Rocket man's next mission

8:30am Saturday 30th August 2008

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A MAN is planning to travel to Venus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn in a spaceship.

But Charles Rogers is not actually going to the outer reaches of the solar system - just four resorts on the Black Sea coast of Romania.

And his spaceship is a Peugeot 106 diesel with a fin and fibreglass rocket engines.

Mr Rogers, who lives in Stocks Lane, Over Peover, said he did not even expect the planetary-themed resorts to be particularly interesting.

“I have a feeling it’s where the communist elite used to go on holiday,” he said.

“It’s basically a concrete jungle. It sounds exotic but I think we’ll find it’s not.”

He was, though, excited about driving through Albania with friend Sarah Lancaster despite the UK government advising against all travel to parts of the country because of unexploded bombs, poor roads and crime.

“It sounds all doom and gloom but from what I’ve heard Albanians are so warm and friendly and they will open their doors to you and feed you,” said Mr Rogers.

“They won’t even take money for letting you stay. I’m hoping there’s more of that and less of the bandits.”

Mr Rogers and his £126 car - bought off eBay - will cover 3,000 miles through 13 countries when he sets off on September 5 alongside about eight other vehicles.

Earlier this year he drove with two friends to Latvia, hoping to cross the frozen Baltic Sea in a Jaguar.

But the area was experiencing its warmest winter in 85 years and Mr Rogers had to stick to dry land.

All the cars taking part will be sold at the destination for charity. Mr Rogers will be supporting Cancer Research UK because his mother recently suffered from breast cancer.

He said he was confident the Peugeot, which has covered 94,000 miles in its lifetime, would complete the journey.

If you would like to support Mr Rogers email jcwrogers@googlemail.com