Hey Chris,

I checked out your site - How could I not when it has such a great name

I wanted to post a comment to the Sahara update (doh), but the function seems to
be disabled. Worried about dodgy comments from your mates eh?

Here is is anyway:
Bonjour/Hola from one of the Australian bikers! ...well, technically I am
South African and my partner Sean is the Ozzie, but I dont mind the demotion


It was excellently exciting to stumble upon some of the Plymouth-Banjul
crew. Chris and Daves were one of the first cars we saw. 'ibrakeforcake'
provided a few good miles of in-helmet entertainment. It was with amusement
that Sean and I stopped to provide additional assistance to an over-eager
fellow rally car, a little mini-van with the adventurous spirit of its 2
burly german male driver and navigator. The Ibrakeforcake team however had
it all under control as they towed 'Mona' the mischievious minivan out of
the perilous desert sand and away from the ship wreck that had lured her in.
Not bad for a Charade!

Happy travels south boys. And heres to using more female undergarments to
get you there!

Michelle

***

I'm glad to hear that Sean has run into you guys again. It's difficult not
to be able to continue south with him, but then, that's the curse of having
to go back to work eh (all the better for saving up for a complete joint
adventure next time around).

I was happy to hear that your African bush mechanics are workign well -
gravity assisted fuel pumps sound brilliant!!

Good luck with your adventure. It is great to get out and meet such spirited
people who have the balls to do more than just armchair travel! Wey hey!

Happy and safe travels,
Shells

Hello

Contrary to popular myth and rumour me and Dave are alive and well having made to Gambia and back in one piece. Full posts/pics to follow once we've adjusted to being back in blighty.

Happy new year to everyone I've not seen

We have arrived home, a little more smelly, tired and weary. Lots of piccies and stories to tell which will go up on the blog when they're sorted! Thanks to everyone who helped us get the car and equipment ready for The Gambia and the people who sponsored us to get the car there.

We met up with Kemo Cesay, our PAGEANT contact and donated the materials to Sinchu Baliya school, amid one of the warmest receptions I have ever experienced. Really great to see the kids there and the how outside help is changing their school environment. We were also fortunate to visit Bansang Hospital, up country, with the Los Perros Locos boys, who'd arranged to donate their car as an ambulance and donate some medical supplies. This also gave us an opertunity to give over the medical stuff that we'd bought. Another amazing welcome, with more local dancing and a detailed four hour tour of the Hospital's facilities (or lack of them). Quite an experience and great to see the impact that Anita Smith has been able to make there. Google 'Bansang Hospital' for more info - it was on the BBC last Friday, too.


A massive thanks to all the people who helped us along the way - too many to mention in detail, but you know who you are! Special thanks to Steffi and Kate who let us go and supported us, also our Parents, Bob, Cath and Derek. And a Massive thank you to Gav for all the tireless web work and behind the scenes geekery!

Sorry if you all thought something terrible had happened, it hasn't, well not before I last spoke to them yesterday evening. They have had an eventful week, nearly getting lost in the dessert, dodgy guide, pot holes the size of the trooper, dead donkeys, holding areas, kids trying to nick stuff, locked keys in the car and holding up lots of angry ferry passengers which resulted in the trooper being lifted out the way and shaking hands with a crocodile (do crocodiles have hands?)! By and large your average day in Milton Keynes.

Anyway they are safely in The Gambia, Dave sounds like he's had an amazing time, they're off to see hippos tomorrow and are set to come home on Friday.