November 2009

Now it was clear that we join the group and we had still 28 days time. Visas had to be made at least for Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, from Kenya on we would get it at the border. For Sudan we had to get an invitation letter, for Libya a tour guide, you were not allowed to travel through Libya without a guide and finally we had to get a carnet de passage for our car and last but not least we had to make our camper van "Africa fit". We were both still working, so our time was limited to organize everthing. During the day we were working, during the night we were building a lot of things into the car, we mounted a very basic shower and toilet, yes, by that time we thought we would need it, admittedly we still enjoy our toilet on some occasions although it is used only as an emercency device. You know things might happen very fast! Despite we had a lot to prepare , my wife insisted that I should visit the dentist to polish my teeth what I unluckily did a few days before departure. Finally we were in such a hectic that we just threw our things into the car which was packed with tons of dog food and we left for the dentist because after my first appointment, one of my teeth started to hurt. So there were about 2000km to drive to Palermo, Sicily, where our ferry would disembark on 29th of November in the morning. In the evening of 27th we went straight to the dentist. He diagnosed that the tooth had to come out, which he did at 8 p.m. Full with medicine we started at around 10 p.m direction Palermo. So in total we had about 34 hours for over 2000 km. Which means, we had to start right after the dentist and drive during the night and the following day. To make it short: We managed it and arrived in the late evening in Palermo. Embarkation was in the very early morning. Luckily we met with Heidi and Guido in Palermo, Heidi is a dentist by profession and she had a look at the big gap in my mounth. Everything all right, she said, after a few days she would take out this ugly tasting piece of cloth. We spent the evening with them in their VW and drank a lot of wine! (Only to kill the pain).

Next morning we started early to the harbour - Now the trip could start.

       In the harbour of Palermo on 29th of November 2009