Scoots 2013. The road to Bansang

[Humbug]

Introduction (for those unfamiliar with this trip).

This Friday, 18th October I will be setting off to Portsmouth with a little Honda C90. There I will board the ferry for Santander.

With a small group of like minded riders I will ride south through Spain to Algerciras, where I cross on another ferry to Morocco. From there I travel through Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal and into the Gambia. In The Gambia I will ride inland to Bansang.

The little bike will then be donated to the Bansang Hospital. It will be used by medical staff to treat patients in outlying areas which are often more than a days walk away.





In the Western World this little motorcycle is usually thought of as a Pizza delivery vehicle but in The Gambia this machine could be the difference between life and death.

The 4000 miles will not be all on good tarmac roads - much of the trip is on rocky tracks and soft sand.

With only two "rest" days : 4000 miles in three weeks means an average of over 200 miles per day. All this on a motorcycle with a cruising speed of around 40mph!

The majority of nights will be camping - maybe on a camp site - but mostly 'wild' camping

Evening meals are my responsibility - planning something tasty from cans and dried food has been somewhat of a challenge! I only hope I can succeed.

Each year Scooters in the Sahara have a project in addition to providing the motorcycles.

This year the aim is to buy a tractor to farm a large area of land that has been given to the hospital.

There is a lot more information at the following websites:-

Bansanghospitalappeal.org

scootersinthesahara.co.uk


You can donate direct to the hospital using the Virgin Giving page:-

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fun...ndraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=scoots2012

Your support will improve the lives of many people in The Gambia and will be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to pass this information on to friends who you think may be interested in helping.

I will be trying to keep you all updated with the trip's progress and so Paula will be writing a report as she gets news from me.

 

[Humbug]

Wed Oct 9th

There's only 3 days to go now before we all set off. We've had our last meeting as a team and the next time we will all meet up will be at Portsmouth Ferry Terminal on Friday. Here is the latest group photo. The members from left to right are Andrew, Chris, Myself, Joe, Jon (in truck), Steve, Dennis and Jill. The one member missing from the photo is Peter.

Am I nervous? You bet but I can't wait to go at the same time.

 

[Humbug]

Food.


The last few days have been spent shopping for the food and consumables to cover the whole trip. As I was 'nominated' to be chef it was left for me to plan a series of tasty dishes. It's very hard when all you can take is tinned vegetables and dried food such as pasta, noodles and rice. Jill, our nurse on the trip is a vegetarian but the dishes I have planned are exactly that because of the difficulty in obtaining and keeping fresh meat en route.

So, Paula and I set off to Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Sainsbury last week and came home with this little lot!

Paula beavered away over the weekend and eventually packed most of the supplies into separate boxes, all labelled and containing the necessary ingredients for the dishes I will be preparing. What a star!

 

[Fanum]

Part of the thrill of cooking 'red with lumps' for the scoots riders is surely in making them guess what the ferk the lumps are?

Buy as much as you can locally.....even if you don't recognise it, it's either a veggy in which case you boil it, or a meat in which case you fry it or stew it

PS don't forget it's Pavlova tomorrow....always TOMORROW

 

[oblertone]

I'll have you know ...

... that RWL is very sought after in certain parts

Good luck and god speed; and save all your washing for the Zebrabar

 

[Ogmios]

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Good luck Andy, I'll pop another donation on the just giving site when I get paid at the end of the month.

Have a safe trip.

 

[tuftywhite]

I'm feeling sorry for the person who has to take the washing machine!

Good luck on your trip.

 

[Roberto]

Have a great trip and ride safe. Look forward to reading all about it

 

[Fanum]

There are only really 3 things that you MUST do on this trip......

1) Keep breathing
2) Keep a sense of humour regardless of how hard you're stretched
3) Come back

Sometimes, No. 2 will seem to be the hardest thing on the list




"Enjoy" isn't a term that sits in the experience very well........But I know you'll remember it forever, look back on it fondly and will come home with your head changed

Enjoy




EDIT......Top tip.......when you get to the Zebrabar, take your sleeping mat/bag , camera and some beers up to the top of the observation tower, and sleep up there........you'll see the most wonderful sunrise and best of all, you'll be 50 feet above the Mozzies

 

[Sir James]

I need to do this one year , I've been thinking about it since I bought the book ....

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Will follow this thread with interest. Excellent venture have fun all of you.

 

[Paula aka Mrs Humbug]

The Final Countdown

I hope you will all be patient with me as this is my first post on UKGSer - I will try my best to keep you updated with Andy's (aka Humbug) progress as he journeys on!

This continues where he left off -

Now that all the food is sorted out I turn to the personal packing - the pile is ever growing and it has hardly any clothes in it yet! There are, however, some very bright trousers to be seen.

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/Packing_zpsddffcc7f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/Packing_zpsddffcc7f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Packing_zpsddffcc7f.jpg"/></a>

Note the bottle of Rum. This has to be consumed by the time they reach Mauritania - it is a totally dry country where alcohol of any type is prohibited. It will of course be a struggle to consume it all by that time........!

By Thursday Chubby ( the name I shall use for the little C90 from now on) is equipped with new shock absorbers, his soft tyre has been sorted out and the bags loaded - to check they do actually fit.

Photographs are duly taken.

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/001Custom_zpsf37559aa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/001Custom_zpsf37559aa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 001Custom_zpsf37559aa.jpg"/></a>

Thursday morning bright and early - well about 8.45am! Jon arrives in the Pajero to load the food boxes and other bits and bobs - a large bag of toothbrushes for the hospital and a bag of blood monitors given to us by our surgery for use at the hospital. The kitchen roll and toilet rolls are rammed into a very small gap and off Jon goes to empty the truck and reload in an organised fashion (of sorts).

I am so relieved that all the food has fitted in the truck. It has been a worry since the start that we would not have enough room. Sighs of relief all round.

Rather a sad interlude for Andy today as he is off to attend a funeral of an old friend - there is to be a motorcycle escort for the coffin from Wellington to the Cremetorium.

By about 5pm we are ready for the short trip over to Jill's to leave little Chubby there and the mirror is cracked - total mystery. The other little Chubbie is called upon to donate one of his and once again we are in business.
Bike dropped off at Jill's and we are off to Taunton for a very scrummy Indian meal - it feels a bit like a "Last Supper".

 

[Paula aka Mrs Humbug]

The Day of Departure arrives

Woke up feeling slight trepedation of what lies ahead - the journey of a lfetime for Andy, and for both of us - the very new experience of being separated from eachother - in 16 years we have never spent time apart.

Good bacon, egg and sausage sandwhiches to start a long day and then the checking of the final bits and bobs. Did I pack spare needles? Where did I put the emergency insulin? Will Andy know where everything is as I have packed it all - I did suggest he may wish to pack it himself so he would know the location of everything but that idea fell on deaf ears!

Some friends Colin called in for a quick cuppa and we suddenly realised that we do not have a GB sticker on Chubby - thank goodness for Google, adhesive photo paper and Helicopter Tape!

Time to go over to Jill's - it seems a tad fraudulant trailering the bikes - however, when the rain started it did seem like a good idea.

Bikes loaded - Jill and Andy eager to go - not sure they have told their faces though!

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/Departure1_zpsdfbd2440.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/Departure1_zpsdfbd2440.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Departure1_zpsdfbd2440.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/Departure5_zpsbb622f59.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/Departure5_zpsbb622f59.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Departure5_zpsbb622f59.jpg"/></a>

_________________
Paula

 

[Paula aka Mrs Humbug]

At the Port and on The Ferry

Well the trip is finally underway - I returned home to do some tidying, washing and attack my very neglected pile of paperwork and back log of e-mails. No such thing.

I had a call to say that - yes - they had arrived safely in Portsmouth but Chubby's mirror had vanished somewhere between Wedmore and Portsmouth Ferry Terminal. Not just the mirror itself that Andy had replaced yesterday but the entire arm. Bit of a mystery as it was on very securely due to the replacement being fitted less than 24 hours before.

I used our wonderful friend Google to find a Motorcycle Dealer nearby and sent Andy on his way. The very nice man at the shop supplied and fitted a replacement mirror at no cost. I have given him 5 star comments on "Yell" and intend to mail him a personal thank you.
He is http://www.rdowneymotorcycles.co.uk/#

A more serious mishap was to befall another member of the team - Peter - he had ridden his little 90 all the way from Scotland over two days - it arrived at the Port and immediately siezed solid. Clearly it was not keen on Ferries - perhaps it has suffered from sea sickness in the past?

What is even more irksome is that the very nice man at the garage had a C90 engine about his person and was prepared to install it for £50 plus the poorly engine. A bargain I would have thought - in fact his lads were on the case immediately and started to release the good engine from it's broken frame in readiness for the arrival of a poorly engine in a good frame. Alas, it was decreed that this would take too long and was therefore not done. I think it is such a shame as it ws only 3.30 and the sailing was not until 5pm. I think opinions in the group were divided on this one.

In the end, Jill's husband - Charles - brought the poorly bike home on his trailer and Peter boarded the Ferry as a foot pasenger, he will continue the journey in the truck with Jon. Although I am sure that he will ride the other's bikes some of the time while they take a turn in the truck.

I have proof that they finally got on the ferry (well at least Andy). A friend of ours was at the port in the "Round Tower"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Tower_(Portsmouth)
and took some photographs.

Andy is actually waving and not trying to hide his face!


<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/TheFerry1_zps882e4fa9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/TheFerry1_zps882e4fa9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo TheFerry1_zps882e4fa9.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/TheFerry2_zpsbb298bbc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/TheFerry2_zpsbb298bbc.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo TheFerry2_zpsbb298bbc.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia/TheFerry3_zps5d8b82d0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia/TheFerry3_zps5d8b82d0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo TheFerry3_zps5d8b82d0.jpg"/></a>

Thinking my jobs were at an end as I had sorted the mirror crisis - I was somewhat surprised to get another call later asking if I would see if our friends in Spain had any space at their CASA for tomorrow night (Saturday) and could I broker a deal. I called Marie Cruz and Graeme and guess what they have all their rooms free this weekend. Their place is just fantastic and we have stayed there many times as it is a good last relaxing few days before heading back to Santander.

In order to save money this trip was to be nearly all camping and cooking food taken on the truck. I was therefore rather surprised that a stay at Zalama has been sanctioned - even though Marie Cruz is giving them a very good deal on the rooms and they will pay for dinner and breakfast themselves.

I am jealous now as I love Zalama and the food cooked by Marie Cruz is amazing.

http://www.casazalama.com/

Well I did promise myself an early night tonight - so I think I must sign off now. I am sure there will be more news tomorrow.

 

[Ash]

xxx

 

[Devon]

Thank's for the blog Paula. I am sure Andy will have a fantastic trip

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Great story

Bon Voyage & safe trip

 

[Humbug]

Currently at sea. Had a great meal last night of Tournedos. Good night's sleep and a cracking fry up this morning. Spirit's are high but the crossing is a drag and we can't wait to get on the road.

Some pics of the others arriving at the port. It's a pity about Peter's bike but the dealer wanted to have his old engine in p/x and we really didn't have time to take one engine out and put another one back in.

[/URL]






We're going to look for another bike en route. If anyone knows of a C90 we may be able to pick up please reply urgently. Our route will be heading for Madrid and then to Algerciras.

 

[oblertone]

Thank you Paula ...

... keep it coming; and for what it's worth, lack of a GB sticker will be the least of their problems A proper Adventure, on bikes, what more could this forum need


ps - The mirrors are interchangeable, and there is always someone with at least two ...