Tobruk, Libya
Posted by: Claudio von Planta | Date posted: 04/06/2007
Pictures
Rush hour in Libya ©
After a turbulent night, the team are packed up and ready to go, but the sand seems to be causing more problems...
Claudio catches up with Russ where things aren't looking good. 'We just lost power, and Jim's found out that the air filter is full of sand. Look at it all! And that's all got to have been going into the engine, is that right Jim?' But Jim reassures him, 'No, it won’t have gone in. That’s the whole point of it'.
And what are Charley's first impressions of sand storms? 'It's the wind on your neck that just buffers your head all of the time. And it's very scary because you just can't see anything. A little bit mad really, but quite impressive. But I'm quite tired now, it's been a very very long day. We've been going since eight o'clock this morning and it's now ten to nine, so we've been going for 13 hours, so 15 hours by the time we finish today'.
Ewan, meanwhile, tries his best to cheer Russ up. 'Too much music I think - I blew your engine up with my music...You're looking good though, and you know, that's really what counts. Windswept, attractive...f*** the car and all that s***, so long as you look good, that's all that matters...' And then, sensing it's maybe not the time for jokes, '...I'll let them get on with more mechanical issues'.
Meanwhile, due to earlier visa issues, David and Jimmy are at the Egyptian border waiting to be reunited with the team. David discusses the scenery... and their food supply (or lack of)...
'This is all we've got for snacks around here...walnuts. I've been enjoying tarmac roads for the last ten days, and we were just thinking its going to be a really easy trip, you know, paved roads, so we've just done 100 miles of this. We've got a problem with our food supply...but, these walnuts are awesome! It's all we've got! This is spectacularly wonderful and it reminds me of when we were in Mongolia. The people are really nice. The families have been coming out to check us out. So thanks for coming to the website to check us out'.
We asked if mechanical issues had ever held you up, and here are the comments you posted.
Comments
Comments 1 - 10 of 62
-
At 05:55:25 PM on 04/06/2007, Richard AW Tortorella (Langley BC, Canada) wrote:
Mechanical Issues?
My worst road-side mechanical issue was driving an old Nissan pickup while moving a friend: We had 2 out of 4 cylinders die - pulling a 2000lb trailer - we could only do 30mph on the freeway, of course in the process we burnt out the clutch. Luckily we had BCAA (our version of AA in the UK). Sand has never been a problem here in Canada – however hitting deer has been! Fortunately I have never had that happen on a bike, only in a car (in rush-hour too)! Good luck, try to keep your spirits up and remember the lyrics to LWR’s theme song: Got sun in my face, sleeping rough on the road. I'll tell you all about it, when I get home. Take care! Richard T
-
At 06:05:50 PM on 04/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
INSIDER TRAVEL TIP:
You've been the Long Way ROUND, now you're going the Long Way DOWN. But both times you haven't been through the country where the East meets the West, A country at the crossroads of the continents - TURKEY! Though it is relatively unknown, there are a lot of interesting and challenging roads where the landscape is constantly changing - from the seaside to desert-like flatlands to forests and mountains. It also contains VERY unusual and one-of-kind geography such as the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, and the cascading limestone deposits at Pamukkale... The whole region contains ancient cities, a variety of cusines (Oh God, I'm starting to sound like a TV commercial!! - but it IS true! :D ). Not to mention the curious & helpful and equally intersting locals - trust me, I speak from experience! ;) If you come, I even promise to be your tourguide LOL !!!!
-
At 06:04:56 PM on 04/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
IMPORTANT FOOD WARNING - PLEASE READ:
I also wanted to warn you about what you eat in Africa and I hope this doesn't come too late. If you guys aren't used to eating goat meat, now is NOT (I repeat NOT!) a good time to try. Although a bite doesn't hurt, any more than that upsets your whole system VERY badly. I don't know why, but your body just can't cope with it. I've known people who tried it -it gets REALLY ugly. Some were even hospitalized because of it. So if you're not sure of the source of the meat, or haven't seen any sheep or cattle for days, it's probably best to be safe rather than sorry and avoid red meat altogther and go with the chicken.
-
At 06:06:27 PM on 04/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
Million and One: AWESOME ADVENTURE!:
I know I'm probably the millionth person to say this - But I'm going to say it anyway: I love this whole adventure! It's funny, exciting and touching.. just wonderful. I especially LOVE the everyday updates on your trip - it makes us feel like WE'RE on the road with you. Even though I don't ride motorcycles, I've travelled quite a bit (still am!) & I've been stopping by the site practically everyday! It's not like watching an adventure that's happened in the past - it's taking place RIGHT NOW, and that makes it very exciting! Thank you for the experience. Be safe, Live Long and Prosper-oops! Umm.. I meant: May the Force be with you all !!
-
At 06:07:01 PM on 04/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
CAMPING HELP ?:
I know I've written a lot (can you tell that I'm hanging around at the LWD site a bit TOO much :D ?) so I'll stop now. Just 1 more thing (Please???..) : I'm going on my first ever outdoor camping trip in a couple of weeks and I'm SCARED of bugs. ANY TIPS ??????.....
-
At 06:09:28 PM on 04/06/2007, Char (Michigan USA) wrote:
Wind, sand, and a sense of humour
June 4 2007 I just viewed this video and the wind is really bad for you guys. The wind is so strong, it is louder then your voices, so it is great that you have text to go along with the video. I hope you guys all get back together again, and I hope this wind and sand will not follow you the whole entire trip!!! I love all the updates. Ewan, please keep cheering everyone up. It's good for everyones moral, and I love your sense of humour!!! Char
-
At 06:16:31 PM on 04/06/2007, Shellie (Loughborough) wrote:
More sand eh?
All that sand must be driving you mad. Too bad you got loads more to come all through Africa! Charley should be used it from the Dakar rally. Keep at it, you're all doing great! Thanks for another great update, they help my little worrying head; I check several times a day to make sure you're all ok, but I hope it's not detracting you too much from enjoying the trip. Love Shellie.
-
At 06:42:39 PM on 04/06/2007, John Williams (San Diego) wrote:
Russ and Vehicles
Oh, BY THE WAY--Don't designate either of the Nissan's as "Russ' Vehicle"--we all know where that leads (lol). If you already have, who wants to start a pool on when it has some sort of catastrophic failure? Shall we make it by country, or number of days into the trip?
-
At 06:50:57 PM on 04/06/2007, Yoda (Colchester) wrote:
daily skive from the hated essay
Mechanical probs, hmmm - well, when I was young and feckless (not THAT long ago!) my first bike was a Honda 50 in the fetching blue/grey colour scheme. Being female, blonde, blue eyed, something else and from Essex, I let the poor thing run out of fuel once, and put it on to `reserve tank' to get me to the next petrol station where I duly filled up. Course,I then forgot to put the switch back to `normal tank' and spent the next 20 miles cutting out every 5 mins as the reserve tank filled and drained. Kept thinking I had killed the poor bike! Still, No1 husband put me right and we were soon back to normal :) Must get a bike again. Good luck to you all, and much love to Ollie please Charley, wish her well. Yoda - still sick of essay is xx
At 06:02:24 PM on 04/06/2007, Evil Puppy (Istanbul TURKEY) wrote:
MP3 SUGGESTION:
BONJOVI! All albums are good but I personally listen to THESE DAYS and BLAZE OF GLORY most of all on the road. New Jersey and Slippery.. too. Especially the classic "WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE" - the anthem of all those cowboys that ride on that steel horse... Also sixties-seventes songs such as those on the FORREST GUMP soundtrack, AC/DC, the old albums of Bryan Adams, BB King, John Lee Hooker are all awesome too.
Complain about this post!