Wander Lost

Author: John Barrett

  • Article in the Tivyside newspaper

    This article was in this week’s Tivyside, a local paper here in West Wales.

    Tivyside 21st January 2015
    Tivyside 21st January 2015

  • Wales Online and Wales Today

    Walesonline and Wales Today have published an article today about the trip:

    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/i-wanted-can-meet-grandad-8464900

    The article is also in the printed paper Wales on Sunday

    WalesOnSunday

  • Sponsored by Evolution Signs

    David Woodthorpe of Evolution signs has kindly and generously made signs for the Panniers and back box.

    There is plenty of space on these for extra sponsors, all money donations go directly to Street Child.

    Bike pannier stickers

  • Call for Sponsors

    Sponsors are needed to raise money for Street Child, a charity helping to rebuild the lives of children orphaned by Ebola in West Africa. Sponsorship could be from a few pounds from an individual to hundreds of pounds from a business.

    In return for donations of over £250 I would put company logos on the bike, bring the bike to photo shoots, participate in publicity events and generally shout from the rooftops about how good you are.

    For more information or to discuss a sponsorship deal, please contact me.

    Click here to get a printable letter

  • More bike mods – LED flood lights and Barkbusters

    I have done some more work on the bike. I have installed a pair of high intensity led spot lights to boost the poor light from main beam on the bike. LEDs have come a long way ams give a lot of light for little power.
    image

    They are mounted below the main light cluster just above the towing loop.
    image

    image

    image
    They are wired into the main beam via a switch so i can isolate them if needed.
    I also installed a pair of bark buster hand guards to save my hands when i fall and to provide some wind protection.
    image

    image

  • True Size of Africa

    True Size of Africa

    How big is Africa? – The standard world map does not give it’s true size due to the way the Earth is flattened to put on paper. A guy called Kal Krause has produced this image which gives a better idea of the scale.

    With thanks to Kal Kruase
    With thanks to Kal Kruase

  • Patrick Davey – On his way

    I have been watching the blog of an Australian Patrick Davey who is travelling a similar route to me. He left the UK this week on his way to Cape Town. Here is his facebook page:

    https://www.facebook.com/drcanafricanadventure/timeline

    And he has a satellite tracker plotting his current location:

    https://share.delorme.com/PATRICKDavey

     

  • New site URL and logo

    New site URL and logo

    I have moved the site to a new domain www.john-barrett.uk/africa Please update your bookmarks.

    I have designed a new logo for the trip, I hope to make stickers and badges to swap with fellow travellers and Scouts I meet on the road.

    Logo
    Logo for my Expedition on a motorcycle from Wales to Cape town in 2015.

  • More Bike mods plus camping gear

    I have now fitted a set of heated grips to the bike as well as an auxiliary power socket and USB charging point. I have also done a test pack of most of the kit to check for space – I need not have worried, I have plenty of room.

  • Street Child

    I have set myself two challenges for this trip. One is to raise money for Street Child who work in Africa to help kids who are for whatever reason left to fend for themselves. One of the outcomes from of the Ebola outbreak is that thousands of kids are left as orphans and in desperate need of help and support.

    You can donate via the Virgin Money giving site.

    http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=John-Barrett

    My second challenge will be to meet as many fellow Scouts as possible on the way. If you are a scout in Africa please use this web site’s contact page to get in touch.