We finally got away. Third time lucky. Fistly held up by bumpy weather yesterday, then foggy this morning. Our first stop was Lamberts Bay, some 3 hours and 150 miles north. On the way we saw whales, dolphins, seals, and John saw some flamingoes….git.After that a 40 minute flight inland to Vredendal, where some local guys took us to the filing station for fuel. Thanks guys. A further flight took us to a village on the edge of the diamond mining area.

Hi Guys, Good news at last! Yesterday the trikes were cleared through customs and we collected them from the BAX Global depot. An ingenious method of transport was used to get the trikes to the airfield. Both trikes and wings on a pick-up an trailer…… A worrying drive for us all esp John following in the car!! We counted our blessings when the trailer came off when leaving the airfield after unloading the trikes, lucky escape….

Just heard that the trikes have cleared customs and we’re off to collect them at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday).Will believe it when we see them!-Jim (SMS) Comment by Steve (2003-10-28 12:48:36) You hoped their loved ones had a good journey? How would they know - they haven’t collected them from customs yet… Comment by Graham_and_Margaret (2003-10-29 08:48:31) Hope you are now airborne and that Africa looks beautiful.All the best for the next stage.

Still waiting for our aircraft alhough worst places to be hanging about I guess…. we had a trip to the Cape yesterday, it’s actually quite windy at the moment. had a few beers the evening before with Ricky, local trike pilot who’s planning to fly around the world leaving 17th Dec. I’ll try and get the link for his site. We’re vainly hoping we’ll get the planes tomorrow, otherwise it will be monday.

Jim and John now in Capetown. Lovely sunny weather with favourable winds but no trikes yet - possibly Friday but more likely Monday. Julie arrives Thursday and Ingrid Saturday. Still, not all bad; found an apartment overlooking the bay…Jim (SMS) #84

The mood is somewhat downbeat this afternoon as the team have just found out there are further delays with our container. It is now unlikely to arrive in Cape Town before the 25th October, some ten days later than planned. If we’re lucky and all goes well the trikes may clear customs on the 27th or 28th October. This means Jim and John will have a week in Cape Town waiting for the aircraft, I’m sure we’ll cope!

6th October: Careen Chew from BAX Global called to advise us that the ship with our container on finally left Antwerp on Sat 4th October four days late. Hopefully it will make up some of the lost time on the water but it now looks like we’ll beat the container to Cape Town. We arrive on 20th October. #82

3rd October: Overflight advised that our permission to fly through Namibia has been granted. Unfortunately on the one step forward two steps back principle they also advised that the Zambian Air Force had called turning down our proposed routing through Zambia. Zambian request has been re-submitted with a slightly amended routing so lets hope! #81

Having had the trikes serviced and fully checked over at the Mainair and Pegasus factory in Rochdale we loaded our aircraft in to a 20ft container for the Journey to Cape Town. With the help of the lads at the factory we amazed ourselves how quick this process took in comparison to last time. Fingers crossed now that they’ll be ok on their journey. #80

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