there
is little in the way of wildlife and whilst we did not try our hand at
fishing the lack of available food for the water life suggested there was
little in the way of fish.A whole lot has happened since I last emailed and updated you all!! If I recall correctly I last updated the web page from Aswan. Well I guess that is where I should start from then….
To get over to the Sudan there is only one way, and that is by ferry. I
hired a barge the cost of which was split between 4 land rovers, 2 land
cruisers and 2 motorbikes. The barge was supposed to take 24 hours to make
the crossing but ended up taking 72 hours (this is now Africa time). The
Aswan is roughly 4 times the size of Lake Kariba but due to lack of
vegetation on along the shoreline (desert landscape)
there
is little in the way of wildlife and whilst we did not try our hand at
fishing the lack of available food for the water life suggested there was
little in the way of fish.
Sudan was quite interesting, firstly the quantities of beer that had been consumed so far was no longer legal!! Islamic law in Sudan prohibits the consumption of all and any alcohol, this was definitely going to be a hurdle that needed to be overcome!! 10 days later and after some very sober travelling out of Sudan into Ethiopia I had a blow out and rolled my Land Rover!! What a mess!!! Thankfully I was not going too fast and we only rolled once, and apart from two broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a couple grazes and a bruised ego, Dad and I were okay. This could have been so much worse.
Okay so now comes an excuse…it was for this reason that I had been so slack in sending updates to the web page until now, I do apologise for this but as you can all appreciate I have had a couple of things to sort out since the accident.
Well the day after the accident was decision day….have the vehicle
recovered back to Khartoum and fly home or to continue at a slow pace and
complete the Africa Challenge…I do not think there was ever a question that
we did not want to complete the
trip
with the only consideration being the state of the vehicle so Steff (A
South African friend from Cape Town who very kindly assisted me with the
vehicle) looked over the Landy and decided that we could make it road
worthy again which is what we set about doing for the rest of the day….
From the photos you can see the cab was a complete mess, so this is where we started….it was very lucky I had brought an extensive range of tools for the trip and, with a makeshift bush mechanic job, we managed to straighten the cab. As the structure of cab had been damaged we had to secure three fencing standards which we cut and wedged behind the seats - which acted as a support and roll bar just in case the worst should happen…. thank goodness it never did!!!
Crossing the border into Ethiopia was easy and off we set to Gonder
where we managed to purchase some angle iron (used to make the frame for a
wind shield) and a sheet of thin sheet steel (used to make a roof) which
took us a day to sort out; by this time the landy was looking quite
good…well in a very weird kind of way. So without further delay Dad and I
set off for Addis Ababa w
here
we bought some safety glass which we had cut and fitted. This was great, we
had just travelled roughly 1000km without a windscreen at 8000 feet which
was a tad bit cold at times with our max speed being 40km per hour….now
with our newly designed and fitted vehicle we were on track to make
Bulawayo by Christmas at least, without any vehicle security whatsoever due
to there being no windows the only option was to get back home and sort out
the landy before perhaps going on a further trip during 2007, I will see
what happens and if I can completely sort out my truck.
Well that is what has happened so far, this update does not provide
anyone with much insight into what the likes and dislikes were for us
during our travels through Africa but, and to compensate, a daily diary log
has been kept on Africa which is both factual and informative whilst
providing our own thoughts and comments which we are in the
process
of finalising and which will be made into a Falcon brochure for
distribution. I will be updating this space with further details about this
in due course.
Many of you have asked if I have an email address, well I have had one which is how I have been getting the updates through, however as soon as I have a better one sorted out I will let you all know, this is the same with my new phone number, soon as I have one I will ask Colin to add it to the web page.
For now thank you to all that followed my trip through the Africa and for the financial support that we managed to get for Falcon doing the Africa Challenge, as always Falcon still needs more help, please contact Colin or myself to get details of how you may still do this.
The
last update came from Istanbul; this update now comes from the Dead Sea
(Jordan). We have now covered 4600 (approx) miles, had one blow out and
blown the radiator fan fuse so all in all we have had a trouble free
journey vehicle considering....the other two vehicles on the other hand
have had several issues. The hard top no longer has a hand break and has no
speedo cable. The station wagon had a leaking fuel tank but after several
hours and a massive amount of sign language a Jordanian mechanic along with
myself were able to make a reasonable repair.
I had a look at the GPS I seem to be 4450 km’s away from London and 6800
km’s away from Falcon.
The weather at this time of year has been very mild with the temperatures
sitting between 20 and 25 degrees centigrade, which for travelling has been
perfect. On some days the sight seeing has been hampered by rain but not
enough to dampen our spirits. Today the weather has been a little horrid in
that it has rained for most of the day and I was expecting sunshine for the
Dead Sea!!
Syria
we all found to be rather disappointing. It is a very backward country and
the dictatorship that exists shows through the poverty of its people.
There were two major attractions we visited in Syria the first was Krak De
Chevaliers. This was an ancient Castle built by Richard the Lion Heart and
was later added to by the Arabs. The Castle as it stands today is preserved
to some extent but the litter around definitely spoils the experience.
The second place we visited was Palmyra (Roman village) which was
spectacular. Dan and I got up at 5:15 to photograph the ruins in the early
morning light which was fantastic. If anyone ever goes to Syria they should
definitely visit this tourist attraction.
Damascus...well this was a complete tip. We drove through the middle of the
old city (This is the oldest inhabited city in the world) which was crowded
with traders and tourists not to mention the traffic...we contributed by
driving three Land Rovers through the small streets.
Jordan in comparison to the Syria has been fantastic. The people have been
very friendly; a case in point was two nights ago bush camping in a
farmer’s field. The farmer in broken English came over and invited us to
his house for dinner, although little more than a peasant his hospitality
which we declined was mush appreciated. The other observation travelling
through here is that where ever we stop people as us for cigarettes.
Over
the next few days we will be visiting Petra and Wadi Rum which are two of
Jordan’s main tourist attractions; I will send an update to you all during
my stop over in Cairo which should around the 11th November.
I still have not sent any photos to Colin for inclusion on the web page but
I have my laptop and I will ensure something gets sent over this
evening....I am going for a cold beer now and a swim in the Dead Sea....!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this mail and for the wealth of
support that we have had on this trip, the questions that have been asked
and the advise that has been given. What else can I say except watch this
space and please continue to support Falcon College!!
Graham Crouch and I left London at 14:00 on Sunday the 15th as planned,
and all is on track to meet my dad in Cairo on the 11th November. Rýght now
I am emailing you from Istanbul Turkey (Monday 23rd October). We have
covered 2600 miles, driven through France, Germany, Austria, Croatia,
Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, into Turkey....all quite impressive
stats, I will keep the alcoholic stats off this site, suffice to say ýt has
been just as impressive!!!
Out of all the countries I have driven (At speed) through Serbia has been
the most disturbing. The poverty that we say there was unlike any that I
have seen. People living on shacks, the disease must be absolutely
horrendous. The most striking thing were the stray dogs, at one point there
was a pack of at least 30 dogs running over the motorway, very impressive!!
We had decided before we left that we would push hard through Europe and
spend our time enjoying the desert areas. Next we will be going through
Jordan and Syria. I speak for all of us when I say we are looking forward
to Damascus (The worlds oldest civilized city), and we are all looking
forward to Petra how amazing to see these places in books, magazines and
movies then actually get to see them!!
The only problem we have had so far with the vehicle has been a broken tail
light. Not bad considering the distances we have travelled. Dan Baring had
a close shave yesterday, down the motor way entering Istanbul a lorry
swerved up against his land rover and ripped off his wing mirror and
scraped the body work. Luckily no more damage was done.
Camping out has been an experience to say the least. I had kitted the landy
out with a roof tent before leaving London, and what a great buy that has
been. Some nights it has gone below freezing with ice on covering the tent
but it is all good!! Not quite like camping back in Zim!!
The two English guys (Dan and Charlie) have provided much entertainment for
Graham and I. Dan has already been stuck (Greek / Turkish border) trying to
park up on the coast/beach which was little more than a marsh...all good
fun and games at this stage. Graham and I are seriously considering writing
a book on our experiences!!
Since I last posted news back in April there have been many
developments.
Firstly – When travelling through Africa each country has a different set of visa requirements. To be fair it is relatively simple to obtain visas through the respective consulates in London, however there are a few places that are, should we say, challenging. I applied for a visa for Libya as I had heard this would be the most difficult one to obtain after Sudan. The process was a challenge in itself but the cost of obtaining the visa was prohibitive at just under £500 for a three day visit, which basically meant I was looking for an alternative route!
Routes through Africa one would imagine would be quite easy, in fact there are three main ones that are used. The first is accessible from Spain through to Morocco provided you wish to travel the West Coast of Africa. The second is Italy through to Tunisia, and into Libya, discussed above! The third is to drive through Europe, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan into Egypt…..I have now chosen the third option.
My route now takes me through France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and into Zimbabwe.
Secondly – Whilst planning my trip I found that everyone I spoke was
very interested in what I was planning and where I am going, but no matter
how big the interest, it was a massive challenge to get a travel buddy.
I figured the best way around this was to join several overland web pages and advertise through there, which I did and had no joy.
I had given up all hope of finding someone to travel with me when I emailed Dan Baring for some advice on a topic he had written about, and found that he too was going to be travelling the same route at more or less the same time as I was planning.
To cut a very long story short, Dan (with two Land Rovers – four people) and I have decided that there is definitely safety in numbers and the trip would be enjoyed more with a few more people.
To date there are six of us driving four Land Rover Defender 110’s. The crew names are:
John Laing – London to FalconAt this stage all seems to be back on track for the now 18,000 kilometre voyage through Africa. I may still change my itinerary to join Dan’s group all the way to Cape Town.
There are a number of considerations I have to make before I can
definitely commit to this, including, cost, duration and getting back to
Zimbabwe for personal reasons.
As far as the preparations have gone I am now well under way to finalising everything:
Vehicle – This is nearly completed. I will be replacing the suspension system, renewing all the oil seals, replacing all the rubber bushes and servicing the vehicle. Spare parts have been bought and a full tool box and first aid kit will be carried.
Accommodation – I have purchased a roof top tent which is more practical for a trip of this magnitude. I did try out a ground tent but the hassle associated with putting a tent up each evening means that the additional cost is well worth it.
Food – A full supply of dry and non perishable items have been bought for the trip, all vegetables, fruit, and meat will be bought en route. Water: I have had a 40l water tank complete with tap fitted to the underneath of my land rover which means I do not take up valuable space within the cab.
Fuel – I have been fortunate enough to have been given 210 litres of diesel which will hopefully get me through to Istanbul, Turkey. This is a massive saving as each litre in the UK costs 104 pence.
Paperwork – All has been completed, resignations have been tendered, notice on my flat has been handed in. The vehicle paperwork is all in order, and my visas have been granted for Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, the rest I will get en route.
Packing – This seems to be the head ache that I have left, I am not sure what I am going to do with this except maybe sell most of my stuff at a car boot sale. I have not collected much stuff in the UK and what I have is sentimental so I do not want to part with it so may find it necessary to send some stuff back by ship via Cape Town, which is a good reason for me to extend my journey!!
Sponsorship – This has been a very interesting experience, both I, and of course Falcon College, are indebted to those who have supported us so far. As mentioned in previous mailings my motivation is to collect money for the College. We still need lots more support, and I urge anyone reading this to please make a donation. Please remember none of the funds raised go towards the costs of the trip, I have funded this from my own pocket, all money raised will be going towards bettering the facilities at Falcon. There are about 3000 Falcon Old Boys, if each gave just £20 we would make £60K for the College, that would be a fantastic achievement!!!
Donations can be sent to the official Old Boys bank accounts in London or Johannesburg details of which have been circulated or can be provided again upon request.
Thank you for reading this. And thank you for your interest and support for our Old School. It’s surely a good cause.
JOHN LAING London, Sept 2006.
THE
AFRICA CHALLENGE (PART I – April 06)At this stage all is on track for the 14000-kilometre voyage through Africa. “Blue Peril” the Land Rover has been bought, bull bars and a roof rack have been mounted and tested (Long story!!). The tyres and suspension are about to be renewed; the final MOT and service are about to be undertaken.
When thinking about completing a voyage of this size I thought, “This will be interesting, and I am sure there will be work involved with regards to preparation, but on the whole it won’t take that long to achieve”.
The latest news I guess is that everything is progressing well – I am actually ahead of schedule! Blue Peril is literally "growing" before my eyes.
The next big activity will be the purchasing of all the Tupperware and storage containers, the linen, the crockery and cutlery and other utensils, these will all have their special place in the Landy - I am not sure I know where each item is going to be packed, but that that is part of the fun!
The
only vaccination required by law is against Yellow Fever, but highly
recommended for this kind of trip is also against Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid,
Meningitis, Polio and Tetanus. I will be talking to my doctor soon to
gather his advise.
Planning and working on the trip is now a daily exercise; just a little job here and there has meant that hopefully I will suffered no stress, and I have to say I am really getting excited as everything falls into place.
And just in case you were wondering, yes, I am counting the days down; there's a countdown calendar pinned to my bedroom wall where I mark off the days each morning!
Special thanks needs to go at this early stage to Steven Marin from International Communications Group of Companies, who has made a considerable donation towards this challenge. Steven amongst other things runs Western Union in Gibraltar.
How to Sponsor John Sponsoring is easy.
1. Simply go to the CAFonline secure website on the link below 2. Search on the word 'Falcon'; your search results should include Falcon College Overseas Trust. Click on that result.
3. Click
on the
4. IMPORTANT: when giving, please type 'Africa Challenge' in the 'Donor Instructions' The link is http://www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=7593 NOTE: Any funds raised on the Africa Challenge will go directly to the Falcon College Overseas Trust, which has been responsible for several large fundraising projects in recent years. The Trust is registered with the Charities Commission, Charity No: 294169.
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