Category: Planning

Pre trip planning

Categories
Musings Planning UK

Thank you to Capel Dewi Community

Tonight Tom Cowcher did a slide presentation and talk about thetrip to Africa he made 30 years ago with his wife Eva and 3 friends. The evening was well attended by the Capel Dewi community and half the proceeds will be donated to Street Child.

The talk was very interesting and many of the issues they had are exactly the same sorts of thing I am expecting – nothing much has changed in the last 30 years.

I wish to thank Tom and Eva for inviting me along and giving me a chance to talk about my trip and about Street Child.

 

Categories
Planning The Bike UK

Sponsored by Evolution Signs

David Woodthorpe of Evolution signs has kindly and generously made signs for the Panniers and back box.

There is plenty of space on these for extra sponsors, all money donations go directly to Street Child.

Bike pannier stickers

Categories
Planning UK

Call for Sponsors

Sponsors are needed to raise money for Street Child, a charity helping to rebuild the lives of children orphaned by Ebola in West Africa. Sponsorship could be from a few pounds from an individual to hundreds of pounds from a business.

In return for donations of over £250 I would put company logos on the bike, bring the bike to photo shoots, participate in publicity events and generally shout from the rooftops about how good you are.

For more information or to discuss a sponsorship deal, please contact me.

Click here to get a printable letter

Categories
Planning The Bike UK

More bike mods – LED flood lights and Barkbusters

I have done some more work on the bike. I have installed a pair of high intensity led spot lights to boost the poor light from main beam on the bike. LEDs have come a long way ams give a lot of light for little power.
image

They are mounted below the main light cluster just above the towing loop.
image

image

image
They are wired into the main beam via a switch so i can isolate them if needed.
I also installed a pair of bark buster hand guards to save my hands when i fall and to provide some wind protection.
image

image

Categories
Musings Planning UK

True Size of Africa

With thanks to Kal Kruase

How big is Africa? – The standard world map does not give it’s true size due to the way the Earth is flattened to put on paper. A guy called Kal Krause has produced this image which gives a better idea of the scale.

With thanks to Kal Kruase
With thanks to Kal Kruase
Categories
Planning UK

Patrick Davey – On his way

I have been watching the blog of an Australian Patrick Davey who is travelling a similar route to me. He left the UK this week on his way to Cape Town. Here is his facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/drcanafricanadventure/timeline

And he has a satellite tracker plotting his current location:

https://share.delorme.com/PATRICKDavey

 

Categories
Planning UK

New site URL and logo

From Wales to Africa

I have moved the site to a new domain www.john-barrett.uk/africa Please update your bookmarks.

I have designed a new logo for the trip, I hope to make stickers and badges to swap with fellow travellers and Scouts I meet on the road.

Logo
Logo for my Expedition on a motorcycle from Wales to Cape town in 2015.
Categories
Planning The Bike UK

More Bike mods plus camping gear

I have now fitted a set of heated grips to the bike as well as an auxiliary power socket and USB charging point. I have also done a test pack of most of the kit to check for space – I need not have worried, I have plenty of room.

Categories
Musings Planning

Street Child

I have set myself two challenges for this trip. One is to raise money for Street Child who work in Africa to help kids who are for whatever reason left to fend for themselves. One of the outcomes from of the Ebola outbreak is that thousands of kids are left as orphans and in desperate need of help and support.

You can donate via the Virgin Money giving site.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=John-Barrett

My second challenge will be to meet as many fellow Scouts as possible on the way. If you are a scout in Africa please use this web site’s contact page to get in touch.

Categories
Planning

Route Planning 2

A lot has changed since I put up my original route planning post so I thought it best to post again.

The current plan is to leave the UK at the end of March/beginning of April 2015. The route will be:

UK – France – Spain – Morocco – Western Sahara – Mauritania – Senegal – Gambia – Senegal – Mali – Ivory Coast – Ghana – Togo – Benin – Nigeria – Cameroon – Gabon – Congo – DRC – Zambia – Mozambique – South Africa

africa-route

The route avoids the Ebola effected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, I would aim to be in Cape Town by the beginning of July 2015.

All are subject to change as borders open/close or local situations develop or subside.