We have maps! Loads of them.
Jamie has pointed out that - there being only the one road across North Africa - the Libya map is somewhat extraneous…. but then he clearly is not as capable as I am of getting lost even when there is only one available route. (Going backwards is still an option.)
In any case, having maps for all of the countries means we can finally plot our journey time and dates with some certainty. Having a group meeting tomorrow so will give it a go then and load it on here when I see Rohan on Friday.
Otherwise, I have been doing some volunteering at SolarAid (it really is an amazing charity - you know - if you happen to be sitting at your desk thinking “Christmas is such a time for giving. If only I could think of a truly deserving cause. Just off the top of my head…”) and helping out my friend Rosie.
Aka - the bicycle couriering has not yet come to pass. But then it is very cold outside. And she has chocolate biscuits. And skateboards. And - yes I suppose that we don’t get a lot of work done but sometimes you need to eat hob knobs… Anyhow - I digress.
Re. planning, all has been going well. We now have some great contacts in the Environment section of the British Council, have located a friend in shipping (for the ocean crossings) and have thoroughly investigated the use of Rolhoff internal gears. “Do you think these are good?” ” Not sure.” “Mark Beaumont says they are.” “Actually - was just about to say that they are pretty good…”
Re. bikes, perhaps less so.
Our test rider, Blake, has valiantly taken a tumble for the team.
It is possible that in practising my maintenance skills on his bike I may not have quite had ALL the tools required. And might then have assumed my immense personal strength would suffice when putting the pedals on (an assumption based almost entirely on my ability to open a particularly tricky jar of pickles the other day). It is also possible that this resulted in the pedal pulling the entire crank off while he was cycling extremely quickly - down Borough High Street - in rush hour.
Ah well. You live and learn. (Thankfully.)
Hope life is marvelous where you are and if any one happens to know Malcolm Bluemel (CEO of the Visa Company and MD of Planet Rock) just give me a shout.
Susie x
