Hi, Here's a few pics me in the western sahara before the clutch went,
a few of the kids you' ve helped raise money for, the chief mechanic at
SOS with his new teaching aid and me snoring on the plane back home
zzzz. In a few weeks i'll be updating this website with some more
pictures. Thanks for everyones support you know who you are...

Hi, Yesterday Tim was ill and thought it was possible food poisoning,
he had been ripped off yet again buy another guide and found somewhere
to stay in Toubakouta. (Just above Banjul on the map). This morning he
set off and yes, again he was ripped off, finally he found someone to
help who kept to his word and got Tim to Banjul where he was met by a
police escort, cheering people, the kids sung to him and read poems and
the news reporters were there to film his arrival. He is totally blown
away by the welcoming reception he has received and has enjoyed the
kids today.... oh and he is being treated like a king! The suspected
food poisoning has passed and we think it was just a dodgy meal
somewhere. I am now looking forward to picking him up from the airport
next week! When Tim is home and after we have got ourselves sorted, we
will post up some pictures that was taken on route to
www.essex-dakar.org Faye xxxxx

Finally good news... Tonight Tim is safe and spending his second night
at St Louis. He went to the Suzuki garage today and the mechanic said
yes its the clutch, he doesn't have the parts so the mechanic is going
to Dakar and back to get them. He will then fix the bike over night so
the bike is ready for tomorrow (Tues). Tim also met a local guide who
said he would take Tim and the fixed bike to the orphanage, but they
will do a bit of "sight seeing on route". He will meet the guides
family, go to a nature reserve etc... before arriving at the orphanage
at about midday on Wednesday 18th... he will then have 5 days with the
kids! This is the plan anyway, but as we have found out over the past 4
days any plan can turn into a nightmare at any moment! So there is no
map today cause I am sure we are all fed up with map pictures!! Here is
a picture of the Limited Edition Ralph Steadman A2 poster we are
selling to raise money for this charity event. They are for sale
through our website www.essex-dakar.org where you can also make a
donation to the SOS children in The Gambia. These kids really need the
help and so come on donate a few pounds!..... please!!!!!... Faye xxx

The nightmare continues for all.... I am now grey god knows how much
hair Tim has left!!! This morning the guy arrives to take Tim the rest
of the journey to St Louis, myself and his parents heard from him
early this morning needing exchange rates, we knew he was in trouble by
the way he spoke to us. I could only get strange answers from him and I
assumed the guy was being difficult. Tim's phone was then off and no
one knew what was happening or if Tim was ok until this evening when he
called me. All Tim said was that the guy kept shifting the goal posts,
more people was coming along and money etc... Luckily one of the extra
guys in the car was a policeman and spoke French, he managed to get
them all and a very overloaded vehicle through the Mauritanian /
Senegal border. Tim tonight is safe in St Louis close to a Suzuki
mechanic / dealer, though in the chaos of this morning Tim forgot to
pick up his full Jerry cans. Tomorrow (monday) he is going to try and
find the Suzuki place and some jerry cans as the bike only does about
90 mile on a tank at the moment. All i can say is.... he is never
allowed to do anything like this again and what a waste of time it is
paying the RAC each month when the won't nip over a few country's when
you need them!!!! For more details of the solo motorcycle ride to The
Gambia in aid of SOS Children, please visit www.essex-dakar.org where
you can view Tim's pictures, donate a few quid to SOS Children or buy a
Ralph Steadman poster!! ... Faye xxx

As far as Tim was concerned the mechanic was taking Tim and the bike to
Dakar at 8 am (sat) and would arrive in Dakar on the same night, the
following day (sun) he would fix the bike, all for ?350 - ?375. The
mechanic arrived as promised but brought a few guys with him and
demanded more money, Tim was very vague with me as to what happened
that morning. All he said was he handed over some cash and they went.
He found someone else that spoke English who would take him to St Louis
where he new a suzuki mechanic who could fix the bike. They agreed an
amount and this new guy took him to Nouachott for an over night stop
and they would continue to St Louis (sun) the following day.... For
more details of the solo motorcycle ride to The Gambia in aid of SOS
Children, please visit www.essex-dakar.org where you can view Tim's
pictures, donate a few quid to SOS Children or buy a Ralph Steadman
poster!! ... Faye xxx

There is no map picture for the Nineteenth Night Stop as Tim didn't get
to move! He stayed in Dakhlet for a second night, so here is a picture
of me and Tim so you can put a face to the mad guy on his mission and a
face to the "map girl / Tim's fianc?" ... On Friday 13th / Nineteenth
day I called Ian our friendly mechanic at Grays Motorcycle Centre, he
said the clutch had gone and to try adjusting the clutch cable if that
fails replace the clutch. I then called a friend's husband who is also
a mechanic to confirm the problem, Dean at Larkins Automotive Services
agreed it was the clutch. Great, I thought thats not too bad... So I
called Tim to pass on the don't worry I know what it is news. Tim who
wasn't quite as happy as I was as, said try explaining that to the
mechanic that can't speak English. My heart sunk until I thought of the
perfect translator... Marc, pal of mine at work, came to the rescue and
spent ages on the phone translating between Tim and the mechanic. By
lunch time on Friday the conclusion was that the mechanic couldn't fix
the bike in Dakhlet and he would take Tim and the bike to Dakar where
he could fix the clutch all for a massive ?350 - ?375. They would leave
at 8 am the following day.... Tim settled down for another night in
the garage / cafe.... to be continued.... For more details of the solo
motorcycle ride to The Gambia in aid of SOS Children, please visit
www.essex-dakar.org where you can view Tim's pictures, donate a few
quid to SOS Children or buy a Ralph Steadman poster!! ... Faye xxx

HELP!!!!!, Tim has managed to get in touch tonight.... I think today
warrants the weirdest, worst and probably (un)luckiest day all rolled
into one. He got passed the Mauritanian border within 90 minutes,
starts his ride through the land mined area when the bike broke down.
From behind little bushes men start appearing, Tim's first thoughts
were that he was in danger but after a difficult conversation in 2
languages he realizes that they are offering getting him and the bike
to the safety of a village... for ?200!!!! Tim say's no thanks and
starts pushing the bike but manages to barter them down to ?100. With
the bike hanging out of a car boot and strapped down they drive Tim and
bike to Daklet, he has settled for the night in a garage come cafe and
for what i understood he was sleeping in there with the bike???? It
wasn't a great line but i am sure thats what he said. He has run me
through the bike problem.... Bike starts up, ticks over, clicks into
1st, lets clutch out, nothing seems to engage, doesn't seem to go into
gear, neutral light goes out, doesn't stall or make any odd noises. If
he puts the clutch back in, gear leaver back to neutral, light comes
on, gear leaver in to 2nd light goes out, lets clutch out, same again
nothing happens. He has also tried starting it in 2nd really revving
the engine and slipping the clutch... nothing. I have had my dad
(previously a mechanic) on the phone to Tim from holiday in Barbados
trying to help, my mission in the morning is to contact our local
friendly garage (who has helped loads prior to trip) Grays motorcycle
centre, to see if they can shed any light on it before a local mechanic
comes out to Tim at 10am. The problem is probably in the gear box and
its quite a long job to get it out on that bike.... with approximately
700-800 miles to go and in the middle of nowhere.... my question
is..... why now, why not in France or Spain????????? If the worst comes
to the worst he will look at shipping it on a lorry or something to the
SOS Village.... OH and I am not mechanical in the slightest and am the
middle (wo)man so lets hope i have relayed this correctly! Hang on....
I thought I was planning an early night tonight???? alarm is going off
in.... mmmm 6 hours..... For more details of the solo motorcycle ride
to The Gambia in aid of SOS Children, please visit www.essex-dakar.org
where you can view Tim's pictures, donate a few quid to SOS Children or
buy a Ralph Steadman poster!! ... Faye xxx

Tim will finish his ride at the SOS Village in Banjul, assuming there
are no hic-cups and he keeps up the miles, I assume he will be about
another 5-6 days maybe. Tomorrow I am taking a night off of map duty, I
will post an update on Saturday evening. For more details of the solo
motorcycle ride to The Gambia in aid of SOS Children, please visit
www.essex-dakar.org where you can view Tim's pictures, donate a few
quid to SOS Children or buy a Ralph Steadman poster!! ... Faye xxx