The Start.

Friday 26th of October
Last three days in Delft Holland, have been non stop. Everything from emails, phone calls, last minute repairs to car, purchases and packing of the vehicle. The car has been supplied by the organization, but has needed a lot more repares that initially expected in order to make the journey. This is partly as this is the third time the car will be doing the Touareg Trail. A last minute decision to change wheel bearings was wise as one side was so worn the bearings were square! Have uploaded a visual diary of all this on my photo page. I hope you find this interesting!

Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th and Monday 29th October.
With a 7am start we leave Delft and at 10am arrive at the Brussels Africa Museum where the Trail is officially due to start. The reception is extremely busy with press and well wishes. All teams are introduced to the crowd and are asked to say a short piece about our own charity projects including DJ and myself. At this point it really dawns on me that I am probably the only English person there out of a crowd of over 200! Un-phased I stand up and apologise for the English and deliver a brief introduction to DJ and myself as a team and MAG my charity. All 20 teams are given a W20 Pentax waterproof camera to play with on the trip.

We leave at around 12.30 for Barcelona over 800 miles away. Generally the car travels well but do quickly realize at first full petrol fill that we have a leak at the top of the petrol tank. We conclude that it is probably a faulty connector pipe and that the tank will have to be dropped, but decide to press onto our destination as it will be warmer place to work. Combination of air in fuel and carb problems leads to a very long trip down at an average of 80k. 21 hours later with very little sleep we are one of the last to arrive at Barcelona Harbour. At this point we immediately commence our fight with dirty petrol tank repares and carb adjustments. I draw the short straw for petrol tank as I fit better under the car. As suspected it turns out to be a split in the fuel line connector and carb problems. Remainder of the day is spent relaxing and adjusting to the new situation. We hear problems of other cars including massive oil leaks, wrong fuel etc. All which have been sorted by the mechanical team. Nice to know there is mechanical help if we need support.

Sunday evening and monday day are spent on the boat crossing to Morocco. Practicing Garmin GPS as will be needed everyday from now on! and recovering from long drive down. Due to arrive at 6pm this evening. The plan is to make a 40k drive to a camp sight for sleep, 5am start the following morning. Will try and make quick updates from now on when possible, so watch this space.

Introduction - The Story so Far - A Summary by Eleanor.

Drove to the 2cv World Meeting in Sweden this summer where I met trail organiser Gert and decided to do the Touareg Trail 2007 this November.

Within three weeks of my return I'm flying over to Belgium via Holland to collect the vehicle I had organised to take for the trail with long term Dutch friend DJ.

After essential, quick repares, it was straight on boat back to Norfolk, England via Harwich for the beginnings of preparations and publicity.

Five days later I’m driving half way across England to the 2cv International Meeting near Brighton to promote the project.

Several interviews and car repair weeks later I'm travelling back to Belgium in the 2cv for the training weekend, where we meet all my fellow competitors.

I then leave the car in Holland for co driver DJ to finish extensive repares to vehicle. I fly home to do further fund raising and preparations.

Drive over six hours to Manchester, in a Citroen to have an amazingly interesting and informative meeting with my charity MAG at their headquarters.

Finally drive over to Holland four days before departure in my Citroen van with last minute supplies and plans.

Soon to depart!

The months have whizzed by and now I'm due to leave this coming week! Seems not long ago I was in Sweden speaking to Gert the trip organiser about the possibility of going. Now with an extensively prepared car and so many kind sponsors I'm ready to go.

Sailing over to Holland Tuesday evening to make final preparations to the vehicle with my co-driver DJ. Official start in Belgium Saturday morning. Hasn't sunk in I'm going yet as busy packing and making last minute purchases.