Devon to Africa

Have arrived in Sierra Leone’s Freetown campsite.

Location:   08.30N 13.17W
This text message was sent from mobile phone +447968307076
Date:   30/05/08   Time:   19:40 ( GMT +0100)

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After having viewed the Bedford back in November and following the joint family decision to buy it and go traveling in it, we unsuccessfully waited for months for a haulier’s slot to deliver it with a low-loader. Finally, it was decided that it was better to pick it up ourselves…
Ana’s dad Ron and me drove up to West Yorkshire and spent a day and two nights with the Bedford’s owners Martin, Ralph and Dave. We loaded the truck up with spares, did minor repairs and generally got it ready for the 300 mile drive down to Devon. It was great to have plenty of time, which meant we had a chance to look at some of their old photos of this Bedford’s long history as an overlander vehicle that had taken adventurous tourists to faraway places like the Middle East, India and Nepal.
Sunday morning, 6.00 am and the front garden is a busy place, with everyone clearing everything in the path of the truck, including a buddleia bush and the garden fence. The Bedford is too wide for the main gate! Little space for maneuvering meant a few minutes of going back and forth rather than knocking down a lamp post or the neighbor’s wall and then we were off… Thank you very much Martin, Dave and Ralph for your great hospitality and all the help in getting the truck ready!

Here are some of the photos of Adrian and Micha in their Audi 100, taking part in the 4500 mile drive to Banjul in the Gambia…

above: In Morocco along the Algerian border between Merzouga and Zagora.

above: In Mauritania, getting the Audi stuck well and truly…

above: In Mauritania shortly after the three dune crossings before Nouamghar

some photos: