call it a night.

Arriving Grand

FLOREMC arrives

Dinner is served

 Sunday Morning comes swiftly and FD, Learner, Ara, Tolu and I set out to Onitsha. FD and Learner are on The Tough Tourers bridges tour while Ara, Tolu and I are on a personal Onitsha tour. We make the dash – a short refreshing ride, stop for pictures with the men of the Nigerian Army and return to the hotel.

Off to the Onitsha head bridge.

With the men in uniform.

From the Onitsha point of view.

 Now I want to seize this opportunity to commend every man or woman in uniform out there. For standing in defense of this great country I am grateful. You guys… sorry you soldiers are there day and night. Guarding, protecting, securing. GOD bless y’all

 Back at the hotel I go for a quick nap but guess what? Obatare is here…. Yip! Yip!! We get to a lil bit of catching up and hanging out at the jetty bar within Grand, and she heads back home just before we step out to Dan’s family house.

Friendship since forever.

 On arrival at Dan’s residence we are greeted by his family members, His lovely Aunts Deaconess Irene Osakwe and Ifeyinwa Grace Udobi, his cousin Engineer Ofili Osakwe and his sister Mrs. Ijeoma Azu. We exchange pleasantries and stories as they bamboozled our taste buds with their traditional meals of Delicious Ofe Nsala and Banga soups. Tasted so good some of us almost took the plates away.

Off to Dan's

Prayers are made and Kola is Shared with Dan's Family

 In the course of this we discovered first hand, the history of the Asaba people or Ahaba as they prefer to be called. The challenges they faced during the Nigerian civil war, how they coped after and how up till today it has greatly affected their lives and community. We also saw the grave of Dan’s grandpa Mr Daniel Ofili Chijindu. One of the young men in the community at the time. Gunned down in cold blood.

Armed with this bit of history, we set out in search of others with Daniel as our tour guide.

FLOREMC and I locate the river banks.

Burial site of the Landar Brothers

Dicta locates the Niger

 We get to the burial site of the Landar brothers, right beside the river Niger.

Cenotaph with names of all the men of Asaba killed on 7th of october 1967

Dan and Aunts

Back to the hotel and we call it an early night. We do have to be alert for our Asaba – Lagos run tomorrow.

Morning comes quickly and we get the alert that take off time is 7:30 am. This is soon re-scheduled to 8:00 am to give us ample time to fill our tummies before leaving. We seat down to a hearty breakfast, checkout, say our prayers and the road captain gives instructions on our formation and stops. Daniel is leaving us at the Benin bypass while Dr. Jo is staying behind. 

Breakfast is served.

Prayers are made.

RC gives instructions on riding patterns and stops.

Roll call.

Fuelling in Asaba

Stop for a change of gear.

Ore fuel and food stop

Ore - Lagos

Checked in with the rest of the crew and we’re all good. All in all, it was a jolly ride. I really needed the therapy.

Big thanks to Dr. Jo and Daniel Chijindu aka Daniel Flame for the hosting. You both did well. Thanks.