The Suzuki Van Van is all white you know !!

Some inter net and laptop problems here. Not to mention washing machine and burnt dinners !! I managed to break the washing machine and burn the Fraybentos and burn out the laptop out. All in 24 hours. Can't wait to see what I break tomorrow.!!  Well the bike is back together, complete with it's new white paint work. Looks pretty good, me thinks. Very happy with it. Big " thank you " to The Stig. aka Dave. The graphics will be here Tuesday. But I start my new job with Xtreme Events on Monday. So they will go on when I return in fortnights time. ( Two weeks, if you are across the pond.) 

I'm working with a Stunt Show touring the UK, with 130 dates across the length and breadth of the country. It's good news for me, as I can give up my thousand pound a month rented flat up. And move into a caravan, as we tour the country. Those savings are paying for this challenge in September. I need to find seven thousand pounds by then. To cover the excitement, but necessary  Carnett de Passage. ( Import document for the bike. ) It's costing seven hundred and fifty seven pounds. Visa's at thirteen hundred pounds. Food and Accommodation for 6 months. Flight and bike shipping home. The list goes on and on. By the way, I cant get this new ( ten year old ) laptop from US English into proper English. So the keyboard keys have one symbol on, but do another. The Pound currency symbol is now #.....Which is a hash in the UK. And just to confuse, is known as a pound symbol in USA. It all started going wrong with the washing machine. So hey ho. Back to the bike.

Note the front fender has been raised 40 mm. To allow a bit more space for mud, as the Rainy Season will kick in in October whilst in Africa. Big Dave fabricated the brackets and fitted them, how clever is he ? i will probably get a front fender extender too. Money permitting that is. 

What do you think to the Mighty Van Van from this angle ? What a beast. Those rear tyres are rare, as a result I shall be ridding as is to southern Spain. And whilst I have a day off with an old Army mate, the local dealer will provide some brand new V rubber. Again budget permitting, I will either buy a second one brand new. Or take this one with me.The tank, as you can see. Is very small, only 7.5 lt. Which just will not cut it going through the Sahara Desert and beyond. So, after the PR work is done, this tank will have to be replaced by a larger one. Possibly a DRZ. Hopefully from Suzuki GB. And upon my return to the UK, I will swap them back over.

I also found out today that the speedo wasn't the right one for the bike. It was actually from a Honda and the Dash wiring was all wrong. Put the Indicator on and the Neutral light comes on, that sort of thing. No stress though. We are going to fit a digital bicycle speedo instead. They probably can go faster than my little Van Van anyway ! The dealer said they are twenty pounds, instead of four hundred for a pattern Suzuki one! The bike will most likely spend more time horizontal, than vertical anyway. So that's the way we shall go.

If my washing machine persists in being possessed. I am going to take a picture of  it, put it on the blog and name and shame it. The Italians should stick to making fast cars and spaghetti  Not washing machines. Indesit.............more like  In The Sh#t !!! 

I won't ask you to make a donations to my cause. As non of you ever do. Nearly 4,000 visits to this blog and 4 donations to my charity. Shocking !

Will

Text ....WALK...to 70900 to donate £5.

Text ....WALK...to 70900 to donate £5 today.

Help for Heroes have given the go ahead for my " Text 2 Donate " number. As it says above. You just text " WALK " to 70900 and £5 will be donated to Help for Heroes. The donation will go straight to our wounded servicemen. Fantastic news. Help for Heroes will update the An Idiot Got Bored. The Slow Way Down challenge donate page on a Friday. I have high hopes for the ease of donation for you reading this now.  Go on, make a difference. Text WALK to 70900 and donate £5 today. :)

In my little quest to actually understand this thing they call a computer. You can now click on Logos and pictures, and that will link you to another page. Just like websites where they know what they are doing !

Here try this CLICK ON LOGO
Yes I know, it's witch craft. And if you look at the top of this Home Page. There is now another page ! I know, what's going on !! Titled SPONSORS There is more druid wizardry going on. Check it out and click logos. There has been a frustrating delay over Graphics and the legal stuff with the above Text to donate Terms and Conditions. But all sorted now. Hence it being activated. Yeeeeeeeaaaaa. The bike has been put back together at Suzuki Haslemere. And I will be collecting it at the weekend and putting on the " London to Johannesburg " graphics on the tank. Yep..its a new toy. CLICK ON LOGO. I have also been to see Johnathon at The Biker Store. Who showed me around the RST Adventure suit and trousers. Plus the AGV AX 8 DS helmet they are sponsoring me. ( Check out older blogs to see the kit. ) Now guess what you can do with the logo ..:) I do have some major, major sponsorship news pending. I don't want to jinx myself. So I shall leave it until it has been confirmed 100 %. On the personal front. Whilst doing this blog, i have just been offered a job. Working as crew with a Show called Xtreme. It's all about Monster Trucks, racing bikes and cars. It's touring the UK next week, until September. So that suits me down to the ground. And yes.....CLICK the LOGO as see my new job. Remember who I am doing this for. This blog and all the background work take hours upon hours. It is a Full Time, unpaid job for me. The donations to the Help for Heroes charity, generated by this challenge, is my payment. And after nearly 3,500 Visits to this blog. I have had 3 donations !! The rest of the donations have come from friends. So have a heart, if you leave it for someone else to donate. They will too. And sooner or later I will realise there is no point to writing this blog.

Nearly there......

Big shout out to Bermuda. I don't know why, but there are lots of visits to the blog from there. ;) And also to the one chap in Cyprus :)......150 to 400 visits a days not bad hey ?

Been a frustrating few days. The graphics company are very busy. So I am still waiting. Everything else is here and ready to go on the bike.Good news is the new seat is here. In Help for Heroes blue. ( That's the charity I'm doing this for. ) Its also non slip. Looks and feels great. Big thank you to P & P Seats for sponsoring me this .

 

Dave Lythcoe sent the tank, mud guards and side panels. All painted white, so that the graphics will stand out.  I look forward to them arriving, so I can take the photo's that Adventure Rider Magazine have asked for .

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Above are all the bits back from Dave's. I don't use that much wrapping at Christmas Dave !!

Another bit of good news, is that in addition to my local Suzuki Dealership sponsoring me. Suzuki GB have expressed an interest. So we shall see, and I will update you and when I know more. I going over to The Biker Shop on Monday to get sized up for my sponsored RST Adventure suit. So excited about that.:)

For those of you who have jumped straight to reading today's blog. I wanted to explain why I am embarking on this solo, 20,000km, unsupported, African challenge.

Help for Heroes is a charity who help wounded servicemen. Most of whom have lost arms and legs.They provide first class surrounding, rehabilitation and prosthetic limbs. The objective being to give the servicemen a " normal " life again.

I'm just a regular guy on a regular wage.That has put together this challenge.I've invested 12 weeks planning full time and will spend a further 5-6 months to complete the 20,000kms across Africa.Can I ask you all to spend a minute and make a donation to my charity. Click on " Donate " and it takes you safely and directly to the charity page. Don't let someone else make the donation...grab your card and spend 2 minutes changing someone's life.Click on Donate CLICK DONATE

Will

Back to the Future.....a taste of what is to come.

Whilst waiting for the paint to harden on my bike, so the graphics can go on. I wanted to share with you some photo's of others who have done similar journeys. They are not from one particular " Overlander ". And are there to give you a taste of the challenges I shall face.

Remember, unlike most .I am doing this completely solo and unsupported. 20,000 km's across 2 continents. 19 countries. Through the Sahara Desert and vast regions of famine. And finding a way through countries like Mali, that are in Civil War. 28 Western men have been kidnapped and beheaded in the region in recent years. I am not undertaking this challenge lightly.

Take a look at the photo's and we can all wait for my fuel tank paint to go hard. ( Tum te tum..)

Solo.......

 No AA , RAC or ADAC here ! You break down, you fix it. You run out of fuel.....you best have brought plenty of water!

Sometimes there isn't a bridge!

Africa is massive.USA, China, India,Argentina,UK and Europe,ALL fit in her.

Different cultures and ways of life. No Tesco or Walmart here.

 One of the modifications  I will be making to the mighty Suzuki Van Van, is the tank. 7.5 lt is ok for green lanes. Not for the Sahara .

Morocco...the Sahara Desert....no back up truck!

 Gravity.......a harsh mistress. !!

After ridding all day in 120 degree heat, pick up your bike and fix it.

 Washing the bike, Africa style.

It's never going to be the Hilton. Plenty of gods creatures to keep you company at night though.!!

I will have the rainy season half way down. I hear it can turn into 1 mt deep mud.

New meets old.

 So MR big BMW GS......is my little, but "mighty," Suzuki Van Van 125 so silly now ? I will lift mine and you can lift yours..:)

But the Sat Nav. says.....

What a snake bit can turn into. Ewan on Long Way Down had a private Doctor. I have a First Aid kit and my fingers crossed.

Enough said...

Gulp.I have no witty banter for that one.

Still nothing..

You've seen some of the obstacles I shall face. This is the sole reason why. To help wounded Servicemen Most of whom have lost limbs.

Not for all the tea in China.

 

Lovely countryside mind..

 All for these guys.

  Not for these guys. I can not begin to tell you how much I hate snakes. But i will do whatever i have to do. :)

Angola and Mali are just two countries that have been in conflict in recent years.

 Nigeria in is another country with a large extremist element. That have attacked, kidnapped and murdered Westerners.I shall however avoid the North of the country.

 There are armed gunmen all across Africa. I read most are friendly. I guess i will find out.

A bit of a stocking filler really and to give a taste of what's to come. I am doing this 20,000km challenge for charity. And funding it myself. Please take a min to donate to the charity for wounded servicemen., Click the charity page  DONATE HERE

Thanks. i fixed the Comment box. Feel free to banter away.

Will

Adventure Bike Rider Magazine are to feature this challenge..

I love the Statistics feature I have with this blog.

So " hi " to the bloke in Bahrain that keeps visiting and the six in China....( there's loads of you guys, so invite your mates) !!!  And "thanks" to the two thousand who have read this blog in the past week.

What a few days! But first things first. I am waiting for the paint to harden on the tank and panels, so it can be couriered down to me from Preston. Graphics.net are busy finishing off the, well,.......the graphics. The new seat is on it's way to me now. Finished in Help for Heroes blue. And with a non slip cover. Ready for my boney backside to chafe it's way down the African West Coast.!!

ABR. Adventure Bike Rider have said they would like to feature this challenge. With a News Room article. Where I will update them as I go along my way. Providing extra exposure for the cause. That cause being wounded servicemen, many of whom have lost arms and legs. Everything to do with this challenge is for them. All the expense, the admin, chasing sponsors, promotion and PR work. It's all so you will say " fair play " and click the donate button.DONATE HERE

One article that has already been written was in wemoto News. They are a national motorbike spare parts company. Nice guys actually. ( I would say that, they sponsor me ) ! Big thanks to wemoto for helping me, giving the challenge a write up. Click here to read it. wemoto News


Now for the really good bit. I have a new sponsor. The Biker Store, in Surrey. click to see the store. The Biker Store   I spoke with Johnathon, the Manager. He said he " got loads of these, " but decided he would sponsor An Idiot Got Bored.. The Slow Way Down. How good is that ? Below is the helmet I am having sponsored. It's a AVG AX8 Duel sport. A brilliant helmet. Very,very light weight, with great ventilation for those scorching African Savannas. And lets be right, it just looks cool !

Come on...it looks cool. :)

On top of this great helmet, they are also sponsoring me RST Adventure jacket and trousers. They look fantastic.They were designed to ride from Northern Siberia to South Africa.With various membranes and high end materials. Despite what most people would do,I am not wearing biker boots. As I am on such an under powered bike. ( To grab the public's attention,so they donate ..:)) ) Weight and space are my number 1 concern. I simply do not have anywhere to put personal kit. So I shall be wearing British Army issue desert Lowa boots. Sponsor me anybody ?

Sleeves come off and there are buttons and straps and stuff everywhere. What more do you want ?

Really impressed with these pants and what The Biker Shop have done for the challenge. As soon as all the bits for the bike are back with me. It's Public Relations phase. Where I have to gain as much exposure as I can for this challenge. This challenge doesn't come free!! I am paying for it. It's costing me thousands and thousands. I'm not doing it for my health or because I want to make myself homeless. I am doing it so men and women who have served our country can walk again. 1,600 people a week are reading this blog. And that is Vantastic!! ( see what I did there ?) From all over the world. I will ask you to take 2 minutes and make a donation. Else what's the point of me writing this blog ? If you like what I am doing and who I am trying to help. Click here DONATE HERE Thank you.

The Stig has been busy...

Hi all and welcome...we have followers from Russia to South Africa.

London 2 Johannesburg's own  Stig has been a very busy man. More of that in a sec..

But I wanted to cut straight to the chase and ask a question to you all. Comment box is below. One Carl Froch, the IMF World Boxing Champion Tweeted me yesterday. And re Tweeted this challenge ( Big thank you Carl, if you are reading ). Anyway, as a result, this blog had 400 world wide visits in 24 hours. Brilliant I thought.

But, and yes there is one. The total amount the challenge charity, London2Johannesburg. Help for heroes received was.....zip! Narder. Nowt. Nothing.!! In fact, in the past 5 days, this blog has received over 1,300 views.With no donations.

So my question to you is, what am I doing wrong ? And how can I improve the donations to the challenge charity ? As, whilst I love a challenge and adventure. The whole reason I'm doing all this, is to raise awareness and donations for our wounded servicemen. Most of whom have lost limbs. Answers in the Comments box or e mail please.:)) DONATE HERE click me.


Ok. L2J The Stig..aka Dave. He has been in the paint booth, ( more things I don't understand ), and he has been working his magic.Remember, the bike is going from Yellow to White. So the " London 2 Johannesburg " graphics and "text2donate" number will stand out.

Re introducing London to Johannesburg's very own.........The Stig !! ( aka Dave ). :)

Dave has been busy all weekend sanding down everything and applying fiberglass to the mud guards.

Sorry Dave, I forgot to mention the rear mud guard was a bit of a mess.:)

Rear mud guard being filled with......that stuff that Dave uses.

Brown ..??....going on

Lots of sanding and stuff later.

All primered up and ready for the White paint.

Sanded and getting ready for primmer.

Stigy is good....... isn't he !!

Side panels and two 40mm extension brackets. To raise the front mudguard

WOW Dave....he has made me promise that I will never, ever fall off.!! I agreed to the deal. ( Lol ).

Dave isn't a pro..but look at this finish. And again,I promise not to fall off on this 20,000km ( 50% off road ) challenge.:)

Front mud guard.See the two holes? 40mm bracket will fit there.To raise it higher off the tyre

Look at the difference to before...great job Dave. He is available for jobs.....I will auction his e mail for H4H donations:)

One of the sides......old Dave is a leeeegeeend !!!!

Well there you go.A picture may paint a thousand words. But Dave, aka The Stig paints a Suzuki Van Van !!
Brilliantly !!!!!! These Van Vans are just great little bikes ( Suzuki where's the cash ? ) It just reminds me of a little terrier. Yapps away, wags it's tale and scurry's about for ever and a day. Talk about the little underdog being asked to fight above it's weight.There is something good about that. And I cant wait to go on this epic adventure and challenge together.

Well,that's all folks. For now. Remember,who we are doing this for. Our brave servicemen, who have lost arms and legs.! My efforts are worthless, without your kind words, support and donations. Don't leave it to someone else.Please make a small donation today .click DONATE HERE 

This is why I am funding and doing this 20,000km solo challenge

Will