2002-2005 (c) GetJealous.com, All rights reserved. http://www.getjealous.com/poldi/rss.xml The Plymouth - Banjul Challenge 3700 miles in a £99 VW Beetle! Ever fancied driving to Africa? In a 34 year old car? worth £99? Well that's exactly what we, Fiona Easterby and Claire Murphy, will be doing this winter. On December 28th we set off from London Our destination, Banjul, Gambia. Why? Well to raise money for Great Ormond Street and West African charities. Also we have the strange notion that driving 3700 miles across 2 continents might be fun. The Plymouth-Banjul Challenge has become an annual event, attracting a growing number of car enthusiasts and adventure travellers every year. The rules of the rally dictate that cars should cost less than £100 which has seen the challenge dubbed "the Ultimate Banger race" and described as "Top Gear" meets "Scrap Heap Challenge". Alarmingly we have no mechanical skills. Tony and Chris of "Vdubnutz" are giving the car a thorough overhaul and trying their best to equip us with some basic maintenance skills. Our route will take us, via Brittany ferries, to the medieval, French town of St Malo. Onward to Spain, New Year in Gibraltar then another ferry crossing to Morrocco. The Medinas and Souks of Marrakech, the high Atlas mountains then their biggest challenge - The Sahara Desert! Out of the desert (hopefully) and along the beach following the Mauritanian coast to Senegal. Finally after passing through the wildlife parks and Mangroves of Senegal we aim to arrive in Banjul for Gambian Independence day on 18th January. On arrival in Gambia we must wave goodbye to our Beetle as all competing cars are auctioned with the proceeds going to West African Charities. If you would like to follow our progress on their challenge and help raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital visit www.getchamotorrunning.co.uk where you can sponsor us online. Alternatively if you can help out with Beetle spare parts, camping gear or anything else that may be of use to the team you can contact them via the website. http://www.getjealous.com/poldi http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=284481&go=poldi Between us we raised a total of £2224.70 for Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital. The car aucctions in Banjul have already raised over £55,000 for Gambian Charities and not all of the cars have been sold yet. We both had a great time and are planning our next adventure already....and we've already bought a car for it! WATCH THIS SPACE ! ! !... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=284481&go=poldi Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258824&go=poldi When the ferry docked in Banjul it was just >a >short drive to the finish line at the Safari Garden hotel in the Fajara >beach resort. Here the manager coordinates the auction of the vehicles with >the proceeds going to Gambian charities. We became the first team in the >history of the rally to buy our own car back at the auction. I was bidding >on behalf of another ex-Sky cameraman wh... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258824&go=poldi Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258822&go=poldi > The Senegalese authorities insist the rally must have a customs >escort >through the country to ensure no vehicles are illegally imported. We set >off from Zebrabar in >a convoy of 29 cars however worn track rod ends on the Beetle meant that we >couldn't travel faster than 60kph without severe juddering in the front >end. >The customs escort gave up waiting for us and left u... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258822&go=poldi Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258820&go=poldi To get to the Mauritania/senegal border crossing you have to drive down 99kms of the worst "road" I have ever seen. It's essentially a dirt track along the top of a Dyke. The potholes are relentless, you get used to them, but every so often you come across a crater large enough to lose a car in. The safer option is to avoid this track and whereever possible drive along the farmland beside it. On ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258820&go=poldi Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258811&go=poldi For safety and to keep the cost of a guide down we entered the >Sahara desert in a group of 7 cars, us in our Beetle, a fiat uno, a renault >19, a welsh ambulance, a pink flowery jeep, a fiat cromer and a peugeot. >Conditions were so harsh, with the worst sandstorms in over 7 years, that >only 4 cars made it through the 3 day off road section. The fiat cromer, >renault and peugeot were a... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258811&go=poldi Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258809&go=poldi We stopped at Dakhla in the disputed territory of Western Sahara where locals Freya and Colin introduced us to Ottman the mechanic. >Ottman replaced our shock absorbers while Freya introduced us to the rooftop bar overlooking the lagoon. Beautiful Place! great people!... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258809&go=poldi Mon, 8 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258803&go=poldi The Atlas mountains; a hair-raising drive round sheer bends >with >stunning views. In Tangier a landrover rally group >had insisted we needed a 4 wheel drive for the atlas mountains and would >never make it. Not only did we make it, we met a Trabant at the top! >Driving >down out of the mountains the landscape changed dramatically from greenery >to sand and cacti. Camels were a major... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=258803&go=poldi Sat, 6 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=245771&go=poldi Having a great time. Had to replace fuel tank in France and wheel bearing in Spain. So it was a race to catch up through Europe. Car has been behaving gret through Morocco. This is the first internet cafe we have found on the trip so not many updates. Marrakesh is crazy busy city, a real experience! Tomorow we head over the Atlas mountains!!! Dan, the Welsh lad, got mugged and bartered with them!... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=245771&go=poldi Fri, 5 Jan 2007 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=239421&go=poldi Claire and I picked Poldi up from Tony's house today. Tony and Chris put in weeks of welding, getting him running and through the MOT. He is now a solid, reliable little car. So, for his maiden voyage up to London, our starting point. Claire drove Poldi while I followed in my little Toyota. He ran lovely around the local roads but refused to go over 40 on the motorway....now I know Beetle's aren't... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=239421&go=poldi Sat, 23 Dec 2006 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=236519&go=poldi Poldi has his MOT - Horray!!! Nothing like leaving it till the last minute!... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=236519&go=poldi Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:00:00 GMT