3. NAME - NOM DU VOYAGEUR:  Pekin Boys Back To Town

4. PLACE OF ORIGIN:  California, USA

You are authorized to travel as indicated below in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of the World Automobile Association.

5. PLACE OF DEPARTURE: Parc Ferme, Plymouth, England

6. ROUTE: includes travel to Le Mont Saint Michel, France; Barcelona and Sotogrande, Spain; Gibraltar; Ceuta, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir, Morocco; Laâyoune and Dakhla, Western Sahara; Nouâdhibou, Nouâmghar, and Nouakchott, Mauritania; St. Louis and Toubacouta, Senegal.

7. FINAL DESTINATION: Banjul, The Gambia

We, Team Pekin Boys, certify that the travel herein was reviewed and determined to be essential for the accomplishment of the Plymouth-Dakar Challenge 2005 which includes serving our charities to the best of our abilities. It is the mission of Team Pekin Boys to undertake the challenge and act within all the rules and guidelines as put forth by the organization committee. Team Pekin Boys vows to have fun through all the trials and misadventure, to proceed with dignity, hilarity, and goodwill from start to finish.

8. Ron Batie was born and raised in San Jose, California, but has since lived and worked in several states and countries. Ron is a former U.S. Peace Corps Liberia volunteer. He is a sometimes biologist with interests, education, and professional experience in vertebrate biology, ecology, and natural history. An avid birder, he has found himself chasing birds from the Arctic to the Antarctic across the tropics as well as through pubs and watering holes in many lands. For the past five years he has somehow found himself back in Northern California masquerading as an engineer with the local phone company. His passion for travel, adventure, and birding made PDC05 an easy sell.

9. CONTACT: Ron click  here  

10. Jim Simpson proprietor of The Cliff House Hotel in Barton-On-Sea, Southern England.

Due to the difficulties Team Pekin Boys had finding a suitable vehicle for the challenge, Jim has offered up his co-drivers spot so Team Pekin Boys is now Team Pekin Boy. This is now a joint venture as Jim's Team the New Forest Stallions (Team 5214) is providing the ride. We will be traveling in relative luxury in his 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero.

This year will mark the third Plymouth Dakar Challenge that Jim will be participating in. In 2003, Jim took down a 1988 Citroen BX with 160,000 miles on the odometer and in 2004 a Volvo saloon 740 that he purchased off the street. Last year the Volvo, purchased for £100, sold in Banjul for £1,300 with the money going the St. Joseph's Adult Education and Skills Center in Banjul. This year, Jim is taking what has to be the sweetest car yet to take part in the challenge. The Mitsubishi was a virtually free car brought to life by a bit of elbow grease as well as donated items. It is also packed to the roof rack with items such as teddy bears donated by one of his hotels food suppliers, "3663," and soccer balls that Jim is taking down for the kids. The vehicle itself will be donated directly to EDAID - Education Aid Africa (registered charity no. 1002499).

When not driving to West Africa, Jim is either cooking and managing his restaurant with his wife Isobel or tooling around southern England in his 2003 Jaguar S-type 4.2.

11. CONTACT: Jim click  here  

12. Beginning on or about    December 26, 2004

Ending on or about    January 15,2005

13. Vehicular travel overland - in a 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero.

14. Bird Field Guides, binoculars
15. Tools, camping gear, personal effects, and copious quantities of food and drink

16. Other: 1 Hula Girl

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White Copy - Administrative Services
Pink Copy - Payment Authorization

Green Copy - Polit-Bureau File
Goldenrod Copy - Secret File

Yellow Copy - Homeland Security File