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Awesome by Accident

In Memory of Gene Rodgers – Read Gene’s Obituary Video Gallery

Ghana

The villagers were curious about us. When we first reached the village, our guide told the villagers that my friend Bill and I were paralyzed and needed help getting out of our canoes. They rushed to our aid. At one point, I was afraid they would swamp the canoes.

Villagers in Ghana pose for the camera

A ship sails with Gene and friends. Gene wears a hat and blue shirt, in the stern.From left to right, we have Bruce, Bill, Ellen and Jacque. — That’s me, in the hat and blue shirt, in the stern.

Gene on a boat in Ghana near the stern while in his wheel chair — I got a bit warm and had to be watered down.

Gene with friends and family on a boat in Ghana. — That’s Bill on the left, Bruce at the tiller, and Ellen with the kids.

A group of people sitting together on a boat in Ghana — From left to right, we have Bruce, Bill, Ellen and Jacque.
This was taken on the Volta River.

interior galley of the boat in Ghana, Africa. — This is the galley.

Two men lifting Gene from a rowboat. — That’s me being lifted up to the deck from the rowboat. If you look at the picture on top,
you can see that it is quite a lift, particularly from an unstable rowboat.

Bruce’s House

November 1992

greenery and trees seen in a home in Ghana Africa — I went to Ghana to visit my friend Bruce. This is the roof of his house. The great thing about the roof is….

A home in Ghana, Africa with trees and furniture in the room — This is the galley.

Gene and friends sitting at a table enjoying breakfast — This is where we had breakfast every morning, on the veranda. Always fresh fruit, real fruit juice.

Gene's friend pouring water on him to cool him down — We explored the countryside every day. Some days I got too hot and had to have water poured over me to cool me off. One day, Bill needed to get hosed down because he was so hot.

A group of people smiling while making foo foo — Making Foo-Foo from the casava plant.

Stilted Village

view of Ghana from a Land Rover window — The picture above, was taken through the windshield of a borrowed Land Rover. You can see the grass was just a few inches higher than the hood. Moments after this picture was taken, we hit a tree stump, hidden by the grass.

Stilted village in Ghana, Africa — The waterway eventually opened up into a lake. Here, you can see the object of our quest, the Stilted Village. The village was built in the middle of a lake, as part of its defense against other tribes.

Gene's friend pouring water on him to cool him down — We explored the countryside every day. Some days I got too hot and had to have water poured over me to cool me off. One day, Bill needed to get hosed down because he was so hot.

A group of people smiling while making foo foo — Making Foo-Foo from the casava plant.

A jeep in a field in Ghana, Africa. — We’re in the same area, near Beyin, on our journey to the Stilted Village.

Gene and friends travel in dug out canoes with guides in Ghana, Africa. — After traveling as far as possible by Land Rover, we got into dug-out canoes, led by guides. We traveled through a swamp like area that was once home to crocodiles.

Villagers in Ghana pose for the camera — The villagers were curious about us. When we first reached the village, our guide told the villagers that my friend Bill and I were paralyzed and needed help getting out of our canoes. They rushed to our aid. At one point, I was afraid they would swamp the canoes.

Sidewalk from a village in Ghana, Africa. — I bet these kids don’t skateboard.

Senya Beraku Castle

Senya Beraku was the last fort built by the Dutch. Fort Good Hope was erected in 1702 and extended in 1715. It is four sided and lies on a promontory overlooking a cove with a good landing beach.
1992

Gene and his friend Bill look out from the castle window — Bill and I check out the view enjoyed by the Dutch 300 years ago.

Hole in the wall of the Senya Beraku Castle

Gene being carried down the steps within the fort — When the Dutch built this fort, they forgot to put in elevators. Here, I am being carried down some steps. Some forts, built 100 years earlier than this one, had ramps up to their highest levels. This facilitated the movement of canons, gun powder, barrels of almost anything, etc. That made it easier for Bill and I to tour those forts.

An island in the middle of a body of water

A group of people standing next to a palm tree on the top of a fort — Here we are at yet another fort.

Senya Beraku Castle in Ghana, Africa. — This is the same fort as above. It played a key role in the slave industry.

Gene's friend bill being pulled up a hill in his wheel chair — Here’s Drew pulling Bill up a hill near Biriwa Beach. This is obviously a rookie maneuver. To move, either up or down, this hill, one should do it facing away from the hill.

Gene relaxing on a beach while in his wheel chair. — My friends abandoned me here on the beach. The night previous, we stayed at the famous Biriwa Beach Hotel. The hotel is run by a German couple. They had a monopoly game, written in German. I know some German but was rather economical with the truth when I interpreted the cards. Some may even say I lied with the interpretations to turn the game to my advantage.