Jones, James Island on The Gambia River
Image: Jason Florio – The Gambia – 2009
The Short Walk team visited James Island on our walk back along the north bank of The Gambia. It is situated on the Gambia River about 2 miles off the main land near the villages of Juffereh and Albreda. After a 15 minute ride on a small colourful parogue, across the choppy waters of the Gambia River, we planted our feet firmly on this diminishing piece of historical rocky ground.
The island has certainly gotten smaller since the last time I visited around 8 years ago. All that remains are a few weather-beaten baobab trees and the stone ruins of Fort James. The river is gradually reclaiming the land. This is perhaps not a bad thing in the light of what it represents -originally used as an important West African port for transferring the slaves to countries such as Europe and America.
We were taken over there by the Alkalo’s son, Karamo, and as we were leaving at dusk, Florio said what an amazing experience it would have been to set up our camp for that night on the island…..”but why didn’t you say……it is possible….my mother is the Alkalo”. Mind you, I’m not too sure how well Neil and (p)Hadley would have taken to the small parogue on the river with their obstinate objection to being within even sniffing distance of water! I think that we may well have unintentionally ended up swimming in it.
More images to come…….
Jones & Florio – now back in the snow (and cold!) of England
Harvest time in The Gambia - Boy collecting grasses, Tuba Dabbo
Related posts:
- More images to and words to come from Jason Florio and Jones – A short Walk In The Gambian Bush Image: jason Florio – The Gambia – 2009 ...
- A Short Walk In The Gambian Bush Expedition, 2009 – afterthoughts, musings and striking new B&W and colour images (to come!) from Jason Florio (and the odd one from Jones just so we can get a few pics with Florio in them too!!) from our walk around the Gambia, West Africa Apologies for the delay in updating but we have been...
- Abdouli (The Negotiator) Janneh – A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush Team Member – Portrait by Jason Florio Image: Jason Florio – The Gambia – 2009 ...
- Helen (’Boss Lady’) Jones – A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush Expedition Leader – Portrait by Jason Florio Image: Jason Florio – The Gambia – 2009 ...
- Jason (Mappin’ out The Gambia) Florio – A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush Expedition Leader – Portrait by Jones Image: Jones – The Gambia – 2009 ...
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January 16th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Welcome back a fantastic achievement, fab photos, brilliant diary, thrilled that Paddy did his bit – thanks to [P] Hadley for taking over.
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Thank you so much. We loved ALL 3 of them equally. Infact, we wanted t take them back home with us!
we have more images of them to add so keep checking in. I can send you over a couple of images of Paddy if you like? Helen & Jason
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:54 pm
We would love some photos of Paddy as the only one we have is when he was a foal, with his mother ‘Waddie’ who died last year. Thank you we will keep checking in.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:25 am
We’ll definitely send some over, hopefully by the weekend. If for some reason you don’t hear from us, then please prompt us as we are mid-prepping going back to NY
May 27th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Great Blog. Just not sure why I am up at 3 a.m. reading this.
May 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Hi there Sondra , thank you for stopping by in the early hours
always good to have some feedback. Please keep popping in as we update all the time.
If you want to keep updated on Florio’s other work you can find him on Facebook if you search for jason florio – photojournalist/writer/artist and click ‘like’ you can get updates as to whenever we update the blog too