Fifth Journey Day 197: Bell-Tone Holding the Dust

Date: November 21, 2025
Location: Zwedru, Liberia

In Zwedru, in southeastern Liberia, the afternoon settles over red-dust roads and the edge of dense rainforest near Grebo‑Krahn country. Humidity hangs like a soft curtain; motorbikes thread the routes between villages, and the low thrum of generators rises at dusk—everyday textures that shape how color and quiet are felt.

Walking the Dust Road

Today, things settled into a slow, almost quiet rhythm. I walked toward the edge of the forest in the late afternoon, when the light had softened just enough to feel gentle on the skin. The road was dusty, and every step lifted a small cloud that hung in the air for a moment before falling back into the earth. A few motorbikes passed, and their sound lasted much longer than expected in the humid air.

At the Forest’s Edge

At the edge of the forest, the temperature dropped a little. The trees made a kind of loose, uneven roof, letting in the sunlight in thin, moving strips. I stood still for a while, letting my breathing match the slower pace around me. The air smelled like wet leaves and dirt. Every so often, a bird would make a loud, sharp sound from deep inside. It was like the bird was testing the air.

Changing Sightlines

I didn't go very deep. I didn't need to. The change from open road to filtered light was enough. My mind felt a little clearer, but not that much. I am just realizing that being here, in this strange place, is changing the way I see movement, color, and stillness.

Bell-Tone Encounter

On the way back, a boy herding goats stopped to look at me, then nodded once before going back to his work. The goats' bells made a soft, uneven sound that continued even after I couldn't see them anymore. It was a short moment, but it had a big impact on me.

Nightfall in Zwedru

Tonight, the air feels warm and quiet. I can hear music from a house across the road, mixed with the sound of a generator. I'm a little tired, but in a good way. It's like the day was easy, and I did the same.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Warm and bright with thin cloud cover; about 28°C, heavy humidity that holds sound and dust in the air.
• Scents: Wet leaves, damp earth at the forest edge, a trace of road dust warming in the sun.
• Sounds: Motorbikes stretching their echo through humid air, a sharp bird call from the understory, soft goat bells, evening music braided with a generator’s steady hum.
• Reflection: The shift from open road to filtered forest light was enough—an exercise in choosing stillness and letting small encounters resonate.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy another quiet afternoon pause—this time in a different Liberia—by reading Fourth Journey Day 18: A Pause in the Afternoon from Liberia, Costa Rica.