the final blog

hi everyone,

For the last week we have been travelling across mongolia after a nightmare of a border crossing. We spent 50 hrs at the russia / mongloian border camping in the snow and rain waiting for the paperwork for the car import. It was hitting -5 degrees at night and was freezing, I have never been so cold. Once we got through the border we entered the most stunning scenery and the roads, if you can call them that, were shocking. We started to realize the scale of the country. another 1000 miles on dirt tracks..

It has been great as the people are so friendly and the rally entered the really hard part where the majority of the cars that do not make it break down. On the way through mongolia we camped with a family of 15 who all lived in a yurt by a river. It was beautiful and they had their hurd of cows an sheep all running around free in the area arond their yurt. What a way to live. They gave us cheese for breakfast in the morning and showed us how they live. A water truck turned up and as payment they strapped a goat to the roof of the lorry. Im sure the rspca would have something to say about that!

We continued south towards the gobi desert where the tracks started disappearing and you pretty much had to guess which way to go as there was no obvious paths through the sand. At least the compass came in handy! and we navigated by counting our miles and hoping we were going roughly in the right direction. We have spoken to teams that have lost days in the desert by missing a track and going in the wrong direction. Camping was easy as when it got dark we just stopped and put the tent up whereever we were.

We were amazed that the car made it through. We had to do a couple of big river crossings with the water coming up over the bonet as we drove through, very exciting. The car was having a hard time though, more of the exhast fell off and the gears stared to get a bit dodgy, we got 3 burst tyres and the bumper nearly fell off. Im not sure how that happened... think it may have been neils driving. hehe. I managed to hit a huge rock in the dark and the whole car jumped. I think the sump guard saved us there as it is now molded to the bottom of the engine but the saxo kept on going! After a couple more long days driving and camping from dusk to dawn we saw Ulaan on the horison.  

we arrived at the finish line in Ulaan baatar just in time for the 4 week party and what a great party it was. We started the evening by driving around the city in ambulances that people drove here with about 20 people in each ambulance and the lights and sirens blarring and much vodka flowing. The we headed onto a club where the atmosphere was amazing with everybody in such good spirits because they had actually made it to the finish line. It was great fun.   

We have had an amazing time travelling to mongolia and are a bit sad to hand the keys to the saxo over as it has been such a great journey. It is a real achievement to make it this far, a third of the way around the world! We want  to thank everyone who has supported us and helped us on our way. It is something that I would recommend to do, but certainly not much of a holiday.

Tomorrow we are going to some of the projects that the money we have raised will help and then our car is being auctioned tomorrow evening and that money is going to the charities so we should have raised 2500 pounds in total! Im suprised that most of the cars sell for around 1500 dollars here as small hatchbacks are very rare. We are then flying back to the uk on tuesday. 

Speak to you when i return.

Dan 

Province of Tomsk, Russian Federation

in the mountains, bbq lit, meat sizzling, bottle of red airing. In lovely place next to river. 10 teams with us now. May go rafting in morn

On the way to Mongolia!!

hi everyone,

We have now covered 7000 miles in 21 days. Only one more country to go! and I think this is going to be the exciting one. We have started to meet loads of other teams again and in our hotel last night there were 8 teams who are all heading in the same direction! Looks like its going to be a large convoy through mongolia. Probably the best way to do it as if anyone gets stuck at least there is some man power to help push the car out. We are planning on camping in the mountains tonight and have just been to the shop to replenish our meat supply for the bbq. We even have two bottles of red left which the police have not got their hands on yet.

We have quite a result yesterday. We were pulled over by a policeman waving his trunchion and had a chat, did the usual formalities of showing our documents and we told him what we were doing. He said something about money so we started to go ooowwwwwww, not again. He then pulled out a 10 rouple note and gave it to us whilst pointing at the childrens charity sticker. Very nice of him. It is only about 25 pence but good on him for helping and not trying to extort money from us.

We are about to head off so better go and pack the car. The car park outside looks like a mechanics work shop with people mending exhausts, changing wheels, etc,etc. I think the hotel staff are wanting us to go.. We are not planning on staying in another hotel until Ulaan sometime later next week so this may be the last big update. Just hoping we make it, mongolia is where most of the cars that don't make it die. Im sure we will be fine!!

Dan    

Barnaul, Russian Federation

its bliss to be back on smooth tarmac! In a nice hotel for the last time before finish line. Off for dinner with couple of other teams.

Rubtsovsk, Russian Federation

Back into russia! Got through border in 4hrs again. Roads loads better. Car sounding ok, a bit battered from kaz.. Cruising towards mongolia! Dan

Astrakhan, Russian Federation

decided not to go for boarder. Sitting by river having beer. Beautiful city. Loads going on. Early start tomorrow, see how much kaz we can cover.