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| PUDSEY TO TIMBUKTU (VIA SEVERAL BORDER CROSSINGS AND A BIT OF SAND)…AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE SOME DOSH FOR OXFAM AND WATER AID |
| Semi-offical itinerary (which may vary depending on weather, breakdowns, beer stops, number of public conveniences etc) - dated 7/12/06 |
January 2007 |
| Wednesday 10th , Leeds 5 side football and annual curry (as we have £184 in the footy kitty and Dave does not want to miss this opportunity to raise more funds, he‘s attending rather than packing and checking the car). |
| Thursday 11th Leeds Finish work and pack (always leave things to the last minute…it works better that way). Leaving from The Grove Public House Back Row Leeds 18.30pm Thursday 11th January Drive south…London stop-over (hopefully with long lost friend in Westminster - no, not Tony). |
| Friday 12th England /France To South coast, await Ice Cream van (Frank and John from Cumbria) and whoever else catching the ferry that day. |
| Saturday 13th France /Spain Drive south (avoiding Paris). Look at Millau Bridge en-route. Overnight near Pyrenees (late arrival, probably greeted by snow). |
| Sunday 14th Spain Long haul to tip of Spain and onto Gibraltar. If time, base for two nights at Tarifa lodging compound (paid for by Julian, the official rally Co - unorganisor). Morocco in sight over Straights of Gibraltar. |
| Monday 15th Spain - Tarif Wait for all other Mali Bamako/Timbuktu teams to arrive. Discuss who is to join which group of vehicles/organise communications/make any repairs to jeep (not that there‘ll be any…). |
| Tuesday 16th Spain/ Morocco North Africa Ferry to Tangiers or Ceuta, follow coast via Rabat to Casablanca (cold beer with Sam the piano man in Rick’s Bar - he might play something again). Overnight somewhere nice before hitting big desert areas. |
| Wednesday 17th Morocco Arrive Marrakech. Party planned (and time to wash sand out of crevices). Plenty of time to buy essential supplies (a fez and some curly toed shoes for Zoltan). |
| Thursday 18th Morocco Recover from previous night / rest. |
| Friday 19th Morocco Drive to Agadir on coast and beyond |
| Saturday 20th Western Sahara - disputed territories (dodgy area) Head for Layounne as this seems to be the only place in the area for miles and miles. Check Leeds v West Bromwich footy results - celebrate or feel miserable depending on result. |
| Sunday 21st Western Sahara - disputed territories (still a dodgy area) Follow coast road (if tide out) to Dakhla. Keep eye open for camels. |
| Monday 22nd (Western Sahara /Mauritania ) Along coast again and into Mauritania stay at Nouadhibou |
Tuesday 23rd ( Mauritania ) Nouadhibou to rest//repairs catch up / sample local beers .... |
| Wednesday 24th Mauritania Camp in desert near a convenient sand dune. Eat figs. |
| Thursday 25th ( Mauritania ) Mauritania Continue through desert and into National Park at Nouamghar. Carry on driving along beach (stop for 99 ice cream if available). Lawrence-of-Arabia-type overnight stop. |
| Friday 26th Mauritania Follow coast road to Nouakchot, overnight Bedouin style. |
| Saturday 27th Mauritania/Senegal border Drive to Mbout, another night under the jeep. |
| Sunday 28th Senegal/Mail border Drive to Hamound. If viewing conditions good, count number of stars in Andromeda constellation (Dave to count half of ‘em and Zol to count the rest). |
| Monday 29th Mali Drive through hills to Kayes. Overnight camping as in Carry on follow that camel. |
| Tuesday 30th Mali Drive to Kita, hopefully stay night in bed with sheets, pillows and blankets. If not, kip in/under jeep. |
| Wednesday 31st Mali Arrive in Bamako (Mali capital). Book into compound for night. Party night (hope everyone made it). Find some good Mali music. Real dodgy bit now…make contact with Mali Rotary club. |
February Thursday -Saturday 1/4th Mali Drive up to famous Segou desert music festival, party and visit attractions in area. Festival starts 1 st February 2006 - good timing eh? -explain to locals the importance of the Leeds v Norwich match, check result…celebrate/go to bed early. |
| Monday 5th - (Mali) Drive up to Timbuktu -probably stay near Mopti -need armed guide as bandits in area. |
| Tuesday / Wednesday 6th/7th (Mali) At last arrive Timbuktu and a few beers, sight seeing. Aim to try climb highest mountain in Mali in Hombori mountain range.
Mount Hombori 1155 metres consists of an inaccessible tableland of about 2 km square and is Mali's highest point...which is a 4 hour trek 2 hours walk and 2 hours rock climb. On the flat summit it is inahabited by monkeys and other forest mammals and birds , there are remains of old pottery which should not be touched or removed. Seems a good place for a beer.
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Thursday / Friday 8th/9th - Tour of the surrounding area / look at projects which Rotary club are helping to fund / wells for safe drinking water . Arrange distribution of clothing/pens/paper brought for trip at local Orphanages. |
Saturday/Sunday10th/11th Make way back to Bamako - if not already done so arrange/hand over jeep to Mali Rotary club to Auction off for Local Charities |
| Monday / Tuesday 12th/13th Mali Arrange flights back to England: options on routes flying via Tripoli or Casablanca; train Bamako to Dakar in Senegal and then bus and boat to Gambia. Flights back from Gambia possible option. |
| Wednesday14th Leeds 5 side football 8.00pm Guiseley School… |
| Link to unorganisers web site |
