On the Road with my family: Part 2

Later in the day when I asked my eldest son, Nana Kwame, what he enjoyed about the first day, he told me it was the travelling. In addition to that, I enjoyed the conversations at the back seat of the car among Nana Kwame, Nana Yaw, Maame Esi, Laila and Jona.

Kids do have the nicest of conversations - never underestimate their intelligence and the inquisitive turns their mind take in their perambulations. 

Finally, my best moments in the car were the opportunities to tell the kids some history.

As we approached Atimpoku, I asked them if they knew about the longest suspension bridge in Ghana (as far as I know). None of them did. I told them it was the Adomi Bridge and that we were going to drive over it. Nana Kwame and Jona went into an argument about how long it could possibly be.

The winning length was 500 meters! I had no idea till then that they knew about meters, much more to estimate them! Nana Kwame was afraid that it would be so long that it would frighten him. 

Later when we passed on it and took pictures by it, without any fears from him, it was a good point to teach him a lesson that most times, our fears are bigger in our imaginations than in reality.

I told them about the story of J.J. Rawlings flying a jet under the Adomi bridge. They were fascinated. 

'Does a plane fly under water too?'

'Oh J.J. Rawlings, I remember him. When Atta Mills died, he went to pay his last respects.'

After crossing the bridge, we stopped to take pictures and also discuss how the lake is used to generate electricity for the entire country. A trip to the dam will be a worthy follow-up.

Our next target was Ho where we were to have lunch. 

Travelling with kids, one is reminded yet again that we hardly have places of convenience by our highways and byways - a fearful thing in Sikaman if nature should call at the wrong time.

Around Asikuma Junction, I called my friend Kofi Gbedemah, who I call the Mayor of Ho. He knows the region like his ‘fetridetsi’. I wanted to know where I could get the tastiest jollof rice in Ho. This was for the sake of my son Nana Yaw - he eats nothing else in restaurants! 

Kofi assured me that the best jollof rice in Ho was at Woezor Hotel. And he was right. But one had to wait for about an hour; the food was worth it. Fried rice also featured on our table, with grilled chicken and grilled tilapia. 

We left Ho around 4.20 p.m. having belched 'akpe' - with satisfaction.

Our drive took us up the hills and descended to Kpeve - lovely scenery, the kids loving the climb up and the view of the terrain below. 

We turned right as we descended into Kpeve and drove on to Hohoe, arriving just before 8 p.m. and sighting the Granslodge just at the outskirts of Hohoe. 

For GH¢50 per room without meals, it was a good bargain. For the kids, the hotel experience was a great ending to a fantastic day. 

Eventually, the kids started to sleep one after the other. The last to sleep were Nana Yaw and Jona, who drifted off playing games on their little tablet. 

They were up early, and soon we were co-ordinating the bathing and dressing up of five children, with the attendant noise, complaints and delay tactics. 

Because Granslodge didn't serve meals, we had to find a place to have breakfast before setting off for Tafi Atome, our first intended point of call, to see the monkeys. Tina, the receptionist, directed me to Boondocks Restaurant on the rooftop and we left the lodge around 8 a.m. to find the restaurant.

Jollof (for Nana Yaw, of course), banku and okro stew fortified with tilapia (how can you visit the squirrel and not partake in a feast of nuts!), French fries and grilled chicken featured on our table. 

Since we weren't sure of where we could get lunch for the children during the trip, we decided also that we ate well in the morning. The meal was good and we all enjoyed it. 

After buying some snacks - fruit juice in paper packs, biscuits - and filling up the tank with fuel, we were off to Tafi. On our way, we stopped intermittently to take pictures of the scenery.

Maame Esi asked us to buy bananas, she loves them. If you thought she was going to eat them, then you were mistaken. Soon I heard her crying behind me. Her complaint was that Laila wanted to eat the bananas that she was sending to the monkeys!

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