Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Had dinner with the Wicked Awesomes who made it here today as well. Flying home in a few hours via Moscow, but had enough time to do some more shopping and get a commemorative tattoo. It's all good.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Made it to Ulaanbaatar! On the way the transmission mount broke *again* so I tied the transmission in place with the towing rope and drove the last 500km like that. Pictures upcoming :) Oh yeah, also had a small accident where I drove the car into an earth wall at around 40kph and had to drive the last 80km with a broken radiator and therefore no engine cooling - i.e. very very slowly.

In the end the car, under its own power and driven by B. Jarisch and T. Tiger, made it to the finish line shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday, September 13, 2010, after driving more than 20,000km from Zurich. It was officially handed over to The Adventurists the same day. For the next few days I will enjoy the comforts of a bed, laundry service, hot showers and the incredible number of restaurants in Ulaanbaatar.

Anyone arriving in Ulaanbaatar in the next few days: Let's have our own late-arrivals party! Contact me at the Golden Gobi guesthouse (in the apartment block east of the State Department store).

Bayankhongor, Mongolia

Both rear shocks gone, both springs broken. Transmission mount broken again and fixed again, but transaxle fouled up. Steering fixed on left side, now leaking on right side. Driven 1000km on the most punishing "roads" in the world. Got lost in the Gobi desert. But only 500km from Ulan Bator and I'll be damned if I'm not gonna get there :)

Region of Altai, Russian Federation

Just crossed the Russian border. After a 3500km round-trip that cost me eight days and about 800$ for a new passport and visas, I am finally out of Kazakhstan!

Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

In a last-ditch attempt to stop me from leaving, Kazakhstan damaged one of the power-steering seals and I kept losing hydraulic fluid. In a counterstrike, I finally managed to buy duct tape (and cable ties!), so the leak is fixed and I should be in Russia within hours :)

 Also, I met another late team, The Wicked Awesomes, in Almaty on visa business so we will have our own Mongol Rally latecomers party in Ulanbator next Saturday September 11!

Almaty Province, Kazakhstan

In Almaty after driving through the night for 16 hours straight. Getting the Russian and, hopefully, the Mongolian visa today. In any case, should finally be out of the country tomorrow - what a great day!@

Astana, Kazakhstan

Got the Kazakh exit visa, on my way to Almaty to get the Russian and Mongol visas. Fate please don't let me be stuck here for another weekend!

Astana, Kazakhstan

Immigration police insist on an official translator for the visa application form. Russians just closed their consulate for two weeks. JUST GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!

Astana, Kazakhstan

Spent a day in Pavlodar getting the car running again. Now at the Swiss embassy in Astana getting a temporary passport. Kazakhstan has not given up and has given me partial facial paralysis. Doctors are confident, however.@

Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan

On way to Astana to get new passpowt and visas. Car keeps stalling due to dirt in the fuel tank. Situation is hopeless, but not serious.@