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T minus 28 days and counting….. Yes, we leave the UK at the end of this month, basically 4 weeks to go.
Our ferry leaves for Spain from Portsmouth on 01st Feb 07 and we will probably leave London a day or 2 before then!
Rob has “officially” finished work but will still be doing a few more days handover this week with possibly one more day next week & hopefully that will be it. Inga on the other hand is working up until the 26th of Jan.
Seeing as we haven’t been updating the site that regularly over the last few months, I thought I would post a brief summary of latest developments on the planning and preparation side of things for those that would be interested.
LAND ROVER PREPS
Going back about 4 months or so since returning from our Ireland and Scotland trip we have been doing bits and pieces here and there on the Land Rover – not as intense as before the trip as we had the majority of it done and also the shorter (& colder) winter days make for less productive days.
Seb, Neil and I did a basic service on Cathey in Reading, changing engine & diff oil and oil, fuel & air filters. Also checked & topped up swivel housing fluid and hydraulic fluid in main and transfer gear boxes. They also helped me fit and wire in an additional pair of front spot lights on the front of the roof rack. Spot lights we had from Inga’s Dad previously however I did buy a wiring kit from Frogs Island 4x4 Ltd (see
http://www.frogsisland4x4shop.com/product.php/462/52/) which was useful for the instructions but probably not necessary. Could have done without it in hindsight and just bought the loose wiring, fuse and relay at Maplin.
Fitted a Front Runner Axe bracket onto side of roof rack which we also were given by Inga’s Dad when we were in Namibia some time ago. (Axe from Homebase in UK) Also fitted and wired in a metal electric 2 speed fan that you can manually swivel 360 degrees to the roof of the cab. This can be positioned to suit us in the front cab when driving in the heat or to the back if we are sleeping in the back on a hot night. (Fan also “supplied” by Inga’s Dad)
There has also been another trip to Scorpion Racing. 2 new front BFGoodrich A/T tyres supplied and fitted for a very reasonable price. Also bought the Front Runner hot water shower system which we were eyeing out for a long time now and new rectangular Front Runner 40l plastic water tank. We decided not to use the flat 55l Front Runner tank that we got off Allan Smith as it took up too much surface area on the roof rack and also still were having problems finding missing lid. Since sold on eBay (Sorry Allan). Also bought a pair of Quick Fists for mounting British Army shovel onto roof rack. For all these items contact www.scorpionracing.co.uk
2nd hand British Army shovel was supplied by Anchor Supplies for 6.50 GBP- http://www.anchorsupplies.com/accesspries.htm
In the meantime we had also ordered a 2nd hand ex-German army Zarge aluminium storage box, which was originally used as a first aid box. This was shipped from Germany, see http://www.daerr.de/hauptartikel2_daerr/568572B90284334978MoIx25DB47/staD/59/Kisten%20und%20Tonnen.html
In November, Cathey was booked in to Foleys for a rear suspension upgrade (new HD +2” lift springs & new standard LR rear shocks – old ones kept as spares – plus 2nd hand rear anti-roll bar fitted) Also new standard Land Rover rear fuel tank guard fitted, some repairs to faulty windscreen wipers (as documented in Ireland trip update) and welding and repairs to drivers door and bulkhead. All in all they did a superb job – thanks to Paul & Stuart & I would definitely recommend them. More info at http://www.foleyspecialistvehicles.co.uk
All that was left then was to fit/mount water tank and Zarge Ali box to roof rack. Firstly decked out front section with plywood which 1st had to be treated/weather proofed. Also cut a recess in plywood for the gas bottle so that can be firmly secured. At the moment we are investigating getting an upright gas bottle holder made as at present ours is secured on its side and I have heard that you should not store them on their side! Is this true? If anyone knows a bit more about this and why this is so please email me.
After that just went a bit mad with website decals from www.stickyfx.co.uk & oval stickers & flags. (Oval stickers from http://www.cafepress.com/buy/oval+stickers/%20regions%20/%20cities, flags from home and Roehampton SA Shop) Plus a bit more of coloured reflective tape that is apparently “compulsory” in Ethiopia.
We also had to replace our thermarests which we use as mattresses in the back that we “lost” back to Sarah’s sister when Dave & Sarah left the UK which we got off of http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/ROLLMATS.html (We went for the Z-Lite) Also replaced another front seat base with new replacement item from mps4x4 Store http://www.mps4x4store.co.uk/ as on previous posting but this time on drivers side as Rob's bum was getting a wee bit sore on long stints behind the wheel.
More recently we have been building a water pump and filtration unit – Shurflo pump and accessories supplied by www.caktanks.co.uk and Doulton water filter housing & ceramic Ultracarb filters and accessories supplied by www.aquacure.co.uk (more info at http://www.faireyceramics.co.uk/products.htm)
We were really spoilt too over Christmas when Sebastian & his & Inga’s parents gave us another 2 brand new BFG tyres which we have now had fitted too. So we now have 4 brand new “takkies” fitted and the 2 spares almost new. Also received a new sleeping bag from Inga for Christmas so was really spoilt.
All that is left is tappet settings to be done and timing belt to be changed at Foleys, a few more storage items to be fitted to roof rack, carpeting to inside of drivers door can now finally be finished now that door has been repaired and possibly more internal elasticated storage pouches to be made (depending on time) – and we should be ready to roll!
Final list of spares required still to be finalized and purchased.
PAPERWORK, DOCUMENTATION & VISAS
Carnet application, as well as international driver’s license and international certificate for motor vehicles i.e. carte gris/grey card have all been in with the RAC for some time and should be returned soon.
More detailed route planning and route research has allowed us to identify exactly which visas we require before hand and which we can get en route and where. So far we have had our Egyptian visas issued by post in only a few days and at the moment our Algerian visa applications are in with the Algerian Consulate. In order to apply for these we needed an invitation letter from an Algerian Travel Agency which we got from Tanezrouft Voyages http://www.tanezrouft.com/Welcome.english.0.html We have also provisionally booked a guide with them for Southern Algeria which is compulsory!
Also making preps for our Libyan transit visa application which we will be making in Tunis. E.g. letter of introduction & passport details translated into Arabic. Hopefully this will allow us to cross Libya along the northern route without the necessary expensive compulsory guide, although we will have to wait at least a week in Tunis for this.
We will be extending our European green card vehicle insurance cover to include Morocco and Tunisia but still need to finalise and purchase our personal travel insurance (looking at www.insureandgo.com)
ROUTE PLANNING
Due to visa requirements we have had to do detailed route and itinerary planning for North Africa. So far finalized/estimated as best as possible up to start/entry into Egypt.
Will post a separate update of FULL itinerary on a separate page on the site for everyone’s info once we have had a look at the route and distances coming down the east coast from Egypt.
HEALTH
Haven't really written too much about this before as we have both been quite on top of things in this department. We both started our vaccinations over 6 months ago - Rob has completed all his and Inga just has last Hep B jab to do and last Cholera dose. Malaria - we are each doing different things here: Inga has already completed a 4 week Larium triall with no side effects (except for "malting") & Rob will most probably be taking Doxycycline. All we really still need to do in this department is purchase enough stock of the above for the trip. Also looking into taking along stand-by emergency treatment with us which would pretty much be Inga's Larium for me and my Doxy plus Quinine for Inga!
Keep an eye out for the itinerary update in the next week.
Till then....
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