Reading to Bath, March 8th 2013
in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Service
[minitwitter username=”seagullchalleng” limit=3]
A gruelling test of man, dog and machine.
The British Seagull engine is legendary for being reliable, simple and almost indestructible. The British Admiralty ordered 1,000s in World War II specifying that they should ‘run for 24 hours non-stop’.
Well, three intrepid Kennet and Avon Boaters are to test this assertion in their own unique combination of Wacky Races, Three Men in a Boat and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Floating Machines.
Starting from Reading they will attempt a non-stop cruise of the Canal to Bath in a small dinghy powered by a Seagull engine. And, we assume, a copious supply of two-stroke oil and petrol.
The intention is to raise enough money for 24hours of operation for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, a charity without central government funding that, since its launch some 21 years ago, has attended literally thousands of incidents, providing an essential emergency medical service throughout the County of Wiltshire. It takes £1,917 to keep the air ambulance flying for 24 hours.
You won’t miss them passing – no matter what time of day or night—give them a cheer as they pass—or shout at them for waking you up, they won’t tell the difference over that din.
Now, I’m off to search eBay for electric outboards.
