Almaty, Kazakhstan
Having spent 6 days in Almaty, we have finally managed to get Ambi a nice new home in Kazakhstan. She is in need of a lot of TLC and we bid her a fond farewell. Good luck Harry and JJ in getting to Mongolia via a mysterious city in Mongolia no one has ever heard of, or flown to before... - hopefully see you on the 10th! Laura and Chloe are off for a few days mountaineering and living like nomads before heading home on the 9th. Had a good couple of days with all the other Almaty based rally teams - hope you all get there. Thanks Ambi - what a trooper!
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Currently on our 5th day in Ashgabat - we have well and truly seen everything and are really appreciating the 50 degree heat! Ambi came out of retirement on Saturday night to rush Harry to hospital with food poisoning - we were unsympathetic at first, believing he was just hungover. Sorry Harry! We have now made several attempts to leave Ashgabat and make our border crossing on the 17th but have so far failed and are potentially at risk of being deported. Ambi was involved in a minor crash, then decided she'd had enough and has now made several trips to the mechanics whilst we have been making trips to the British Embassy and a few 5* hotel swimming pools as well. Fingers crossed we are out of here, well on our way to Uzbekistan without having to cook more supernoodles on the side of the motorway, whilst waiting for a tow truck. Oh dear.
Tabrīz, Iran
after 4 1/2 hours of border crossing, too many hours in headscarves, some very friendly iranians, a minor crash on a roundabout and about 8 of us having to push ambi into the nearest petrol station, we have finally found a campsite and some much needed food (we hope...it is ramadan after all)!@
Istanbul, Turkey
managed to avoid the gypsies in bulgaria by staying with Hans the german caravan smuggler. Ambi bossed a chaotic rush hour in Istanbul and is currently chilling in the cargo terminal of the airport and we're all set to find burkhas, bellydancers and bizarre bazaars tomorrow.@
Pirot, Serbia
with a little help from some friendly mechanics and scotts cider we are back on track with a new carburettor. Hitting chitty chitty bang bang land tmr!@
Goodwood, UK
slow start which meant we missed our planned ferry but managed to blag our way onto another one by letting the ticket man sign our ambulance! Off we go!
