Pilot takes to his wheels in charity ride
A Globetrotting airline pilot who braved minefields and deserts on a marathon charity motorbike ride across Europe and Africa has made it safely back home to Horsmonden.
Orchard Way resident Fraser Woolley also battled mud, floods and corrupt immigration officials as he rode to the Gambia to raise £2,000 for African healthcare organisation Riders for Health.
Father-of-two Mr Woolley, who normally flies holidaymakers to Gambian capital Banjul for Thomas Cook Airlines, said: “I did 8,824 miles in five weeks with no punctures, which was incredible.”
The outward leg of the journey took three weeks, with the European section through France and Spain – one third of the total distance – taking just three days.
From there, Mr Woolley encountered numerous time-consuming obstacles as roads became dirt tracks and terrible Moroccan weather soaked him to the skin. He said: “The fun really started in Morocco. Crossing the border was absolute bedlam, but the country was absolutely fantastic – the scenery, the people, the way they drive.”
After two days trapped by floods in a remote village, Mr Woolley escaped by riding through waist deep water and then found warmer weather south of Agadir.
Once over the border into Western Sahara, he found himself facing fuel shortages, army checkpoints and minefields .
Mr Woolley said: “From there the border into Mauritania is heavily fortified and you have to travel through 4km of minefield.
“It’s a no-man’s land and if you go off the track there’s a chance you could get blown up.”
Having safely negotiated these perilous stages, deep sand and aggressive dogs were the worst hazards he faced while passing onwards into Senegal.
Mr Woolley, 40, said: “The road from Senegal into the Gambia is just appalling. It’s 80km of huge potholes with big poles sticking out so you can see them.
“In Banjul I spent a couple of days with the Riders for Health charity looking at the work they do, which was really good. They were surprised I had made it.”
His mission half accomplished, Mr Woolley decided to take a quicker route home on a newly-built highway.
Consequently, it was only two weeks before he was being welcomed home by his wife Erica and sons Angus and Rowan in time for Christmas.
Mrs Woolley said: “Friends and neighbours came around for a champagne-popping welcome, but he was a bit late and by the time he turned up, we were all a bit tiddly.
“But it was really good to have him back, free from injury and with a smile on his face.”
For more photos and a detailed account of Mr Woolley’s adventures, visit Hit the Grit
