Thanks to……

HI. WE’RE PEDRO AND VERA AND WE’RE LAND ROVER ADDICTS…

World of Land Rover is a our personal little blog where we bring you news, articles, photos and videos of interest of Land Rover fans like us. But we don’t want to be the only ones writing here. You too canwrite a post about Land Rovers, your Land Rover club, mechanics or whatever you want, or just comment the posts. You can also just send us a message..

Check out this link: World of Land Rover.

Indlovu Drive 2011 Trans-Africa Expedition

Article by World of Land Rover, words and photos from harris.gb.net

DISABLED VENTURER, RICHARD HARRIS, HAS USED A WHEELCHAIR AND ELBOW CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND FOLLOWING A RUGBY ACCIDENT IN 1986. TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE RACHEL, HE IS PLANNING TO UNDERTAKE A MAMMOTH OVERLAND DRIVE, FROM ZULULAND IN SOUTH AFRICA, ALL THE WAY BACK TO BRITAIN.

This is the kind of article I really enjoy. When you see on TV our on a magazine an article about someone that’s going to do something great for charity it almost feel like they live in another World, without the hardships and worries of “normal people”. Of course they have to find money for the trip as well as raising the funds for the charities they chose to support, but it almost seams effortless…

I read on in their blog, where Richard writes about their plans and the Defender preparation but also about bank loans and how they are going to pay for it all. These are normal people, like you and me, with jobs and mortgages and bills like the ones we pay. The difference is we’re sitting down reading about it on our computers but they are actually doing something worth mentioning.

What’s the story?

Richard has been living with the effects of a spinal cord injury since, as a rather clumsy 19 year-old rugby player; he single-handedly managed to break his neck. Since then he has trained and practised as an Occupational Therapist and through his love of rugby, wildlife and photography, has been drawn to visit South Africa many times. Luckily these are passions that Rachel shares too. The couple have self-driven many miles of photographic safari in that beautiful country, but are now desperate to explore more of the continent.

Richard explains, “We first visited South Africa in ’96 on a rugby tour. It was supposed to be ‘the’ trip of a lifetime – but we found, as have many others, that Africa grabs you – it gets under your skin – and so we have been back many times since. The challenges that people face given the fates of history and politics are incredible and inspiring. Every time we go back it’s different. You cannot fail to be moved by peoples’ spirit and resilience.”

Richard, Rachel and the Azalai Defender

So why the long trek?

“On our second visit, I distinctly remember seeing a French badged Land Rover Discovery in Hluhluwe game reserve. I thought ‘Wow, it’s possible to drive here from Europe!’ – Now that really is special. We looked into it but at the time there wasn’t a vehicle that could do the trip and let me stay independent in my self-care regimen. Things have moved on, and with buying and adapting the Azalai, we are now in touching distance of realising a very special ambition.

Both cite the personal development that comes from taking on such a venture. “It’s like doing another degree” Richard says, “The planning, research and reading is eating up the hours. It’s great fun though and it’s already a fulfilling experience before we’ve even driven a mile.” Rachel has her work cut out too, “I have somelessons in vehicle mechanics and maintenance booked, it’s essential that we can at least service the Land Rover as we go. This is certainly a new area for me but I am relishing the challenge and the experience.”

“The other children include me now. I can easily visit my friends and get to school. My wheelchair can cope with the rough ground here. It's good to have a chair that fits me, an adult's wheelchair would be too difficult to push.”

Land mines are a constant threat to children

Motivation – The charity
The Harris’ are proudly supporting the Bristol based charity ‘Motivation’. Their aim is to raise the profile of disabled people throughout the world and they have several projects in the countries to be traversed. Motivation’s work is categorised by three key issues: mobility, empowerment and inclusion. Their activities include the design and provision of low-cost appropriate wheelchairs, vocational training programmes to help disabled people access and lobby for their rights in society, and they work with other organisations to include disabled people into their work and programmes. By focusing in these areas they aim to positively impact on the physical, social and economic situation of people with mobility disabilities.

There is a clear synergy given Richard’s history and his career in Occupational Therapy. “I am really thrilled that Motivation are letting us support them and their work. Most people will be shocked to know that the U.N. Statistical Office estimates there are 20 million people in the world who need a wheelchair but don’t have one – so anything to help is welcome.”

 

The Azalai Camper – Land Rover 130 Conversion

The Azalai promises accessible living and sleeping space, masses of equipment storage, catering facilities suitable for long hauls and crucially, to meet Richard’s care needs, even an onboard toilet & shower. This is a truly special vehicle that makes the adventure a reality for Richard and Rachel. All they need now is just a little help and support, some more hard work and the best of luck ….

A ‘grafted living pod’ fitted by OEC Ltd, utilizes the very latest, lightweight but strong, insulating, vacuum moulded composite materials. Extra fuel and water tanks are under the floor, storage is all below window height. This preserves stability and agility. “We’ve invested more than our life savings to cover the £70k gross cost” confesses Richard, “But there really is no other vehicle as suitable or as adaptable for this trip.” (Because of his disability Richard had to spend an extra £10k fitting an Ashcroft automatic gearbox, hand-controls, and a lift to access the pod.) But what about eight months sharing a 2.5×1.8m living space come rain or shine? Over to Rachel, “Based upon our photo-safari experience to date, it turns out we do remain compatible.” A good job too!

Know more about the Richard and Rachel’s adventure, the Azalai camper and Motivation’s work and how you can help.

Tags: adaptation, Africa, Azalai, biography, Build, Charity, disability, Ethics, finance, funding, money, motivation, Overland, philosophy, Press, Resources, Sponsorship, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

Water Tank in Place

Richard and I had another jaunt to OEC today, we were asked not to go too early as the boys had been away at the Landrover show in Billing all weekend and had a bit of tidying to do before we would be able to get to the vehicle. Paul was again on hand to advise of the new additions to the Landy (Paula), the frame for the Azalai is in the process of being mounted, the water tanks are in situ as is the pipework which takes the warm water from the engine’s cooling system and around the water tanks to ensure the water stays above freezing. Once the frame has been fixed it will be possible to attach the Pod, I certainly look forward to taking that picture!

Uprated Front Nearside Spring (polybags to follow)

The uprated front suspension springs are in and the back ones will be fitted next – once there’s room on the ramp in the workshop! The suspension airbags will be going in soon too of course.

A couple of weeks ago we ordered the new front seats from Exmoor Trim, these being the very excellent Defender Elite Seats in Outlast trim. We were advised that we needed to get cracking with the order as there was likely to be a 4-5 week lead time on these, however these have arrived and can now be fitted – once in we can contact GM Coachworks to look at the hand controls/left foot accelerator options.

Exmoor Trim Defender Elite

The Pod is coming along nicely, the toilet is in along with the cupboard and the shelving behind. The bench seats are all finished as are  the load bearing supports for the upper and lower bunks. The hobs and blower lid have arrived although not fitted yet – they look very neat. The seats for the benches were not at OEC (they are finished but take up alot of room and so are being stored elsewhere) so it will still be a surprise regarding the colour/pattern, hopefully will hide the dirt and dust nicely.

Galley Area (Wallas hob not yet in)

Toilet and Shower

Paul with the Wallas Hob

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, GM Coachworks, OEC, Rachie, Specification, Vehicle

A Motivation Wheelchair Workshop

We also mass produce a range of appropriate and durable wheelchairs, called  Worldmade, for developing countries which are assembled, prescribed and fitted by trained local services and workshops.” Motivation.Org.uk  

Cora Dobbie

Cora Dobbie has made a fantastic donation to Motivation – equating to another wheelchair for someone in the developing world. It also adds to Motivation’s 20th Anniversary £500 000 Campaign, “Wheels Out of Poverty” which our Azalai Land Rover,  Indlovu Trans Africa Drive is specifically supporting. Thanks Mum in Law X  

If you would like to easily make a donation to Motivation (and claim gift aid too) then please click here to go to our Just Giving Page. Any amount will make a real difference to the lives and opportunities of disabled people across the globe.

Tags: Charity, disability, Ethics, motivation, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

After being tasked with the job of looking into Carnet costing I thought I had better get cracking straight away. Following on from the really useful info on the gapyear4x4 website I emailed Paul Gowen, ‘Carnet Man’ at the RAC (and now the man of the moment in my eyes). An automated reply came back, basically advising he was a really busy chap and would reply as soon as he was able. This being Friday afternoon I wasn’t hopeful. However a reply did come back later that day advising ‘Paul had looked at our website and to call on Monday to discuss’!

 This I did and had a very informative, useful and extremely pleasant chat regarding: our (tentative) departure date, vehicle (he has had previous dealings with Anton and Liz at OEC and says Hi) and motivation for the trip.

The Carnet will need to assure the vehicle valued at (a guestimate) £15,000; this being the price proffered by Paul after 14 months depreciation on the purchase price. Therefore for Egypt we are looking at £120,000 as the amount that will need to be covered by way of a bond/insurance policy (remember 800% of the value).

Paul has given me the number for LloydsTSB to see what terms they will offer and also explained that it is also possible to only invoke the ‘Egypt Carnet assurance’  for the time spent actually there, which would be a further saving in the quarterly charge(s) that the bank would levy over the whole trip [duration].

Other options were also discussed so I now need to get on with some other calls to see if we can being our Carnet costs down.

Paul also pointed me in the direction of some other websites which maybe of interest plus some organisations that it would be worthwhile contacting.

We are now filed under the 2011 trips along with the figures provided and Paul has generously added our website to his favourites lists (have I mentioned what a nice chap he is?)

We left it that I would certainly be in touch and I hope he enjoyed the 2 rolls that he was going to have for his lunch [when I eventually let him off the phone].

So the good news is that we could, if everything falls in to place, be able to secure the Carnet for an outlay that might be as ‘low’ as £2500 ish - which is MUCH better then we originally thought.  Certainly it’s significant enough to our now being able to aim at 2011 rather than defer to 2012!

A valuable phone call indeed! Great service RAC and Paul in particular.

Tags: Carnet, Egypt, finance, Info, money, OEC, Overland, RAC, Resources

Even though we have ok from the bank for the vehicle we still need to raise funds for the expedition, visas, provisons etc etc. The list is pretty extensive so the time has come to sell my car, the service has been booked so once that is completed and it has a little tidy ….. Any takers???? So goodbye to the orange menace and hello to walking to work, on the plus side the the more weight I lose the more stuff we can take.

Tags: car, finance, funding, Visa