As you might have noticed on our countdown timer in the top right corner, we have been forced to delay our departure date for three months. The reason is that our studies and the financing of this project has taken more time than originally planned. From what I've understood its a quite common problem for projects of this kind.
But now things are really starting to roll and we are convinced that we will be on our way on the 20th of January next year. A lot has been done since our last update and I will just start from the top.
In May I received my Master of Fine Arts in design and as my final project I developed a roof top tent for expedition use. I would like to thank those of you who contributed with your knowledge and experience that made the project into the success that it was. At the moment I'm negotiating with a South African company for the rights to the project. Hopefully we will agree and the project will become reality. Long way to go still, though.
Frank is a Diplom Designer since a week now and he too treated the topic of expedition traveling. His focus was on developing a new expedition kitchen and together with PRIMUS he made an excellent job. Here as well frank is negotiating about further steps. The prototype will join us on the trip and will be thoroughly tested in the African bush. Frank also received a lot of information and views on the subject from other travelers and would like to take the opportunity to thank all of them here.
Our beloved Land Rover is now officially a Swedish light truck with the exotic and adventure promising registration number XJW 200. Now we can deal with the more thrilling task of building the tailor made interior. A problem solving feast that will make any industrial designers eyes roll backwards with excitement. We promise that we will let you share this experience here on the website in future posts.
Both me and Frank has numerous needle marks in our arms. This is not the result of Swedish mutant mosquito's, neither is it because of a new found heroin addiction. No, it's just the aftermath of all the vaccines we had to take to prepare us for the ill minded deceases that apparently all lives in Africa. Rabies, tuberculosis, yellow fever, cholera, and many others that I can't spell. It is not a very pleasant experience and now I have this lurking feeling of being immortal. I eat unwashed salad and finger warm chicken with a boosted confidence that will most definitely come back and kick me in my back.
A decision that we have been pushing ahead of us as long as possible has now been made. We finally decided to go the the eastern route through Africa (see map, alternative 3). This is mainly because of the current political situation in the Darfur region in Sudan and therefore we had to abandon our original plan, going from west to east. There are other options as well but we feel that the eastern route will be exciting enough without having to go through central Africa on our first trip. Since it is a bit shorter it will also enable us to spend more time experiencing and less time driving.
In spite, or maybe because, of our long time of planning it is a bit hard to comprehend that we are actually leaving in less than 90 days. Slowly its becoming clear for us that we actually are going to split a 120 cm mattress for a year! One could become paranoid for less. Frank is also a bit concerned about my snoring. I keep telling him not to worry and that he will get used to it. Somehow, this doesn't seem to comfort him at all...
But most of all we are looking forward to leave of course. We have made heaps of research for the project in Kibera and we feel like being well prepared now. Slowly the pieces are falling into place.
We can also promise more frequent updates now that we're approaching the departure date and we hope that you'll read them with the same excitement as we will!
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