FactualNew to ITV4
In the first part of this new series, Neil Morrissey and Richard Fox are on a mission to bring a taste of England to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa 2010. The budding brewers are taking a truckload of their own brand beers, as well as some from other British Micro-breweries on a 3000 mile road trip from Dar Es Salaam, through the dangers and delights of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and into South Africa, finishing at the World Cup.
They’ve got the beer, but need to work out how to get it to the fans in South Africa. They take themselves away to the wilds of the Yorkshire moors and set up shop in a pub to prepare for their adventure. Having planned their route and shipped the beers over to Africa a week ahead of them, they manage to fit in some off road driving practice before catching their flight.
The pair arrive in the port of Dar Es Salaam half way down Africa’s east coast in Tanzania, for the start of five weeks on the road, and head to the local market. Neil says: “Tanzania is home to over 42 million people all of which I reckon are at the market. As Foxy is a chef by trade we’re gonna pick up some supplies for the culinary delights he assures me he’s going to prepare en route.”
It’s time for the guys to meet the truck which will be carrying them across the continent. Neil has to admit to Foxy that he might not have been completely honest with him about their vehicle and their seven ton truck is still in bits when they first set eyes on it.
But by dawn the next day, the truck’s ready to go and Neil and Foxy set off. Although Neil admits that managing the truck isn’t going to be easy: “Buying this crate over a cappuccino in London for a couple of grand seemed a result but it could possibly be our downfall – there’s a hundred miles or so to do today, its now pouring with rain and rush hour’s upon us.”
With no air conditioning, road signs or rules of the road the pair are having to get to grips with the truck, which they’ve named Corporal Jones, in a hurry. They eventually manage to make it to their first stop of the Selous game reserve for a taste of Tanzania’s flora and fauna. The reserve is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the biggest in Africa and the boys get a well earned rest at the Jambiza lodges on the banks of the Rifiji River before heading out on safari.
Neil says: “There’s the promise of being able to get up close and personal with all kinds of animals large and small but it’s the calm and serenity of the place that’s deafening.”
But as they leave the reserve and continue the journey it looks as though the truck could be struggling. Neil says: “Every time we start the Corporal he just cuts out it looks like he’s going nowhere and neither are we…As hard as we’ve all tried we’re gutted, even at three am in the middle of nowhere, to see him slowly losing the will to live at the side of the road. But I guess we’ve got to be realistic.”
They decide that they have to leave the truck by the side of the road and get a lift to a local motel. The next morning, the crew have unloaded all of the beer and equipment but the news on Corporal Jones isn’t good and Neil and Foxy are faced with the prospect of their journey finishing when it’s barely begun.
Last edited: Wednesday, 19 May 2010
