Light weight back section (and a light in the tent..!)

After a final weekend of car work the car is now almost ready to go.. (when we get the go-ahead!) apart from a couple more buys .. the list is endless!

The boys overhauled and refurbished the transfer box, upgraded the rear suspension, and added a light to the tent.. which means no precarious balancing with a torch on the way up the ladder.

They also added a few more lights in convenient places as well as some tie down points!

We finally found a light weight back section for the roof tent (Charles now just needs to sell our original one - message me if you are interested!!) - he picked it up in the week from a family who have already done the trip! Lots in interesting information was exchanged!

In the week we also had a great meeting with Fred Mutebi who is a woodcut printmaker from Uganda. We are hoping to visit him and spend some time with him planting mutuba trees to make barkcloth (see more on his website http://fredmutebi.org/about/curriculum-vitae/ ). We are very excited to do this!

If you have been following our face book site Where To Next Africa you will see Mandy and Rob have been cooking with the Dutch Oven! They will be professional very soon  -  very impressed!

Next weekend we will all (plus others!) will be at Billing Landrover Fest so if you are around come and say hi or have a look! It would be lovely to meet you!

Thank you Craghoppers

Clothing has been rather an issue for myself.. someone who gets burnt on a vaguely sunny day in the UK... trying to find clothing that has a high sun protection factor but is also wearable has been a problem in the past. Therefore when we got an email from a facebook post to Craghoppers offering help with clothing we jumped at the chance!

I already live in my Kiwi Pro Convertable Stretch trousers - they are a good length (trouser and short wise), smart (I wear them to work!), fit well and are easy to clean - so for myself and Mandy to get another pair was great as these are all we will be wearing next year - they have a solar shield technology also!

Craghoppers also do a Nosilife range, I had already purchased some of this range Base Short Sleeved T-shirt and Base Long Sleeved T-shirt- again they are light weight, cover the shoulders (and arms), have a solar shield and are mosquito repellent (great all across Africa!). In addition to this myself and Mandy will be wearing the Adayna Hooded Jacket for cold nights - again does have solar shield if worn in the day, and the mosquito repellent, but also has security zipped pockets! Finally we have received the short sleeved Polo T-Shirts which will be great for when we need to look presentable in the Embassies!

The boys also received their gear this week! Both have gone for the Nosilife range Convertible Trousers, Long Sleeved Shirt, and Polo shirt, which again all have solar shield as well as the mosquito repellent technology.

There are sill a few things that need to be bought - shoes, hats etc however thanks to the staff over at Craghoppers for all their support and help!

Keep liking our facebook page -Where to Next Africa -  for all the updates.. Rob and Charles are doing loads to the cars still and posting onto facebook more often than I can keep up on here!

(photo courtesy of Rob)