Land Rover Global 1998 - Part 3

Abandoned gold dredger

Following the tests, Land Rover decided to sponsor the entire expedition and use it as the premier event to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1998. Accordingly, the expedition was renamed the 'Land Rover Global Expedition' with a planned start date in November 1997. The trip was to be broken up into 3 stages, each with its own leader - the European sector led by Ran Fiennes, Russian sector led by Dmitry Shparo and the North American sector led by Gordon Thomas. Charles Whittacker was the Chief Mechanic accompanied by Granville and Steve, while I was to carry out recce missions ahead of the team as well as organising the logistics.

Prior to departing for Alaska, I was tasked with organising the entire Base Camp equipment and provisions, which were shipped out to Alaska. The leaders had decided that the journey should grow from a London to New York trip, to that of crossing the Atlantic the long way around. It was now due to start at the most westerly point of Europe and finish at the most easterly point of North America (St. John's Newfoundland on the eastern seaboard of Canada).

At short notice I was given a new Discovery ES and sent off to Ireland to carry out a recce of the start point and the Irish Sea crossing. After a couple of days, I established that the best place to start would be Clogher Head on the Dingle Peninsula in the south-west of Ireland, where the films 'Ryan's Daughter and 'Far & Away' were set.

Base camp - Wales, Alaska

From there, I travelled via Dublin to Northern Ireland to research the sea crossing to Scotland. Initially Carnlough to Cambletown looked the best option to avoid ferry traffic and make use of local currents, but I finally opted for the shortest crossing for safety reasons. Not designed for rough water, the least amount of time the LRPC spent afloat, the better. Therefore, the route from Bangor to Portpatrick was chosen. I took advice from ferry captains, the Coastguard, local fishermen and the RNLI, as well as discussing the project with police officials and government agencies. From this I compiled a huge document which was supported by abundant descriptions, photos, maps and drawings of Clogher Head and all the water crossing points in the Irish Sea area. Important contact names, addresses and phone numbers of local people who could assist us were also obtained.

Team photo Left-Right: Ran, Mac, Granville, Charles & Steve

At the end of February 1997, I flew out to Wales, Alaska, one week ahead of the main party to set up Base Camp and establish communications. Our Base Camp was an empty vehicle garage belonging to Dan Richard, a white American who had lived in Wales since being based at the nearby military early-warning station during his US Air Force days. With no kitchen, hot water, toilets or washing facilities, I set about making good as best I could. Much of the garage was full of snow, which would find its way through the tiniest gap in the doorways. With nothing to stop the wind for thousands of miles to both the north and south, it is one of the windiest places on the earth.

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