Trouble at th'Mill...

Well, Jane's training room is full of a cornucopia of gubbins for the trip. We have rations enough for a six month tour, we have car stuff and camping stuff and clothing for everything from minus 10 to plus 40. We have enough medication to cover most things between malaria and dysentery with side forays into arthritis and asthma. We have books and cards and even a football just in case we are seized with a sudden desire to look stupid in a new and energetic way. What we don't have is any idea whether we will be going to Mali. As you may know, dear reader, the Gods of the planet Bloody Typical, have decreed that this is the week Al-Qaeda have made terrorist threats towards the Paris-Dakar, resulting in its cancellation for the first time in thirty years. We are not the Paris-Dakar, we are not even a race. We are a group of people traveling for fun and for charity and to extend a hand of friendship between Europe and Africa. The question is, has anybody explained the difference to Al Qaeda? There is little point in speculating, the only option is to get to Morocco and take stock there. It may be possible to take a different route. We may decide to stay in Morocco and drive back, trying again next year. Hell, we may not even get that far, several teams have broken down in Europe (and if that happens we will throw a sulk so hard it will propel us by sheer tantrum all the way home). I am hopeful that we will get all the way while keeping in mind that it may just be too risky.If we do cross the border, we wont take any risks, we will keep our heads down, take all stickers off the vehicles and travel in small groups, the Mauri crossing can be done in two days...I did say there is little point in speculating, I'll stop speculating shall I?