THE remaining Allie family members of the Cape2Cape Globerider Group, who left Port Elizabeth in March 2007 on a round the world trip in 4x4s with their families, are on the last leg of their journey and will return to Port Elizabeth in the next three to four months.

The trip has taken them across five continents, through Africa, Europe, including the United Kingdom, Asia, North America and South America.

Dr Gary, his wife Jo-Anne and children Jade and Dane Allie are currently in South America.

Dr Dean Allie and his family, Gary’s brother, made it through Africa, Europe, the Middle East (Turkey, Iran and Pakistan) and India before he and his family shipped home.

Dr Dean is back at the brothers’ joint practice in Springdale, Port Elizabeth.

The original group comprised 11 South Africans from Port Elizabeth-– seven adults and four children.

Among them, they had expertise in medicine, pharmacy, engineering, entrepreneurship, information technology and human resources.

The Allie brothers offered medical advice and their expertise to the communities they interacted with in Africa and advice where they could, the rest of the way.

The Allies are using the trip to raise money and awareness for the DicaG Centre (Happy Home for Children with Disabilities) in Transkei.

Speaking from Peru, Gary Allie said of the trip this far:

“The roads were the worst in Africa (mostly unsurfaced or potholed) – the three vehicles had plenty of punctures to be fixed and we had to put in tubes or discard cracked rims.

“We had a tyre change in Milan, Italy that took us all the way through southern, central, northern and Eastern Europe to Turkey.

“Then Iran and Pakistan’s roads took their toll and by the time we changed in India, each of the two remaining vehicles was driving with an odd wheel from a makeshift roadside repair stall and no spares.

“The big US of A has the best roads, with Europe a close second. We had no punctures or cracked rims with the old Grabber tyres that Gordon Mei of Continental Tyres in South Africa organised in India, and that we used through India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Canada and most of the US.

“There was an uneven wear pattern. However, this was as a result of under-inflation.

“With our four-ton weight we needed a tyre that could be inflated to 70 or 80psi and our current Grabber tyres for light trucks are perfecto – great in all road conditions, hard wearing and one just feels ‘safe’ on them while enjoying the ride .

“They are the ones to use without a doubt,” he said

With regards to the highlights of this trip, Gary said that each day was a highlight with unexpected experiences, choices and challenges.

“Scenically, Alaska and Norway are hard to beat. But so are Nepal’s Himalayas or the Alps or the Rockies. The Andes range is proving to be just awesome – it’s long, high and tough to traverse.

“The kids love beaches and deserts, so Namibia, Turkey, Thailand and Malaysia’s islands were a highlight for them, as was the wildlife all over Africa.

Gary said despite all they have enjoyed about this journey, ”We are tired after three years of living out of a 2x3m space and not knowing where we will be sleeping each night.

“We do not have the budget for hotels 90% of the time, so we are left to find a safe spot most nights when the sun sets.

“Latin America is especially difficult as the old historical cities have no parking and have narrow streets with places tightly packed against each other. Then to find cooking gas, the language barriers, vehicle maintenance, finding your way with rather basic maps – no GPS – it all takes its toll. We are looking forward to some relaxation and routine again.”

He said, “The best part about coming home will be to see our family and friends again. Also, just to know where things are and to have a home. For Jo-Anne, it will be to get the kids back into school as teaching on the road, with long distances to drive and things to see, is a tough balancing act.”

“We have seen and experienced an incredible amount. We have a far broader knowledge of the world – its history, geography, peoples with different cultural practices, art and beauty, natural and man-made. We have learnt many lessons and have become tougher in many respects. But our greatest fruit of this journey was the opportunity it gave us to spend each minute of three years with each other.

“Our original primary goal was just that and despite the hurdles, it has solidified an already incredible bond between the four of us.

While visiting a tourist spot at the Equator in South America, the Allie group bumped into the general manager of Continental Tyre for the Americas . He was really impressed with the journey and proud of the Continental Tyre sponsorship.

“The Allie family are expected back in time for the FIFA Soccer World Cup, which starts in South Africa in June 2010,” says CTSA communications, public relations manager Rene Olivier.

“We are certain that they will receive a very warm welcome when they pull into Port Elizabeth after three years on the road. We’ll be there to welcome them back –and to thank them for sharing South Africa’s spirit of ubuntu with the world.”