London to Auckland

Less than a month to go now folks and its all happening. We are working furiously to tie up all the loose ends, finalize sponsorship details and complete logistical work. I have come to the conclusion that there are not enough minutes left for me to achieve all I need to. For example, I have been working on our route details and so far I have coordinates for 315 GPS waypoints and that will only get us as far as Sur in Oman. There must be at least another 400 to make Auckland.
Meanwhile other supporting players are getting ready to do their parts. Our cancer partners are preparing for our visits, sponsors are getting ready to leverage off the event, in London, Adrian and George are cleaning our new(in 1997) ‘ tow vehicle’, PWC riders along the route are cleaning their machines ready to ride with us, the pirates are cleaning their guns, Barrie is cleaning his teeth and my old mate Colin Bower is cleaning his worry beads.
Those of you who read my first book will recognize Colin’s name as he played a leading support role in the Around NZ event when he stayed at home and worried. Colin who is the man responsible for introducing me to PWC riding, has been a new and used car dealer and currently sells finance and insurance. This is important information because Col is a good man and he’s honest and it’s this fact alone that gives me faith in the future of mankind. But I have some bad news for my good mate Col. He had better get a worry hat as well as beads for this one. “Why”, I hear you ask and it’s a good question. Why? Because on some legs of this ride there are so many variables. Let’s take the leg from Aden to Al Mukalla in Yemen for example. Here’s what we have to contend with:
1. A leg distance of 510km which is only achievable in good weather*
2. *The south west monsoon which still rips through there around that time.
3. Pirates(some are reported to live in Al Mukalla)(but are known to be involved in charity work and many serve on school boards)
4. 40 degree heat night and day.
5. Very few acceptable emergency ports enroute
6. Mechanical issues, poor fuel quality and only leaded fuel, and this is only available by jerry can from the nearest service station which is a taxi ride away.
7. Burfoot’s third law states that a taxi driver will always attempt to rip you off.
8. Immigration officials, paper work, baksheesh etc etc
9. The struggle to get good reliable nutrition. You can’t perform on goat shit and dates.
10. A partridge in a bloody pear tree.
But hey, if it was easy, someone would have done it already. Right?
In other news, we welcome: Solrx as our official sunscreen supplier, Adidas Eyewear who will provide goggles and glasses and Navionics who have provided the charts for our GPS units.
Well that’s all for now. I’m off to London for a few days to pull the skis out of their container and have a few meetings. Productive I hope.!!!
Cheers
Jeremy
P.s. we are still way short of cash. Donations gratefully accepted at: http://london-sydney.com/donate-ultimateride.htm