Scooters in the Sahara 2016

[(RIP) Dennis]

I’m in the process of starting the planning for this years little Adventure run down to Bansang Hospital in the Gambia. Probable departure is either Sunday 2nd October or Tuesday 4th October with flight back to UK on Saturday 29th October, but please keep in mind that these dates are provisional at the moment.

The trip involves almost 4000 miles of riding on your little Honda C90, although there is a possibility that we may take Honda Innova 110s this time around as they are coming down in price whilst C90s are going up….

I will be arranging a get together in the Worcester area on Saturday 19th March for all interested parties to meet up at a hotel. Rooms, camping and camper parking will be available.

If you are interested please have a look at http://www.scootersinthesahara.co.uk/info-for-prospective-participants/ Then drop me an email to [email protected] giving a very brief resume of yourself and riding experience.

Thank
Dennis

 

[oblertone]

Adventure biking ...

... and the chance to do a little good, what could possibly go wrong

Having completed this trip in '06 and '08 I can thoroughly recommend it as an alternative to wrazzing past the scenery at 80mph + on your full spec 'adventure' motorcycle.

One aspect that Dennis has glossed over is the benefit that cheap reliable personal transport can bring to those who will eventually receive your Honda 90 (or Innova); they are primarily used to allow medical treatment to be delivered outside the hospital, thus going some way to alleviating the chronic overcrowding suffered in a 130 bed hospital with a huge catchment area.

Many people have said "why not crate the bikes and ship them out" to which our universal response has always been, where's the fun in that. In balance, I should add that this trip is also hard physical work and not for the faint hearted; it can be dirty, uncomfortable and mentally challenging.

I hope to see some of you in Worcester.

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

THanks for that Paul. I was of course assuming that anyone with the slightest interest would look at the link I posted to the Scoots web site !

 

[oblertone]

Weekend bump for all you budding Adventure riders

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

 

[oblertone]

The spirit of adventure is weak, or so it would appear ...

 

[flatdog]

The spirit of adventure is weak, or so it would appear ...

Thread hyjack.
OK I'll bite.
So....10 years on, what's improved, or as I suspect, they are just sitting there waiting for more hand outs from 'feel good' (Adventure 'sic') tourists.
Hyjack off.
Good luck Dennis, noble quest.

 

[oblertone]

What's improved ? A perimeter wall around the hospital (to stop hyenas digging up graves), a new children's ward, secure (from animals) nursing accommodation, a new operating theatre, staff retention levels dramatically improved, sustainable home grown food area ... However, not all of these things (except the wall) are as a direct result of previous scoots trips, but these trips do support the efforts made by Anita as the driving force behind the Bansang Hospital Appeal.
Yes there is a lot of sitting around waiting for the next handout, but in this particular area there is also significant self-help mainly led by UK educated Gambians driving change. If you see my previous post, the trip itself is the lure, the beneficial outcome is a happy byproduct.

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Thread hyjack.
OK I'll bite.
So....10 years on, what's improved, or as I suspect, they are just sitting there waiting for more hand outs from 'feel good' (Adventure 'sic') tourists.
Hyjack off.
Good luck Dennis, noble quest.

Thed problem is Paul, that if someone is that stupid that they have to ask such a question in such a negative way they won't have the intelligence to understand the reply....

 

[Joe narvey]

Dennis, my sister runs a charity ( yes, the same sister that rents out classic camper vans in Scotland) supporting schools in Gambia. If you need any local Intel on what they need or local issues, happy to connect you with her to augment the info you currently get, etc.

 

[flatdog]

Thed problem is Paul, that if someone is that stupid that they have to ask such a question in such a negative way they won't have the intelligence to understand the reply....

Yes Dennis. You are probably right.
Alternatively, spending 30 years there may have dimmed my adventure spirit somewhat.

Like I said earlier. Good luck and I'm sure you and the unfortunate recipiants reap the benefits of your endevour.

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Dennis, my sister runs a charity ( yes, the same sister that rents out classic camper vans in Scotland) supporting schools in Gambia. If you need any local Intel on what they need or local issues, happy to connect you with her to augment the info you currently get, etc.

Thanks for the contact Joe, much appreciated. We work exclusively with the Bansang Hospital Appeal under the guidance of Anita Smith MBE and quite closely with various government departments. However I know that Julie Maio at Luigis complex in Bansang work to supprt the local schools

 

[Joe narvey]

You win, you name dropper !

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

In view of the limited response of potential participants on the Oct 16 Scoots trip and having been persuaded to do a presentation at the UK HU meeting in Clyro on 16/19th June, I've decided to postpone the first Scoots meeting until Sunday 19th June at Baskerville Hall, Clyro. Having been asked to do the presentation twice, I'll try go get a Sunday morning slot for the second talk so that all who may wish to participate can come along.