Irkutsk, Russia

my phone is finally working in Moscow, on our way back to London so I thought I'd post the last few updates that didnt go through 2 weeks ago! We arrived late last night in Irkutsk. Spent the night in a renovated old soviet block of flats with a crazy owner who kept telling us to keep quiet and made Waldo change the bed sheets by moving him around the rooms! After coffee and breakfast at Lenin Street cafe (surprisingly similar to Starbucks?!), we are on our way to lake Baikal!

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 08:13 UTC 6th August 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Irkutsk, Russia

arrived late last night in Irkutsk. Spent the night in a renovated old soviet block of flats with a crazy owner who kept telling us t ** some text is missing **

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 08:12 UTC 3rd August 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Tulun, Russia

South Africa is closer to London than we are now! The road through the forest on the way to lake Baikal has got some really bad dirt road patches! It's 35 degrees in the car and can't even open the windows because of all the dust that has reduced our visibility to 10m in some places! 430km left to go and it's already 2pm here, it's going to be a long day of driving...

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 07:44 UTC 2nd August 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Krasnoyarsk, Russia

didn't get lost yet, thanks to the super organised swedes! Polished a bottle of Baikal berry vodka last night and slept like babies in a field covered in mist and mosquitoes. We're all dirty and muddy again after camping in the rain. In Krasnoyarsk having lunch at the English school then back on the road to lake Baikal!@

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 10:40 UTC 1st August 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Kemerovo, Russia

We had the best night sleep (so tired than one beer got us drunk last night!), a warm shower and awesome buffet breakfast! We even managed to do some laundry! Almost in Eastern Siberia, the scenery is more mountainous with huge forests. Driving with "the swedes" all the way to lake baikal - hopefully we won't get lost anymore...

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 18:53 UTC 31st July 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Novosibirsk, Russia

finally arrived in Novosibirsk after driving 1000km today, getting only slightly lost and scoring some local beer! Stopping over at a hotel to wash some clothes (we all ran out of clean underwear 2 days ago!), take the first shower in 5 days and sleep under a solid roof. We're also meeting up with the Swedes, another mongol rally team. Can't wait for that shower, it's going to be the best thing ever!

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 13:43 UTC 31st July 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Tatarsk, Russia

The roads deteriorated rapidly, we then realised that we were on the old dirt road to Novosibirsk... The guys eventually stopped for directions in a small town where we came across 1 drunk and 2 sober Russians who helped us out so much. We gave them some Jack Daniel's and they gave us some local beer! Shane had a full "conversation" recorded on tape. We are now on the smooth, beautiful new road to Novosibirsk.@

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 09:51 UTC 31st July 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Omsk, Russia

after a night of camping in a small forest, Meline made waffles for breakfast and we saw deer running around our camp. When stopped at the petrol station, Shane saved a guy that was having an asthma attack. 700km to our next stop but the roads are good so we'll see how far we get today!@

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 14:23 UTC 30th July 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Ishim, Russia

passed a solar car from Germany on the way to Omsk, looked really cool! We've also encountered our first shortage of unleaded 95, so we've had to switch to 92, so much for fuel efficiency... Petrol is so much cheaper here - 95 is only 55p a litre!!!

Meline Joaris
Of Sons Of Da Gama
On the The Mongol Rally 2012 12:33 UTC 30th July 2012

HIGHLIGHT ON MAP

Tyumen, Russia

stopped in this town for a well deserved warm Russian meal with locally brewed beer. Weather cloudy and rainy so not great for camping. Halfway through Russia! Go sons of da Gama!

Team Sons Of Da Gama

Irkutsk, Russia

Irkutsk, Russia

Tulun, Russia

Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Kemerovo, Russia

Novosibirsk, Russia

Tatarsk, Russia

Omsk, Russia

Ishim, Russia

Tyumen, Russia