DAY 2: 28/12/2012 JOURNEY TO ENUGU)

The next day, myself, my brother and dad drove off back to Enugu, to address some family issues.

Attached pics were taken before we drove off. Meanwhile, my brother was now taking the shots/picture.

Ikenna.

On Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

Somewhere after Amansea

Ikenna.

Still on the journey to Enugu on the expressway

Me in action, shifting stick. Pulling a V6 stick can be so fun.

Ikenna.

Still on the Journey to Enugu

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After 9th mile, Enugu.

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Ugwu Onyeama, Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

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Arrived our destination, somehwere around Emene, Enugu. Mission was to resolve some issues with our land with the caretaker.

Ikenna.

Mission accomplished. We took off again back to Anambra.

On our way, we decided to visit our Uncles and Aunties from my mothers side, in their hometown, Nise.

Ikenna.

Arrived Anambra.

Driving through Amawbia town.

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Amawbia roundabout.


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Behind Governor's lodge or used to.

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On the road to Nise town.

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Ngodo Junction, Nise.

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Arrived our destination.

Was so happy to meet the elderly loved ones, once again. Most importantly, got blessed by them. So happy to get those blessings.

Later in the evening, we left and drove back home

Ikenna.

DAY 3: 29/12/2012. REST

I stayed at home all day. Didnt step out of our compound.

Ikenna.

DAY 4: 30/12/2012 (SUNDAY)

Prepared and went to Church, for 6:00am Mass with my brother.

Pictures were taken at the Church Car park.

Ikenna.

Around 2:00pm, I drove off again to Enugu. I always like to drive off from Enugu to Abuja, whenever am going back to Abuja. So, since i planned to travel back to Abuja on 31/12/2012, i had to drive back to Enugu again that afternoon.

The attached picture was taken at Aroma Junction, Awka, along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

Ikenna.

On the way to Enugu (Enugu-Onitsha expressway).

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (aka Unizik) school gate is on the left side of the highway, on the picture. An Alumni, I am.

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I drove staright to NNPC Mega station, to fill the fuel tank, against my journey back to Abuja the next day.

While i was on the queue, i heard the sound of the radiator electric fan, spinning roughly. I quickly opened the bonnet and saw the fan blade dangling and making terrible noise as if the motor bearing has failed. Hmm! "How do i deal with this?", I asked myself. Unfortunately, it was on Sunday. No one to give the fan to replace the failed bearing or buy another fan. Yet, i was suppose to travell the next morning. It wasnt a funny situation. Well, I decided to first buy the fuel. So i manage to run the engine with the fan off till i bought the fuel.

Attached picture taken at the NNPC mega station, while on queue, which happened to be the only fuel station that was selling fuel at the normal price, N97.

Ikenna.

As soon as I bought the fuel, i drove out of the station with the fan off.

I packed outside the fuel station, then opened the hood and deicided to try and fix the fan myself, if it would still be fixable.

Ikenna.

I pulled out the fan with it shroud and separated the blade from the motor. And there was the culprit!

When I bought and converted the fan from Viscous to electric, by myself, the person i bought the fan from swore the fan has never been opened, that it was a tokunbo. But when i now opened it, i noticed that it has been opened, probably the blade was changed before it was sold to me. But whoever opened the fan forgot to lock the blade on the motor with a washer. So a small tiny rod (if you look closely on the picture) that was driving the blade, now slipped off and fall into the motor, because the blade was not tight enough on the motor assembly. Luckily, the rod didnt fall off. So i pulled out the rod, put it back, placed back the blade on it, got a washer from my tool bag and locked the blade on the motor firmly. I re-installed the fan assmebly on the radiator and tested it and it was working like new again. Phew!

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I concluded fixing the fan issue within 15 mins, closed the bonnet and drove off to where i would stay till the next day. I got there, packed the car and left for Shoprite again with public transport.

Ikenna.

DAY 5: 31/12/2012 (JOURNEY BACK TO ABUJA FROM ENUGU)

Woke up again at 4:20am.

Did the normal checking and arranged some edibles in the front passenger's seat and some in the rear seat. And drove off to Abuja at 6:22am.

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At Otupka, Benue State, after Obollo Afor.

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At a Junction, somewhere in Kogi state.

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At Lokoja.

I arrived Lokoja at 9:50am. I refuelled and continued the journey to Abuja.

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At Airport road, Abuja, entering the Abuja city. From the picture, you can see the Abuja STADIUM few poles ahead.

By the way, I got to Gwagwalada at 11:55am and kept firing.

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Finally, i arrived my house, where it all started, at 12:35pm, as you can see in the attached picture.

I came out of the car, looked at the car, smiled and walked away.

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First, I would like to commend the Federal govenrment for making the Abuja-Lokoja highway smoother in this Xmas holiday. Those that ply that road road often will understand. At least, am not sure i saw any pothole, except few places where the road was cut off to be re-tarred. Expecially, those driving or coming back to Abuja now have their own lane to a very large extent. To be very honest, i didnt see any accident on that Abuja-Lokoja highway in this trip, both while going and coming back. Both the FRSC too lived upto their expectations, as long as that highway is concerned and as far as am concerned.

Then, Lokoja to Enugu highway was good too. I also commend the Kogi state government. Even though, i still came accross one or two bad spots, but the conditions of the raod was fair enough to me not to complain.

Unfortunatly, along Lokoja-Enugu highway, i counted like 4 VW Golf MK3 in the bush. I just kept wondering what is wrong with us. Why did i say so?

Somewhere along the Lokoja- Enugu highway, i overtook a Golf 3. Seconds later, a Golf 3 pulled off to overtake me, while overtaking me, the driver winked at me when i looked. I then noticed it was a car I just overtook seconds ago. He immediately increased speed and speed passed me. I looked at the speed i was doing, looked at the pace the Golf was fading away and shaked my head. Why would someone on a long journey want to race? Why would someone with a small city car want to compete with a family sized car designed for highway, and most importantly, designed for speed? From the speed i was doing, i could tell that the Golf was doing 160km/h or more. People tend to forget to understand that big car or a V6 car and it supension, is designed to sock up pothole and still maintain it stability. That one sees 220km/h on its city car instrument cluster does not mean the car is safe to do such speed. At such speed that Golf was doing, how do one expect that car to react at a sharp bend or if blow out occurs?

A city car is not meant for highway. But if one must drive it on highway or travel with it, going beyond 120km/h is suicidal. Anyway, by the time i got to Obollo Affor, I saw that same Golf packed by the road side with the bonnet opened. All the occupants of the car were in front of the car with driver standing akimbo. I got closed, looked at them (with my windows up), the driver waved at me, i shaked my head and fired on. We have to live with any decision we make. Only God knew what must have happened to that engine. At least, I thanked God that it wasnt in the Bush that I saw them again.

Ikenna.

One more thing.

Please, i wont recommend or advice anyone to take pictures while driving on highway. Its very dangerous. I have decided to get a car front dash mounted camera next time. Or i will simply pack where its safe, take the shots and carry on.

In my case, i had to slow down to take those shots which was slowing me down.

Please, am not encouraging anyone to do the same. Get yourself a proper camera for it, if you are interested in documenting a road trip with pictures or you pack at safe place and take your pictures.

Ikenna.

I enjoyed reading your travel experience.

Any reason why you didn't switch off your bumper lights at Otukpa,Kogi?

aieromon: I enjoyed reading your travel experience.

Any reason why you didn't switch off your bumper lights at Otukpa,Kogi?

The Wheather was still foggy. So, i had to leave it on, since i was doing highspeed and would want an oncoming car to see the car from afar.

Ikenna.