Jake Stephens, a surfer and small company director, is doing something a little different for New Year. With his partner Claire, their friends Russel and Shamsa (and two children Zara,
4, and Leah, 2) and Andrew and Melanie (with 18-month daughter Amara), he's hitting the road through Morocco in search of snow, sand and surf, roughly
in that order. Each family has their own expedition-equipped VW Syncro 4x4
Camper. Although they're 15-20 years old these vehicles have been fitted with modern TDi
engines and overhauled in preparation for the trip by Russel's specialist company, Syncro-Nutz.
Usually the domain of Land Rovers and Toyotas the travellers hope to prove the
VWs' worth in outback expeditions and surf trips, via the snow of the Atlas Mountains. Some of their friends and family have concluded that they're the wrong side of sane to take on such a trip with three very young children, but here's hoping they all remain in
rude health. We might even be able to check their progress - thanks to the miracle of satellite broadband from AST (www.satcomms.com) Jake reckons he'll be able
to keep in touch, even at the most remote breaks on the Western Sahara. Let's see...