We made it there and back!

A few obstacles encountered along the way but at least it was eventful.

- Lots of snow in northern France, Motorway closed do to a crashed snow plough and we were diverted onto a hill road six inches of fresh snow.  Uphill was hardwork, downhill was quite memorable.  Still did France in a day.

- Nothing at all happened in Spain, covered Spain in a day too

- Ahh Morroco, this is where the fun started, chaotic border control.  Rear ended by a Mercedes that was truly sorry it tried to take Pinky from behind.  Steel towbar versus Mercedes Grill/bumper, no contest really.   Then the Transmission BOILED its fluid and we stopped with smoke billowing out.  New year In Marrakech was fun.  The 6000ft high Tizi-n-test mountain road was spectacular.

- Mauritania, dusty home to every last dying renault 12 in the world. Took the tarmac through the desert. No reverse gear meant we couldn't risk deep sand. A variable selection of forward gears made the tarmac interesting enough. Dirt road to Diama shook chunks of bodywork off the van and every ounce of hidden body filler became visible.  Windscreen was held in with Gaffer tape by this point.

- Senegal, Dirt road took its toll with delayed effect.  A radiator hose burst and drowned the electrics but a pickup coil for the electronic ignition also failed probably from the vicious dirt road to diama.  Forced to spend almost a week a Zebrabar whilst some very good friends DHL'd a spare part to us.   Left for Gambia with a group of bikers all riding Honda C90s to Banjul.  Quite probably crazy but good company and happy to share their Bonnie Prince Nigel Spanish "Scotch" whisky round the camp fire.

- Gambia, warm welcome at the border once the Senegalese customs gave up trying to find a customs export certificate for the pink Van.  Roads are very variable in quality.  The Ferry from Barra to Banjul took eight hours and were were pestered for gifts and money the WHOLE time.  Imagine taking eight hours crossing to the Isle of wight ?

Handed the van over to the Gambian end of the challenge control group, had a few beers and flew home.

Cant wait to do it again, might be another Chevy van, might be something even less suited to deserts and high mountain passes.

Updates will be forthcoming as available.

No news yet on how much "Pinky" raised at auction.

 

Daily updates should appear here by SMS (team 6213) http://drewsweb.net/pdc04/pdc06/fieldrep/t6213fr.htm

Pictures will be added to our website as the opportunity arises using http://www.flyingfakirs.net/