Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
We made it!!! Crossed the finish line yesterday and have only just sobered up enough to write this blog (not for long)! Awesome party last night... Anyway since our last blog we have had a few interesting experiences. Despite all the advice about not driving at night in Mongolia we realised that we would never make the party if we didn't. So we set off at 6 in the morning with the intention of not stopping until we got to the finish. At about 1 the next morning we found ourselves off the main track, with Tom navigating I attempted a bit of off road which unfortunately ended with us in a swamp with the 2 front wheels fully submerged. After an hour of not managing to free ourselves Chris and I set off into the night to try and find someone to tow us out. After about a mile we heard barking and turned around to see a pack of wild dogs in our torch light, we ended up running for a mile through the swamp until we found a car which saved us from potentially being torn apart. 3 hours later we were back on the main track and in the next 30 hours I managed 12 hours driving and 2 hours sleep but we got there!
Govi-Altai, Mongolia
We've done the supposed worst stretch with 3 flat tyres (3rd tyre completely shredded), 4 or so river crossings, 1 camel carcass, and a camp fire fuelled by roadside tyres and wood from a not so health and safety conscious bridge. We lost our Aussie friends after they got 3 flats in one go but our spirits are still high, though Tom seems on the edge every now and then: nothing that Chingis Khan vodka and a lonely night in annabelle won't fix. Stocking up on tyres and beer now with not far until the mongolian half way point.
Khovd, Mongolia
At last we've reached Mongolia. After a lengthy border crossing exchanging tea, Strepsils and paracetamol in return for our freedom we speed across Mongolia (at a steady/snail pace). We've had beautiful mountain roads with clean blue rivers and lakes and have helped some of the local daredevil cattle appreciate life a bit more with narrow misses of Annabelle (the ambulance) with help from her siren. After a hillside camp, a dodgy wooden bridge and a - not so black - black market our convey reached the second drop off town. Still going strong we're fuelling up on food, vodka and the sanity of large groups before our longest/worst stint to come.
, Russia
Got to the border of Mongolia last night and were told that we couldn't cross until 9 Monday morning so we had to find a way to amuse ourselves until then. Luckily we hit the jackpot and found a supermarket that sold litre cans of beer... Camped with a load of other teams which was fun and we are not in a line at the border waiting for it to open..
Yesterday we went for a swim in ice cold water, more fun than it sounds! Ditched our hitchhiker after 200 miles much to Chris's disappointment. The scenery here is some of the most amazing we have seen so far with snow capped mountains, vast forests and huge plains.@
Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
Steadily making our way through Kazakhstan, should cross the border the day after tomorrow. Had a few interesting experiences so far; the most dramatic being when a driver attempted to ram us off the road at high speed just because he had to wait a couple of extra minutes at the petrol station! City driving has been taken to a whole new level of insanity in this country. We have reached the point when every time we go to a restaurant we play roulette and have to just point at something on a menu and pray, no one has got seriously ill yet... We got pulled over by the police in a city 2 nights ago for no apparent reason and only managed to avoid bribery by feigning complete incomprehension. Had quite a few fun time here as well including a food fight up a mountain road and spending time in a village in which the entire population came out to see us and even gave us food!@
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The border crossing was fairly expensive and arduous but made much easier by the teams that did it before us (we managed to get there 2 hours later than them and leave at the same time). We are now in Ashgabat, which is unlike any city I have ever seen before (the building are all white and huge and there is so much space). The only thing that seems to be missing is mobile reception. After this we will be heading directly north on the one road that goes directly through Turkmenistan and on to The Door to Hell...
ChÄlÅ«s, Iran
Experiences from Iran:
1. Don't leave flammable objects on the dashboard because they will explode (Tom found out the hard way when a lighter exploded cutting his eye). 2. Always take a compass when attempting to navigate through cities, there are very few signs in English and they tend to point in the wrong direction anyway.
3. Never check your mirrors, don't use indicators (they just confuse people), use your horn as often as possible and remember that at least 5 cars can fit side by side on a 2 lane road!
4. You should always try to use all available space in and on top of your vehicle (if you haven't got at least 4 people on a motorbike you aren't trying).
5. It's absolutely fine to reverse on a busy dual carriage way whenever you want.
6. Pedestrians can walk wherever they feel like including across roundabouts.
7. Traffic lights are merely for decorative purposes and are to be completely ignored (remember if in doubt: just go).
8. Remember to smuggle alcohol across the border because it's quite hard to get hold of...
GorgÄn, Iran
Can't seem to send blogs out of Iran so this probably won't go up until we get to Turkmenistan. We have reached a whole new level of grimy; 4 guys in a small ambulance, haven't showered in a while, in 35-45 degree heat and with no air con (in fact we have to have the heating on full to keep the engine cool) and the supply of baby wipes, what we have been using to clean ourselves, is running pretty low. Anyway in other news, one of our tyres blew out at high speed in the middle of a town, causing momentary loss of control! After gaining control again we managed to get a spare and even got our jerrycan filled with water. Everyone seems to be so friendly here... About 200 miles from the border now and have left the Caspian Sea behind. Should be in Turkmenistan sometime tomorrow...@
Nir, Iran
Yesterday we made it across the border, only a few complications and "gifts" for the officials. Found a fellow team stuck in the limbo of bureaucracy at the border (hope they make it out)... Iran is huge, incredibly hot and the driving is insane. Luckily I have already adapted to their way of driving (much to the discomfort of some of my team members!). About 275 miles in and heading for the Caspian Sea...
Doğubeyazıt, Turkey
Yesterday driving through a remote town we came across a lone rallier wondering the streets after one of his teams two cars had died for good. We found a campsite run by an english speaking Dutch guy who fed us and offered the first cold beer in a fe days. Now heading for iran and stones have already been thrown.@
