Van Van arrives at Le Mans.

Just a quick one for you. The mighty Van Van is running well. And like a true under dog, keeps plugging away. I'm loving the French country side and D roads. Basically, I am travelling down through France and then Spain, on rural lanes.

Just arrived at Le Mans. No idea where I am going to camp. As long as there are no Boers, I don't really mind. I still can't believe they stole my pot with ravioli in it....and the lid too !! The cheek.!!!

Accidently found myself riding on the Le Mans 24 hour circuit.

Lol. That's the rear view, , looking down one of the straights. I think there is a Moto GP on at the weekend. I'm still wondering were I will sleep tonight. In Macdonalds right now. Borrowing some electricity and wi fi.

Oooops. Should have put that photo first. I also wanted to thank " Hamk. " aka " Victor". Who owns the brasserie Normandie.In L'Aigle. He lent me his phone and I was able to sort out my own phone issues. Had a great steak, chips and pepper sauce. First meal I've not made myself. ( Still annoyed about the ravioli theft .) :)

Once I sort out what and where im staying tonight. I shall plan my route for tomorrow.  Broadly speaking, I'm heading for the coast. And Biarritz.

Ok. Speak soon. Please feel free to eat as much bacon as you like. :)


Find me on Facebook. ' London to Johannesburg.' Click " Like " and you will automatically know when there is a new blog. And a huge "hello" to the French and Spanish Van Van Owners Clubs .;)

Will.

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.

Don't go down to the woods tonight. .

Bit dark in these ere French woods.I spent about 5 hours in a small town called Gournay en Bray, , yesterday. Trying to sort my phone issue.Turns out its my service provider.  Bit annoying. But will spend £20 from a phone box tomorrow.  And get them to wave their magic techno wand.

Photo above was last nights location. I've stayed off main roads. And have been heading South or South West. Using my MK 1 Satnav. Aka as a compass. Rural France is really lovely. But all the villages seem to be shut, when I turn up. No people, just lots of little Renault s everywhere.

So it was gettting close to 9pm and was raining. I saw some woods in distance and headed for them. I got the mighty Van Van about 30 m inside the woods. To find I qaa ridding on a bed of thorn bushes. " Gosh" I thought again.
Back tracked slightly and made camp.


I didn't bother making the tent, due to the time. Just using it as a bivi bag, as its Goretex. All my kit down one side. Inflatable mat and doss bag on the other.

Dinner is served. Had to use a boil in the bag. Corn beef hash. Love it. You can keep your salads and Roast Pheasant Voller Vons :)

Dangerous Brian didn't find me a plastic mug. No bother. I boil the water and food in one pot.Have my tea bag and three sweeteners in the other pot. Dinner ready and tea at same time. Pot can be a tad hot though.

Almost impossible to do this without mobile blogger. Lost sata twice. This has took nwarly 2 hrs. Will get EE fixed tomorrow.

Above is my camp. Bivi bag. Cookingarea and rear of bike. The top box is the kitchen and First Aid area.

Ok. Off on the road again. Not a eace but want to make some gwad qay. Still heading towards Le Mans. Hopefully be there tomorrow.  Phone issues permitting.

Couldn't sleep. ..in the rainy woods. 3 am... what do you do ?? Get your I pod on and have a little boogie.listening to The River by Good Charlot.

Will

France. Some where. .......near disaster.Day 1

Bon Jour

Boy....what a 48 hrs. Firstly thank you to all the Van Van ers who came down to The Biker Store. And "cheers" to Nod for all the support and bits at the end there.

Got some major mobile phone issues here. Well...it wont work!  I work abroad allot and have never had this problem before. My mobile wont register to any network.  Using Macdonalds wi fi at the moment.  I can't call EE as eeeer, the phone doesn't register to a network. Nod. Could you ask them to press their magic button or e mail me. I will pick it up on my next Wi fi visit. Very annoying and frustrating.  I cant make or recieve a call .

Well Day 1......wasn't in a rush. Finally got to Calais around 0030 hr.Went down the coast on a D road. Basically a country lane and got my head down at 2 am.

Used the tent as a Bivi bag, as its Gortex. Woke up next to a sign. It said ( in French. With symbols).Eeer ....No Camping.  No Bikes. No Smoking.  No Fires.So 3 out of 4 broken on my first night, not too shabby !

Decided to potter down the coast. Saw Le Touquet signs. Huge beach, which has a massive Enduro on it. Put some photos up, some Swiss chap took.

I've re jigged slightly the luggage. Boy the bike is hwavy and not easy to balance. It also has a slight oil leak. And is desperate for a service Im on Day 2 now. Just bought the 10w 40.And will change it tonight. Once ive found a spot to hide the tent.

Anyway. Yesterday I very nearly died.Pretend this is the uk. It might be easier. Whilst briefly on the A16. And in the slow way down lane. I heard a massive screach of tyers. At which point a VW Golf over took me, all four wheels locked and in a huge skid.He over took me at about 70/80mph. His steering wheel was turned left.... and he did a complete 360 in front of me !!! Not 20 meters away, whilst im doing about 45/50 mph.The golf came right across my lane, , just missing me and smashed into the side barrier !!!

I immediately went to the nearest bath room!! So Day 1 and nearly died. That night I found a disussd quary. And pitched up in tgere. Away from pring eyes and the wind. The owner did come over and was happy for me to stay. Said he would read the blog. So "bon jour.  Tres bien". That's about all I've got.

Today I was heading towards Le Mans.But decided to buy a mobile charger and engine oil.In Macdonalds doing this.My mobile wont connect to a network. EE  help !!!

Anyway. 90% all good.  Not surprisingly, im stt doing things I would gave done before departure.  Had the bike not been stolen. Had quite a few strange looks off the French locals.As my bike does look like a furniture removal van.

If anyone can help with this mobile, id appreciate it. EE Samsung 3 mini. Data Roaming etc is on. Even though it shouldn't need that, to pick up a network.  Just says Emergency Calls !

Nazi bunker. My first nights pitch.No Camping. No bikes.....ooops

 Check out my " satnav".....compass....Soooooouth

Leaving tomorrow. 2 pm . Blindley Heath. Surrey.

What a 10 months it has been. I sat in my nice little flat in Surrey last November.  I had only recently got a self employed position in the Film Industry. But still had big hankering to get a two year FTRS with the Army. (A 2 year full time contact. You can go on tour etc ). But due to an old back issue,( twice I had had a trapped Sciatic nerve ). I was unable to pursue it.

That's when riding to Mongolia, then changed to Johannesburg.  Was born. I wanted to combine righting a wrong, on behalf of wounded servicemen. And to challenge myself to do something outside of the box.

So blar blar. ....here we are ten months later.

I'm not going to name names. As there are so many. And just like the "thank you " speach at a wedding. You start naming, you just know someone's nose is going to be put out of joint.

So. From me the custodian of this Challenge. And the me that is doing it. " Thank you very much to all those who threw their hat in the ring ". Xxxxx

It's my website.  Twangs at the heart.

Couple of pics of the fully operational Van Van. Hope I can get it back out now. Lol

Catch you in France.Where eating cheese,block aiding and making love to your neighbors wife, are obligatory.Just saying.....

Will

Bike fixed. Wiring Loom repaired.We are all systems GO !

Dear Thieves......


This is what I have to say to you.

Yesterday i found my bike had been stolen.I found it 200 meters away with the wires all hanging out.Made an emergency A & E call to Aye Gee Suzuki, ( who I have never met before. ) And WOW ! They have been amazing. The wiring loom is all patched up and fixed. The DiD Heavy Duty Chain and Sprocket fitted. And the inner tubes all slimed up.Mega. Off to pick the bike up in a minute.

I will check the mighty Van Van out. Go through the final " To Do " List. Dangerous Brian is off to the Money Shop for me.And is going to get various currencies.( Hopefully for the countries I am actually visiting ) !!

I did manage to fit in the remainder of all my jabs yesterday. Despite Dangerous Brian taking me to a street with same name as the Surgery I was meant to visiting.But in completely the wrong part of London.!! Tower Rd Dartford. Brian.........not Erith !! lol Got there in the end. :)

So it's onwards and down wards from here on in. An Idiot Got Bored........The Slow Way Down is a go!!!!!

See you all at Blindley Heath. Surrey. Leaving at 1400 hrs. Outside The Biker Store.RH 76 JP. Come along and support the cause.

All for wounded servicemen. Many of whom are in wheel chairs. Having lost arms and legs in IED's.

Come on...Make a wee donation.It wont change your world. But together, we can change theirs!..Click the Help for Heroes Logo top right.Or stick a part of your children's inheritance in the Team Fuel Tank.

Speak soon. Ooool la lar. Here i come.


Will

2 Days to go my bike is stolen.!!! But I am still leaving on time.

Am I in some sort of comedy Doomsday Film ?

You just couldn't make it up. Having spent all day yesterday packing and doing many other things. I sat at the laptop. Did the blog and promoted around various websites and Forums.

Unbeknown to me, outside, my locked up bike was being stolen !!!!!

No I am not bloody kidding ! I found out this morning, when I went to get on it. To get some of my " To Do " list,  done. Anyway I reported it to the Police. Who said that there had been a report of my bike. Only 200 meters away. With its wires all hanging out. And stolen looking.

Off I went. ......half on the war path. And half preying the bike was " just around the corner and ok. Bar the ignition or something. ". Well blow me. There was the mighty Van Van.  Intact looking. All be it in a sheepish, " something not right happened to me last night. ".kind of a way.

Short of it. I hired a van and man. £47 blinking quid. Did a begging session at the Suzuki Dealer and he said he will fix it for free !!! Never met the man before. Amazing and needed. Must thank him, if this all works out. And it will. Calling him at 1pm  Hopefully he has fixed the little Van Vans wiring. Its not too bad. Changed my chain and sprocket kit. To a heavy duty DiD. ( well, , whilst feeling generous. ).And Slime the inner tube s to prevent punctures.So, Chez and Jack Taylor..........." what was your best bit of that " ? :)

Will update. Check the pics of what the scum bags did. Cut all the wires.Knicked the two extra fuel cans and tank bag.

Ok. It's caused problems.  But I will see you all there. On my fully kitted and loaded Suzuki Van Van. :)

What I think of the thieves !!

3 Days Till Departure

I finished the 26 week tour with The Extreme Stunt Show on Monday. We worked every pay. 7 days a week.From 7 am to 10 pm. Then from 10 pm till 1 am I did admin and planning for this Challenge. Then, unfortunately, the generator was turned off.

Monday and Tuesday I spent picking up my car and bike. Hiring a van and man, to get my kit to Nottingham and London. Big " thank you " to Dangerous Brian for driving the van and really helping me out. ( Still dangerous though.) And also a big " thank you " to Beccy and Mark.Mark is slightly camp, but has been a great mate for over 17 years.Really appreciated staying over and " sorry " for taking over the kitchen floor and washing machine. George is just ace, but that puppy dog thing, was annoying.( Joking.Just was always under my right foot.). I must apologise to you both. As on one occasion I did give it a quick toe flick, to the other side of the room.lol. It loved being airborne.( See you soon mate.)

Today I have been working my way through my last " To Do " list.

Geee.......I don't know where to start. I have dyed the 58 Pattern Back Packs I'm using as bike,side panniers.  From green to black. I'm a civy and don't want to look too army.

Put the finishing touches to the First Aid Kit. It has the basics. Plasters. Bandages. 1 x First Field Dressing. (If shot, will hold a pint of blood. ) Various pills for stomach and botty issues. Anti Inflammation, not Inflation, as i did put.And heavy duty pain killers. Anti septic wipes,scissors and a bag of magic kisses for " boo boos".:)

A Wash Shaving Kit. No shampoo. No shaving gel. Just bars of soap and sand paper !!. Lol. Toothbrush and paste.( Normal.) 2 x High leathering soap bars,Gilette Sensor, with 20 razors. ( The best a man can geeeet !!)

Attached a 48 hrs Survival Kit to my 3 Lt water Camel Bak.( Goes on your back and you can drink water whilst riding.) Which includes, NRG 5 ration bars. Purification tablets. Ballons and socks, to make emergency water containers. (Put the balloon in water. Fill and place in sock  for support. ) Para cord. Compass and matches.

In my Enduro Jacket I have another First Field Dressing. Gerber multi tool. 48 hrs German Special Forces rations. And a mini First Aid kit. And some other bits. ( Bazoooka kept sticking out ).

Packed both side panniers.  With weight distribution being the priority.  I've kept the heavest kit low down. Close to the center of mass. So spares for the bike and rations are at the bottom.  All the 'sections ' are in re sealable bags. And the panniers are lined with heavy duty Rubble Bags. Tyre leavers are right at the bottom.  Sitting inside the panniers, parallel with the bike. Giving support, as the panniers sit on the rear luggage rack. Huge " thanks " to Tony Bailey for building it. (I did paint it ). ;)

In total I have a good 20 days of rations. Including Energy powders and the most important thing. ...............tea bags ! !!!

I shall only use the ' boil in the bag 'packs when totally isolated.  Or I feel a tad reclusive, due to the environment.!! Otherwise, it will be a constant search for water, petrol and food. In that order .

I have also had the Gortex tent up in the lounge.  Fantastic bit of kit. Many, many thanks to Jason. Checked my Vango Self Inflating bed mat.( " self "...read, "you blow it up".) And US Army issue dos bag. Mega comfy and warm. With detachable membrane.

I've also checked and packed the Multi Fuel stove.24 hr rations. Cooking pots. And bike tool kit.  All fitting in the rear Top Box. Although I do need some bits tomorrow.

Down sides today. My bike Hand Guards came as two right handers!  Left one should be here Friday.  Or I will look a right plonker.

And the tyre pump arrived broken.  So was unable to Slime the inner tube. ( Green slime sits inside the inner tube. When exposed to the air, due to a puncture.  It expands into the hole and goes hard.). Will buy another pump tomorrow and slime to my hearts content. Other slight issues, was NHS wouldn't even entertain giving me any vacations!!! As I would have to register . Annoying.  So will have to pay for them somewhere.

Lastly I packed my personal kit. Didn't take long. 2 x t shirt. 1 x trousers with zip shorts. 2x boxers and socks. Plus what I have on under my Enduro Suit. Ok. So I won't be out Clubbing. But I have got what I need.

Took plenty of photo s as I was going along today. Doing this on my phone. As it is how I will do it once under way.

See what you think. ??? Leaving.... ever so slowly.Saturday 14 th Sept. @ 1400 hrs. Blindley Heath. The Biker Store. Surrey.

New blog tomorrow
.

Will

Its all for wounded sericemen. Hair be Le Josh Grinrod.

Click Help for Heroes logo,top right.And become a mega star.xx

No I am not bloody kidding.All to fit ( plus loads more), on a 125 cc bike. Named " Stealth"..as its all but silent. Due to having a Pop Corn machine,as an engine.( Just saying).

3 Lt water Camel Bak. 48 hrs Emergency food.NRG 5. Mini First Aid Kit. FFD.Mints. Matches.Anti septic wipes.

Hair by Le Josh again.Camel Bak full with 3 Lt water.And Survival Kit.

Sleep over......Goretx tent all works. Bought extra pegs.

5 Star after living in the bunk waggon for 6 months !

Yep ! Just got the right Hand Gaurd...Left arrives on Friday.....i hope !

Wash Shaving Kit. No shampoo,conditioner,shaving gel here. :)

7 months...and here are my entire personal clothes! plus what i have on.

Space matters big time.3 x pots and handle.LED head torch. Sweeteners and  tea bags.

Multi fuel head. Water purification gadget fit into pot too.

Tabasco Sauce.Must have...when you cook like me.! Covers all burnt bits.

Water proof and wind proof matches in the pot too.And else where as back up to my petrol lighter.

Who remembers these ? Will use in Europe and buy tins from top supermarkets only. Such as Lidle and Aldi !Its the way i roll.

Energy drinks to give me bounce...lol