The Journey Begins ...

DIARY OF A CHARITY DRIVE
FROM BIRMINGHAM (UK) TO BANJUL (GAMBIA)

Sunday 5 August 2007

Bob has bought the car!  It's a left hand drive, 1991/2, six seater Nissan Quest with a 3-litre engine and it looks like this:

Snazzy, eh?  And it has an engine (always a good sign) which looks like this:

Pics of the drivers to follow shortly - John is in Ireland and Gary is currently skiving in Spain (yo both! - waddaya think of the car?).

Friday 24 August 07

The car has been partly logo'd and now looks like this (click for bigger):

More sponsorship logos going on soon (see updated photographs here), but there's space left for more if you fancy seeing your company name being driven through seven countries in return for sponsorship - get in touch.

Here's two of the drivers:

Cheery chaps, aren't they.  Bob left, John right.

Sponsorship, donations and expressions of interest are pouring in from all sources, along with pics of the third driver, Gary (of Lockwoods).  Three drivers?  Yes, in fact, there will be four as Bob has been unable to resist and has decided to drive down with them in a second car, and a fourth driver will be announced shortly.  So two cars are driving 4,000 miles from Birmingham to Banul, Gambia.  Want to get involved?  Get in touch.

Once in Gambia, one car will be donated to Bob's charity to deliver supplies regularly sent over by Bob to outlying villages, the second car will be donated to the Gambian British Legion for use by ex-servicemen.  The sponsorship money being raised will be used to set up scholarships so that children can experience a good education.  Every single penny donated goes straight to the scholarship fund, there are NO administration costs, all charity work is undertaken by volunteers.

August 2007

And then there were three ...

L-R: Gary of Lockwoods, John of Ireland, and Bob the founder and fund raiser extraordinaire.  These are they, the drivers, the insane brave men making the epic charity run to Gambia.  We'll compare this photo with a photo of their arrival at Banjul and see what a difference 4,000 miles can make.

They now have the second car ...

Looks the business, doesn't it.  This car was made to travel to Africa.  Its a left-hand drive Grand Cherokee Jeep and modifications for the enormous journey are currently being made to both cars.

The cars and the men ...

They refused to lounge topless over the bonnets! Tsk.

The Birmingham Mail is hoping to cover the journey, and radio stations and other media have also shown an interest.  It's all coming together rather well.

30 August

A meeting at the Birmingham Mail offices with Patrice John, who took down all the details of the mammoth journey and promised that the paper would highlight the event with news stories to help with fund raising.  She's hoping to send at least one reporter (or one reporter and one photographer) along on the journey to document it all.  They were very keen and enthusiastic to help us in any way they can which is excellent news.

7 September

We have the new t-shirts:

We have the giant postcards (to send out to media):

We have the fourth driver, "Ger" Crean ... pic to come.

We also now have confirmation that the Birmingham Mail's reporter, Patrice John, and a photographer will be covering the epic journey from start to finish.

Only 4,765 things left to organise - fortunately, Bob has boundless energy and clearly runs on Duracell batteries.

Tuesday 11 September

Another meeting at the Birmingham Mail offices with Patrice John and her editor.  Patrice will be flying over to Banjul, Gambia, to see the arrival of the men and the cars, along with an Birmingham Mail photographer, Emma Lee.  In the run up to the start of the journey on 31 October, the Mail will be running several articles about Bob, his charity and the drive. 

Once in Gambia, Patrice and Emma will be visiting various villages, hospitals and Gambian officials to see exactly how Bob Powell's Gambia charity has benefited the local people. 

Did you know, for instance, that Bob Powell's Gambia charity works closely with the Jammeh Foundation (the President's charity) and regularly sends over supplies of desperately needed medical equipment?

Did you know that Bob Powell's Gambia charity pays for local people to receive lifeguard and First Aid training so that the tourist beaches are now manned in case of emergencies (which they weren't before)?

Did you know that Bob Powell's Gambia charity regularly makes donations to the Gambian British Legion ex-servicemen, and pays for locals to receive medical treatment, including malaria injections, if they can't afford it themselves?

And did you know that Bob Powell's Gambia charity has equipped several schools with a classroom full of computers, supplied, fitted and set up by UK volunteers?

Impressive, isn't it.

If you want to donate or offer any help, get in touch (details below).

Wednesday 12 September

We have visual evidence of the fourth driver, Ger Crean.  He looks like this:

And he's clickable should you have the urge to click him.  Dig those shorts, Ger!

The Jeep is currently being fitted with a bespoke steel roof rack courtesy of Harris Steels.  More logo's are going on both cars at the beginning of next week ... photos here.

Thursday 13 September

The jeep has had a hand-made roof rack put on at Harris Steels in Halesowen - a piece of structural engineering and human ingenuity.

Friday 14 September

Barretts Outdoors (previously Barretts of Feckenham) have very kindly donated an enormous amount of camping equipment for the journey - there will be an 'official handover', complete, as always, with pictures for your viewing pleasure.  Once in Gambia, all the equipment will be donated to the local boy scouts and girl guides groups.

Many thanks to Barretts, and to all the companies and people who have been extraordinarily generous, we're very grateful.  The Drive is becoming more successful than we ever hoped or imagined.

Wednesday 26 September

Emma Lee, the photographer from the Birmingham Mail who will be travelling to Gambia to see the arrival in Banjul, came to take photographs of Bob and the cars.  The first article about Bob, the charity and The Big Drive will be in The Birmingham Mail on Monday 1 October (don't forget to buy a copy). UPDATE: Unfortunately the reporter rang to say it wouldn't be in the paper on Monday as they "Didn't have enough room to do it justice."  Will let you know when its being published (sometime next week).  ANOTHER UPDATE: Thursday, and its here.

Smile!

But will he be able to get up again afterwards? (he did)

Lurve that jeep!
(and look at the potential to have your company logo prominently displayed
on the bespoke roof rack courtesy of Harris Steels for literally half the world to see)

Totally camera shy

 
"Can you make me look like Brad Pitt?"

Note to Patrice and Emma (who will be spending a week in The Gambia with Bob, Gary, John and Ger after the cars arrive in Banjul): bring a BIG hat, cool clothing and, above all else, brace yerselves (the webmaster honeymooned with some of these men so I know what I'm talking about!).

Saturday 29 September

There's good news and there's bad news.

The bad news is, our fourth driver, Ger was taken ill yesterday and had to go into hospital, so he won't be able to make the trip.  We wish you a fast recovery, Ger.

The good news is, driver John has managed to find a replacement.  Bob Powell's Gambia Schools and Health Project are proud to present ...

... Steve O'Connell (right).  Steve is a cheery chappy who'll fit right in with the other reprobates.  He's a long distance driver for P D Barr in Coleshill, so that will come in very handy.  Welcome aboard, Steve.

Scale of Journey

This is just a really rough map and route specs until I can put together something fabulously technical.

* Birmingham to Plymouth (243 miles)
* Ferry from Plymouth to Santandar, Spain (24 hrs)
* Stopover Alicante
* Alicante to Gibraltar (600 miles)
* Ferry from Gibraltar Drive to Rabat, Morocco (173 miles) -
   stopover
* Drive to Marakech (205 miles)
* Drive to Abadir (172 miles)
* Drive to Laayoune (433 miles) - rest
* Drive to Dakhla (338 miles)
* Drive to Nouabhibou (288 miles)
* Into Sahara (110 miles) - camp overnight
* Drive to Nouamghar (120 miles)
* Drive down coast Part Way Drive to Nouakchott (93 miles)
* Drive to Zebraloar (189 miles) - camp overnight
* Customs escort through Senegal (338 miles)
* Drive down to Gambia (40 miles)
 

A distance of 4,000 miles over approximately 10 days.

Tuesday 2 October

29 Days To Go!

Brittany Ferries have very kindly given us a discount for the ferry journey from Portsmouth to Santander in Spain.  And Power Bar have generously donated some of their nutrition bars for the journey, so at least the drivers won't be fainting with hunger at any point.

I'd also like to mention how fabulous the girls at Co-Op Travel in Weoley Castle have been - hi girls, thanks for all your help with our travel arrangements.

Thursday 4 October

27 Days To Go!

A local warehouse have given us some surplus stock, including lots of toys to take to Gambian schools, which is fabulous - the kids are so going to love them.

Today Bob was interviewed by the Birmingham Mail for a video to be put on their website - will let you know when its been posted.  Bob is impressively good at interviews because his honest enthusiasm just shines through.  His prime concern is that the people of Gambia experience a good education and good health, and he's endeavoured to give them both over the last 13 years.

Also today, the Birmingham Mail published their first article about Bob's charity (click to have a look).

Thursday 11 October

20 Days To Go!

Bob has been running around like a headless chicken the last few days trying to get everything sorted, foregoing sleep and food until someone shouts at him to stop, eat and sleep! 

Today we went to collect all the donations from Barretts Outdoors (previously Barretts of Feckenham).  They have provided us a huge amount of camping equipment, which will be used on the journey and, once in the Gambia, will be donated to girl guide and boy scouts groups.  Our thanks to Barretts.

L-R:  Peter Ashcroft, Adrian Round, Gary Payne, Bob Powell, Wendy Smith and Ian Price.  More photographs here

West Bromwich Albion Football Club have donated several dozen sets of full football kits.  The Birmingham Mail came to take photographs of them all along with Baggies footballer, Lee Baker.

Bob and Lee Baker from West Bromwich Albion Football Club. More photographs here

And here's a pic of the really nice Mail photographer, Jason (who doesn't actually like being photographed!).

There was me with my teeny digital camera making like David Bailey, but look at the size of his!

And, to the enormous relief of the webmaster, a brilliant satellite communications company called C A Clase have loaned us a satellite unit, so the drivers won't be left stranded and alone in the middle of the Sahara Desert (phew ... and again, phew!).  I was so thrilled by this I offered them my undying gratitude and my first born child, who's 27.

Friday 12 October

19 Days To Go!

BREAKING NEWS: We finally have confirmation that Sulayman Badjie, the son of the Vice President of Gambia (Director of the Jammeh Foundation and Chairman of the Bob Powell's Gambia Schools and Heath Project), will be flying to the UK on 23 October to take part in interviews to highlight the charity and the drive. 

He'll be accompanying the drivers on their journey.  So, five men and two cars driving to Gambia.

ROLL UP! ROLL UP! AN AUCTION!

The unfamous but very talented Yorkshire painter, Stephen Aubrey, has donated one of his paintings to be auctioned in aid of the charity.  The oil-painted scene depicts the creek at Kotu in the Gambia, and the canvas measures 20 inches by 16 inches.  If you would like to become the new owner of this original piece of artwork, please bid in "comments" below.  Closing date is 28 October.

Saturday 13 October

18 Days To Go!

The Birmingham Mail printed their second article about the donation of West Bromwich Albion's football kits (click the link to have a look).

The men put up the tents donated by Barretts in Bob's back garden.

L-R: Bob, driver Steve, Gary and non-driver Steve (artist of painting above)

If you want to know how four men coped with the erection of two tents, click here!  Webmaster now running for them thar hills really fast.

Wednesday 17 October

14 Days To Go!

Raced over to the Birmingham NEC to collect our satellite unit from Simon Bush at C A Clase - very nice chap, very helpful, very much the person you want to deal with should you ever have the need for any kind of satellite communication. 

So communications are Go!

Confirmation that the 'wave off' by the Mayor of Birmingham will take place at 1pm on Tuesday 30 October. 

So Wave Off is Go!

And the Birmingham Mail published another article about the charity/drive, featuring our good friend, Sulayman Badjie (son of the Vice President of Gambia who's flying over to the UK next Tuesday).  All Birmingham Mail articles regarding the charity are here.

And in case you haven't seen them, regularly updated photographs of sponsor logos on the cars (which are being added all a vast rate of knots) are here.

Thursday 18 October

13 Days To Go!

Harris Steels in Halesowen made a hefty donation to the sponsorship (as well as putting the roof rack on the Jeep).

James Price, Sales Manager at Harris Steels (who simply cannot take his eyes off the gorgeousness of the Jeep) and Steve with the sponsorship cheque (which has gone all white, so a pic of it is here).

Tuesday 23 October

8 Days To Go!

Sulayman arrived in the UK.  His first words were, "It's cold." 

Bob and Sullayman Badjie

Wednesday 24 October

7 Days To Go!

We received an enormous donation from Mr Carson at Cook & Wilson Home Charitable Trust, and a phonecall from The Health and Safety Group promising us large amounts of medical equipment and even some dynamo torches (which will come in very handy in the bush villages where they don't have electricity).

The generosity of companies and individuals is astonishing, our thanks to everyone who has contributed.

Friday 26

5 Days To Go!

Sulayman is interviewed by the Birmingham Mail and then takes in some English history at Warwick Castle.

Saturday 26 October

4 Days To Go!

Practice pack ... [click on pics to reveal the full horror)

Okay, everything out.	Out of the house and out of the garage.	LOADS of stuff!	All the medical and educational supplies heading off to Gambia.	So much stuff we have a 'security guard' watching over everything.
Yep, all that, in two cars (except the plant pot). Uh huh.	Bob and Sulayman looking optimistic.	Like completing a huge jigsaw ... can we get it all in?	Of course we can. We think we can.	Sulayman displays the boxes that have yet to go in.
Five men, 10 days, one roll .... hmmmmmm.	Dark (and raining) by the time we finish.	A close up of the exhaustion. But we did it.

Sunday 28 October

3 Days To Go!

Panic and excitement mounts!  Here, a broadcast from Sulayman Badjie, Chairman of the Bob Powell's Gambia Schools and Health Project in Gambia.

Monday 29 October

3 Days To Go!

Nothing like leaving things to the last minute is there!  Excitement overwhelmed by abject panic when the drivers discover (a) they need to register the cars in Gambia (documents hastily scanned and emailed to appropriate authorities); (b) they need visas to travel through Mauritania (documents hastily scanned and emailed to appropriate authorities); and (c) the webmaster desperately needs some IT assistance for the satellite communications box (webmaster's son hastily brought down from Leeds). 

Everyone looks like terrified rabbits about to be hit by a speeding truck, but I'm sure that will pass.

Tuesday 30 October

1 Day To Go!

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham Presentation
outside the Council House in Birmingham city centre.

Click on pics to enlarge

Here we are outside the Council House	Makes yer proud to be a Brummie dunnit.	Looking good!	A crowd quickly gathers, drawn by the logo'd cars and the fabulous drummers.	The fabulous drummers, who were fabulous.
Solomon and Sharon Jaiteh - who were fabulous!	L-R: Gary Payne, Sulayman Badjie, Coun Vivienne Barton, Bob Powell, Steve O'Connell and John Taylor.	L-R: Sulayman, Bob, Gary, John, Steve, Solomon and Sharon.	L-R: Lord Mayor Randal Brew, Coun Vivienne Barton, Birmingham Mail photographer (!), Bob, Sulayman and Gary.	Not quite sure why Bob's hanging on in that 'natural' manner.
Having a chat.	The Drivers: John, Sulayman, Gary and Steve - very 'Tarrantino'.	Webmaster's gorgeous sister with gorgeous boyfriend and lovely mommy (nepotism, couldn't resist)	The Lord Mayor hands over a plaque for Bob to present to the Mayor of Banjul.	Good crowd. Nice necklace (very bling)
Sulayman chats with the Mayor.	L-R: Gary, John, The Mayor, Bob and Sulayman, having a bit of a chat.	And the council provided sarnies (thanks to Lynne). L-R: John, Coun Vivienne Barton, John's very pretty daughter, Gary (looking a bit stunned), Bob, Suzanne (Coop Travel), webmaster's hunky hubby Steve, driver Steve and webmaster's handsome son and IT expert.	Webmaster and Suzanne from Coop Travel - looking good!

As we couldn't collect donations because of the spaghetti of red tape involved in getting a permit, we handed out leaflets directing people to the website.  One woman insisted on giving money to Bob and promptly burst into tears, saying what a wonderful thing they were doing.  An elderly couple said they didn't have much but they would like to give something, and pressed a one pound coin into our hands, which was so touching.

The fabulous drummers (who were fabulous) also give Gambian drumming lessons if anyone is interested: jaitehsolomon@yahoo.co.uk.

The Birmingham Mail printed another article.

AND THEY'RE OFF!!!

From BIRMINGHAM (UK) to BANJUL (GAMBIA)
WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER 2007

Birmingham to Plymouth
Ferry to Santander, SPAIN
Santandar to Algeciras, GIBRALTAR
Ferry to Tangiers, MOROCCO
MOROCCO to WESTERN SAHARA
TO MAURITANIA
TO SENEGAL
To Banjul in THE GAMBIA

Approximately 4,000 miles.
Approximately 10 days

Drivers:
Bob Powell
Gary Payne
John Taylor
Steve O'Connell
Sulayman Badjie

Cars:
Nissan Quest
Cherokee Jeep
(both left hand drive)

Start time:
Birmingham: Wednesday 31 October 2007, 06.15am

Finish time:
TO BE ANNOUNCED!

WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER

DAY 1 - Birmingham to Santander, Spain

Loaded up Jeep and Quest reverse out of Bob's driveway at 6.15am, to the great joy of the entire neighbourhood.  Unfortunately no pictures of the Great Departure as it was too dark, but an audio of their bellowing might have been interesting.

Phonecall at 10.00am to say they'd arrived in Plymouth with no problems and were tucking into a hearty breakfast before boarding the ferry (which probably isn't wise for the driver who suffers from sea sickness).

Midday: They're on ferry to Santander in Spain, which takes 24 hours.  I asked Bob if the seasick driver had taken his SeaLegs tablet, and heard in the background the horrified cry of someone who hadn't taken his travel pills.  Tsk.

Arriving at the ferry place.	John	On your marks ...	Get set ...	GO!
When da boot comes in.	Bye England, bye.	S'good 'ere, innit.	The sea sick one.	Zzzzzzzzz
Zzzzzzz	Zzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzzzzzz	Awake!	Buddies (in matching jackets no less)	Steve (possibly singing)
Hmmmm, 90mph up 1:3 hill, probably not a good idea.	Can we fix it? Yes we can.	A view	Another view	A road
A road sign	Another road sign.

The Birmingham Mail covered yesterday's events.

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2007

DAY 2 - Santander to Grenada-way (Spain)

Phonecall 2pm: The cars encountered a steep hill just outside Santander and the Jeep overheated, but they managed to cool it down with some water (and a suggestion that they might slow down a bit).  They're currently 144 miles from Madrid and want to know (a) where the campsites are in Madrid, and (b) what time the ferries are from Gibraltar to Tangiers.  So that's zero research on their part then!  They also didn't know that today is a bank holiday in Spain, so everything is closed.

Phonecall 4pm:  They're now 100 miles passed Madrid on the A4 Valencia Road (so the frantic internet search for Madrid campsites not required after all!).  They'll camp as soon as they find somewhere.

Phonecall 6pm: They might drive through the night to catch the ferry from Gibraltar to Tangiers.  "Why?" I asked.  "So we don't miss it," said Bob.  "6pm," I repeated, slowly and clearly, "The ferry only runs on Fridays and Sundays at 6pm in the evening.  You'll be better off catching it from Algeciras or Tarifa, their ferries run more often."  So they're now looking for a place to camp.  No problems with the cars, although the listening skills of the drivers could do with a bit of work.

8pm: They covered 510 miles today and eventually camped somewhere between Granada and Malaga, so they're quite close to the coast. 

The Birmingham Mail put Bob's video on their website.

State of the art graphics showing roughly where they are  (although 'about 100 miles from Madrid' is hard to pinpoint).  As long as they keep heading south and don't come across anyone speaking Portugese or French, they'll be fine.  Eventually camped somewhere between Grenada and Malaga, covering a total of 510 miles.

FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2007

DAY 3 - Grenada-way (Spain) to Algeciras (Gibraltar)

The plan today is to repack the cars as the Jeep roof rack is top heavy, and then ferry over to Morocco first thing tomorrow morning so they can drive straight through, hopefully in one day.

Received first email of photographs of their journey.  I give them state-of-the-art satellite communications, compression software and clear instructions, they (having travelled through glorious Spanish countryside) give me pics of a petrol station!  We've had words.

4pm: Words worked, they sent more piccies.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF GRENADA TO GIBRALTAR TO ALGECIRAS

Blooooo skies in Spain.	Missing the turnoff to Algeciras (webmaster assumes!)	Back on track.	Dem der mountains.	More mountains.
Coming into Gibraltar.	The Rock.	Gibraltar.	Steve and Sulayman.	Bob and John.

They stayed at ALGECIRAS last night, ready for the ferry in the morning, although they have some concerns about a visa for Sulayman (the others have British passports and don't need one, but Sulayman apparently does).

Saturday 3 November

DAY 3 - Algeciras (Spain) to Tangiers and Rabat (Morocco)

6.00pm.  No word from any of them today, and all their mobiles are off, so teeny bit worried (okay, panicking).  I know they were ferrying to Morocco first thing this morning, so not sure if their mobile services don't work in Morocco, if they're in trouble, or if they can't be bothered to let the webmaster know they're okay (if the latter, they will experience pain when I see them in Gambia next week). 

Men-types, if you're reading this, GET IN TOUCH!

UPDATE:  Email from the drivers (phew! - so they haven't been abducted or incarcertated then):

"Up 6 am for ferry (night photos) , 150 cars one Spanish cop!! Missed first ferry due to congestion, second left at 9.30am.  2hr crossing to TANGIERS.  On arrival Sulayman not let off boat (no visa!!). Phone calls made to Gambian embassy in Rabat.  After 3 ½ hrs Sulayman came through.  Photos with bright sun Tangiers port, Moroccan guy in photo named Ahmed, he was helping us thru customs (for a fee!!).  Headed for RABAT to sort visas for Mauritania and Senegal.  Spent night in Gambian  Embassy (really!!) those photos to follow.  A few thanks, first to Frank in Gibraltar (cybercafé), Ahmed in Tangiers port, and the Gambian embassy staff for letting us stay overnight." 

They stayed the night at the Gambian Embassy because they couldn't find anywhere to set up their tents or anywhere else to stay - they slept on First Secretary's couches (and said they were very comfortable! Better than sleeping in the cars, anyway).

The Jeep (early morning).	The Quest.	The Quest - ready to go.	Ferry to Tangiers.

Steve and new friends.	Tangiers port (webmaster thinks).	(Ahmed?) Bob, Gary and Steve.	Steve and Gary.
Sulayman and Bob.	Lots of new friends (John, Bob, woman, woman, man, Gary).

After the difficulties in Algeciras with Sulayman's visa, they travelled from Tangiers to Rabat - and stayed at the Gambian Embassy for the night!

Sunday 4 November

DAY 4 - Rabat to Agadir (Morocco)

EMAIL: "Left RABAT 8.00am, drove down past CASABLANCA to MARRAKESH.  Filled up with food and petrol, down through mountains to AGADIR to camp for night.  So far so good.  Gary driving jeep while I'm typing this up."

Not sure where these were taken.

	John.

Rabat to Casablanca to Marrakech.  Camped at Agadir for the night.

Monday 5 November

DAY 5 - Agadir (Morocco) to Medica [sic] (Western Sahara)

8.00am: Mobile text message to say they're currently heading towards TIZNIT, plan to make it out of Morocco and into the Western Sahara today.

No further word from them, but I'm not panicking ... really, not panicking.

Tuesday 6 November

DAY 6 - Misid [sic?] (Western Sahara) to ...

8.00am:  Phonecall to say they reached MISID in the Western Sahara yesterday (haven't been able to locate it on a map yet, probably spelt it wrong).  They couldn't find anywhere to stay last night and so set up the tents against the wall of a petrol station!  They said it was noisy, but any port in a storm (they were all exhausted).

They're hoping to reach Mauritania today, where hopefully their visas will be waiting for them.  Bob says its "the journey of a lifetime" and they're all really enjoying it, despite being stopped at every checkpoint along the way to have all their documentation looked at.  Its very humid during the day and misty in the morning.  They apparently have signs in the Sahara reading "BEWARE OF CAMELS" and have seen dead ones at the side of the road (I'd imagine a bit more startling than seeing a roadkill hedgehog or squirrel!).

They'll be sending more photographs later.  I've requested pics of them all running into the North Atlantic Ocean (naked?).

The Evening Mail did a telephone interview with Bob.

Wednesday 7 November

DAY 7 - No idea, I've lost them.

No communication.  Assume they're now in Mauritania.  Still no photographs of them all naked running into the ocean, which is a bit disappointing.

12.53am: Text message on home phone: "We're okay.  Jeep broke down, waiting for repairs in Mauritania."

Thursday 8 November

DAY 8 - MAURITANIA

10.51am: Finally managed to get through on one of their phones.  They're currently stuck at ROSSO near the Mauritania/Senegal border.  The jeep's broke down and they're trying to locate a new water pump.  John has wandered off to try and find an internet cafe to send through some photographs - hopefully he'll be able to find his way back again.  A couple have had an 'upset tummy', only in the flat featureless desert there's "nowhere to run, nowhere to hide", so I've been told to expect some 'interesting' pictures!  Can't wait.

They've got another 5-600 kilometres to drive to Banjul, so they think they might not get there until late Friday/early Saturday.  Assuming, that is, they can find a water pump for the jeep (fingers crossed).

NOTE TO JOHN: USE THE SATELLITE BOX TO SEND PICS/MESSAGES/DETAILS.

11.12am:  Yay, pics just arrived..

EMAIL FROM JOHN: "Hi Deb.  Just a few more notes today.  Wednesday spent night with Gambian ambassador at his residence, really nice people.  Yesterday stayed at border between Morocco and Mauritania. Water pump packing up on the Jeep.  5 hours to cross border into Mauritania (43 degrees). Got down to Nouakchott, a few short tempers !!. Getting pump fixed today.  Hopefully."

I miss the Jeep!	Herd 'em up, move 'em out.	No traffic jams here.	Just a dirt track.	And sand.
Lots of sand.	And a bumpy road.	The Quest, standing proud as it melts in the sun.	Ouch, that's hot!
	Iconic.	Sand.	More sand.	Yep, more sand, in hill form.
More the angle of the camera than the tipping of the car ... I think.	Busman's holiday for Gary, the mechanic.	Laughing in the face of adversity (and heat stroke).	Sunset in the Sahara.
		A tree.

Friday 9 November

DAY 10 - Senegal

They stayed overnight with the Gambian Ambassador in Rosso again whilst waiting for a water pump for the Jeep to be found, which it was this morning.  The Jeep is working again.  They crossed the border into Senegal, where the roads are so rough the exhaust fell off the Jeep, and then the Quest.  They were hoping to arrive in Banjul tonight, but missed the last ferry and had to sleep in the port.

Saturday 10 November 2007

DAY 11 - THE GAMBIA!

THEY MADE IT!!!

Webmaster standing in the reception of the Palm Beach Hotel, asking one of Bob's charity committee members when they were expected to arrive, when a booming voice called out, "Hello!"  It was Bob, followed by the suntanned, starving and exhausted bodies of Gary, John, Sulayman and Steve.  They did it!  4,000 miles, seven countries, stomach upsets, heatstroke, a replacement water pump and a missing exhaust later, they finally arrived in The Gambia.

Tired and starving - sitting down for breakfast (John, Steve, Sulayman, Gary and Bob)	Still a bit stunned ... and starving.	"I just can't believe we did it!" Neither can Steve.	Bob, just glad to be there.	Unpacking the road battered cars.
The haggard drivers (John, Steve, Bob, Sulayman, Gary)	Bob being interviewed by Patrice from the Birmingham Mail.	Steve: "Pretty groovy hat, eh?"	John: "He's kidding with that hat, right?"	All together now. Except ... where's Bob?
All together now. There's Bob.	"Yes, this was my sleeping bag, and yes, its pink."	Ice Cold In Alex. Never has a chilled beer tasted soooo good.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Remembrance Sunday

An official Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Banjul, attended by the Vice President of the Gambia and top government officials.

Followed by drinks on the lawn of the British High Commissioner's house.

We were there!	The British High Commissioner, Philip Sinkinson OBE, talks to Bob - a very nice man.	Still talking.	Bored with talking, the High Commissioner pokes Bob in eye (not really).
Look at us!! Gin and tonics on the lawn of the High Commissioner's house!	This is so the life!	Patrice enthralled everyone.	Patrice and Emma, seriously nice people from the Birmingham Mail.

The series of articles that Patrice and Emma sent back from the Gambia can be found here.

More photographs and additional pieces from the drivers to follow shortly [including Bob's now infamous bawling of "FIVE. CHICKEN. AND CHIPS!" and "HAVE YOU GOT ANY CHICKEN? YOU KNOW, CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK?" which apparently had children running for their lives in Mauritania!].  Plus our visit to Seyone village, a local hospital, Barretts donation of tents to the boy scouts, and (hopefully!) the presentation to the Mayor of Banjul.

John's mobile videos

Driving through Morocco, near Casablanca

Driving into the compound of the Jammeh Foundation Hospital (one of the 'better provided' hospitals)

Inside the hospital Part I

Inside the hospital Part II

And this is especially for Steve (and John, who I know loves this)

The only music to listen to across the Western Sahara (apparently)

More videos and pics to come - there's loads!

BIRMINGHAM MAIL ARTICLES

All Articles (including videos)

Special Features
30 October 2007
31 October 2007
10 November 2007
13 November Page 1
13 November Page 2
13 November Page 3
15 November Page 1
15 November Page 2
17 November Page 1
17 November Page 2

We are having some difficulty in obtaining an affordable communications system for the drivers to send back emails and photographs of their journey each day in order to update this online diary.  If anyone has any information about hiring a RBGAN satellite system or similar, please do get in touch with the (rather worried) webmaster: bhamsecretary@gmail.com.  Any companies willing to lend us one (and we'll be really really careful with it) , we'll splash your logo over both cars and give you a SUPERB write up on this website - you'll also have my undying gratitude.

Undying gratitude to C A Clase, who have provided us not only with the advice we so desperately needed but also given us the use of a satellite communications system ... many, many thanks.  HUGE thanks.  No, really, thanks.

SPONSOR FORM (download) or HERE (online)

Email: bobpowell@blueyonder.co.uk    

Tel: 0121 427 5378

Bob Powell's charity bank details:
You can walk into any bank and simply make a donation

Lloyds TSB

"Bob Powell's Gambia Schools & Health Project"

Account Number: 21841268

Sort Code: 77-85-67

What Bob's charity has done - at a glance

As well as organising fund raising events and regularly sending over medication and equipment (his garage is always bursting at the seams with items to be shipped to Gambia), Bob’s charity has achieved many things over the years.

      Paid for a water well to be built at Brufut village.

      Keeps the Brufut clinic stocked with medical supplies.

      Sent over uniforms, football kits and boots for local schools.

      Shipped over desperately needed equipment, including hospital beds, bedside cabinets, medical supplies, catering equipment, a heart machine, examination tables, resuscitation units and filing cabinets (all donated to the charity).

      Keeps the Gungar Medical Centre in Gambia stocked up with medical supplies.

      Supplied and installed computers at St Josephs School and St Teresa’s School (with volunteers Paul Hartwell and Liam Yardley).

      Sent supplies and equipment to the Gambian Ex Servicemen Legion (and personally paid for one ex serviceman to have cataract surgery).

      Sent 40 reconditioned computers to a school in Walsall after they lost their star rating.

      Organised, trained and paid for lifeguards on the beach so that tourists can enjoy the sea without worry – they have already rescued two people who had got into difficulty.

      Organised first aid training for hotel and tourist staff.

      Organised and paid for a nurse to be stationed at the Sunny Gambie Hotel during the holiday season.

      Organised and paid for a midwife to be stationed at a village clinic that Bob helped set up.

      Paid for a bakers oven to be installed at an outlying village and provided bicycles for delivering bread to surrounding villages so that villagers could become self sufficient.

      Sent over an ambulance to an village (donated by the Red Cross), which has saved and treated hundreds of people who otherwise have no access to hospitals.

      Provided beach hotels with smoke alarms.