Grease monkies

We had the first meeting tonight with Dave Webb to look at the maintenance schedule for the van, spares and my plan of action. Feel that we are now back on schedule with this and Dave is spending a couple of hours with me this Saturday to practice changing tyres and looking at brakes etc, I will then hopefully spend a few hours each week to go through the general service elements such as oil and filter changes. Our spares and tool lists can now be organised and Dave has offered to organise the extra spare tyre that we are looking to take along with brake pads, filters and other bits and bobs. Will give a more detailed list once we’ve decided what we need to take. 

Planning progress and a celebration

Rachel has just texted to say that her Career Break has been approved. Another hurdle ticked off the list! D-Day is approaching fast.

Since my last post Alan (father) has enjoyed his 70th Birthday with a great party at the Rugby Club (TARFC). He’d asked the many guests to donate to www.motivation.org.uk in lieu of any presents. He raised just over £700 and that excludes GiftAid. Huge thanks to Alan and to all of the guests who made it such a great night. I also need to record our thanks to JJ for slaving away in the kitchen – lots of compliments from those there – and the staff at Torquay Athletic Rugby Club. All appreciated.

A special mention goes to Allan Forsyth and TAB Components Ltd for their support too.

Outside of this event – thanks to the First Irishman to walk to the North Pole for sponsoring our flights. Alan Humphries is Rachel’s sister Lisa’s partner. If you get a chance check out his book Spinning Beneath My Feet. A candid but modest insight into what it must be like to endure those extreme conditions.

Talking of ‘special mentions’ – Aunty Barbara – legend entertainment. Couldn’t get over how quickly that made it up to Wales via the Valley Telegraph! It was Wales where we managed to get another night in the van as we adjourned to the Land of My Fathers to continue the celebrations. Staying at Cwrt Isaf Farm, we tested the van for wind and mud – compounded by Cenydd the dog! Still at least it was much warmer than the preceding weekend (10 C outside/15 C inside).

The mud was a timely prompt to consider Western views of what is clean. The van, despite a healthy dose of overnight mud, is still far more comfortable and sanitary than many homes endured in the developing world. I wonder how much of our standards are driven by capitalism and marketing rather than a bona fide need.

The next Monday the Azalai went in to OEC to fit the wiring etc for a trailer board. This is working well as it can cover both the upright and horizontal (loadbed) configurations. The latter being tested with the wheelchair ratchet-strapped down to it just yesterday. I reckon that the board could be hinged so it doesn’t need to be taken off and replaced depending upon configuration – will suggest this next time some work is done. Currently the location of it when the lift is vertical, means the board needs to be removed in order to lower the lift to ground level. Not a problem if a load is going on to be transported; but a nuisance step if the lift is to be used just to access the pod. It looks like this can be easily modded – providing appropriate hinges can be sourced (possibly 90 degree sprung or alternatively locking hinges). I’m sure that makes no sense to the reader – probably easier to see than write down! Definitely the tail-lift is a winner though.

The next fundraiser is nearly upon us. The ‘African Ball’ hosted by Paignton Zoo is falling into place courtesy in the main to the hard work of good friends Dan Tisdall, Becky Bettesworth, Penny Jones, and roped in to help with the entertainment the enigmatic Glenn Powell. (Others have helped too but forgive me from avoiding too long a list of names – it in  no way diminishes our appreciation). This event should be a great party. It is one of our sincere aims that people enjoy themselves first, and that then hopefully the funds will follow. If not, well at least we’d have enjoyed ourselves!

Mechanical teachings

Dave Webb (TARFC and Sherwell Valley Motors) has just given Rachel her first vehicle maintenance lesson. Today involved an orientation of what’s what underneath the vehicle, the brakes, and the techniques to change a front wheel – followed by a couple of hours’ practical. With much gusto Rachel waded in and impressed her tutor with how much she had taken on board. I thought to myself Dave is selling himself short with his surprise, he has great delivery and is a natural teacher. Certainly, even after this first session, mission confidence is greatly improved.

They also discovered that there are still a couple of oil leaks from the transmission. One from the cooler pipe(s) where they enter the box and another seemingly from the top aspect, near the control levers. We will need to report those to OEC. The van will need some of their care and attention to fit another valve to the tail-lift – this time to slow its ascent, as well as fit a cruise control. The hand-controls are fine when around town as one is flexing and extending the arm; however on a long motorway haul it’s all flexion, which is fatiguing as it’s the same muscles being contracted.

Getting there

The Azalai is going into OEC for what’s hopefully the last pre-trip works.

I’ve decided to fit a cruise control as flexing ones arm on a long run is overly tiring (foot throttle uses extensor muscles) and probably not as safe as having two hands on the steering wheel on such a heavy vehicle.

Paul (OEC) is doing a few refinements on the tail lift too. Of these slowing it’s ascent by putting a reducing valve into the hydraulic line is probably the most significant.

The oil leaks on the transmission mentioned in the last entry look like residue from the old, mended leaks – good news.

The van is much perkier too since we set the transmission’s ‘compushift’ to know that the vehicle’s weight is 3000kgs not “1500lbs” !!

Fuel consumption seems to be about 4 litres a mile (20 miles to the gallon) on runs so far – maybe the gearing remapping will make a difference but I guess that’s about what we should expect.

Time has been taken up by final preparations for our Fundraising Ball at Paignton Zoo this weekend. I really can’t get over how much help as been freely offered by our friends in pulling this together. Notably (although not exclusively) Dan Tisdall, Becky Bettesworth, Penny Jones and Glenn & Jo Powell. XXX to you all from Rach and I.

The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake. ~ Aristotle

If you are coming you’re in for a treat I think. The guys have pulled out all of the stops to give a real show – if you’re impressed please dig deep on the night!

Main thing is though – remember to have fun!

We had a Ball

Got to start this entry with thanks to: Dan, Becky, Glenn, Penny, Pat T, Davina, Helen P, Julie, Mrs H, Russ, and everyone else who pulled together to make the Africa Ball at Paignton Zoo such a great night. Special thanks to David Towers and Nina Brzezicki and the rest of the Zoo staff who really pulled out all of the stops.  

Importantly the Bush Tucker event, which saw Phil Burford pipped by ‘King of the Jungle’ Brendon Prince in a tight final, raised over £200 for Motivation.org.uk. The Expedition funds were boosted too by the very kind support from revellers, plus a few who couldn’t make it! We really are completely overwhelmed by the amount of support that we are getting. I hope that we can continue to share the adventure with everyone, not least by keeping up this blog throughout!

Still, now the razzmatazz has died down for a while, Rach and I are back to the planning and prep with some rescheduled Driver Training courtesy of Land Rover Experience at Eastnor Castle. This should not only be fun, but provide us with some essential skills, delivered by the best trainers in the field. We will also be proving the Azalai’s latest (and hopefully last mod’) the Cruise Control fitted by OEC over the last couple of days. Paul has also put an adjustable flow-rate valve onto the tail-lift hydraulics so we can adjust the ascent/descent speed compromise. He’s also done a really neat and bespoke hinge for the trailer board to negate needing to mount/unmount it depending upon configuration. I’ll try and post a picture of it at some point. Finally, pleased to report that he Carnet has been processed in good time and is now safely in our possession. Thanks again to Paul Gowen at the RAC.

If you can’t afford to fail, steer carefully and precisely – or take another route – Eastnor Castle Landrover Driver Training

Well that was a busy week. the Van went in to have its final tweaks on Monday, then Tuesday we made our way up to Eastnor Castle in beautiful Herefordshire for the rearranged Driver Training at the Land Rover Experience. We arrived at our campsite late in the day. We were staying at the friendly and hospitable Marlbank Inn, that conveniently has a few pitches in its grounds. The journey up was the first chance to test the retro-fit cruise control. I had a lot of trouble trying to get it to engage at first. It needs coaxing on, and sometimes several attempts. It also drops out on occasions – with no clear reason why (even on the level). I still haven’t managed to get the increase and decrease speed to work without it dropping out too! It sounds like a bit of a disaster doesn’t it? – But in effect it achieves what I need, a chance to break from holding the hand-controls in a flexed position for hours at a time. All in all its probably OK – we have a few more runs planned over the next few days so this will tell for sure. The tail-lift has been adjusted to a perfect speed too.

Anyway, on the Wednesday we drove the few miles to Land Rover Experience , ‘The Bothy’ on the Eastnor Castle Estate, arriving in good time at 0830. We were greeted at the gate and directed to parking and reception. We were then met by our instructor for the next couple of days, the incredibly knowledgeable Mike Chambers. As it happens Mike has much experience of working in North and West Africa, and in his role as Lead Instructor, was able to offer us much information on overlanding as well as actual driving skills. His style was subtle, but we quickly realised that there wasn’t very much that he said that wouldn’t be useful. I noted in my diary, “started 0900, now 0920 and have already learnt loads, and that’s before the slides have started!”

The two day syllabus was based on the course that Land Rover Experience provide for RGS Driver Training. It started with an outline of 4×4 theory and the effects of differential locks and loss of traction. The slides covered approach, cresting and departure angles (the latter being particularly relevant to the Azalai). This helped to lay the foundations towards developing a clear understanding of the principles of four wheel drive systems and how to exploit these to make safe, efficient and reliable progress both on-road and off-road. The syllabus also included ground reading and obstacle recognition skills and daily checks and maintenance requirements. The whole thing is underpinned by Land Rover’s Fragile Earth Policy. As you can see its a lot to cover in two days – but cover it we did. A humbling lesson in what can be learned and what there is yet to learn.

The bulk of the course is spent behind the wheel. With the delegates doing most of the driving. Land Rover Experience had arranged for Lynx hand-controls to be fitted to the automatic Discovery 4 that was our vehicle for the two days. However I couldn’t really get on with these due to the degree of dexterity needed; given my paralysed right hand. Not a problem as there is enough room in the Disco to revert to left foot driving, unlike in the Defender!

The terrain lends itself nicely to mud and ruts. Mike explained how “ruts are your friend” – and with that counter-intuitive statement off we went. We both baulked as (in a bid to make the vehicle behave as much like our vehicle as possible) without any of the terrain electronic programmes switched-on, the car was manoeuvred around various tracks and obstacles. Nothing can prepare you for your first cross-slope traverse when you find yourself looking down at your front-passenger. Yet by day 2 it all seemed rather normal. Much of the expedition prep seems to involve an adjustment of norms!

The other lesson that we took with us was how terrain might easily and erroneously be considered rather benign, until it bites you. I think we are much more likely to carefully assess the path ahead now. Mike explained his ’3G’s’ approach in considering likely risks.”Grip, Gravity and God Willing” The second two come into play when you lose the first. Gravity is a reliable constant and God Willing accounts for everything else. The pace was as slow as you need – if that makes sense, which means that the sense of exhilaration comes not from any speed of passage, but entirely from the sense of achievement and realisation of the capabilities of the vehicles if used sensitively and sympathetically.

I’m not going to be able to recount everything that we covered – but I do know now that we have significantly reduced the chances of self-inflicted vehicle damage and of getting stuck. We are also better prepared to appraise recovery options should we get stuck. One thing we did determine was that we are not going to take a Hi-Lift jack. Mike and Alf (of Eastnor’s ‘Alf’s Hole’ fame) went through the pros and (dangerous) cons of this versatile piece of kit – but on reflection we decided it was not for us. (Note how in one of the photos Rachel has to put her head in line with the jack handle’s arc to operate it – potentially fatal if the ratchet doesn’t engage properly) We think we are covered by the shovel, some lorry ratchet straps, strops and shackles,  jate rings and a thermos (according to Mike this last piece of equipment is the most essential!)

All I can say is if you are planning any off road  – expedition or domestic, do book your self some Land Rover Experience Training. It really was fantastically good fun and incredibly rewarding – intellectually as much as anything else. The Land Rover Experience centres really are a super resource.

Thanks to the IPF, Ed Dawes at the Fast Track Agency and Land Rover Experience – for what was probably the most useful training we’ve completed to date –  Special thanks to Mike Chambers, Lead Instructor and absolutely brilliant trainer.

We’ll give Mike the last word, “Ask yourself is it safe to fail? If so try. If you do fail, recover yourself and then try something different. If you can’t afford to fail, steer carefully and precisely – or take another route.” Useful for life as well as Land Rovering methinks.

Visit to Motivation.org

This week we had the great pleasure of visiting the guys at Motivation in their Bristol HQ. It was really great to catch up and put faces to names. Hi Natalie, Chris, Marianne and David (sorry for interrupting your lunch David). Obviously everyone was very busy, so it was nice that they made us feel so welcome.

We were able to drop off a few more cheques from Dad’s 70th and the Bush Tucker Trial – which has pushed the ‘offline’ fundraising of late to over £700. Thank you everyone.

The other reason for the visit was to try the Rough Terrain Worldmade Chair and Handcycle attachment. Chris quickly set the demo chair up to suit (a little narrow in this model but good enough to check out) and went through the key features. I have to admit I was quite taken by how effective the design is, at every level – both in ease of maintenance and adjustment, right through to its performance. The hand-cycle’s docking was particularly elegant.

I’m hoping to use this set-up on the trip (instead of the (capable but more ‘complex’ to maintain) Trekinetic). It makes sense at so many levels – and more so now I’ve tried it. I only wish I’d thought to ask sooner as it is now a little tight regarding when the next delivery comes in to the UK (from China). However Natalie is pretty optimistic that I’ll be able to buy and take delivery of a fat-boy size chair in time to go – so fingers crossed. It would be a real bonus to have both a chair and handcycle on the trip – and will definitely increase opportunity and range (handcycle is easier for me given the imbalance of having a functioning hand and a paralysed ‘tetra’ hand). Plus I’ll hopefully be able to post just how it is working for us for your information and entertainment too! (Would any UK chair users be interested in using the Worldmade Rough Terrain to get off the beaten track I wonder? I can see scope – and would be interested to hear your thoughts…..)

Shipping Update and a trip to The Land of My Fathers

The van is going for shipping at the end of the month, but now not from Avonmouth, but Tilbury docks. It will arrive in Durban at the end of April just in time for us to help it clear through customs. Thanks again to David Squibb of KWE for all of his help in arranging the shipping at this end. We are both keen to get going now and the van being loaded into a container and disappearing to the southern hemisphere is something of a marker in the latter stages of pre-expedition planning!

You may notice that there has been a lack of updates in the blog recently. Unfortunately this was due to a problem with my computer, typically, and I’m sure that these machines know, it was just before I was due to talk to students at my old school Westlands. After much swearing and desperate late night foraging around a flaky hard disc, I luckily managed to recover my keynote presentation. This was a relief as it meant that I could relax over the weekend of our trip to Cardiff, staying with good friends Rhodri and Kate, where we went on the final shakedown trip, under the excuse of watching Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations rugby championship.

Kate’s brother, Jonathan Stokes, was also staying with them on the Friday night. Jonathan (and his company JBS Associates) rather splendidly, sponsored Ed Stafford’s Walking the Amazon expedition. Interestingly Jonathan was saying that Ed was not sure what some of the people he now finds himself talking to would find interesting about his amazing feat. After hearing Ed speak at the Royal Geographical Society, coupled with meetings we have had with some quite extraordinary people along the way, I tried to convey (as we washed down a delicious meal cooked by Kate with copious lashings of wine) that its people talking about their adventures in ordinary, modest and mundane manner that is in itself the inspiration and learning. That is to say, that without really trying, they convey that by achieving their goals and projects as ‘ordinary Joe’ they are just like you and I underneath and we all have untapped potential. Humility and consideration seemingly being constant virtues too amongst the best speakers.

Well match day was a full on and a unique sort of day. After a ‘light’ lunch (of Cafe pie and chips) Rhodri dropped us into town. We went straight to the ground, a good move as we started a growing crowd in the concourse, as passers-by realised that Italy were going to beat France on the conveniently situated TV (opposite one of the many bars). A big cheer at the final whistle from Welsh and Irish alike. Come kick-off the ground was boiling. The sides were pretty even but Wales won with a controversial try from a quick lineout. A different ball was used by Mike Phillips which technically should have ruled the try out, however I’m sure the whole of Wales will take the win. Rhodri picked us up and then to the Windsor Arms in Penarth, when my brother Daryl had joined us. The beer flowed and for some reason our small party ended up drinking from a selection of improvised vessels from the bric-a-brac trinket table! Suitably imbibed we adjourned to eat in a convenient Pacific fusion restaurant. The food was great but to top it all halfway through the meal our patron enthusiastically started up his prize possession, a fantastic home karaoke outfit–I kid you not! Rhodri was recognised by a birthday celebrating table of ladies, as “that man from the telly” despite my protestations that they must’ve seen him opening the local Co-op. It was the sort of day and night that you couldn’t have planned. Thanks to Rhodri and Kate for their as ever splendid hospitality. Thanks also to Kate and Jonathan’s mother, Lizzie for a splendid and generous donation to the expedition, we really appreciate your support and words of encouragement, we hope to see you shortly after our return to tell you how we got on.

One final aside to share with you, back at the house on Saturday night, Daryl, Rhodri and I began a debate on Gavin Henson and his potential for ‘completing’ the Welsh team—Daryl and Rhodri for, me against (no doubt about his talent, but he’s on a different planet to the real one!). Incidentally Ffreya, Rhodri’s daughter, had earlier in the morning brought down a photo signed by all of the last grand slam squad. “Daddy got this for me” she explained, “but I scribbled out Gavin Henson!” Sure enough his visage was neatly biroed over and his signature also. Out of the mouths of babes! I rest my case.

Final Vehicle Prep stuff

The Azalai has seen much of Sherwell Valley Garage of late as Dave Webb and Chris kindly agreed to let us use their expertise and ramps to go through basic maintenance techniques on the Land Rover.

A quick inspection identified that the transmission pipes could take another tightening as they had bedded down a bit more – but other than that all was looking good. Rachel learned how to change the oil, check levels, change filters, disengage the prop shaft and change the brake pads. Importantly we managed to get a decent tool kit together with Dave’s advice.

Penny Jones manufactured a set of curtains to put up in the cab should ever they be needed as well as one to contain dust from entering the pod from the cab (well that’s the hope anyway). She really is a whizz on the sewing machine.

We also had the rear cab windows tinted by AutoTintNShine and removed the seats in order to utilise the storage space which is ideally situated between the axles and low down, all of a sudden the Azalai looked cavernous. Plus removing the seats reclaims 60kg of payload!

We had to then try and obtain 8 months of self-care equipment for me. That entailed the rather odd task of working out how many times I’m going to pee between now and the New Year and what sort of ‘bowel regime’ (a term generally reserved for spinal community dialogue amongst the initiated) I was going to employ over the whole overland trip. The conclusion is that we can just about carry everything we need – which frees us up from having to be tied to addresses to get stuff couriered over.

Dean at Riviera Signs added the last few decals from supporters.

OEC sourced us another spare wheel and a couple of jerry cans (the former was a good deal and the latter are needed to empty the auxiliary tank before shipping). We have the weight capacity now that the rear seats are out.

That was the last of the planned prep taken care of, before we took the Azalai to Pentalvers, Tilbury Docks, for shipping to Durban.

Landrover Broken by Landrover Dealer

So we were just about there with vehicle preparation, just a quick trip to Matford Land Rover to get a spare set of keys. Unfortunately whilst in their custody, the Azalai took a bit of a bump to its roof-rack. (Accidents do happen so importantly…) The Dealer was good as gold and covered the repair, but as this happened late Friday; with shipping delivery due the following Wednesday, some quick thinking and work by OEC was needed…..

On Monday Richard (OEC) quickly got to work and spent the whole morning attaching cargo rail to the space vacated by the roof-rack and on the immediately posterior section of sloping roof. This solution has some advantages in loads larger than the constraints of the original roof-rack can now be accommodated. OEC had sourced another wheel and Tyre. The plan was now to stow this wheel and a pair of empty jerry cans on the roof (50kg total – if the cans need to be carted full then they can travel on the tail-lift).

For shipping we decided to put the wheel and the cans on the tail-lift to accommodate the container’s height limits- that was Monday p.m. By Monday evening we noticed that the tail-lift had ‘dropped’. Not seeing any obvious cause a panicked and final dash to OEC Tuesday morning revealed that the distal levers had bent somewhat under the 50kg load. The fabricators had cut holes in them (to save weight). OEC’s Paul had questioned this at the time – but was reassured that  they would be fine! Luckily we found out in the nick of, and with some quick welding to make them more RSJ like – we were away.

The upside of these late running repairs and mods is that we know problems will arise but that they can be solved with the right people and resources (thanks OEC). The downside is that our packing and checking time was forced to the evenings. I had ten hours’ sleep total, Sunday through to Tuesday – and indeed on Tuesday went to bed at 0030, to awake at 0300 to drive the Azalai up to Tilbury with Rachel……