The Gambia on a Gapper trip - postponed

[Ogmios]

As many of you already know from following other threads - Sad to say the trip is postponed.

NOT cancelled, but delayed.
hopefully it will be run in the Springtime of 2010.

just thought it would be at least good manners to formally let you know.

to say i am gutted is an understatement.

this has come to pass as a result of terrorist / bandit kidnappings along part of the route in Mauritania.
there is only one road that can be used between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.
this was targetted and hostages taken.
(see the links at end)

as a result the British Foreign Office changed their security notices from "essential travel only" to "Do Not Travel".

net result for the U.K. part of the team is that it invalidates their travel insurance were they to go ahead and ignore the warning.
the implications are too serious to ignore - so, we've had to delay departure.
none of us want to even think of it as cancel.
so we are looking into ways and means of working around this.
there's a meeting in the U.K. after Christmas, though i cant attend - i'll keep you all posted as to what happens as i get news myself.

Thank You All So Much for the help and generous support so far.

with sadness,
~~
Marc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/30/spanish-aid-workers-kidnapped-mauritania

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5BG04420091217

 

[freeloader]

Sad but a wise decision, I reckon.

Hope a year will be enough of a wait.

 

[Jockser]

Sorry to hear that Marc
I know you put a lot of effort into being able to do this so I'm gutted for you. Hopefully, as you say, it's just a postponement

 

[Hairnet600]

could it be planned to go round 'tania or is even that too dodgy?

mali suffers from this too............

 

[oblertone]

Sadly ...

mali suffers from this too............

... the problem stems from Mali, or at least the Mali/Mauri border region

 

[electric_monk]

I know how gutted you are about this but I have found a glimmer of a silver lining.
When it DOES get rescheduled you will have another opportunity to do a bit of fundraising....and in better weather.

and you can count me in.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Was gutted for you Marc when I heard the Scoots were postponing, I know only too well what a big deal the whole thing is for you and the guys

But, in the spirit of turning every thing into an opportunity, as the Monk says, more time to raise more money and the weather will be better

Keep the faith

Andres

 

[davidgibson999]

What a pisser.
Sorry to hear it Marc.
Hope you'll get to do it later on

 

[David Lee]

Thought about Tunisia - Algeria - Niger as an option?

 

[GSless Girl]

You must be very disappointed, but you can't compromise on safety. As others have said before it gives you more chance to raise a few bob.
We'd a great day's training in Pheonix even if the weather was crap. Ye never know we could try organise another one.

 

[electric_monk]

Just looking at the weather on the continent at the moment......
Looks like you got lucky..!!

 

[Betty Swollocks]

More bad news

It appears there were more kidnappings in Mauritania at the weekend...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BJ0GB

 

[Ogmios]

 

[AberdeenAngus]

..... but you can't compromise on safety.

We compromise on safety ever day. We balance risk with reward and reach a comromise. Without this balance we wouldn't achieve anything, crossing the road, getting on a plane....anything.

 

[bill2rhino]

When are you planning to depart Angus?