Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Weve done it!! Exhaust fell off this morning but weve made it!
Altay
Well....we've made it to Mongolia! Cars are dying left right and centre. The peugeot is gone but the Suzuki is back on the road. Managed to find a similar part somehow and the guy in the garage welded it on to the original bracket. Yesterday we had some engine trouble but an early start thismorning fiddling with the carb and exhaust seem to have sorted it out. Waiting on a fresh set of springs and shocks to be fitted on the suzuki as they managed to snap a 2 springs and bend a shock in one day! Good effort!
Anyway...need to get going as its another 400km drive on the worlds worst roads today! Seems to be a reccuring theme of day of driving, day of repair! Luckily we are going well. The amount of mongol rally cars in the local garage is unbelievable!
Hopefully going to make it to Ulan Bator for the 28th party. Apparently the roads improve within 600km of the city, no tarmac....but we are told they are pretty driveable.Â
Â
All having an awesome time. Our new team members are form team "Dick's Dastardly". Hopeing to spend some time in UB after the outrageous finish line party.Â
Â
Hec.
Hovd, Mongolia
One less car in our convoy, but two more members in our team. UlanBataar here we come!
Semey, Kazakhstan
made it through the border! No fines all round for not registering, even arch didnt have a fine for not having his migration card. The police guy just wanted to get on and finish his game of table tennis. . . Surely the table was paid for from tourist fines though!
Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
Police just fined four of the five cars in our convoy. Apparently the road was a 50 zone. Oh well!
Almaty, Kazakhstan
KAZAKTAH!
South Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Just had our first fine. $50 for not having our lights on in the midday sun! Tried to claim innocence but they had a photo of us. . . Its not as if we are in the most subtle of cars!
Zhambyl, Kazakhstan
out of the desert and into the mountains. Had rain for the first time last night. Off to Almaty in search of a shower, a bar, a kebab and a CV for a 106. Apparently there is a bar showing the newcastle game there too. Should be a good night!
Aktobe, Kazakhstan
camped on the beach at a massive lake last night, finally clean! Luckily all the cars made it off the beach this morning! Had a few beers for wills birthday and to celebrate making it to the town considering the lack of roads. Its actually better off the road!
Aktobe, Kazakhstan
camped on the beach at a massive lake last night, finally clean! Luckily all the cars made it off the beach this morning! Had a fe ** some text is missing **
Hector McGowan
Load Hector
Archie Dickinson
read more...
Load Archie
My name is Archie Dickinson, I am 19 years old and I live in Northumberland. I went to school at Harrow and am off to Oxford Brookes after the rally.
I am on my gap year and having the most amazing time. We were a late entry in to the mongol rally so I missed a large amount of the preparation as i was awway in South Africa.
I love shooting, football, cricket, rugby and hockey.
I am big supporter of the incredible Newcastle United who of course have been promoted and are now back where they should be.
I love fast cars and generally know a bit about them, but I can't do anything mechanically at all which is why my team mate Hector is even more important. I am most of the time the assistant who passes spanner and sockets.
<p>Welcome to Lost, Stuck and One Smoking Radiator.</p><p> The team comprises of Hector McGowan, Archie Dickinso and a 1991 Ford Transit Ambulance.</p><p> Mongolia.....here we come! </p>