After passing through 5 countries and travelling at total 4806 miles we completed the trip with plenty of ups and downs, donated the 'Beast' to an orphanage in Bamako that we hear are using it regularly to transport the kids. It all seems a distant memory but and experience I recommend anyone to do.
Once again many thanks to those that helped, supported and cared enough to make this trip a success
Unfortunately Fat Blokes in a Car has become One Fat Bloke in a Car. For personal reasons Dave has had to pullout of the Challenge, I'm gutted as Dave was the inspiration and enthusiasm behind us doing this but understand his reasons for dropping out, without his initial input I would not have got this far.
A stringent selection process for a replacement co-driver has recently taken place with such searching questions as can you drive,do you have a passport, are you free for 3 weeks after Xmas and do you like pie. With the many many applications a tough decision had to be taken immediately to ensure everything would be ready for departure, the new co-driver is me old mate Brian 'Mines a pint' Hitchcott from Brixham and due to his 'highly toned physic' he will be an Honorary Fat Bloke, welcome on board!
Hi, Dave and Chris here from deepest, darkest Devon about to partake on an adventure from Plymouth to Timbuktu, all in the aid of charity!
We are one of many teams taking part in the Plymouth to Timbuktu Challenge, the challenge is to buy a car (by hook or by crook) at a cost to ourselves of no more than £100, spend no more than £15 preparing it for the 4000 plus mile journey, with no support on route! Hopefully once we get to Timbuktu (or as the final, final destination will eventually be Bamako, Mali) the car will be auctioned off for charity, therefore the better quality the car, the more we shall raise for charities in Africa and we therefore need donations! We will be funding the journey itself entirely by ourselves but the car is another matter.
We are leaving on 26th December 2007, after spending Christmas day with our wives and children, taking the ferry to France. The journey shall take us through France, Spain, Gibraltar, across to Morocco onto Western Sahara, Mauritania and finally Mali, a total journey (if we don't take a wrong turn) of 4105 miles. If all goes well and we don't get lost in the desert, kidnapped by bandits, eaten by lions or devoured by beautiful women the whole journey should take about 22 days.
Paul Hunt you have alot to answer to!
For more info visit the Plymouth - Timbuktu official site at www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk, we are in Group 4 Team T8904