SMS Update
bloody made it! Ulaanbatar is where we are.Time to get drunk! Many thanks to everyone whos supported us. If u havent, do it now! Loudnoises!
SMS Update
bloody made it! Ulaanbatar is where we are.Time to get drunk! Many thanks to everyone whos supported us. If u havent, do it now! Loudnoises!
MONGOLIA!
Okay, first off, apologies for it being such a ridiculously long time since we updated this. Mongolians don't seem to beleive in mobile service, or working internet cafe's. Anyway, suffice it to say that we have had a mental time since you last heard. After missioning it up to the Russian border, we made it to Barnaul only to bump into Long Breakdown and 2 Muppets outside a supermarket! Went on towards the Mongolian border with them, to find that the road quite literally stops at the border. After a fairly hefty mountain pass, and the other SJ snapping its rear suspension for the second time, we made it into Olgii to effect repairs.
 Moving on the next day, we got a fair way before the Long Breadown broke yet another rear spring, and after replacing it with one of our spare front springs in an excellent bodge job (Robin Morrison, if you're reading this... so much for wasted weight!) we decided to camp up in the middle of the Gobi desert - in a freezing cold dust storm. Deserts suck.
 Next day, we got marginally lost (for about 20 miles) before finding the track again. At about 3pm we were waved down by the three girls of team Soyombo outside a mechanics, with what seem to be major problems, with one of them needing to reach UB by the 27th, and with a broken car. Being the incredible gentlemen we are, we decided not to let them pay $400 for a tow from Mongolians, and took the mammoth task of towing them to Altai (300km of broken terrain away) upon ourselves. After 24 hours of solid driving, we made it in at about 7.30 this morning, absolute heroes! The SJ is without a doubt the god of all cars!
 So, we are now in Alltai, recovering from the drive, and gradually sorting stuff out, although the southern, and apparently more boring route, is now looking more likely.
Â
Rory and Alex, LOUDNOISES!Â
SMS Update
At kaz/rus border after making it by 330 this morning. 550 miles yesterday, on very bad roads. Car not enjoying it. Russian paperwork so sloooow!
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heading to semey for tonight. Crossing to russia tomorrow. Visas pretty tight! Turns out the cash machine is new to kazakhstan, spent 40 mins wai ** some text is missing **
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All good, car towed out and started after some tlc. No indicators but so close to mongolia it doesnt matter. Pictures look good though!
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so alex just decided 2 drive the car into a lake. Up to the roof. Towed out but wont start, cud b the end...
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Off to see some dead ships in aral after doing 300km in 13hours on kazakh 'motorway' yesterday. Potholes entire width of road and hard shoulder. Added homemade shocks to rear suspension, originals knakered. Pushing for almaty on the 16th. R+A ps whoever drew the boobs on the bumps sign- nice.@
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Alex is slightley drunk after shots with the mechanics who just cut a scoop in our bonnet for 25l of fuel. 4085 miles on and heading into deepest ** some text is missing **
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At the rus/kaz border finally! Hopefully wont be too long, as its nearly 40celsius in the shade. Apparently it gets hotter. Damn.
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First speeding ticket. Or rather not, as they ripped it up after a 50 dollar bribe. 90Kph in a 50 zone, we didnt see the signs...