SMS Update
We made it! Just arrived at the finish line to a very welcome beer, barbeque and live music. Can't believe we're actually here, and neither can some of the teams we met along the way who knew of our car troubles. Alice pulled out all the stops for the last 24 hours, despite being down to only 3rd and 5th gears! Time to chillax and get some proper grub. Will update properly with photos tomorrow. Thanks for all your words of support along the way!
SMS Update
This is getting real nail biting now! Alice decided to offer us only 3rd gear. When we couldn't get her over a pretty small hill last night we got quite disheartened and a bit frustrated at each other so decided to sleep for a couple of hours and try again when the sun rose. Sleeping in the car is no fun, we can't move the seats back or recline them at all! Sun has now broken and she took the hill with ease after a 10 mile run up! Still only 3rd, 4th and 5th gears, but we're on the move again for the final sprint!
SMS Update
To our surprise this morning Alice is moving! She makes some funny moans and groans and pops out of gear a lot but she does move. I think this is our last chance with her, it's like that last red flicker of Terminator's eye. Let's just hope it's enough to get us to Ulanbataar! Despite our growing frustration with him we have to give the mechanic credit. Two days work, rebuilt and patched our gearbox twice, gave us accomodation and food, and all for 150 dollars. Plus he just insisted on buying one of our Pith helmets... for 100 dollars! Bargain! Next stop UB we hope.
SMS Update
We are now sitting in darkness for a second night in a row as the electricity supply for the whole city is switched off at midnight for 7 hours!
SMS Update
Second night in Altay, this time in a Hotel. Mechanics still working on car, but we're planning on getting the bus in the morning if it's not ready to go when we turn up.
SMS Update
Gearbox sealed up and refitted, engine started, gear selected... nothing! Not looking good, they're still tinkering but if they don't have it working in the next couple of hours we'll have to cut our losses and get a bus probably. Both a bit annoyed at how long we could have wasted here.
Another day, another 150 dollars!
We're in our third main town in Mongolia (Altay), and also our third mechanics! They've taken our gearbox out and taken it to bits. Very interesting to see, but also a little worrying when they found all sorts of 'extra' bits of metal floating around in it. We had to stay here overnight while they try to patch Alice up one last time.
The mechanic's son kindly offered to house us overnight, in his sister's house! The family were really accomodating and gave us dinner and breakfast and let us sleep on the lounge floor. There were loads of kids running around which seems to be a big part of their lives here.
Today we're just wandering around the town trying to pass the time while we wait for the final verdict on Alice. We've managed to find an internet cafe hence this proper update. They have some great markets here, each stall being a metal shipping container that they just open the doors up. We've managed to pick up some radiator sealant which hopefully stop the leak we have, just another of Alice's little issues!
Time is now running very short as the finish party is on Saturday, and even if they can fix the gearbox is is unlikely to be until late tonight, leaving us only Friday and Saturday morning to do the last ~400 miles to Ulan Bataar, which may not sound like a lot but in this terrain it really is! We've found out prices for getting the bus or a small plane there just in case!
*Bob and Lee*
SMS Update
Alice is really on her last legs, gearbox seized in first gear! Just grinded our way to nearest town at 15mph to find a mechanic. When we found one to our Suprise one of our convoy cars was in there, also with a busted gearbox! The guys have apparently left the car and gone on to Ulanbataar by ** some text is missing **
