Power Monkey!!!

Our solar charger at work!! It might actually charge our cellphones!

So it begins. Braai grid in tow.

The Neighbour Hooligans are off. Leaving a little late but all the luggage is packed. The adventure begins!

So we found a use for the roof rack! Booyah!

Cars, women and soapy water...

Stickers done, with a little difficulty, and one sleep until we leave!

Thanks to Robyn's dad Garry van Jaarsveldt for the stickers.

Meet our ride...

Only eight days left before we hit the wide open road. After a few scares, where we thought our car wouldn't be ready, we are proud to introduce our Volvo S 40 to the world. And oh, what a beaut it is.... (we are still undecided on a name but we are sure that will come once we get to know the car). And it has been confirmed with our very own eyes that we will jamming to tunes on a cassette player.

 
We also had our new tyres fitted on the car. A big ups to Tiger Wheel and Tyre in Randburg for fitting them for us as well as Continental for the tyre sponsorship.

Our last weekend is focused on final route preparations, packing (effectively), pimping out our car and costume brain storming. The Neighbour Hooligans are ready to go... YEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAA!

Ok, panicking now....



Ah, the sounds of youth and bad taste...



With apprehension building and 13 days to finish planning, shopping, begging for money and panicking the Neighbour Hooligans are freaking out (just a little!). With so much to do in so little time we have to sort the big problems first. But while frantically getting the last of the paperwork and dealing with route plans and budget issues we came across our biggest tragedy of all.  The car only has a tape player. Yes ladies and gentlemen, a cassette player. When was the last time you played a tape? Who even has them anymore? The only one I can remember was a Monster Hits which I played to death on my brother’s boombox. Ah, the nineties …. Coolio, Inner Circle’s Sweat, Garbage’s Stupid Girl and the original club anthem Insomnia from Faithless.  

Yes, when Sonic the Hedgehog had a recording career...

So once we realised our predicament we started to panic even more. 17 days and not one of us can hold a tune very well. So our plan of action is to beg all our older friends and family to dig through the drawers of their tainted youths and find us some dubious music to listen to. Holy frak balls, this could be a lesson on why the eighties were truly terrifying or a trip down memory lane back to a little decade called the nineties. Shiny clothing, Spice Girls shoes and waaaaay too much hair gel here we come. Early nineties mind you, the cassette tape was made redundant quite early on.  I just hope that someone, somewhere has that Monster Hits tape.  A la la la la long…..

But fear not, for if the itrip still works we might find salvation in a little The Black Keys, MGMT , Desmond and the Tutus  and Florence and the Machine.  But only if the car charger works…



E= MC Hammer



Some useful and not so useful advice...

So as we hit the final planning for the trip, advice has been flowing from various sources. Here is a list of some good and not so good advice we have encountered.: 

1. When camping, always wear a long-sleeved shirt. It gives you something to wipe your nose on.

2. Always remember the toilet paper, or at the very least, know what leaves are poisonous in the region.

3. Ear plugs are a useful investment, especially for the snoring tent mate

4. Lock all items to the roof rack- items have the tendency to grow legs and walk off. 

5. Your pillow will become your best friend as time progresses and so will the blow up mattress. 

6. The bag a tent or a sleeping bag come in was not the one that is meant to go back into when it comes to putting it away. 

7. Every day will be a bad hair day. It happens. Accept it and move on.

8. Learn how to make a fire from scratch or at least have matches that are dry. 

9. Don't drive at night- you might hit a goat or even an elephant. 

10. This is Africa- magic happens here if you have the right attitude.