John's Travel Blogs

Tag: UK

United Kingdom

  • Day 1, Southampton to Caen

    I am on the Brittany Ferries ship Guillaume de Normandie half way across the English Channel.

    This is a very new ship (2024) and i am very impressed. Everything is clean and bright, there is plenty of room aboard and the food excellent, and is not expensive. I have had Breton fish stew, a raspberry and blackcurrant dessert and a Pepsi for less than 20€.

    I haven’t seen any small dinghies full of people going the other way yet 🫣.

    I should arrive in Caen around 3pm and plan to drive toward Amsterdam. I will probably camp roadside close to Amsterdam, ready to pick Patty up from Schipol airport Around 10am tomorrow. She is flying in from Cordoba Argentina, via Madrid, she is probably in the air by now.

  • 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.

  • Route Planning 2

    A lot has changed since I put up my original route planning post so I thought it best to post again.

    The current plan is to leave the UK at the end of March/beginning of April 2015. The route will be:

    UK – France – Spain – Morocco – Western Sahara – Mauritania – Senegal – Gambia – Senegal – Mali – Ivory Coast – Ghana – Togo – Benin – Nigeria – Cameroon – Gabon – Congo – DRC – Zambia – Mozambique – South Africa

    africa-route

    The route avoids the Ebola effected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, I would aim to be in Cape Town by the beginning of July 2015.

    All are subject to change as borders open/close or local situations develop or subside.

  • Innoculations

    I have been to see the practice nurse at the local GP surgery and come away several hundreds of pounds lighter, an arm full of needle holes and an appointment to go back for more.

    My tetanus/diptheria/polio was boosted a few years ago and I did receive the usual childhood jabs so those are all OK.

    I am getting/have been given:Yellow Fever, Rabies, Hepetitis A and B and Typhoid jabs. I will get oral cholera protection shortly before I go and will take malaria tablets with me, I have chosen Mefloquine. I have not yet decided about the menengitis jab.

    As I have had a needle phobia all my life, I am really pleased with myself. I think I should have been given a gold star or a lollipop!

  • Radiator protector fitted

    I have fitted a metal radiator protector obtained from Altech Designs who sell them on e-bay. It appears very good quality and looks good.

    Tenere Radiator Protector

    Fitting was straight forward as it goes over the existing plastic coverand completed within 15 minutes. They give longer bolts which replace the stock ones.Radiator protector fittedTenere radiator protector

     

  • Photos of the Bike

    I took the bike out for a ride today to test a camera mount I have added. I have a Nikon AW120 digital camera which is very robust and waterproof – I did a thorough test including dropping it from the bike at about 10Mph; not deliberately – note to self, do not fiddle with camera whilst moving !!

    It works really well at low speeds but at high engine revs there is a lot of vibration which is to be expected with a single cylinder bike. The picture gets blurry when this happens but is still viewable. All in all I am happy with the setup.

    Some still photos taken with the camera:

    Yamaha XT660Z Tenere
    Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

    This is for my mobile phone which also provides music and GPS to my helmet via bluetooth
    This is for my mobile phone which also provides music and GPS to my helmet via bluetooth

    Another mod I have made is to put on a centre stand.
    Another mod I have made is to put on a centre stand.

    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa
    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa

    This is for my mobile phone which also provides music and GPS to my helmet via bluetooth
    This is for my mobile phone which also provides music and GPS to my helmet via bluetooth

    This is for the Nikon AW120 camera
    This is for the Nikon AW120 camera

    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa
    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa

    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa
    Bike I am using on the trip to Africa

    The control to the right of the camera mount is a remote control for my helmet mounted bluetooth headset.
    The control to the right of the camera mount is a remote control for my helmet mounted bluetooth headset.

    The bikes first wounds were caused when I put her on the side stand at the side of the road. She was facing downhill and rolled forward off the stand.
    The bikes first wounds were caused when I put her on the side stand at the side of the road. She was facing downhill and rolled forward off the stand.

    This is the oild resevoir. The Scottoiler drips oil onto he drive chain while the engine is running.
    This is the oil reservoir. The Scottoiler drips oil on tothe drive chain while the engine is running.