Car doctors!

Right, so things have progressed a little east by about 300miles, but we pay the price with the car now falling apart!!! Firstly the sump began to hang in Kazakhstan but then eventually gave in a couple of days ago on some serious rocky terrain. Plus the roof rack started caving in so some serious shifting had to be done. We had the sump re-welded in Khovd on Sunday. This obviously wasnt done to great standard as if fell off on one side 60km into next days drive? The roads are tediously corrugated so rattle the entire car, body and brain, filling us constantly with dust!! With all these bumps going on our rear shocks decided they had been through enough pain and broke about 120miles ago, we have just managed to get new ones put on, however there is still a very odd sound coming from under the bonnet and the car sounds ultimate boy racer style!! We had to pull over last night and sleep in the cars yet again, due to a fantastic storm that had been playing chase with us all day, I advise to not pee at all when theres' winds like that!!! Fingers crossed we might make some more ground tonight but our convoy punto has pieced there gear box at present so hopefully that is repairable quickly?? So long folks, till the next update... Lis and Charlie xxx

We made it finally...Mongolia!!!

**Hi there everyone,**

**After a glorious couple of days travelling over stunning russian mountains camping by the river we made it to the Mongolian border where we were greeted by about 10other teams who had been there sometime some of them 24hours already, waiting to go through, this didn't look promising!! So low and behold we all bombarded the mongolian customs offices and camped out the night on their floor, they weren't to impressed but we told themit was too cold outside!!**

**14th August- Next morning, fingers crossed we would get through today?**

**And yes.... at 1.24p.m we were allowed to cross into Mongolia what a celebratory site 5teams together. We are now in a town called Olgii about 80km south of the border, we have climbed 8500ft and had the feeling of altitude breath for the first time, Magnificantely beautififul and so much more to come....**

**Will keep you all informed as much as we can, oh yes, and cars are still alive!!**

**Charlie and Alicia xx **

Tashanta

Hi guys we have finally made it across Russia today and have climbed about 5000 meters towards a little town called Tashanta on the Mongolian border. Its been a good drive for the last couple of days and the snow covered mountains are pretty spectacular but it is getting cold and we are wearing most of are clothes. We will have to camp here for at least a day because they are only letting six cars at a time cross the border and this is down to a minor hiccup by the Adventurists ... Time for some well earned food........

Russian Border...

Hi everyone.. So after a good days driving we have finally made it to the border of Russia without any problems and are now waiting for the border Police to workout if they know what country they are in and what their jobs are.( 2 hours and counting)!!!!! time for a brew I think....

                                     

Im not eating horse...

So we are 200 hundred miles south of the Russian border in a town called Ayakoz (its a bit weird) and have decided to stay in what we think is a hotel, which is really nice after camping for so many days. They have got horse on the menu and we narrowly avoided eating it due to some rather rapid translating.. Phew!!!!!  If all goes to plan then we will reach Russia tomorrow sometime xx  

Mountains

Hi everyone we are hitting the mountains today on are way to Taraz and everything is going great apart from our first flat tyre of the trip. We are going to be in driving for another few of days before we have covered kazakhstan.xx

Aral sea.

 Hi everyone we have made it 4000 miles so far to Kazakstan and currently we are near the Aral sea. We have been off road for the last two days making slow but steady progress and really hope to find some better roads soon. The car is running great other than the occasional cough and we are both safe and well. Onwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!