African Rally 2009 .... DONE!
Africa Rally 2009..
We came, we saw, we conquered !! Ladies and Gentlemen at 15.47 on the 12th January 2010 Team Chaos2Cameroon completed the damm near impossible, with 11497kms and 16 countires behind us, the wheels of our mighty little Berly crusied over the finish line in Limbe, with her bestest Chum Rosa.....
It has been a emotional rollercoaster with Chaos certainly being the running theme........But no matter what challenge this continent threw at us , we overcame it with true British grit and determination ....
We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and look forward to regaling you with all our tirals and tribulations upon our return to Blighty.......
Now to more important things, Anyone know the way to the airport?????
SMS Update
Africa Rally 2009, we came we saw we conquered!! Ladies and Gentlemen Team Chaos2Cameroon have done the near impossible. On January 12th 2010 at 15.47 with whooping 11497kms behind us, the wheels of our mighty little Beryl crossed the finish line in tandem with her bestest chum Rosa... It has been an emotional rollercoaster with Chaos certainly being the running theme....but no matter what challenge this untamed continent threw at us, we overcame it with true British grit..... We would like thank everyone for there support and look forward to regaling you all with the details upon our return to Blighty.... Chaos out......
SMS Update
With the finish line not so far away we are keen to get going, there is just one small hurdle in our way. The notorious Ekok to Mamfe road! Claimed to be 'the worst road in Africa'.... Listening and ignoring the locals warnings we charge forth with true British ignorance. Our worst fears come true 10mins in.. With our 3 car convoy going along quite nicely, our little Beryl bottoms out on a tree stump ! (My fault) leaving behind the entire exhaust... Not flinching for a moment we strap it to the roof and crawl forward. Steady as she goes we conquer all the the road has to offer, emerging out the other side true victors...albeit sweaty dust covered victors. Come on Africa is that all you've got.
SMS Update
We've reached Cameroon! Finally, after nigeria gave us one last kick in the gentlemans bit's by claiming we had the incorrect visa stamps and wanting up to travel 1500mls back to sort it out, after Alot of discussion and basic begging, we got through the border! A friendly welcome from the cameroonians and in no time we are in our final country.. Can I get a whoop whoop.....
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Nigeria day 2..... With Dave having to use all his jedi driving skills we slalomed our way north through nigeria, with the constant stoppages from one of the many authorities ( one who fined the Saharan boy's for having spotlights and made them take them off) and potholes the size of our car we didn't make Abuja. Aiming for a town called Bida and with the light fading fast the final straw came with a engine compartment fire on the Saharan beloved Rosa thankfully it only turned out to be a power socket wire. A snip here a tape up there and it's ship shape again. Admitting defeat we decided to bushcamp and found a lovely little spot (read dodgy side track) under some power line's, after a pot noodle we nodded off to the comforting buzz of nige ** some text is missing **
SMS Update
The Nigerian saga continues.... After ystday's taster of nigeria we decided to nail it through the country Asap. So up with the lark we hit the road. Anticipating a repeat of ystday we hatched a plan to combat the stoppages. This being to wave the map at them ask directons and basically baffle them. And it work's! Also we've been handing out powdered drinks as 'gifts' telling them its energy drinks to make them 'strong like ox!' But our personal fav so far is giving out the radio 1 flirt divert when asked for our numbers!! I just hope they call...priceless.
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NI-blinkin-GERIA... With passport control and customs going suprisingly well we breathe a huge sigh of relief and head for our first nights stop off, only to get 5kms from the border to get stopped at a checkpoint (which turned out to Be a running theme for the next 50kms!!) But whilst we we're being checked a 1987 nissan micra screams to a halt and some dude goes mental at us, apprentley we drove through the immigration C.point ! He demanded we went back with him. Going completely nuts at us if wanted to kick up out of the country for breaking the law, but after some very british diplomacy a ridiculous amount of apologising oh acting stupid we're now best of friends to the point that one of them wanted to buy Beryl..@
SMS Update
It turns out Dave isn't the woman I thought he was... I came to this conclusion when while he was driving and trying to change albums on the ipod he hit the biggest pot hole in west Africa blowing out the RH front tyre. The boy obviously can't multi-task.... He still drives like a woman though... @
SMS Update
Houston we have a problem! We lost all braking from the right rear wheel !! On closer inspection and by that I mean we jacked it up, span the wheel and conclude the shoe's are non-existant.... we clamped the hose of with a pair of mole grip's and a few cable ties and we're good to go. Braking from 70mph is going to be interesting....
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Benin.... Today we don'd our khaki Safari suits perfected our best david attenbourgh impressions and went in search of big african game. Unfortuntely the local nightclubs turned out to be slim picking's. So went to the national park. Where we got to see Elephants, Water Buffalo, croc's, vultures, and Hippo's.... Incredible.. Finishing the day off by swiming under the 40ft waterfall there is no better way to wash of the dust, although I would argue that the guide books description of 'the gentle pattering of the cool water is truely magical' it was more like getting pounded by a 80's Russian female shotputter, But still a great day. Heading down to grand popo Beach today....
