OK so we’re almost at d-day… am I ready! NO!!!! still have so much to do and so very little time to do it in. I think its getting to the blind faith stage!
Well I guess a couple of things to update on… Its been a very hectic and busy few weeks. The recent kidnapping in Mauritania has given everybody cold feet and following a few meetings between various people and the foreign office the trip has been canceled in its original form. Couple of news items below about it
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=21415086
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8408197.stm
Needless to say we are both absolutely gutted at this but when you have the conversation about wills and secret questions that they can ask should you get kidnapped I guess its all for the best!
So over the last few days we have been coming up with a new plan!… Beginning of the trip is pretty much unaltered night 1 in Poitiers, France, night 2 as close to Madrid as we can and then be at the meeting point for the 20th with our rest day on the 21st.
Then its into Morocco on the 22nd head for a Christmas in Marrakesh and then make our way down to western Sahara so that we spend new year in the dessert as originally planned. Plus we may wave at the terrorists!
This is where it changes and watch this space cos we will probably make it up as we go along! Plan is to come on back up through Morocco over the Atlas mountains and then do a few of the other cities probably for about 2 weeks in total. Then its back into Spain and drive up through Portugal heading right and then stopping off in Madrid for to go to the pub with the inevitable rest day afterwords that will be needed. Then carry on heading east to Barcelona then up to France through Paris and back home hopefully!
Now a couple of things you notice hear…. one whilst it sounds like a cut down trip we will actually be covering about 25% more miles – I estimate about 5500 to 6000 miles so am worried if the car will make it! the other thing is that assuming we do make it… the car is now coming back with us!
Well 28 hours before we leave.. next update on the road!
