Stranded at the Butchers Shop

On our last day in The Gambia, I thought it might be a great idea to rent bicycles. The advantages were two-fold. First, we’d get to see a lot more of the Atlantic Coast. Second, we’d be able to outrun the hordes of touts trying to devise ways to relieve us of our hard-earned dalasis.

What we didn’t expect was a torrential downpour to hit just moments after we got our bikes. It had been sunny and hot all morning, but the minute we started riding, there was a thunder clap. We at least wanted to get to our chosen venue for lunch before the storm hit. My feet pedalled faster and faster, but I couldn’t outrun the rain. It began to sprinkle slightly.

Within 15 minutes, we arrived at The Butchers Shop (more on that in a minute), parked our bikes and just seconds later, the light rain turned into a monsoon. Phew! I was wet, but not completely soaked.

For the next two hours, we were stranded, while the rain continued. But we couldn’t think of a better place to be stuck than at a popular restaurant with a Sunday buffet that is to die for. I don’t think we had better cuisine in all of our three weeks. The restaurant is owned by Driss, a Moroccan TV celebrity chef, and he was there during our visit.

His staff prepared a buffet of roast beef, lasagna, carrot salad, grilled vegetables, spicy penne, potato casserole, hard-boiled eggs, pancakes drizzled with chocolate. While we noshed away, water in the parking lot rose up to the pedal of my bike.

When people wanted to leave, Driss backed up his van (his license plate reads “Flavour 1”) to the edge of the restaurant’s front deck and everyone stepped in the back. Then he pulled forward past the huge lake that had formed out front and then guests would jump out.

So much for it being the end of rainy season! The rain finally subsided about the time we were due to return our bikes, so we didn’t explore much else than culinary excellence. Like I said, it could have been worse.