The Mali Bus Mile

A few years ago I had the pleasure of traveling with Leslie and a few other buyers to West Africa. We had a great trip but one part we'll never forget was our fateful bus ride through Mali. It was such an adventure that I decided to write a poem about it that should be read - or preferably sung - to the theme of Gilligan's Isle. For those of you born to late to know this TV show it might now be quite as funny but I think you'll still get the general idea!

"The Mali Bus Mile" (sung to the theme of Gilligan’s Isle)

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
It started on a Mali bus, that seemed fully equipped
It seemed fully equipped!

Chum was our a fearless driving man
Elaine had the route secure
Six buyers set out on our rig
For a 5 day bus tour
A five day bus tour

The weather started getting hot
The mini bus did cough
If not for the fan belt in the town of San
The buyers would be lost
The buyers would be lost

 

The bus lost coolant in Mop-ti
Hardly an "oas-us"
With Phyllis there (Gilligan), and Elaine too (skipper)
The Buyer Tim (millionaire) and poor sick Sta-cey (his wife)
Well-dressed Diane (movie star), fix it Liz (professor) and Les-lie (Maryann)
All on the broken down bus!

 

So this is the tale of our buying crew,
They rode for a long, long time
They had to make the best of things,
It was a hot and arduous grind.

 

Driver Chum and Skipper Elaine,
They did their very best,
To make the buyers comfortable,
In their over-heated nest.

 

No phone! No internet! No air conditioning!
Not a single luxury,
Like Robinson C-ru-soe, it was primitive as can be.
It was primitive as can be.

 

So I hope you had a laugh my friends,
You're sure to look back and smile,
About seven stranded buyer types
Here on "The Mali Bus Mile."