Monday 14th December

Preparations are continuing with only 21 days to go until we leave.

First task this morning was phoning Counter Terrorism Department at Foreign Office to discuss the email I received on Friday. For those that don't know, the Foreign Office have advised that people should not travel to certain parts of Mauritania. Three Spanish aid workers were recently kidnapped on the main road through the country and Al Queda have claimed resonsibility. We have spent over one year planning this trip but we need to carefully consider all our options. There are 12 riders taking part in this event and we have been in constant contact today to keep each other up to date.

We still intend to set off from Calum's Road in Scotland on Friday 8th January 2010 and then head south towards Calum's Road in The Gambia. At this stage, we don't know if we will be able to progress further than Morocco and Western Sahara but we will try our best.

With just three weeks to go, most things are in place. I decided to give my bike a good run today despite it being very cold and wet. I have invested in heated clothing so today was an excellent chance to put it to the test. Northern Scotland in early January is sure to test its heating abilities. It was wonderful and worked superbly keeping me warm and dry all day.

I also called into my local branch of Barclays Bank to collect two boxes of the free pens they give out to customers. The children in Africa always ask for pens so these are an easy gift to take as they are small and light and therefore easy to carry on a motorcycle. They will be given out to the local school in The Gambia. Barclays Bank have very generously agreed to match my fundraising on a £ for £ basis so for every £1 donated a whole £2 goes to the charity. Please see my link to donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/sidhorman

Last minute additions to my tool kit included tubes of liquid metal and instant gasket. The Africans have a wonderful attitude to repairing things instead of simply replacing with new parts so we need to be prepared for all eventualities.