Suzuki Great Britain sponsor the challenge.

What a few weeks I have had. I am working seven days a week for a touring Stunt Show. 150 odd dates across all of the UK. So time is of a premium.

When I set off on my journey in September, I had planned to give up my rented flat. It costs me over £1000 per month. But, doing this stunt show, has enabled me to give it up early. So whilst I am officially homeless, I will be saving over £6,000 in rent and bills for the period. Not to be sniffed at !!

The mighty Suzuki Van Van is with me on tour now as well. So I am busy practicing, put myself and the bike through the paces. In the process of taking the bike on and off the truck twice a day. It has acquired a few minor battle scars. But nothing a can of white spray can't sort out.

Mods. to the Van Van so far include. A full re spray in white. raising of the front fender by 40 mm. Three cap fulls of thicker oil in each front fork and a enduro rear brake light.The new non slip, Help for Heroes blue seat cover has turned out to be brilliant. The bike is really comfortable to ride. Which was one of the reasons I chose the Suzuki Van Van.

BIG NEWS TIME!!!

Suzuki Great Britain  have signed up to sponsor me!! James and the crew invited me to Suzuki Towers in Milton Keynes last week. I only had 60 minutes to meet them all. I had one person checking out my sizes for an Adventurists Suit, whilst James did an interview. Then I shot off on the 70 mile trek back to the Extreme Stunt Show.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to have the backing of Suzuki GB. They are covering my Carnet de Passage. ( At a cost of £757 ). Have supplied me with a top Adventurists Suit and had my pick of the Suzuki clothes wear at the Head Office. A quality top bag / luggage. I've not seen it yet, but Emma says it's the business. One of those rubber ones that you can roll up. Just need to fabricate a suitable rack and source some decent denier side Panniers. Anyone out there want to help me on that ? Please e mail me. My address is on the right hand side of this blog. :)

Suzuki GB are also providing me with free labour , parts and accessories.They are also willing to ship any bits to Africa or reimburse me via my Suzuki Traders account we have set up.

Me outside Suzuki Towers on the mighty Suzuki Van Van last Friday. ( I think !! No idea what day it is or where I am doing this job ).

The other great news about teaming up with Suzuki is their Public relations Dept. James has been busy writing a feature on the challenge in the Suzuki Magazine. Hopefully more people will read about what I am doing and who it's for. And make a donations.

Read the Suzuki feature on the 20,000 km solo and unsupported challenge. From London to Johannesburg on a Suzuki Van Van .CLICK TO READ STORY

Other news include. Suzuki World Super Bike team are promoting the challenge !! How cool is that ? The Suzuki WSB rider Leon Camier is being asked to hold either a banner or have something put on his fuel tank. That something being our Text to Donate number. He will have it on the Donnington race in England, later this year. If you like what I am doing and the fact every penny is going to wounded servicemen. Most of whom have lost arms and legs. Please, please pick up your mobile phone now. And text WALK to 70900 and make a £5 donation today.

Here try this CLICK ON LOGO

You can also visit my charity donations page by clicking the Help for Heroes logo below.

Sorry for the delay. Between not having any internet connection, due to being some field. And working from 7 am to 10 pm 7 days a week. It's been hard to put pen to paper as it were. But things are coming together.

If anyone has any ideas on how to promote the challenge, please e mail me. And if anyone would like to get involved  again, please email me.

That's all for now. Please share this blog on your Twiter and Facebook pages and lets raise the £15,000 I'm aiming for.

Will

The Good and The Bad news.

Well it's been four weeks since the last blog. Mainly down to my Summer job, working as on a touring Stunt Show. We are doing 140 odd, back to back dates, across all of the UK. It is long, long hours, seven days a week. So sorry for the delay, but work must come first to pay for the challenge in September. So what's been happening ? Well, I do have some magazines that want to feature the challenge. But have been waiting for the sponsoring graphics company to send the " London 2 Johannesburg " tank graphics. And the " Text WALK to 70900, to donate £5 today " banners. Short of it is,they messed it up. A sub contractor to the graphics company has all the information. And has had a big fall out. So that's the bad news. The knock effect has been, that there has been a delay in taking the challenge to a national level. And a subsequent loss of donations to my charity. Help for Heroes. Who assist in the recovery of wounded servicemen, who have predominantly lost arms and legs. The next 22 weeks, working 7 days a week is to pay for the 20,000 km solo, unsupported challenge. From London to Johannesburg on a Suzuki 125 Van Van!! So please do your bit and sponsor me. By clicking the Help for Heroes logo below. It's a UK registered charity. And a donation can be made quickly, safely and securely. Here try this CLICK ON LOGO
Although the situation with the graphics company has been frustrating, to say the very least. I do have some good news. Help for Heroes are now featuring this challenge on their main website. As an inspiration to others. So I feel pretty honoured about that. But slightly embarrassed. The big news is that I have been in contact with Suzuki GB for several weeks now. Their Public Relations Department have e mailed me twice, to say they are 99% sure of a full sponsorship agreement. Which is music to my ears. But I will leave it at that. As there are a few ifs and buts. But it's looking very good. I thought I'd try and post a quick video of some of the stunt stuff we do too. So check it out below.

Click to see our Stunt Show FMX riders..Free Style Motor Cross flying through the air.


  Some more good news. despite the graphics hick up. I did ask Adventure Rider Magazine to go ahead with their feature. They gave a nice write up about the challenge. And put the donations page link at the bottom. Take a look at the article.Click Adventure Rider Magazine to read  Before I leave you for a few days. I just had to show you our two Monster Trucks. If you are a parent of a child about 3 ft tall ( Im not a dad, no idea of ages). take them to a show. They love them. And finally....a touring Stunt Show glamorous? What do you think to where we live ? It's a converted truck trailer. Very roomy !! One last comment. Please, please help me to raise donations. Re post this blog and tell your friends. But most importantly, link the Help for Heroes logo above yourself. Your £20 or whatever you choose all adds up. We have £1300 so far. My aim is £15,000. Will

The Suzuki Van Van is all white you know !!

Some inter net and laptop problems here. Not to mention washing machine and burnt dinners !! I managed to break the washing machine and burn the Fraybentos and burn out the laptop out. All in 24 hours. Can't wait to see what I break tomorrow.!!  Well the bike is back together, complete with it's new white paint work. Looks pretty good, me thinks. Very happy with it. Big " thank you " to The Stig. aka Dave. The graphics will be here Tuesday. But I start my new job with Xtreme Events on Monday. So they will go on when I return in fortnights time. ( Two weeks, if you are across the pond.) 

I'm working with a Stunt Show touring the UK, with 130 dates across the length and breadth of the country. It's good news for me, as I can give up my thousand pound a month rented flat up. And move into a caravan, as we tour the country. Those savings are paying for this challenge in September. I need to find seven thousand pounds by then. To cover the excitement, but necessary  Carnett de Passage. ( Import document for the bike. ) It's costing seven hundred and fifty seven pounds. Visa's at thirteen hundred pounds. Food and Accommodation for 6 months. Flight and bike shipping home. The list goes on and on. By the way, I cant get this new ( ten year old ) laptop from US English into proper English. So the keyboard keys have one symbol on, but do another. The Pound currency symbol is now #.....Which is a hash in the UK. And just to confuse, is known as a pound symbol in USA. It all started going wrong with the washing machine. So hey ho. Back to the bike.

Note the front fender has been raised 40 mm. To allow a bit more space for mud, as the Rainy Season will kick in in October whilst in Africa. Big Dave fabricated the brackets and fitted them, how clever is he ? i will probably get a front fender extender too. Money permitting that is. 

What do you think to the Mighty Van Van from this angle ? What a beast. Those rear tyres are rare, as a result I shall be ridding as is to southern Spain. And whilst I have a day off with an old Army mate, the local dealer will provide some brand new V rubber. Again budget permitting, I will either buy a second one brand new. Or take this one with me.The tank, as you can see. Is very small, only 7.5 lt. Which just will not cut it going through the Sahara Desert and beyond. So, after the PR work is done, this tank will have to be replaced by a larger one. Possibly a DRZ. Hopefully from Suzuki GB. And upon my return to the UK, I will swap them back over.

I also found out today that the speedo wasn't the right one for the bike. It was actually from a Honda and the Dash wiring was all wrong. Put the Indicator on and the Neutral light comes on, that sort of thing. No stress though. We are going to fit a digital bicycle speedo instead. They probably can go faster than my little Van Van anyway ! The dealer said they are twenty pounds, instead of four hundred for a pattern Suzuki one! The bike will most likely spend more time horizontal, than vertical anyway. So that's the way we shall go.

If my washing machine persists in being possessed. I am going to take a picture of  it, put it on the blog and name and shame it. The Italians should stick to making fast cars and spaghetti  Not washing machines. Indesit.............more like  In The Sh#t !!! 

I won't ask you to make a donations to my cause. As non of you ever do. Nearly 4,000 visits to this blog and 4 donations to my charity. Shocking !

Will

Text ....WALK...to 70900 to donate £5.

Text ....WALK...to 70900 to donate £5 today.

Help for Heroes have given the go ahead for my " Text 2 Donate " number. As it says above. You just text " WALK " to 70900 and £5 will be donated to Help for Heroes. The donation will go straight to our wounded servicemen. Fantastic news. Help for Heroes will update the An Idiot Got Bored. The Slow Way Down challenge donate page on a Friday. I have high hopes for the ease of donation for you reading this now.  Go on, make a difference. Text WALK to 70900 and donate £5 today. :)

In my little quest to actually understand this thing they call a computer. You can now click on Logos and pictures, and that will link you to another page. Just like websites where they know what they are doing !

Here try this CLICK ON LOGO
Yes I know, it's witch craft. And if you look at the top of this Home Page. There is now another page ! I know, what's going on !! Titled SPONSORS There is more druid wizardry going on. Check it out and click logos. There has been a frustrating delay over Graphics and the legal stuff with the above Text to donate Terms and Conditions. But all sorted now. Hence it being activated. Yeeeeeeeaaaaa. The bike has been put back together at Suzuki Haslemere. And I will be collecting it at the weekend and putting on the " London to Johannesburg " graphics on the tank. Yep..its a new toy. CLICK ON LOGO. I have also been to see Johnathon at The Biker Store. Who showed me around the RST Adventure suit and trousers. Plus the AGV AX 8 DS helmet they are sponsoring me. ( Check out older blogs to see the kit. ) Now guess what you can do with the logo ..:) I do have some major, major sponsorship news pending. I don't want to jinx myself. So I shall leave it until it has been confirmed 100 %. On the personal front. Whilst doing this blog, i have just been offered a job. Working as crew with a Show called Xtreme. It's all about Monster Trucks, racing bikes and cars. It's touring the UK next week, until September. So that suits me down to the ground. And yes.....CLICK the LOGO as see my new job. Remember who I am doing this for. This blog and all the background work take hours upon hours. It is a Full Time, unpaid job for me. The donations to the Help for Heroes charity, generated by this challenge, is my payment. And after nearly 3,500 Visits to this blog. I have had 3 donations !! The rest of the donations have come from friends. So have a heart, if you leave it for someone else to donate. They will too. And sooner or later I will realise there is no point to writing this blog.

Nearly there......

Big shout out to Bermuda. I don't know why, but there are lots of visits to the blog from there. ;) And also to the one chap in Cyprus :)......150 to 400 visits a days not bad hey ?

Been a frustrating few days. The graphics company are very busy. So I am still waiting. Everything else is here and ready to go on the bike.Good news is the new seat is here. In Help for Heroes blue. ( That's the charity I'm doing this for. ) Its also non slip. Looks and feels great. Big thank you to P & P Seats for sponsoring me this .

 

Dave Lythcoe sent the tank, mud guards and side panels. All painted white, so that the graphics will stand out.  I look forward to them arriving, so I can take the photo's that Adventure Rider Magazine have asked for .

.

  

Above are all the bits back from Dave's. I don't use that much wrapping at Christmas Dave !!

Another bit of good news, is that in addition to my local Suzuki Dealership sponsoring me. Suzuki GB have expressed an interest. So we shall see, and I will update you and when I know more. I going over to The Biker Shop on Monday to get sized up for my sponsored RST Adventure suit. So excited about that.:)

For those of you who have jumped straight to reading today's blog. I wanted to explain why I am embarking on this solo, 20,000km, unsupported, African challenge.

Help for Heroes is a charity who help wounded servicemen. Most of whom have lost arms and legs.They provide first class surrounding, rehabilitation and prosthetic limbs. The objective being to give the servicemen a " normal " life again.

I'm just a regular guy on a regular wage.That has put together this challenge.I've invested 12 weeks planning full time and will spend a further 5-6 months to complete the 20,000kms across Africa.Can I ask you all to spend a minute and make a donation to my charity. Click on " Donate " and it takes you safely and directly to the charity page. Don't let someone else make the donation...grab your card and spend 2 minutes changing someone's life.Click on Donate CLICK DONATE

Will

Back to the Future.....a taste of what is to come.

Whilst waiting for the paint to harden on my bike, so the graphics can go on. I wanted to share with you some photo's of others who have done similar journeys. They are not from one particular " Overlander ". And are there to give you a taste of the challenges I shall face.

Remember, unlike most .I am doing this completely solo and unsupported. 20,000 km's across 2 continents. 19 countries. Through the Sahara Desert and vast regions of famine. And finding a way through countries like Mali, that are in Civil War. 28 Western men have been kidnapped and beheaded in the region in recent years. I am not undertaking this challenge lightly.

Take a look at the photo's and we can all wait for my fuel tank paint to go hard. ( Tum te tum..)

Solo.......

 No AA , RAC or ADAC here ! You break down, you fix it. You run out of fuel.....you best have brought plenty of water!

Sometimes there isn't a bridge!

Africa is massive.USA, China, India,Argentina,UK and Europe,ALL fit in her.

Different cultures and ways of life. No Tesco or Walmart here.

 One of the modifications  I will be making to the mighty Suzuki Van Van, is the tank. 7.5 lt is ok for green lanes. Not for the Sahara .

Morocco...the Sahara Desert....no back up truck!

 Gravity.......a harsh mistress. !!

After ridding all day in 120 degree heat, pick up your bike and fix it.

 Washing the bike, Africa style.

It's never going to be the Hilton. Plenty of gods creatures to keep you company at night though.!!

I will have the rainy season half way down. I hear it can turn into 1 mt deep mud.

New meets old.

 So MR big BMW GS......is my little, but "mighty," Suzuki Van Van 125 so silly now ? I will lift mine and you can lift yours..:)

But the Sat Nav. says.....

What a snake bit can turn into. Ewan on Long Way Down had a private Doctor. I have a First Aid kit and my fingers crossed.

Enough said...

Gulp.I have no witty banter for that one.

Still nothing..

You've seen some of the obstacles I shall face. This is the sole reason why. To help wounded Servicemen Most of whom have lost limbs.

Not for all the tea in China.

 

Lovely countryside mind..

 All for these guys.

  Not for these guys. I can not begin to tell you how much I hate snakes. But i will do whatever i have to do. :)

Angola and Mali are just two countries that have been in conflict in recent years.

 Nigeria in is another country with a large extremist element. That have attacked, kidnapped and murdered Westerners.I shall however avoid the North of the country.

 There are armed gunmen all across Africa. I read most are friendly. I guess i will find out.

A bit of a stocking filler really and to give a taste of what's to come. I am doing this 20,000km challenge for charity. And funding it myself. Please take a min to donate to the charity for wounded servicemen., Click the charity page  DONATE HERE

Thanks. i fixed the Comment box. Feel free to banter away.

Will

Adventure Bike Rider Magazine are to feature this challenge..

I love the Statistics feature I have with this blog.

So " hi " to the bloke in Bahrain that keeps visiting and the six in China....( there's loads of you guys, so invite your mates) !!!  And "thanks" to the two thousand who have read this blog in the past week.

What a few days! But first things first. I am waiting for the paint to harden on the tank and panels, so it can be couriered down to me from Preston. Graphics.net are busy finishing off the, well,.......the graphics. The new seat is on it's way to me now. Finished in Help for Heroes blue. And with a non slip cover. Ready for my boney backside to chafe it's way down the African West Coast.!!

ABR. Adventure Bike Rider have said they would like to feature this challenge. With a News Room article. Where I will update them as I go along my way. Providing extra exposure for the cause. That cause being wounded servicemen, many of whom have lost arms and legs. Everything to do with this challenge is for them. All the expense, the admin, chasing sponsors, promotion and PR work. It's all so you will say " fair play " and click the donate button.DONATE HERE

One article that has already been written was in wemoto News. They are a national motorbike spare parts company. Nice guys actually. ( I would say that, they sponsor me ) ! Big thanks to wemoto for helping me, giving the challenge a write up. Click here to read it. wemoto News


Now for the really good bit. I have a new sponsor. The Biker Store, in Surrey. click to see the store. The Biker Store   I spoke with Johnathon, the Manager. He said he " got loads of these, " but decided he would sponsor An Idiot Got Bored.. The Slow Way Down. How good is that ? Below is the helmet I am having sponsored. It's a AVG AX8 Duel sport. A brilliant helmet. Very,very light weight, with great ventilation for those scorching African Savannas. And lets be right, it just looks cool !

Come on...it looks cool. :)

On top of this great helmet, they are also sponsoring me RST Adventure jacket and trousers. They look fantastic.They were designed to ride from Northern Siberia to South Africa.With various membranes and high end materials. Despite what most people would do,I am not wearing biker boots. As I am on such an under powered bike. ( To grab the public's attention,so they donate ..:)) ) Weight and space are my number 1 concern. I simply do not have anywhere to put personal kit. So I shall be wearing British Army issue desert Lowa boots. Sponsor me anybody ?

Sleeves come off and there are buttons and straps and stuff everywhere. What more do you want ?

Really impressed with these pants and what The Biker Shop have done for the challenge. As soon as all the bits for the bike are back with me. It's Public Relations phase. Where I have to gain as much exposure as I can for this challenge. This challenge doesn't come free!! I am paying for it. It's costing me thousands and thousands. I'm not doing it for my health or because I want to make myself homeless. I am doing it so men and women who have served our country can walk again. 1,600 people a week are reading this blog. And that is Vantastic!! ( see what I did there ?) From all over the world. I will ask you to take 2 minutes and make a donation. Else what's the point of me writing this blog ? If you like what I am doing and who I am trying to help. Click here DONATE HERE Thank you.