Hi all

After a break from chasing my dream of crossing the Sahara (Tripoli-Tchad on the old Clapperton-Oudney-Denham route) I am now looking at it again.

I am seeking to form a small group to conduct a 'test walk' for about a fortnight in the Libyan Sahara. I wish to do this on foot, as my goal for this trip is to learn first-hand what changes I'll need to make to my planning before attempting the complete crossing.

However, me being 'slightly mad' in my goals doesn't mean that my travel companions need to be and I'm seeking two or three people to make up a support team - who have some desert experience, who are educated, easy to get on with, have good senses of humour, preferably have some French (or additional local dialects), and some experience with off-roading in the Sahara.

The plan is broadly that camps are set and broken together, but the day is your own - a bit like Ffyona Campbell's 'One Foot Through Africa'. I'll walk with 48 hours of supplies, you can go off and do whatever you like and then we meet up either each 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours depending on what happens.

At this point in time, I am alone but have two further people interested in walking with me for this fortnight long test.

If this expedition works out, and the team gels and the group members are interested, I would seek to repeat the process elsewhere (I don't really want to walk the same routes more than once unless for good reason!).

I'd like to go twice, once in Autumn 2005 and again nearer Easter 2006, the latter of these shall culminate with a trip to the far south to see the total solar eclipse at the end of March.

The target dates for these trips are between October 2005 and April 2006. Finances are open to negotiation, but I am willing to put in money towards the team's expedition kitty in addition to the costs of food and diesel required to keep me alive!

Please post here, or drop me an email.

Many thanks

Alex Goodey

[This message has been edited by alexgoodey (edited 14 May 2005).]

[This message has been edited by alexgoodey (edited 14 May 2005).]

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Libya - Tchad, winter 2006
(hopefully)...