Monday, February 07, 2005
MERCEDES SOLD
Our 20 year old friend was finally sold at auction on Saturday the 5th February at the National Stadium, Banjul. It raised a staggering 90,000 Gambian Dalasi, which is about £1,700. Not bad for a car that was sold as a non runner about a year ago, and has since almost faultlessly travelled across the Sahara Desert. It even floated across water in Senegal! The total sale price will be allocated to Gambian based charities. Quite a significant amount in a country where an average wage is around £35 per month. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, from our sponsors and friends to our long suffering wives and families. Time to start thinking about next year - did I mention that we're already on the mailing list!
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Back Home Now
Arrived home about 1.00 am today. Car will be auctioned on Saturday 5th February we hope. Story of adventure will be written up as soon as time permits. Result of auction will be posted here.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Not many buyers at auction so reserves put on vehicles. Bidding on Mercedes went to 1500 pounds but reserve of 1700 not met. Will sell next week.
Auction delayed because President declared today as national clean up day and banned vehicle movements until midday as incentive to stay at home.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Group 2 "football team" ha ha just lost 5-2 to Kartong Village. They say loosing was due to uneven pitch requiring local knowledge. No comment.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Total for today's auction with only 23 vehicles entered, approx. £24,300. We hope the Mercedes will raise £1,500 when we finish with it.
Live from the auction at National Olympic Stadium, the Gambia. First vehicle auctioned 2CV £1420, Citroen Van £1364. Mercedes not in this auction.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Attending Challenge Dinner up dirt track about 1 mile off main road. African music, dancers, restaurant and Folk Art Gallery. Fantastic atmosphere.
Just finished parade around city meeting dignitaries. Not sure which are more knackered, cars or drivers. Free beer, must drink before driving here
Strangely Brown recommended to talk about event on Gambian TV having just run over someone's false leg whilst parking.
In middle of Banjul causing traffic chaos for press promotion with Arab Islamic Bank. We can cause more chaos than the locals, with Police help!!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Welcome to Gambia brother. You my friend. Me student from poor family, you help me education. You want buy some grass, you want change some money?
Arrived safely at final destination - Safari Garden. Flushing toilets, oh what luxury! 5211 not arrived, on later ferry. Last one's a homo! Ha ha!
Now on ferry. Rear of car is hanging over bow of boat. Only way out of car is the window. Wedged in by bikes, goats etc.
Spent night in car awaiting ferry.. Woken at 5.30am. Total chaos trying to get tickets. Only right that the challenge should end this way.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Just arriving Senegal/Gambia border. Long slow drive in convoy. No idea where we'll stay as we can't make our destination. I'm tired, good night.
Still heading to Gambia. Renault Espace shed a tyre, no spares. Hammered a Fiat wheel into shape to make it fit. Already missed ferry to Banjul.
Renegade group returned having bumped into escort. All group now moving South. Had cold beans from ration pack, gave fork away, no washing up.
Too much for some. 4 cars have gone without escort and no paperwork. They may make it, they may have cars confiscated, or worse. Time for lunch now
Still awaiting customs escort in hot sunshine. Tempers shortening ha ha, some considering going it alone ha ha. Could get car confiscated ha ha.
Departure for Gambia not happening as planned. Personalities under severe strain. Chilli con carne for breakfast firmly stuck in frying pan!
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Had good day in St Louis. Stitched up to perfection by local traders. Found black market gold just as we were getting on boat for return journey.
Half way to St Louis in boat. Very windy, very rough & getting wet. Think boatmen having a laugh at our expense.
Just borded traditional boat for ride up the river to St Louis. Passengers from first boat having to change. Their boat sinking - seriously!
More of group 2 arrived 2am including Creamy Treats. Strangely Brown made it through desert but now stuck in car park. Having minor repair to exh.
Monday, January 10, 2005
About 15 vehicles just arrived from Nouakchott with tales of repairs and levels of service not obtainable in UK. Pajero parts off the shelf!!
Lovely campsite. Too much marine life for swimming. Others from group very conspicuous by absence. 30 hours ago they were leaving 2 hours after us!
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Just arrived campsite. Had to cross water to get to site, bow wave almost over bonnet but all OK. Citroen van flooded, ha ha. Having big beer ha ha
Now following Customs pickup, no plates but excellent hazard lights! The gits are using our diesel to take half of Senegal home in back of pickup!
Customs wanted us to wait for bigger convoy. Did a deal with 10 litres of diesel & a knackered Jerry Can with leaking top. Should be on our way soon.
Must have Customs escort in Senegal. Now waiting to be escorted 40 km to Zebrebar campsite for couple of day's rest. Possible no phone signal there
Drove through National Park to Senegal border at Diama. Wonderful birds (feathered). Now cleared out of Mauritania
Not all vehicles repaired yet. Hotel expensive, decided to push on to Senegal border ahead of others. David got the shits again. Poor David.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Broken drive shaft repaired on Renault within couple of hours. Pajero repairs well under way. Many other vehicles under repair/rebuild.
Arrived at overnight stop, straight into shower, feel human again. Out for walk around town and meal at local restaurant. Been nice knowing you!
Pajero towing Renault seized rear wheel in high ratio. Continued slowly in low ratio. Only 40 kms to overnight stop and rest/repair day.
Good night's sleep on beach with waves 2 meters from tent. Much pushing to get vehicles off beach, Merc no problem. 160k of piste then Nouakchott.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Another excellent day in desert without problems. Few cars got stuck. Renault bust drive shaft, had to be towed by Pajero. Camped on beach.
Stayed last night at village. Had local fish meal in tent. Was good, a million flies can't be wrong! Still in control of bodily functions.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Good mixture of hard surface and soft sand, smooth & bumpy. Mercedes floats across soft stuff. Very dry and dusty. Great fun.
Had good night under canvas. David has woken with shits, not funny, but ha ha anyway. After much haggling we have guide for desert, hope he's OK!
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Stopped in no man's land between borders, sold Blue Ardvaark Mercedes without paperwork. Now off to Mauritanian border. Very hot but windy.
THE DESERT SECTION
At this point we left civilisation and entered the desert. There was no phone coverage for the next 4 days. The messages above were written and stored on the phone, but were not transmitted until reception returned at the border between Mauritania and Senegal.
Arrived at exit border for Morocco. Total mayhem as is normal. Mircea crashed in car park/tip. Hit tow ball, broken front number plate!
Well into desert now. Strong winds causing problems with trailer, engine getting hot, having to employ risk management strategy.
Blue Ardvaark being towed to no man's land to loose car, we have his trailer on the Mercedes. Cool eh! Well we hope the engine stays that way.
Just one thing before we loose coms, Dorothy please could you let me know when I should start changing my underwear. It's day 10 now.
Up early for drive to Mauritania. Today we finish with Tarmac roads and loose pione signal for a few days. One more town stop then just desert.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Just been to local restaurant for lunch. Fantastic fish, flies epic but still in full control of bodily functions. Time for a sleep then swim. 30c
Happy birthday to brother Terry. I'm sure Mark, Adam & Nicola will prepare a nice meal for you tonight.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Blue Ardvaark already in negotiations to sell remainder of his car, which also crashed into tow vehicle. Can be removed from p/port as part of sale
Good news, hooter now working. Should be useful in the desert. Also now have 2 headlights and we're hoping the sun visor will stop falling off.
Disaster, we have 3 broken studs on 1 wheel. Team Blue Ardvaark have been towed in with blown engine on their Mercedes. Spares delivered in 1 hour.
Very nice drive down to Dhakla through real desert. Many wild camels on road. Stopped in desert and had ice cream from Creamy Treats
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Arrived at overnight stop after half the group got lost and joined up looking for hotel. Directions were OK but in the wrong town. All good fun.
Crossing into Western Sahara. No border as Morocco claims it's theirs. Apart from Police checks quite an uneventful day - but we're working on it!
Making good progress down coast, nothing but sea to the right, sand to the left and numerous Police check points. Not guilty, at least until dark.
Mircea has been done for speeding & is unhappy. He says he was doing more than 79 kph. Please dont text & take the mickey. His no. is +447771544723
Start of desert now, first camels. Still have 500 miles of tarmac. Fuel getting less plentiful. Filled up jerry cans in case. Warming up during day
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Fantastic drive through Atlas Mountains, winding roads, ice, snow and fantastic scenery. Are you jealous?
Now lost the bloody hooter, which means we don't have priority at junctions, can't go round blind bends on wrong side and can't join in chorus at traffic lights
Mircea is getting lots of new driving experience through the mountains. Much off roading, some intentional, some not! Through locust swarm now.
Have hit first locusts at 7000ft in Atlas Mountains trying to fly North to UK and claim assylum. Most not making it. Dead ones make nice crunching noise under foot.
5211 have tunnel vision with obsession to get it right. We have lateral vision with a natural talent for getting it wrong!
News has reached us that 5211 has been criticising us on PDC website. We have different agendas ....
Happy New Year to all. Marrakech is bit quieter today. Car was still outside hotel. Now heading South through Tizi-n-Test pass in Atlas Mountains
Friday, December 31, 2004
Found out what happened to car. Police towed all cars legally parked from outside hotel to clear road for New Year celebrations.
Found a man who had a friend who knew someone whose uncle knew a man that could find car. Was dumped up a back street. Car now parked in hotel foyer for safe keeping!
No sign of car at present. Have been eyeing up some very interesting alternatives to continue the journey. There are cars much worse than ours.
Woke this morning to find car has been lifted from outside hotel. Funny how nobody speaks English when we're not buying. Must look for car now!
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Stopped by Police again. This time he spoke some English but let us go because he seriously though we were in the Paris Dakar Rally.
Stopped by Police. "Parlez vous Francais?" Sorry, English, don't understand. "Allez, allez!" Works every time. Nous ne parlons pas Francais. Ha ha!
Small electrical problem developed. Headlight goes out, radio stops. Must fix radio tomorrow. Also have a missing wheel stud but all OK so far!!
Forgot to mention, I thought I'd try my fake reg document at Moroccan border for a laugh but they spotted it. Best save it for Senegal customs!
Heading down coast to Casablanca then Marrakech. Stopping at scrap yards to find part for car. No luck yet, but they try hard sell the wrong part.
Through border into Morocco. Total chaos as expected. Had to modify maps on vehicle to not show border between Morocco/Mauritania. Off to Marakech
Up early with plenty of hot water but no time for jacuzzi. Travelled to ferry in convoy, now waiting to board. Few more arrived overnight.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Hotel car park looks like paddock at banger race meeting. Ice cream van arrived. 2CV shed arrived with no brakes. Most have made it somehow!
Overheating problems partially resolved by manual operation of electro magnetic fan. Will have to live with hole in expansion tank.
Have been looking across Straights of Gibraltar pondering the trip ahead, Mircea is still worrying about what's happening behind.
What a result, we have the first casualty, Mircea has the shits. Also currently no water in bathroom - and we haven't left Europe yet!!
Most of group 2 at hotel now. Creamy Treats in ice cream van conspicuous by their absence. Mircea says Guiness isn't conducive with communal living
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Strange isn't it. Driving a German car, registered in England on Irish plates, to Africa. Now sitting in Irish pub in Spain eating English food.
Oh no, while Mircea is fiddling with air conditioning I've found a jacuzzi in bath. Air conditioning WAS on, but currently NOT working!!
Arrived safely at hotel for tonight about 10 miles from Gibraltar. No further problems. Teams here from Holland, America, Australia, cars ranging from 2CV to Pontiac
Reached the coast, having lunch in sunshine outside Albert's, a small restaurant at a small port called Cabopino. Brings back memories for some.
Travelling through Sierra Nevada mountains, fantastic scenery. Lost count of the olive trees at around three billion!
Back on road again, another lovely day. Changing scenery now. Heading towards Granada then on to Gibraltar via Malaga. Looking for Mercedes dealer!
Monday, December 27, 2004
Stuck in traffic while cars are cleared from heavy snow yesterday. Steam from under bonnet, hole in header tank! Looking forward to desert!!
Now crossing the Pyrenees. Some snow but roads OK. Stopped by customs at Spanish border. Explained that we had lots of souvenirs, no problems.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Arrived safely at Bayonne. No snow, think the French weather forecaster was called Michele Poisson! Long day, good night. P.S. Mircea on top bunk.
Getting down towards Bordeaux, no problems so far. Just had weather forecast on radio - very heavy snow falling in Pyrenees!!
Established on motorway to Paris. French very hostile towards English, having to drive on wrong side like they do.
Approaching Boulogne, good crossing on Speedferries vomit comet. Left 20 mins late, thrown out plans for whole trip!
Friday, December 24, 2004
Thursday, December 16, 2004
SMS to Website Technology
This page will be used for live updates on our progress (or lack of it). We'll endeavour to keep you informed of "unscheduled events" that occur en-route. As the journey progresses we will be without phone coverage for a few days. When this happens we will continue sending messages but they will arrive together when we have coverage again. That's the theory anyway! Many thanks to "txtsolutions" for their help in setting up this facility. Please visit them at http://blog.txtsolutions.com/