This post will remain at the top of the blog for the next couple of weeks, but to read the most recent posts, please just scroll down.
So the site says that I am in Denver, the trucks and rest of the crew are somewhere in Angola and blogs and content are sparse. For over a month we were all stuck in the Congo, as you are well aware from the blogs, we could not get visas for Angola. Right now we are in the process of shipping the trucks to Buenos Aries and trying to raise funds for the South American segment of the expedition.
Since we were held up for so long, I had to fly back to the states from Pointe Noire, Congo, so that I would not miss my sisters wedding. Being forced to leave from such an odd place, it cost a tremendous amount of money to get me back to Denver. Where I am currently stuck…
Daily I get questions that don’t really help the spirit of having to leave the expedition that has been my dream for years. “Doesn’t that bother you that you do not get to finish the African segment?” “Why aren’t you meeting back up with them?” The answer is, of course it bothers me, I cannot sleep because of it and I would be back there in two seconds if I could. All of us are devoted to the mission of TWBR and are not giving up.
The bigger problem than just getting stuck for a while in Africa, is that we are behind schedule and very, very low on funds. Foregoing the high cost of getting me back to Africa was a sacrifice that had to be made for the success of the expedition. Currently we have enough money to get down to Cape Town, but with the falling dollar and the high cost of gas, Africa drained our funds and has stopped our progress in Cape Town until either a shipping company sponsors the shipment to Buenos Aries, or we get some new sponsors on board to help fund it. Which is what has been taking my time, day and night, here in Denver.
From there we need to raise funds to get from Buenos Aries back to the USA. Our calculations put us in the realm of $20,000 to get us home at a minimum, with a safe estimate of $30,000 to really do it right. This money will go toward these things below, you can click the Chipin link to help us out:
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Since I have been home I have managed to put together a star-studded crew of 6 people and maybe even more for the last segment, so the content will continue to get better as we regroup and prepare for the journey home. I have been implementing many new features and working diligently to get us more organized so that the South American segment will blow away anything that you have seen from us so far…but none of this is going to happen without some help. So please tell all of your friends and family to pitch in if they can, every little bit helps. And the sooner we get back on the road, the sooner we can get more stories and content up for you guys.
Other ways to help:
- Help us find sponsors. All of the updated info about sponsoring us is here: CLICK ME. If you have questions or know a company that might be interested, you can have them contact me directly.
- Sign up with one of our affiliates or participate in the many other ways to support us.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us in the past. We are doing our best to get funding as soon as possible, but with your help we can be back on track sooner.
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6 Comments
Hello Friends.
Incase you pass by Kitale or near there I can host you.
Keep up the spirit.
Peter
Let\’s see…..there are hundreds of thousands of children starving, abused, homeless, uneducated, orphaned and generally unhappy every day. 30,000 USD would change the lives of an entire village. I could help them, or help this group put more gas in their SUVs drive around the world. Hmmmmmmmm……….
Sorry Thinking but here is a little response.
http://theworldbyroad.com/wordpress/2008/06/20/wow-i-didnt-mean-to-make-anyone-upset
Also, nice name.
Steve S.
It’s wonderful that you are on the home stretch - even though you are still months out. Can’t wait to follow the journey into South America, Central America and Mexico. It’s been exciting and educational for all who have followed you. Stay safe. Love, Mom
Greetings from Thailand
Sorry to read about your problems, you guys know i don’t have money but i will try my best to get others to visit the site. also, to thinking, these guys will be in a much better position to raise longterm funding for the starving in Africa if their own mission is completed. I have worked / helped in Africa and throwing money at their problem is not a longterm solution. I believe the guys will be better ambassadors than most and if you yourself ever wish to undertake a visionary project then you wll come to appreciate the honesty of their current appeal. Good luck with the funding guys
yours in the dhamma
phra lewis
citta dhammo bhikkhu
Travel, like life, is about finding ways to overcome problems. There are always problems and you come out stronger by finding solutions to them. Good luck! I know you will succeed with this great journey.