Oi Scooter Boys across the Sahara

[Speggo]

Engage anti-gambia force shields...... More power, more power..... AAAggghhhh they're failing..............

Sounds like the makings of a great trip. I have often thought about the GS down there. One of the problems with the scoots was that they had taken quite a battering by the time the got there, though we managed to fettle them fairly well at the roadside and when we arrived. it might not be quite so easy to get 5 GS exhausts welded up for €35 euros though!

A few thoughts.

If you are taking any 4x4s and are planning on donating them, make sure they are LHD as you can't import RHD ones. Their only value is for spares.

On top of the £2000 sponsorship you will need a further £1500 approx for food, fuel, ferries, visas, bribes, accomodation. This may be reduced if you don't leave Mr Ifan or Cogs in charge of the beer money

We met a german couple who air frieghted their bikes back via Dakar for about €350. Don't forget the €300 euro air fare back for yourselves. Lombardi Shipping run a RoRo service from Tilbury to Dakar, but it takes about 10 days to do the trip. I guess you could frieght the bike and fly home though.

Finally, don't be under any misapprehension that Mr Ifan knows the way. last year he couldn't find his scoot and had to fly out

If I can help, let me know

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I have just told my daughter that I would like the book, Calum's Road for my birthday in a couple of weeks time.
I seem to feel like I am being drawn into this as well........ but as already mentioned, work may be the main drawback.
I am going to try to arm myself with as much ammo before mentioning it to the Wife.
So, I haven't heard of Stella before and was wanting to do a wee bit of research. Can anyone tell me a little about her and if there is anything on the net I could read?
I would like to say I was up for the trip, but will def look a litle closer into it.

 

[MrIFan]

you could click on this link http://www.scootersinthesahara.co.uk/ and not only have a cracking read but relax in the knowledge that most of the money you have spent will be heading straight to The Gambia to help with good causes
The book describes a journey over pretty much the same route as you will be taking but tackled on C90s

 

[Uinneag]

and here http://www.gambiahorseanddonkey.org.uk:80/

 

[Fanum]

So, I haven't heard of Stella before and was wanting to do a wee bit of research. Can anyone tell me a little about her and if there is anything on the net I could read?
I would like to say I was up for the trip, but will def look a litle closer into it.

This may start you off

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133870&highlight=marsden

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Thanks Ifan, Oonyack and Fanum. I googled a wee bit more and found your posts most informative.......

Will order a book in the next few days Ifan

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Johnny,

regarding your suggestion for a trip from Callum's Road Scotland to Callum's Road Africa....

I have consulted my peers...... researched numerous references....... in the city's finest libraries.

I have spent countless hours, pacing the floor......... trying to consider the many pitfalls of your folly...........

and the thing that scares me most........

is, what the feck will the weather be like in the West of Scotland on a January morning in 2010 when the thing kicks off

 

[DavidJames]

Johnny,

regarding your suggestion for a trip from Callum's Road Scotland to Callum's Road Africa....

I have consulted my peers...... researched numerous references....... in the city's finest libraries.

I have spent countless hours, pacing the floor......... trying to consider the many pitfalls of your folly...........

and the thing that scares me most........

is, what the feck will the weather be like in the West of Scotland on a January morning in 2010 when the thing kicks off

Well I am guessing that Midges are not going to be a problem.

Could be interesting riding from -5 to +30

 

[MrIFan]

Could be interesting riding from -5 to +30

+30??? more like +40 with a dose of -10-15 and the possibility of heavy snow crossing the Atlas!!!!! Never underestimate North Africa no matter what the season

 

[Uinneag]

Johnny,

regarding your suggestion for a trip from Callum's Road Scotland to Callum's Road Africa....

I have consulted my peers...... researched numerous references....... in the city's finest libraries.

I have spent countless hours, pacing the floor......... trying to consider the many pitfalls of your folly...........

and the thing that scares me most........

is, what the feck will the weather be like in the West of Scotland on a January morning in 2010 when the thing kicks off

As David said no Midgies and better still No Mossies at the other end

As for the cold think you have enough insulation to get you by


Had a thought we could stick all the bikes into a container at the other end instead of individually boxing them.

 

[DavidJames]

+30??? more like +40 with a dose of -10-15 and the possibility of heavy snow crossing the Atlas!!!!! Never underestimate North Africa no matter what the season

When I was writing my post I orgininally wrote +40 and then changed it to 30 thinking it's fecking January it can't that hot

I have so many questions rattling around my head about this trip and I keep going over the journey in my head I am trying to work out how I am going to convince my company to let me go away for a 3-4 weeks - my wife 'seems' fine with the idea

 

[Fanum]

I have so many questions rattling around my head about this trip and I keep going over the journey in my head I am trying to work out how I am going to convince my company to let me go away for a 3-4 weeks - my wife 'seems' fine with the idea

I had the same with a company I was working for a few years ago and the first trip to Gambia came up.

I sold it to them as a 'it's for charidee mate' type thing and got myself a month unpaid leave- that worked OK (apart from financially for me of course ) but the next year when I announced I was doing it again they said 'Ok, but you won't have a job when you come back'

LO and behold I didn't, but it was still worth it

Definitely worth trying that approach though- particularly if the company can get something out of it (sponsorship, logos on vehicles, whatever)

 

[DavidJames]

I had the same with a company I was working for a few years ago and the first trip to Gambia came up.

I sold it to them as a 'it's for charidee mate' type thing and got myself a month unpaid leave- that worked OK (apart from financially for me of course ) but the next year when I announced I was doing it again they said 'Ok, but you won't have a job when you come back'

LO and behold I didn't, but it was still worth it

Definitely worth trying that approach though- particularly if the company can get something out of it (sponsorship, logos on vehicles, whatever)

That is the approach I am going to take - actually get them involved in the whole thing - the CEO has a blog on our website so he could even advertise the fact they are a caring/sharing type of company etc. The biggest problem I think I am going to have is that I am a fairly senior person over here. The company is based in the US and there are 3 of us over here covering Europe (possibly more people by Jan 2010) and at the moment I am the most senior. I am going to be going over to meet with my boss and the CEO in January (possibly sooner) so I am going to prepare some information and approach them with the idea then.

I am having loads of ideas about sponsorship already - I work in the mobile phone industry and my customers are all of the mobile manufacturers and network operators so I am going to try and approach them about buying some sticker space or even provide some gear (radios, phones, sat phones, data cards ).................This may be all complete rubbish and a pipe dream but if you don't ask, you don't get!!!

 

[MrIFan]

So, the latest new mobiles for the whole team then

Seriously though, if you have access to old mobiles complete with chargers they are one of the best things to smooth border crossings etc Also make excellent gifts for helpful locals along the route.

 

[Uinneag]

So, the latest new mobiles for the whole team then

Seriously though, if you have access to old mobiles complete with chargers they are one of the best things to smooth border crossings etc Also make excellent gifts for helpful locals along the route.

Selfish as it seems I'm gonnie try and raise money and take nothing else apart from my arse my bike and a tent

Doesn't stop anyone else doing otherwise

 

[DavidJames]

So, the latest new mobiles for the whole team then

Seriously though, if you have access to old mobiles complete with chargers they are one of the best things to smooth border crossings etc Also make excellent gifts for helpful locals along the route.

So these might be useful then?

 

[MrIFan]

Selfish as it seems I'm gonnie try and raise money and take nothing else apart from my arse my bike and a tent

Doesn't stop anyone else doing otherwise

But don't forget, in order to get to your destination you will have to cross 2 of the most corrupt borders in Africa. A bling mobile complete with charger dropped into negotiations at the right point could save either days of being messed about or hundreds of Euros trying to get a newish bike into a country without a carnet Telling a Mauritanian or Senegalese border guard that you are on a charity run to Gambia is very likely to increase the cost of crossing rather than smooth the way.

 

[Uinneag]

But don't forget, in order to get to your destination you will have to cross 2 of the most corrupt borders in Africa. A bling mobile complete with charger dropped into negotiations at the right point could save either days of being messed about or hundreds of Euros trying to get a newish bike into a country without a carnet Telling a Mauritanian or Senegalese border guard that you are on a charity run to Gambia is very likely to increase the cost of crossing rather than smooth the way.

Aye but if I show him a picture of Garfield

I get your point and take it on board

I just won't be taking along shovels, picks, wheelbarrows and steamrollers in my panniers

 

[Fanum]

Aye but if I show him a picture of Garfield

I get your point and take it on board

I just won't be taking along shovels, picks, wheelbarrows and steamrollers in my panniers

Quite right too

What Ian says is right....unfortunate, but correct.

A mobile phone 'gift', used with discretion, can get you out of a lot of bother and expense.

Obviously you only use them as a last resort, or it just makes things difficult for other travellers and it does encourage further blagging on the Police's part but that's just the way it is


He's also dead right about being v careful what you say- announcing with pride that you're on a charitable mission in Mauritania will raise smiles, until they ask where you're going and they'll slam the door in your face when they realise their own country isn't getting anything from it.

One of the biggest mistakes I made on the Scoots trip was to show a piece of paper from the minister for Health at the border- we weren't that far off being through without it but there was a last minute glitch- all of a sudden, it escalated and the phone calls went right up to Government level with the interior minister getting in touch with the health minister and insisting it all became official- bad mistake, If I'd kept my gob shut we'd have been through and free several hours earlier and without a lot of string pulling and bullshit government bureaucracy having to happen

 

[Uinneag]

Bill

I totaly agree when in S.A. a lot a nose's were out of joint when they found out that the money and bikes were going to Zim
Riders would not accept that some of the buckaroos should go to a S.A. charity hence Enduro Riders split

The charity work has to be done here i.e. raising the bucks.

Once on the ride peeps can say they are doing it for charity.

Myself I'm doing it for the buzz and 3 weeks on my bike and of course the adulation

But hopefully some poor souls benefit from it