Calum's Road Scotland to Calum's Road The Gambia.

[Sid Horman]

Sadly it looks like he will be returning home and not able to complete the journey. Some of the other guys are visiting him in hospital right now. They spent time today getting his travel and bike insurance sorted out. His bike will be collected from the hotel here in Granada and taken back to his home. We´ll know later when he is being discharged.

[Sid Horman]

Blog site updated for today´s ride.
Enjoy

The 8 remaining members of the Calum´s Road crew are finally together in the same location after 10 days and 2,000 miles of riding.

Now the adventure begins as we prepare to cross the water to Africa.

Sid

[Trippy]

Enjoying reading your blogg Sid and understand that now your in Africa.

Not sure though about the security black out on news and photos that has been imposed by Thunder as you head south.

For a donation of £5 people can subscribe to your spot tracker GPS and follow your every step ... are you reckoning on the African terrorists not being as wealthy as their Arab partners?

Ride safe.

That'll backfire on Thunder if Smirnoff cannot predict usage requirements and plan delivery logisitcs accordingly

[Cheesy Mike]

How do I access the GPS tracks? I'm interested in that sort of stuff so it would be fun to see. Blog says contact Prof on ukgser, but I never go there so would appreciate alternative contact method

[Trippy]

I don't know, you can see the Callums Rd threads as a guest over there, I'm guessing there is a link somewhere.

Just had a look at the Callum Road sub forum on UKGSer, I can't see any recent news.

Originally Posted by Cheesy Mike

How do I access the GPS tracks? I'm interested in that sort of stuff so it would be fun to see. Blog says contact Prof on ukgser, but I never go there so would appreciate alternative contact method

You would need to drop a sponsorship in to Sid's just giving account to be released track log info.

Other than that info is sketchy as there is a location blackout protocol for all other riders and even Sid's followers who can see his progress are asked not to broadcast it to protect the others.

I can give Proff your contact info if you want Mike?

[Sid Horman]

We're all safely through Mauritania and now rested at the wonderful Zebrabar in Senegal.

I've finally found an internet cafe in St Louis where I've just updated my blog on slow PC with arabic keyboard.

Having a great trip.

Re link to tracker. Proff on UKGSER is handling this for me but anyone on here who also posts on there could perhaps relay the site address and passport. Possibly JohnnyBoxer as I know he is following the link and has posted on this thread.

Thanks for support.

Still wearing my GSCLUB UK High viz jacket but it looks a bit dirty after the 4,000 + miles we have clocked up so far.

We should arrive in The Gambia in a few days time/

Sid

[Sid Horman]

Sorry been off-line for last week when we've been up river in Gambia roughing it at Horse and Donkey Trust. Trip so far has been fantastic. Yesterday was very hot ride to get from Sambel Kunda along some bumpy sandy roads across to Banjul. First hour was all on soft sand which was bit of handful on fully loaded GSers. I managed to crash on main road in 4th gear whilst going around road works and didn't realise how soft earth track was. Went down hard on left hand side, minor scrape on corner of tank and metal mule pannier a bit dented (they are seriously strong pieces of kit). Banged elbow but body armour did its job. Twisted shoulder which hurt until Banjul but OK today. Its my left arm so I can still pick up beers with my right arm.

After the time up river, we've checked into 5* Ocean Bay Hotel. It is weird seeing white Brits again after travelling through real Africa.

Went to Bansang Hospital a few days ago for Mikey to check out the solar panels and batteries. Checked over a few of the scoots and they badly need some decent spares to maintain them. Who is main contact for Scoots these days? I need to update them on a few extra bits that they need to take.

Just walked up road and found lovely internet cafe with proper QWERTY keyboard, decent PCs and attractive waitress keeping me supplied with cold drinks. Too hot to be out in midday sun so might just chill out here for a while...

To all who have sponsored, thanks again. This road will make a huge difference and will really save lives. It will help in 3 main ways:

1. It will allow the villages to reach and tend their rice crops. This will allow them to feed themselves (they suffer severe famine otherwise) and allow them to sell surplus crops at market to help reduce the acute poverty.

2. It allows them to get to the clinic in the next town. Women told harrowing stories of children dying because they could not get to the clinic in time.

3. Education. The secondary school kids need to travel to the next town to continue their education and this will only be possible with this new road.

So it might not sound "sexy" or "cool" to be giving money for a piece of road but it really is a fantastic cause and everyone who has donated should feel very proud that they have helped to make a real difference. The appeal will stay open so it is not too late to donate now.

Just seen on Justgiving site that Trippy had donated, thanks mate, much appreciated.

Cheers guys

Sid
__________________
http://www.justgiving.com/sidhorman

http://sidhorman.blogspot.com/

[Cogs]

Hi Sid,

Dennis is the main contact re Scoots.

[Sid Horman]

Finally "Out of Africa" after epic ride back from Banjul. 500 miles from Banjul to Zebrabar in northern Senegal. Then rest day, then another 500 mile ride through Mauritania to border. Gentle ride from border to Dakhla in southern Western Sahara. Next day 9.00 start to 7.00pm finish covering 720 miles in 10 hours on the road!

Then it started to rain and get cold.

Finally in Algercias tonight (Sunday), 6 days after leaving Banjul.

Having great fun

This is what GSing is really all about.

[Trippy]

Are you back yet?

Did you take photos, is there going to be a ride report with your story?

All your contributons to the 'big' ride report on the other site seem to be getting deleted.

[Sid Horman]

Originally Posted by Trippy

Are you back yet?

Did you take photos, is there going to be a ride report with your story?

All your contributons to the 'big' ride report on the other site seem to be getting deleted.

Stopping off in Jersey as its my Dads 80th birthday in one week.

Having problems with other site at moment...(you may be familiar with this concept!).

Will hopefully have time to update my blog this week.

Cheers

Sid

[ralphy]

Glad to hear you are back safe & sound, Sid.

I bet it was quite a trip & hope to hear all about it when we next meet

All your contributons to the 'big' ride report on the other site seem to be getting deleted.

Having problems with other site at moment...(you may be familiar with this concept!).

What's all that about?

R

[Sid Horman]

Originally Posted by ralphy

Glad to hear you are back safe & sound, Sid.

I bet it was quite a trip & hope to hear all about it when we next meet

What's all that about?

R

Well, I've updated my blog today.

Good picture on DAY 25 showing my GSClubUK jacket.

Just some petty politics on the other site which means all my comments are instantly deleted. Their loss.

[IainH]

Originally Posted by Sid Horman

Well, I've updated my blog today.

Good picture on DAY 25 showing my GSClubUK jacket.

Just some petty politics on the other site which means all my comments are instantly deleted. Their loss.

Surely not, you must be mistaken?

Welcome back Sid.


Iain

[Trippy]

Originally Posted by Sid Horman

Having problems with other site at moment...(you may be familiar with this concept!).

I stopped having problems with it last September when I offered to leave if they refunded my subs .... I think it must have been the fastest Paypal transaction in history

Enjoyed your blogg.

[ralphy]

Originally Posted by Sid Horman

Well, I've updated my blog today.

Good picture on DAY 25 showing my GSClubUK jacket.

Just some petty politics on the other site which means all my comments are instantly deleted. Their loss.

From your blog:

Leaving on town I saw what I thought was a scrap yard with a line of broken down and bashed up old Mercs with numerous bits missing from each vehicle, but it turned out that it was in fact a taxi rank!

The last taxi I was in out there had 450,000 Kms on the clock - but that had stopped working "long time, Sah" had only 2nd and 4th and I and the other (completely unknown to me) passengers had to push it back in lieu of reverse gear. Junctions were taken without stopping (starter motor was "not very good, Sah") and the Merc had a tendency to stall, even when we had lorries approaching with what passes for right-of-way out there and when we stopped to allow one passenger off she retrieved her live chickens from the boot - they had only been put in there I later discovered because 'TwoBob' (me) was going to be a passenger.

I love Africa and miss it badly.

R

[Cheesy Mike]

Originally Posted by ralphy

I love Africa and miss it badly.

Just as well you'll be there in about six hours time then

[Sid Horman]

Updated blog up to the point where I begin the return journey. Also been going through trying to attach photos to the right days etc.

Thanks for the positive comments.

[ralphy]

Originally Posted by Cheesy Mike

Just as well you'll be there in about six hours time then

Egypt, actually......

Arrived 2 hours ago, the local children are all excited - it rained today (not a common occurance)!
The forecast is poss. rain tomorrow, as that's Friday the children are off school, hence the anticipation.

R

[Sid Horman]

Finally back home in UK.

Bills to pay etc.

Will post up more of blog this week.

Sid