Our adventure comes to an end!
Ulaanbaatar believe it - we've made it to the Mongolian capital!
Govi-Altai, Mongolia
After some challenging conditions yesterday incl 3 river crossings and some off-roading, today we covered a much greater distan
Bayan Olgii, Mongolia
We're now in Mongolia (after 22hrs at the border) and have also got the car fixed! Just had a bath in a rather chilly lake before dinner...
Altai Republic, Russia
Looks like we are going to have a long wait at the Mongolian border... Have also realised that one of our rear suspension springs has snapped so we'll need to get that fixed once we are through!
Biysk, Russia
Our 8 days in Kazakhstan are over... "I like"! Crossed the Russian border this morning without too much hassle, but continue to be pulled over by the boys in blue on a reasonably regular basis. Still evaded any "fines" though! Today, just as our usual routine of smiles, handshakes and generally looking stupid were about to fail, a local girl who'd met another rally team yesterday sweet-talked them round and Sam even got to flash his police badge to seal the deal! Also we successfully sourced some gas for our stove so we can now cook in the Mongolian wilderness... I'm not sure even Delia herself would have been able to conjure up a meal out of strange Russian sweets and a bag of dried pasta!
Semey, Kazakhstan
Camped out a few km north of Semey tonight in preparation for an early (hopefully) border crossing into Russia tomorrow morning!
Astana, Kazakhstan
Very grateful to the lads of the Monmouth2Mongolia team for informing us that we needed our Kazakhstan immigration card stamped yesterday, even though it meant we had to hang around in Kostanay at the Immigration office all day! Managed to avoid a fine of 100 USD (each) which was nice... We made it to Astana in record time this morning and have been touring around the "New (city) Centre" in the wagon admiring the architectural diversity!
Aqtobe, Kazakhstan
Having punished the car enough over the last week, we've amended our route slightly and are heading further north than planned to try and avoid any more roads which look like ploughed fields! We spent last night in Aktobe where our new Kazakh best friends, Sas and Alek, introduced us to the Kazakh club scene! A slightly later start this morning due partly to the aforementioned evening out, but also undertaking some running repairs to the car... shock absorbers reattached to springs and spare tyre deployed!
Shubarkuduk, Kazakhstan
21 hours crawling on the kazakh roads at 10 mph, dust everywhere, water bottles becoming highly prized assets, the steed rolls on!
Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan
Crossed border from Turkmenistan today... weirdest country I've ever been to by a long way, but great fun! Terrible roads this morning, about 60 miles barely out of first gear leaving the car (and us!) covered in dust! Managed a quick swim in the caspian to recover though and friendly Kazakh locals have sorted out our punctured tyre, found us fresh water and generally been legends. People of Zhangaozen, take a bow!
Timothy Armstrong
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Rupert Lubbock
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Sam Sharples
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Load Sam
I'm the type of man that built the Eiffel Tower out of metal... and brawn.
<p>Just popping out for a little drive.....</p>