Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Hungover! Mouth like a Mongol's armpit and in desperate need of some unhealthy food.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The pop of a champagne cork heralded our arrival at the end of our journey. We made it! Both cars now sitting waiting to be sold to some lucky Mongolians, whilst we enjoy a beer in the finish line bar. Very excited and relieved to be here, but with a strange sense of anti-climax. Hoping the party tonight will put paid to that!@
Övörkhangai, Mongolia
Spent last night near the ancient Mongol capital in the Orkhon Valley. It is the epicentre of Mongolian identity and where their nomadic culture comes from. One cannot help but feel quite awestruck when you consider you're standing not far from where Ghenghis Kahn himself once had his camps before he created the largest land empire the world has ever seen, and all within just over 20 years! Having a well-deserved relaxing day before we cruise into UB tomorrow to the finish line.
Övörkhangai, Mongolia
That's us now passed the final vehicle drop-off point for knackered cars and both Clios doing very well. We managed to turn both into submarines yesterday to get across a river that had taken out a 4x4 as we approached. Both girls stepped up to the mark and performed admirably. Renault Clios are officially the best off-road cars in the world! We could easily get to UB today, but have decided to take a couple of days before we arrive for the first welcoming party on the 10th to do some sightseeing. Currently heading to Kharakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongols for some sun and a rest from driving. 1,000 miles of off-road cross-country driving really takes it out out you and this is our 8th day of it in Mongolia, but the end is in sight.
Bayanhongor, Mongolia
Currently enjoying a beer with two British bikers, a shower and a clothes wash while the rain clears. Starting to wish I'd bought more warm and waterproof clothes. A £6 pack-a-mac from a service station isn't cutting the mustard! Could get to UB tomorrow, but we're going sightseeing before so aiming to arrive in UB on the 10th all being well.
Bayanhongor, Mongolia
Just stopped in to have a tyre repaired (£3) after a sharp stone got the better of us. Also, managed to find a couple of people who speak fluent English, which goes to show that even in the middle of nowhere...
Govi-Altai, Mongolia
Finally arrived in Altai after the worst journey ever. Renault Clios were not designed for this, and so it's no wonder the locals look at us with a mixture or fascination and disbelief. Met a retired couple who were spending 6 months travelling around central and eastern Asia in their Defender and caravan which is a fairly good effort. The scenery continues to be fairly spectacular, however, with such vast open vistas, you have no idea of distance, and a mountain range you see in the distance can easily be 100km away as we discovered today, which made our journey even more enjoyable, especially as the majority of it was heavily corrugated gravel road which loudly shakes the entire car and everyone in it. Now looking for some food to continue the drive onwards. Both cars beginning to squeak like an old lady's hips, but the yaks' heads we have above the windscreens continue to charge on towards UB.
Khovd, Mongolia
Cars now as up-armoured as they can be, which is a good job as we've been over some more horrendous terrain to get to here, and we've still got more to come. You get used to the sound of constant scraping against the underside where belly frequently meets ground, but with only about 6 inches of ground clearance, it's something we'll hear a lot more of before this journey is through. Rained most of the day yesterday, but brighter this morning which hopefully bodes well for a good run to the next town. 130 miles covered yesterday, all cross country. This is far more demanding than the drive so far and is a constant drain. With having to concentrate all the time and with the constant vibration, you fatigue very easily. Not dissimilar from being in a tank in many ways.
Khovd, Mongolia
Have arrived in Khovd after a fairly epic journey through the mountains. The roads are something else - they are all gravel, and range from the very good to the absolutely awful. It has taken us a day to travel over 200km, but this was punctuated with a stop for a wash in a beautiful but slightly chilly Mongolian mountain lake. We then set off in earnest again, only to get the vehicle stuck on some soft ground, requiring the help of a passing lorry to pull us out again. We are now looking to see if we can get a welder to put some armour plating on the bottom of the cars to protect the brake and fuel lines, as we took a couple of big hits today and we're worried that this will end our journey to Ulaanbaatar. We had a very surreal night last night where three Scots, 3 Englishmen, 1 American and 1 German ate supper and drank a lot of whisky on the shores of a stunning mountain lake, listening to a very eclectic selection of music, culminating in doing the dance to The Sugar Hill Gang's 'Apache'. It's still hard to believe we're doing this, and some of the scenery we've seen today has been beyond spectacular. We also met another American who has spent the last three years cycling around the world. Speaking to him and our two new companions has really opened up all our eyes to the world of travelling. Not gap year travel around the far east travelling, but serious take-a-couple-of-years-off-and-put-life-on-hold travelling. Treating ourselves to a restaurant tonight - makes a change from pasta and smoked sausage. Jamie also being complimented frequently on his guns.
Bayan Olgii, Mongolia
Enjoyed Mongolian hospitality for the first time by being invited to a ger for lunch. This was after our first night where after pitching camp, we were suddenly entertaining about 20 Mongolians from the nearest inhabitation. We gave them all the stuff we didn't need any more like axes, the broken cooker etc, and they gave us cheese and curdled goat's milk which sounds revolting, but actually isn't that bad - a bit like drinking feta cheese. Tried to get the car modified - armour plating over the fuel lines, but to no avail. Cracking on to the next town. Also picked up a couple of travellers (one German, one American) who are going to Khovd (our next town) so we are now a team of 8. Now making our way to Khovd through the mountains.
