Thursday, 22 July 2010

Let the Preparations Begin!

I suppose it's about time for me to tell you how the preparations are all coming along.

Throughout the preparation and the trip the blog will be run in two sections:

The Trip Bit...

and

The Car Bit...

So first and foremost;


The Trip Bit...


One of the first things (after signing up to the rally) for Sue to do; was to use the excuse of the heat to buy some light weight 'desert' clothes!


Both participants are currently complaining of a slight pain in their arms as they get a variety of different vacinations for the trip. Ontop of that the kitchen is slowly filling up with different concoctions of drugs to keep them alive and bug free whilst away!


Both Mark, Sue and Chris (the one writing this for the technophobes) got lost in the local villages whilst attempting to understand how the GPS worked...they tell me they know how it works now, but I remain sceptical!


The most important detail so far of course is that the virgin money giving website has been set up! Please take a look at this:

http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/Delage2Africa


The Car Bit...


This is the business end of the deal at the moment.


The car has recently passed its MOT and mark is very busy gathering as many spares as possible so that he can be prepared for every eventuality.


The car's gearbox and prop-shaft have been re-built with the differential currently in pieces. The rear seats have been removed to give extra storage space and the front seats have been replaced with a more modern alternative to give a far more comfortable ride than the old wood-worm ridden seats could ever have dreamed of.


Sue

The Best Bit: The unexpected to come.

The Worst Bit: The thought of digging her own toilet.


Mark

The Best Bit: Looking forward to driving across the Western desert.

The Worst Bit: The inevitable concerns about the car.




Wednesday, 21 July 2010

What's it all about?

I know what you are thinking, what is this all about, a Delage going to Africa?

From 25th October - 1st December 2010, Mark and Sue will be driving from the UK to Elmina in Ghana, passing through; France, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Thats over 6,000 miles and 6 weeks of travel!

For the people that want to know a little more about the car; it is a French made Delage DIS built in 1924 it a 4 cylinder 2.1cc and will celebrate its 86th birthday whilst away on the trip!


Why? Thats what I asked them when they told me this as well...


It is all for a Charity called the Sabre Trust, which sets out, via their 'kindergarten' projects to make school a better place for Ghanaian children and encourage them to stay in education for longer. Please take a second to look over their website: http://www.sabretrust.org/



Whilst I hope you consider this feat difficult enough for both the car and the two people inside it, they are also attempting to raise £4000 for the Sabre Trust on their trip. Anything that you can give is hugely appreciated! Please take a look at the Virgin Money Giving website @ http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/Delage2Africa
Whilst I appreciate that many people would like to use a different money giving website, away from the likes of big companies such as Virgin, this site is recommend by the Sabre Trust.



This blog will be updated as much as possible while they are away to give you an idea of the places they are travelling through and how the 86 year old car is getting on!