Mongolia!!
So we're finally in Mongolia! We've been having a few car issues, namely suspension (we've replaced all 4 springs and both rear shock absorbers in the last week). Actually Alastair replaced the rear shock absorbers, with springs - one of which in the middle of the desert with only a 12mm + 15mm spanners, hammer, and tyre iron! Who needs fancy tools like a spring tensioner?!
Anyway, this is just to say we're still alive, but totally out of money, so getting back through Russia could prove interesting!
Catch you at the finish line, folks!
25Km north of Ayagoz, Kazakhstan
Stranded as our spare and rear right wheel are now hexagons thanks to the potholes. We're out of money too. Perfect.
M41, Tajikistan
Top of a mountain watching Mongol Story being towed by a truck.
Kulob, Tajikistan
Buzz from Mongol story is having radiator issues, just waiting to let it all cool off
Dushanbe
After a stressful border crossing whereby the Uzbek border guard wouldn't give me my phone back until he'd looked at EVERYTHING on it TWICE, we finally made it into Tajikistan last night! After an hour or so of driving, we passed a police checkpoint and were pulled over. Standard procedure, get passports out and be polite and friendly.
These guys however were epic. They beckoned up inside, and practically force-fed us various types of melon for the best part of an hour! We learned a little bit of Tajik, and had a laugh, and went on our way after a couple of photos.
Today, we made the mountain pass drive into Dushanbe, and have seen some of the craziest driving yet, and the most impressive views we have ever seen! I wish we could put some photos up, but my phone can't connect to the WiFi right now, but we promiser to get them up ASAP. On to the Pamire Highway tomorrow for some equally as insane views!
Onwards!
The car is fixed! As of now, we're gonna be bombing down the highway heading for Tajikistan! Hope to be in Dushanbe for the evening, and heading for the Pamir Highway tomorrow!
Car Repairs
Finally some working WiFi! So we've been in Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the last 2.5 days, because we've needed the car to be repaired. The last 1000km have been really tough on Suggs with 7 breakdowns (most being wheel changes because of dented steels), but two because of a radiator system issue. Don't worry, we got it bodged for about £3.90 by a nice man who installed a bit of copper piping :-)
The major issue though is that the rear axle is about to fall off. The potholed roads of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan before that have made worse an already serious suspension issue, but hopefully that will be fixed as of 8pm local time! We shall but see!
Samarkand has been really nice, we've seen a couple of important mosques and mausoleums and an observatory from the Silk Road days, and it's been a really nice spot to have some down time!
Well update you when we next find WiFi!
Toodlepip!
Ashgabat
Currently nabbing a bit of wifi from the "closed" Sofitel in Ashgabat. Going to get our car looked at in a bit as the rear suspension is making dodgy knocking noises...
Balkanabat, Turkmenistan
after a 4 hour customs process, went to the beach to chill, and are now camping with 8 other teams!
Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
At the border to Turkmenistan, just been told to wait until 8am to get our visas after a 24hr ferry crossing!
