2010
06.22

Spencer in Nigeria
Spencer being supported by a very enthusiatic crowd…including charlyboy.

  1. Wishing you a safe and relaxing end to your journey after what you have been through-unfortunately we will be in Sicily when you return but thumbs up from me and hug from Claire

  2. I will be there !!! Graham Charvis

  3. Hi Every one Am now in Spain and will be on my way home shortly. Managed to avoid kidnapping in Mauritania and got through the Sahara without a clutch as previously mentioned. The bike is getting tired and needs a full overhaul but what it has taken me through is amazing. It has been my home for nine months and I will give it some care and attention when I get back to the UK. I think it will take some time to adjust to life back in Biddenden after surviving solo and many times outside areas of any habitation. I won’t be able to set up camp in an isolated area in Kent and go to sleep with the sounds of crickets and bull frogs!!! Any way I will be back on the 15th and if any bikers can come down to Dover area on that day it would be great to have a welcome and a ride back to Biddenden. I will post more info as to when exactly I will be in Dover. Spencer

  4. I see from your route map that you have succeeded and would like to congratulate you in advance.I passed with Dexterity finally!See you when you get back Paul Allen

  5. Hi Spencer, keep your wits about you until you get back to Blighty! If you happen to pass by (unlikely) then we can offer a comfy bed and good food/wine….

    Best of luck for the last leg

    Paul & Muriel (probably your first conversation in France at a Service station) we have a couple of pics if they are of use?

  6. Spencer, nearly home!!! Fantastic, Well Done! Looking forward to hearing all the stories…

  7. Hi Spencer
    Don’t know how far you are but i hope your on the road and not far away. We take off from Zuerich on 11. august so i’m not sure that i can ride with you through France, but we will see. Also greatings from Anneliese and good luck

  8. Absolutely fantastic achievement-you must be really proud but keep vigilant until the very end-we will see you when you get back Sean and Anna

  9. Just got back from holiday and heard you are coming back here soon. We went to the farm and I helped with the milking. Really looking forward to seeing you. Love Alexander xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  10. Just like to congratulate you in advance you really have done what you said.I personally didnt think you would finish so I slap myself on the wrist and apologise totally.Go for it and enjoy the closing stages

  11. Hola Spencer Extremely proud of you. I hear on the grapevine that you will be getting back to Biddenden on the 15 th August so will be there to see you on your arrival. Hope you have a big crowd to welcome you back, What about Tv? Can’t wait for the book. I really, really admire your gutsa nd courage to have made it all the way. It looks like you chose the right bike so won’t argue with you again.
    Keith

  12. Absolutely brilliant trip.I guess you will be slowing down now and trying to take everything in.You will probably get reverse culture shock after what you have been used to.I hope the dream continues and well done.Drive carefully on the Europe section.You still have a way to go!

  13. Wow Spencer I can hardly believe how far you have come – what an experience, what a bike, what a rider! All the Harmans are willing you on. Glad to see the fundraising is nearing your target of £28K for which Save the Children is immensely grateful. I really look forward to hearing and reading more of your adventures when you arrive home. We will be here in Biddenden awaiting your arrival, hopefully on a sunnier day than the one on which you left in November! Best wishes, Lindi x

  14. Hey Spencer Saw you in France (briefly) and took a note of your web site. Just found a note of it in my riding jacket had a look and can’t believe what you have achieved. I have only ever been into Morocco and a bit of the desert and I am compltely knocked out by your incredible journey. How did you keep going. You are to be admired and should feel very proud of what you have done. I will look out for the book and pass your web site onto my buddies in Nottigham. Piy we can’t get down to your homecoming. Hope it’s on TV. Jake (the Hairy One)

  15. Hi Everyone I have made it through the Sahara!!! Pretty hard going in 45 degrees and with riding gear. Only part tar road and mostly sand covering the route. Constant high sidewinds buffeting the bike and real problems keeping it upright. Strain on neck and arms. Two days of this and without a clutch lever for most of it as I came off, hit the only rock for miles and snapped the lever. Actually 880 kms like that. The sand hits your face and burns like you would n’t believe. I am in Layounne (El Aaiun) in the Western Sahara and will be heading up the coast for Morocco, via Tan Tan, Agadir and Marrakech. It is about 1000 kms to Spain. I should be back in Biddenden at the end of July so any who can make it to Kent to see me back home it would be really great . I will give a more accurate time of arrival in a few days. Have very mixed feelings now the ‘adventure’ is nearly over and hopefully will make the £28000 pledge soon as there are a couple of fund raising events still to be held this month, The total on the web site is just over £26000 with Gift Aid and Off line Donations added which are listed at the bottom of the Fund Raising page. Thanks to all who have sent messages and to those who have supported me along the way.
    Spencer

  16. Great going Spence – best wishes for the desert and a smooth ride to Europe. Hope to catch up with Euan and Smurf soon, so we will toast you.

  17. I saw you on TV-what a blast from the past-your website is impressive and I hope you succeed.I am teaching in a Primary school in London-less spectacular.Will send a longer email to you-maybe we can meet up at some point.Once again Good show!!!

  18. I have been following your progress since the beginning-Im an Ashford biker and was at your leaving ride.Hope all goes well with the final stages.You are an inspiration to all the club Johny T

  19. Spencer,
    Glad to hear you are moving again! Every km is bringing you closer to home now, it must give you mixed feelings as you have had such experiences on your trip! We hope you will be able to spend some time with us once you are back, it would be good to inspire some of our newly qualified riders!
    Take care, and enjoy the Saraha!
    Ride Safe.

  20. Hi Spencer, Really pleased to see how well you are doing. I guess you could have a new career repairing motrbikes when you get back. Take care in the desert – very best – Alan, Anna & the kids

  21. I am sorry for your time in Dakar but hope you enjoy our meeting.St Louis is good no.I hope we meet again when you return.You are an african David Traore

  22. I understand that it must be lonely and very difficult at times but must also be a life changing
    experience.You are a good example for a lot of the misguided youth of today.I showed my children and they were very interested especially my 10 year old son who is motorbike mad.Best of luck on the fulfilment of the trip and well done.
    Andy Castle

  23. Hello every one
    A quick up date. Have repaired the bike and will hopefully be leaving Dakar tomorrow and heading to Mauritania. Should be in Nouakchott in a few days and then the Western Sahara!!! Purchased a new desert tyre for the 2000 ks and now down to the absolute minimum of gear as much of it has fallen to pieces over the last few weeks, only my tent and some utensils left. Thanks everyone for your comments and please keep in touch as it is a comfort to hear from you and helps to keep me going.

    Spencer

  24. You are having a remarkable experience which only normal people could dream of.Im sure if you had been born a few hundred years ago you would have been one of the true explorers.You are an inspiration to many people and I wish you all strength and luck as you negotiate the west coast

  25. I saw your TV ad and was intrigued as I have always dreamt of a long trip.Having looked at your site I dont think I could possibly do something like that and hats off to you.I will follow your final stages carefully and hopefully might catch one of the talks you do
    Alan Watson

  26. I saw your TV ad and was intrigued as I have always dreamt of a long trip.Having looked at your site I dont think I could possibly do something like that and hats off to you.I will follow your final stages carefully and hopefully might catch one of the talks you do
    Tim Watson

  27. Hi Spencer-wondered why you were stuck in Togo for so long and glad to see that you have made your way through.We miss your humour and still laugh about your plastic bag story.Yopu are a strong and special person and we hope all the best for you.We are back in Germany.AAAh!
    Hans and Birgitte

  28. Hello Everyone
    Just to keep you informed that I am now in Dakar which is a fantastic place but only managed to get here after another bike incident. The chain snapped way before Dakar and has caused damage to bearings and other parts of the bike. Managed to fix it by the side of the road in order to limp into Dakar. Very lucky not to have had a major accident as I was travelling a little over my usual speed at about 100 ks/hr. Phew!! Hopefully will be able to carry out repairs in Dakar but expect to be here for about a week. After this I have to traverse kidnap country, 2000 ks of desert and then Morocco and Europe. In the last few months have met some really fantastic people who keep smiling in adversity. Great pity that Ghana was put out of the World Cup by the hand ball in the goalmouth!! Will write more soon and please keep in touch it is a great boost to receive messages.
    Spencer

  29. Hello Mr Spencer.Papa Falla wish you luc much and hope to meet one day encore in GUIne

  30. I am Martin from Ouga.There is much for you to do but we are preying for your journey to succeedd and hope to be seeing you again in Burkina.Ride good and eat much meat

  31. You are magnificent and a brave man.You have really tried-we africans would not do something like this.I enjoyed meeting a strong man.Good luck to continue far. Charles Okurafu

  32. Admin

    Spencer has been out of touch for several days but we think that he is in Guinea heading for Conakry. There have been elections there this week so things are volatile and a little disconcerting. We hope to be in contact in the next couple of days. There is a new radio interview on the site so click on the area to the right where is states Radio Interviews. It is interesting and informative. Also some new photos on the Gallery.

    Michael

  33. From Admin this comment picked up recently from Bill Barton.

    Hello again Spencer
    Your progress is good I see by the map not too long before you reach Europe again. I see you are now a TV star, well done. Has this journey changed the way you think about the way the world treats Africa?

    There is a lot of following for you in Plkymouth, I have told a lot of people and they follow your progress Via this site. Let me know when you think you will be in Gib so I can come down to meet you.

    Bill Batron

  34. Hello Spencer.I hope that your ride to Bamako was not too much trouble.Looked at your website-you are a real fighter and I hope all works out well.I will continue to follow your progress.

  35. Hi Spencer, hope you are all better now? Have you been able to soak up any of the world cup atmosphere? Alan has been watching all the games, can you believe that? ha ha! It is getting us in the mood for going home, 12 sleeps to go!!!! If I don’t get back on to here again before I go, take care of yourself and you will be in our thoughts. Cheers and all our love, Jax and Cabs

  36. Admin

    Some recent comments have been placed on the previous Post and a couple have been mixed with spam which is increasingly becoming a problem. These are being deleted and admin is attempting to retrieve any genuine comments. Commercial companies are also attempting to break into the blog, and the site, so we are attempting to resolve this.

    Appologies to any who have had a comment deleted. Please try again as we value your comments.

    Admin

  37. Dear Spencer-full respect,there is nobody who has done this so I apologise.I looked up on google.There is one guy who tried the same thing in2007 and his website is still up.Cant remember the address but anyway if you search hard you find that he didnt make it.Go for it and best of luck.I see you are in Togo-check the travel warnings for western Sahara,they do not make good reading but I am sure you are aware of the recent kidnappings of foreigners but as you are bullet proof you will do it.Good luck from Hans and Tyson

  38. IIt is I Abdoul wishing you into the hands of mercy and peace and goodwill.I enjoy much our talk and hope you succeed in your chosen march through Africa

  39. Sam and Iris

    Hi Spencer-I put a comment on but it disappeared-was it because of my comment about how you walk!! No seriously bud, is great you are getting ther and long may you remain the one and only Spencer.

    Sam And Iris

  40. Hello Mr Spencer,it is me Michael who you met in Takaradi at the court,Ihope you are travelling safe and watch those police checkers,I paid 150 US,God be with you

  41. Spencer, we are all so proud of you, I sure am proud to call you a friend…this will be a book to read for sure! Look forward to hear when you will return home safely.

    Dave O’Connell

  42. Hope you’re feeling better, Spencer. You’re doing an incredible thing. I’m very proud of you.

  43. Well done on the money you have raised and we will look you up when we get back to UK.My sister said
    she has seen you on TV in some advert-go for it -finish in style.We are now in Gabon!

  44. Admin reports that Spencer has now raised £24679.08. This total is from Just Giving plus the Off Line Donations and Gift Aid. These figures appear at the bottom of the donations list.

  45. Hello from Spencer

    Left Ghana two days ago and crossed into The Ivory Coast but had to head back after a crash and damage to the bike. Will be going on shortly and hope to get through to Guinea in a week or so. Had a bit of a rough time as became ill and not feeling well for about five days. A dreaded tropical bug. Not nice. It is in the rainy season now and have to ride through severe storms and torrential rain and I am constantly soaked. The roads are just mud and pools of water. OH for somewhere dry.

    Spencer

  46. Good luck Spencer for the final leg of your epic journey. Cheers.

    Richard E. Grant

  47. Gddy Mr Spencer,my name is Camilla from lagos, Nigeria. I met u wen u came to lagos 4 d interview wit d media houses nd bike road show with my boss charly boy. I reaaly admire your determinmation nd zeal to strive on ur world tour with ur bike. wish u al d best nd a successful journey. Camilla