Morroco!!!!

So we made it to Morroco and cleared customs. Not that bad of a process actually. But since we weren't feeling like paying even more tolls to travel along the main highways, we took a route through the mountains that was on the GPS. EEEEEEP!!!! That was an adventure and a half. First we quickly saw some beutiful sights but once the sun set things got crazy;

The twisty mountian roads were quite narrow with little sturdy shoulder. Sometimes it was a few hundred feet drops off the side. In addition our headlights were not quite aligned properly so visibility was always a problem. Toss in the two tons of smashed bugs on our windshield and we could hardly tell where the road was when the maniacle drivers would come the opposite direction with their highbeams on and not shutting them off. Our quick drive to Rabat soon took nearly 6 hours by the time we stopped for the night.

So right now we are tired, cramped and hungry. We did manage to run into some of the other Africa Rally teams at the mauritanian embassy. They told us of a nice quiet place off the side of the highway to camp so we'll be spending the night there. Finally a chance to stretch out our legs.

We are still looking to get some more car parts. I'm still trying to call Bank of America since you cannot make collect calls from Morroco to the US. Overall I think we are just going to get some food and go take a nap.

After we get our visa for Mauritania tomorrrow we will head south and get our Mali visa in Mauritania. We're both looking forward to setting our eyes on the desert.

First Day in London!!!!

Oh what an exciting first day. Anthony and I both showed up a little late for our flights in the US and somehow got bumped up to better flights so we both ended up meeting earlier in Heathrow. We certainly needed the extra time because it took us all day to get our car from the warehouse.

We left Heathrow on the Tube heading north to the Liverpool street train terminal and got there two hours later [just to give you an idea of the size of london]. Hopped a train out to Felixstowe and got the car.

The guys at the warehouse got a kick out of the idea that we were going to be driving the Deathtrap all the way to Cameroon. Let me tell you, the damn thing truly lived up to it's name. Not 10 seconds after we left the parking lot did Anthony notice a weird smell and stopped the car. I looked over at him and saw a cloud of smoke billowing up behind him.

He looked back said oh shit and hopped out. He pulled his seat forward to show a small fire had started underneath his luggage. We both ran around to the area of the fire and quickly extinguished the small spot of flames. We also started looking for the cause.

We then noticed the metal runner on the bottom of Anthony's overloaded suitcase has jammed it's way down and was causing a short circuit on the relay causing the wires to overheat and start burning.

After 45 minutes of electrical work and repacking we were on our way into London. After a few wrong turns and a little scrape in a roundabout we managed to find our way to my friend's flat. And thus ended the first leg of our adventure. 100 miles down, 9,900 to go!!!!!

Time permitting pictures later.

Almost success on the Carnet De Passage

I ended up talking to the lady who runs the CDP section of CAA (Canadian Auto Association) and sorted out the logistics of it all. Once the vehicle is built and registered I can send in a 2 page application with photos and the money and within 2 weeks of receiving the paperwork I will have the CDP. The kicker, it's $400 for the application, processing, and CDP, a $300 deposit used for delivery and etc, plus, you need to get a loan from your bank "Credit" to hold against the vehicle if you leave it in a country that requires the CDP. I will have to get a stamp when I enter and leave the country. I will also need to get it stamped by customs from another country that doesn't require a CDP so I can prove that I didn't leave it there. Since the vehicles will be auctioned off for charity after the races, I will need to get the CDP stamped elsewhere and then auctioned off in another country that doesn't require the CDP. Handful but doable. Big sigh of relief in getting that figured out. Now the only hard part is to get the vehicle built and registered as a VW specialty bug. Fun fun.

Africa Rally 2008

So you ask yourself, how far would you go to raise money for a worthy cause? For John and I, we easily said that we would take on the Africa Rally 2008! We will be driving our VW Manx, which is currently in pieces stowed in my backyard. Given the current state of West/North Africa you might say we are a bit crazy but hey, that's the adventure. Dakar Rally has nothing on us since we don't have a multi million dollar vehicle nor a multi thousand dollar vehicle. I bought it for a grand and let me tell you, it needs a lot of work. Crazy? Possibly! So here is the plan:

1. Raise Money - thats where my friends, families, fools and companies come into play.
2. Start building the VW Manx "The Deathtrap" - I have it started and will need a lot of work put into it.
3. Obtain Visas - This is going to be a pain since we need 5 visas for africa.
4. Obtain IDP - Can't start a rally without it since the goal is to drive.
5. Obtain Carnet de Passage - A visa for "The Deathtrap"
6. Find a Route - This one is going to be fun.
7. Raise more money - After we hit out mark for our Charity we will be taking personal donations to ease the load of everything else.
8. Buy a ticket to London - Also figure out a way back into the US.
9. Ship "The Deathtrap" to London - Hopefully it will sail nicely
10. Say a Prayer - Africa isn't a walk in the park!

What I need from you! Support, both verbal and *cough cough* charitable.

Here is what we have so far for "The Deathtrap":

The only way I could trailer it home was to put it in the trailer crooked. It worked out fairly well.


The front view with the shell on the bare rolling chassis.


The night I finished my makeshift car port. Courtesy of Home Depot and Harbor Freight. I went with the spring collection of decorations.


Here is the shell lifted using two bicycle lifts.


When I said the frame was bare, I meant it.


We saw the main skeleton now the guts, a conglomerate of parts. This is going to be like putting together a puzzle with no picture but it is a VW bug so no biggie.


Count three engines, hopefully I can get one to work.


Well thats it for now. I will post more as I get to it. Again, to the right are two donation buttons. One is for Send a Cow and the other is a personal donation to Team Deathwish. We will be placing everyones name who sends in a donation on the vehicle. The bigger the donation the bigger the name or company. I will get those details in order when I can.