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.

Two New Charities

Team Deathwish has added two new charities that will benefit from our efforts I've listed them below.




CWAF - Cameroon Widlife Aid Fund

Did you know that gorillas and chimpanzees are endangered species? If their numbers continue to decline at current rates, they will be extinct in the rain forest of Cameroon in our lifetime....and we are working hard to protect them. Our forest sanctuary is home to 16 gorillas, over 70 chimps and over 100 monkeys, mostly orphans of the illegal bushmeat trade and victims of the pet trade. With your help, we can continue our work to ensure their future survival, and expand our conservation education programme in local schools and villages.

Visit the CWAF website








FRANK Water Projects funds world wide clean water projects. FRANK has so far funded the installation of 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, India. An additional 4 more projects in this area are currently under development- benefitting 48,000 people to date.


Each project costs £6,700 and provides clean, safe drinking water for up to 6,000 people in the surrounding communities. FRANK Water staff make annual, self funded visits to the villages and meet with our partners to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the projects.

Frank Water Projects now plans to start funding the installation of sustainable clean water projects in Ghana throughout 2008-09

Visit the FRANK Water Projects website

These two charities were added in addition to the money we have already and will continue to raise for the Send a Cow Charity.



Since 1988 Send a Cow has given cows and other livestock to hundreds of poor African farmers - mainly women, orphans and disabled people. The animals provide milk and incomes, and their manure increases crop yields, combating poverty and malnutrition. Send a Cow also provides training and low-cost veterinary services.



To donate to these charities and help Team Deathwish meet their fund raising goal visit our donation page:

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.