Route

Route

Our route is as below....leaving London early September 2010, through the following coutries arriving in Cape Town mid December 2010:

• UK (London)
• ferry to .......
• France
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Germany (Berlin)
• Czech Rebublic
• Austria
• Italy (The northern bits)
• ferry to .......
• Egypt (via the White Desert)
• ferry to .......
• Sudan
• Ethiopa
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Malawi
• Zambia (Livingstone)
• Zimbabwe 
• Botswana 
• Namibia
• South Africa (Cape Town, Umhlanga)

Unfortunately we have had to cut out a few countries due to ridiculous regulations in Libya which would have doubled our travel budget. We are now bypassing Sicily, Tunisia and Libya and taking a newly launched ferry from Venice, Italy to Alexandria, Egypt (after full tour of Italy, that is)

We have now also skipped Botswana due to issues with the bikes in Tanzania, necessitating us to head straight to Windhoek for repairs, only 3000km on a broken suspension.......

Bikes

We are travelling with BMW bikes. Delilah has a 05 reg F650GS(single cylinder) and i have an F800GS. 

Delilah's bike (2005 BMW F650GS)

Accessories fitted so far:

BMW crashbars

BMW Handguards

BMW Dakar screen

Wolfman Tankbag

Ardcase Aluminium Panniers

BMW Top Box

Vision-x led spotlights

trTech offroad pegs

DID chain
Bike to go on serious weight loss before Africa


Lindsay's bike (2008 BMW F800GS) also up for weight loss

Accessories fitted so far:

Adventure-Spec crashbars

Adventure-Spec bashplate

BMW Handguards

BMW Adventure screen

BMW Aluminium Panniers and Top Box

Bag Connection Tankbag

Powerbronze Headlight Guard

trTech offroad pegs

trTech short levers

Vision-x led spotlights

Touratech Brake Reservoir covers
Touratech bar risers

Leo Vince SBK exhaust can

Kriega Fork Seals

Garmin ZUMO 550
HID dip and mainbeam
Centech fuse box
Throttle Rocker
Extra power socket fitted to faux tank

One week to go and last bits coming together

So one week today and we should be setting up camp somewhere in (west)Germany.
Do you know of any good places to camp and things to see around Dortmund or Munster?

Final bits of kit and spares have been arriving yesterday and today, we've now received all but one of our visas, which should arrive tomorrow. All our paperwork seems to be in order, all that now needs to be sorted is our offroad tyres that needs to be shipped off to Milan before we cross over to Egypt for our Africa leg of the trip.

I have been trying to sort out all our means of communications while out on the road. To chat to each other we are using the Scala G4 intercom headsets (right) which allows you to chat in full duplex with up to 4 riders at a range of up to a mile. to keep this site updated, we will be updating twitter twice daily via my normal mobile contract thanks to o2(pretty much free on my current contract), I will also try to update the site as often as possible using emails also via the phone, but mostly at internet shops wherever we come across them. Lastly, we will be filming the trip and updating pictures and videos to the site as often as possible using some really great kit, the GoPro Hd which is shockproof and waterproof, rated to 30meters (below) which i hope will make it all the way.

So remember to post comments with places you think we should stay in Dortmund or Munster and keep in touch by following my twitter page and following this blog, also remember to leave your legacy for the orphaned kids in Cape Town by donating here

Keep well and stay posted.

10 Days to go......

Finally, i have for all those women out there some input from a women biker.

Soooo......as the boys have mentioned all is coming along nicely........still a few things to finish off , but now its just counting down the days.

Booked our ferry from Dover to Calais today leaves on the 1Sep at 7h30am.......mmmmmm not looking forward to the early 3am start. The bright side to it all is i dont have to work for the next 5months....woooo hooooo.

Charity

We are trying to do our part and during our London to Cape Town motorcycle expedition we hope to raise some awareness and hopefully some funds for the Hillsong Cape Town Tembaletu Project. Please click on the video below for more information, thank you very much !

Do donate anything ... and anything helps, please click the donate button on the right or visit the following site: www.justgiving.com (UK donations) ..or for South Africa and Worldwide donations, go to hillsong.co.za for more information and simply transfer via the details below:
Money Transfers / Wire – Banking Details
First National Bank – Tokai
Account Name: Hillsong Africa Foundation
Account Number: 62257010480
Branch Code: 200409
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
Enter reference 'tembaletu uk2za'



THE VISION To provide accommodation facilities for these children, Thereby creating a safe, secure and loving environment enabling them to receive the best education possible.

THE CHALLENGE These kids are vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse, sometimes where they live and sometimes while waiting for the school bus. Malnutrition is a real issue – Many live in poverty and their families are unable to give them proper meals. When the principal noticed some kids searching through rubbish bins for food, she was heartbroken. Other challenges include inadequate sanitation for their special needs, and long travel time (2-3 hours) each way to and from school. (This means getting up before the sun rises and getting home after dark).

TOGETHER WE CAN Help build a beautiful accommodation facility that will:
• Provide dignity and love, encouraging learning and helping build confidence.
• Create a safe environment free from predatory behaviour and dangerous elements.
• Establish an environment with the right adult/teacher influences that will help them pursue their dreams and flourish in life.
• Create an awareness amongst these children, their families and their community that the church of Jesus Christ is committed to their well-being

Charity site ready to go

Our charity page has now been updated, the giving site is live and money has started rolling in, this trip now feels like its on its way. (simply follow the charity page on the top of this site or click here)

Expect a more regular blog from next week when everything starts happening and follow us on twitter for daily updates on the trip.