Wild Boer

Phone issues are over now. EE turned me on internationally now. ( Oy yoy.).

I had expected my trip through France and Spain to be proving ground for myself, the bike and my kit.

I didn't expect there to be an incident every day.

Yesterday I changed the oil on my bike and adjusted the new chain.

Thought I'd finally get a few miles under my belt.  But no. Really high winds put pay to that. (I don't mean me after a curry.) Had the bike at 20 degrees. It was also raining heavily.
And I've removed my front fender.  And put Monster Truck oil in my forks. Loads better off road and more clearance.

Down side. Riding my bike in the rain. Is like riding in the shower with a hose pipe in your face !!! It's great fun. You should all try it. It's like some sort of pain endurance test. How long can you last?

Ok ive got a moan coming.  And it's to China.  Stop making stuff with moving parts. You are rubbish at it. Stick to soup and noodles! !!
My multi fuel cooker has already fell apart.  And my wind proof petrol light, has never once lit. I am now using my back up cooker, good old Hexi blocks and wind proof matches.

So, last night I saw a sign which was the French equivalent of the Ministry of Defence on a huge wooden area near L'Aigle. .......so I thought it would be probably easier to get in their, than some farmer field.

So I did.  Peeing it down again. I made myself a huge pot of Ravioli with Tabasco sauce. (Not wanting to use my boil in the bag packs).

Well. When it was time for bed  I put my rubbish bag and pot of ravioli about 10 m away from the tent. Put a lid on the pot, with a rock on it.

Well I'd like to report a theft !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I woke up to my rubbish bag everywhere.  And both pot and lid, with my ravioli stolen ! Wild Boer had ganged up and knicked my pot and breakfast. !!!!! How out of order is that. So I am sat here, just had a bacon sandwich, whilst writing this blog. Back at you Boer, I hope I ate your cousin.

So finally sorted oil and chain on bike and phone issues. Just need to find a bike charger on route now. And im sorted. Going to enjoy seeing Le Mans. Always wanted to go there. And then head towards the coast. So I can go around the Piarraneze, rather than over. Plus Biarritz sounds like they are Boer free.

Photos are from last night. Before the theft occured!!! Can't believe they stole my ravioli, the pot and the lid !!!!! Hhhhhhm baaaaaacon sandwich. ......

I do do a diary every night. Listen to some music and plan my next day.

Remember that I am suffering my Boer theft for wounded Servicemen.  Please press Help for Heroes logo and donate a bit of cash.

Will " I love bacon " Moore

As anyanyone on the Extreme Stunt Show. Will tell you.....I love my boots and shorts.

Suzuki RV 125 Van Van Transformation

My Army mate, Dave, is  preparing the tank, side panels and mud guards for painting. He is also making brackets and doing a spot of welding. And other things I do not understand. Chances are, Dave is a Wizard or Druid or something. But I am very impressed. The bike is going to be all white. Ready for the " London 2 Johannesburg " logo on the tank. Daz, at Graphics.net, is also putting on the Union Jack and South African flags, blending into each other.

Can you see what it is yet ? Two that Dave made earlier. They are extension brackets for the front fender. To raise it off the front wheel by a further 40 mm. This to give all that lovely African mud some clearance. Whilst I am  going down the West Coast of Africa. The Rainy Season will kick in on route, for about two weeks. Rock hard mud tracks can turn into meter deep bog, over night.!!

There is an account on Horizons Unlimited of a Landrover getting stuck in 1 meter deep mud. The " Overlanders " having to abandon the vehicle. And had to live with the local tribesman for 40 days !!! Until the rain stopped and the bog returned to drivable dirt! Lol. There is no way they'd put up with me for 40 days.....I have got Justin Bieber on my i pod to motivate digging me out.

Front Fender bracket fitted, you can see that it will lift it up above the tyre. But still will clear the frame when steering .( Hopefully ).

Yep...it's Dave's hand working some magic, wizardry. Thingy ma jig.The fiber glass needs some work, so yet again, Dave is sorting that out. You might be wondering why we are making the bike look so good. When it's going to get dropped about 80 times on it's journey south. The reason is, when the bike is " Help for Heroes " logoed up. I shall be returning the favour to my sponsoring companies. Such as Suzuki Haslemere. Ask for Mark in Sales or Tom in Service. Say I sent you. Click Suzuki Suzuki Haslemere  After I have done the Press Release, I shall be poodling to the given sponsors. Meeting the local paper, and getting the Mighty Van Van and the challenge cause, in the public's eye. Placing the Mighty Van Van at the center of all the photos. I just hope people understand how much effort is going into this challenge. And throw their hat into the ring. And donate a few pennies. If you like what we are doing and who we are helping. Click my charity page. Help for Heroes.

Guess who  this is ? He's London to Johannesburg's Stig !!  "  Some say.............."

You tell him he's not the London to Johannesburg Stig !!!

The Stig . Aka Dave, ( or is it ), has been doing some more prep work on the fenders.

Rear Fending getting filled and sanded ready for primer and then top coat of white paint. The bike will look great when Dave has finished. Once all  the graphics and new seat have arrived. Complete with non slip Help for Heroes blue cover. I shall put it back together and get the pics up on this blog. Then its Public Relations time.Getting the papers, and TV outside sponsors premises. taking the bike and my Pop Up Help for Heroes banners to bike events. Asking the folks to " text WALK to.." donate a fiver and running around with my collection tin.



If you have an event that you would like us to attend. Use the comment box or e mail me.Dave will be on hand with his blow torch to assist with motivating donators. " And on that bomb shell.........".

To chuck a tenner into my charity pot click here. Help for Heroes  YOU will make a difference.

I dream of a shoe string....

More good news on the kit front. Debs off Freecycle was kind enough to provide me with some fabric panniers.Top bag and tank bag. So another "thank you " there too.They seem robust,but I will soon find out,when I go practicing on the bike. Putting me,the bike and all the kit through there paces. I am still seeking a kit sponsor.These panniers will do for the time being. But the Denier needs to be higher and I'm not sure if they are big enough. Time will tell.

I am on the chase for a Garmin 2610 off scam bay ( e Bay ). And am trying to win the top half to my BMW Ralley 2 trousers. Well,they are the 20 yr old version. I wonder if Ewan Mcgregor had to do all this himself. I keep Tweeting him for his helmet,and he just keeps ignoring me.!!! I think he has gone to the Dark Side ! The cheek. ( So I've thrown my Star Wars DVD away as a result ) :)

So Suzuki now have all the parts and soon as they are done,the bike will be off to be painted and " London 2 Johannesburg " logos put on. The seat sent off to be recovered. And then it will be PR time,to raise awareness of the plight our wounded servicemen go through. Most of whom have lost limbs.!!Imagine loosing YOUR legs ! Come help them,with me. Donate a few quid here. (Another Hyper link look .) Click  here to donate to Help for Heroes 

This challenge is costing me thousands of pounds. I'm just an average Joe. Please make my hard work do some good, by donating to my Help for Heroes page above. Thank you.