If you weren't before, you will be now...

Many of you will have read the start of this blog and wondered what sort of crazy fools (and not in the good, Mr T sort of way) we are. Why on earth would we try and tackle 7 000kms in 17 days? Who in their right minds and so on and so forth...? And indeed even we - when the initial excitement had worn off and the blonde one had found a map and used her big science brain to actually start calculating distances and warned me that we might be laughing now (we laugh in the face of danger and enormous distances don't you know) - even we started to wonder if we hadn't actually gotten ourselves into something pretty massive...and we all took a deep breath and questioned if it was in fact madness...

But then we saw this video:

Put Foot Rally 2011 from D4 Productions on Vimeo.

and while the distances are staggering (did he say 14 hours...on day one....am I even awake for that many hours in a day....?), and the time is pretty tight, this video reminded me why we would brave something of this proportion. Did you see the views? Did you see the parties? Did you see the ridiculous costumes? Did you see how much fun everyone was having (except for when a bit of you dies at the end because you're so sad it's over...but even that doesn't sound all bad)?

We're back to being super duper excited. And admit it, you're a tiny bit jealous now aren't you...?

Ode to Poundland

It may seem odd, in a blog about going around Africa, to talk about that great British instituton Poundland but bear with me, all will become clear.

For the uninititated Poundland is a shop which sells everything from toothpaste to baked beans, toffikee and skittles to hammers and nails all alongside cleaning products, crayons and (currently) Christmas decorations and Halloween costumes.  Sounds like a supermarket I hear you mutter and indeed it is but for one crucial detail, everything is ONE POUND (and I don't think you can get a store card but I'm definitely going to look into it...).  It's a vertiable treasure trove of wonderful buys you could do without but can't resist because they are only ONE POUND! And in amongst these delights I discovered a tool kit for repairing punctures. I didn't even know you could repair punctures. I thought once punctured immediately forgotten. Apparently not.

So in my ehtusiasm to "be prepared" I bought this miracle product and only once I got home did I realise that it was for bicycles. Bollocks. Firstly I don't own a bike and can't really ride a bike but most importantly I don't plan to take on 7 countries in Southern Africa on the back of a bike. Where would I put the gin? And what about the elements? And I've heard of chafe and I certainly don't plan to carry tub loads of vaseline with me.

But this led me to thinking of a talk I went to a few years back in Cape Town, from Riaan Manser who did actually DO Africa on a bike - he went all round the edge of the continent - the first to circumevent Africa on a bike in fact - check these clips out.  If he's done that, then other people must have braved Africa (and its notorious elements) on two-wheel, leg powered devices. And what do you know all manner of people have crossed the continent on a bicycle alone - Helen Llyod has a pretty cool story with awesome photos as does Peter Gostelow . Indeed, their 25,000kms makes me feel alot more relaxed about our adventure and has me wondering if perhaps 2012 shouldn't be just a little taster test and 2013 should be the year of the bicycle. I can learn to ride a bicycle in a year and a bit right..right?

Besides, I don't think that Poundland accepts returns so I better find a reason to get bike riding (and owning) so I can use my puncture repair kit. Boris bikes here I come and maybe a little holiday to Paris too, seems as good a way as any to practise...

We're a-go-go

Hooray! Our deposit has been accepted, we've signed the paperwork and we're ready to get this show on the road.

From 20 June - 6 July next year we'll be out on the open roads of Southern Africa - trying to make it from check point to check point without any real alarm or life-threatening drama. I'm hoping our feminie wiles will get us out of most of our trouble but I do think I should probably learn something about mechanics in the next few months, just in case. In fact, I do solemnly swear that before June next year I shall learn how to fix a broken carborator (I can't even spell it...let alone find it in a car) - using only a stocking, sand and chewing gum. Are there evening Mechanics courses? And will this be like that episode of Frasier...?

Before that though I best tell my boss I need 3 weeks off, and my mum that I plan to engage in something where disclaimer # 1 reads:
I understand that this is not an organised holiday or safari tour. I, and my Crew, acknowledge that this is an unassisted African adventure and by its very nature, very dangerous. I may be injured, wounded, bitten or even killed. I agree that I am responsible for myself and will have no claim against the organisers should anything bad happen to me.

Hmm...I guess if I'm about to embark on a 17 day adventure across 7 countries in Africa I should probably be able to face my boss, and my mum...wish me luck!

Blazing trails and busting myths

Stumbled upon this interesting article about the social entrepreneurship and charitable aspects of the Put Foot Rally. The 2011 rally raised funds for Bobs for Good Foundation and the crews raised over R150 000 to put shoes on the feet of children in need. Amazing. Check out some of the pics of the rally shoe drops in the Bobs for Good rally round up.

Here's Hoping

For three months we've been talking about it, thinking about it and finally, it's within our grasp. Entries to the Put Foot Rally 2012 opened on 1 September and with her usual enthusiasm and dedication, Lyn had our names in the moment bookings were allowed. She is the one that first sighted this adventure online and so it's only right that she should be at the helm of our "terrible trio" leading us - some might call astray- on what could turn out to be some of the most intense, chaotic, exciting and hilarious 17 days of our lives to date.

Indeed, 7 countries in 17 days is a feat wherever you are but in Africa it's something quite special. We're all born and bred in Southern Africa so we don't go into this with our eyes closed.  We know that the dirt roads, insects, foreign languages, camping and thousands of kilometres aren't going to be easy but we also know that epic adventures are not for the faint of heart and we're anything but that. Africa is in our blood after all!

We're ready to prove that three girls, with tenuous (at best) knowledge of motor vehicles can take on the challenge and come out the other side more tanned, better-traveled and with a story or two to tell.

Now all we need is for our application to be accepted. Here's hoping...