No internet in a while, so lots of updates to come, we'll fill in the blanks over the next week
So now we're in mother russia somewhere, staying in a log cabin
Crossed the border successfully, minus one map book
So after an early morning start we've crossed into Uzbekistan and made it to Bakara. This will be the first spot we spend two consecutive nights waiting for other teams and just chilling out. It has lots of old things made from mud brick, and cold beer which is a very good thing for 3 thirsty boys.
Made it to Turkmenabat, but have to wait till morning for the border
More desert, more sand, more potholes, more dust, more paperwork! Were taken in by some local mechanic lads that wouldn't let us camp by the canal for fear of cobras. So much beer later we slept outside their house with the the holiest mosquito net that was filled with very fat happy mosquitos in the morning.
More bad roads north, to exit Turkmenistan
we only have 5 days in the country, one of which was spent in queues for stamps and forms with customs. So we camped on the side of the road surrounded by singing frogs and broken down truckies
Marathon 49 degree desert drive to Ashgabat
Turkmenistan is crazy, they have way too many gold dictator statues around to be such a nice country. But it is crazy englishman hot here, 49 degrees on the highway for 13 hours today, sandstorms, camels, 20c per litre petrol! Ashgabat was a great city, but we got stung at the hotel with the $6 laundry service, turns out it was $6 per item. $156 USD later I'm now wearing the most expensive washed undies I've ever owned.
13 hour boat trip to Turkmenbashi
So we were last on the boat, and after 13 hours of sweating and drinking we arrived with 18 other rally crews at Turkmen customs! What a nightmare of paperwork and stamps, took 12 hours to clear. After all that the people of the country were very friendly, we were welcomed everywhere and the duck on our roof grabbed a lot of attention and questions. We camped on the beach of the caspian after escaping customs at 9pm with a bunch of other ralliers
Hit Azjerbaijan customs-
hideous country full of thieving bastards, never, ever, ever visit again!!
Camped the night out in Georgia
Went over an awesome mountain range through the night, crazy, crazy road, after fording a river in the justy we camped by the side of the road and were awoken to a the sound of Georgian cow bells in the morning. A 15 minute drive later we had fresh bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar for breakfast courtesy of a roadside bakery
At the Georgia border with Turkey,
A few hours waiting in a queue
Stopped in at Trabzon to collect V5 Paperwork
took a shower at novotel trabzon, a very expensive shower
Luke
Kiwi from the mountains of NZ specialising in fixing stuff and driving away from things fast
Marie Noyens
Load Marie
Hayden Rumble
Load Hayden
Darren
Just going along for the ride to make sure the new world is in order.
Isabelle Daniels
Load Isabelle
2 Kiwis and an Ozzie drive a crazy small car to mongolia