Thanks
Soutpiel Safari
John & Jenny
Sat 2 Apr 2011 19:11
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Our "trip of a lifetime" is now over and we
have had a wonderful time. Our thanks are due to a host of friends, neighbours,
acquaintances, businesses and even to email acquaintances made during the trip
whom we have never met, but who have so enthusiastically joined with us in our
day to day adventures.
Our sincere thanks are especially due to the
following:
1. To my late Aunt Va (Lavinia) whose legacy
enabled us to buy and equip the Land Rover and to make the trip.
2. To Nene Overland, and especially to Kevin Mackman,
for supply and preparation of the Land Rover and for Kevin's ready, cheerful and
helpful advice throughout the trip. The Land Rover performed almost faultlessly
and proved to be the perfect vehicle for the trip.
3. Our two families for their continued support
and messages of encouragement all along the way.
4. My two sons, Richard and Dan, for their very generous
gift of the Iridium satellite phone which enabled us to send daily reports
wherever we were.
5. Our UK neighbours, Peter and Joyce, who have looked
after our UK home base while we have been away and without whose help we
would not be able to lead such an adventurous life.
6. Our UK neighbour, Julie, who so diligently
looks after our mail and home affairs while we are travelling.
7. Our very good friends, Rudy and Stephanie
for their present of the wonderfully executed "Cook's Condiment Box" which has
been a central feature of our daily life and for running around at the last
moment before departure to ensure that we were properly equipped to South
African standards for "braaing".
8. Jenny's son Garth for coining the slogan "The
Soutpiel Safari" which provided endless mirth and enjoyment with South
Africans whom we encountered through West Africa and was always a talking point
around the camp fire.
9. To Bobby Dempsey (whom we unfortunately didn't meet)
for providing such helpful advice on Angola and providing emergency funds
there!
10. To the charming and helpful Malian gentleman
(regrettably, whose name and details I have lost) who so kindly assisted in
resolving a rather nasty dispute, in our favour, at the Tombouctou ferry on 7
January. Thank you, Sir!
11. To those who went ahead of us and whose blogs and
emails provided such invaluable information in researching, planning and
executing our trip, especially: Neil and Catherine
Harrower (Great Trip South); Stu and Sue Adams (UK2SA); Nick and Vicky Bradshaw
(Langebaan Sunset)
12. To the hundreds of people who visited our blog sites
so regularly and so enthusiastically followed our daily progress. Jenny's
"Get Jealous" blog site recorded the remarkable total of 56,000
hits!
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