Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

We have arrived! The car is very battered, bonnet flew off and smashed wind screen to finish the rally, amazing 5 weeks. Photos soon

Photo update

Getting towed, petrol was coming out faster than we could fill up

 

Fixing the petrol tank, some genious bodge fixes were going on here.


 

Mobbed by some kids at the Mongolian border, the girl with the pink trousers was always the first to get to the rally cars for begging. She'll run the place in a few years. 

 

On the way to the migration office in Kazakhstan, a colleague of the geordie we met in Atyrau helped us out with visa registration.


 

A team we are conjoying with (canadian beavers) overturned just 5km from Altai, Mongolia. They are ok and the car went on as if nothing happened


8000 miles: Altai, Mongolia

A short blog update from the Mongol Schumachers:

We've made it to Altai, Mongolia and we have now driven for over 8000 from goodwoodrace circuit. We have been in a convoy of 7 since Olgi, Mongolia because the fiat bravo driven by cake or death has had a major electrical problem and had to be dropped off there, luckily we are convoying with a 17 seater ford transit and an ambulance so there are plenty of spare seats.

Our little swift is doing well, the first problem we've had on the rally was a broken wing mirror in kazakhstan thanks to a misdirected football, who invited the Americans to play? Since then we've changed two tyres in Mongolia and more recently we've added 4 holes to the petrol tank, meaning our fuel economy is even worse than before. We've also had to take our amazing roof rack off because of the weight of it, it was very sad to see it go considering the amount of effort my neighbour Neil put into it.

The petrol tank was a real pain to fix, we first tried some QUICK steel which QUICKly came off. With a fast leak, breaking off from the conjoy and speeding to the next town on corregated roads meant we blew another tyre, we ran out of petrol and had to get towed to the next town. This town was more of a medium sized village, and was one of the less friendly parts of Mongolia. After a lot of pointing and charades, we found a mechanic who was able to weld the holes, for the cost of 40,000 mongolian togrog (or about 30 dollars). We have been dealing with dollars for several weeks, and euros for several weeks before that and can't even remember what a british pound looks like.

We've had a taster of the gobi desert just before we got to Altai but we will experience the real thing later today!

By the way, if you want to read more, one of our convoy members who we have been with since kazakhstan has been able to blog in a little more detail: http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/brighton-to-baatar

Khovd Mongolia

From a yurt in Khovd, we have reached Mongolia and have 1400km remaining. Reaching Ulan Batar on the 28th seems unlikely with the roads causing the stubborn car to suffer. We have crossed deserts, mountains and now rivers with it set to become more difficult. All the more interesting! So hopefully until U.B. ...

Region of Altai, Russian Federation

beautiful rivers and mountains in the altay region of russia. We're heading for mongolian border today. Some gifts bought, mainly vodka

Russian Federation

moving gamely. The border tomorrow evening else enjoying the novelty of phone signal until then. Krishan has been meaning to call Bowers...

Russian Federation

apologies for the lack of blog detail recently. Much to say when we find the internet. Car repaired. Heading towards the Mongolia border 2 days away

Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

convoying with 8 teams to russian border. We camped in a nice field last night which turned out to be a industrial rubbish tip Fun times