Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
400 miles done, beached the car in a ditch, Mongol mash pulled us out and lost their rear bumper in the process. Then the mashsters got stuck in a river and had to be towed out by a truck. Later smashed another alloy, punctured the right rear and snapped yet another spring. But it's all worth it because tonight The Yak Seat Drivers and their Suzuki Wagon R + Special sleep in UlaanBaator!!! We'll save the 2.5 miles to the finish line for tomorrow morning...
Bayanhongor, Mongolia
Found a hotel in Bayanhongor for a much needed shower, caked in dust after another 11 hour non stop power slide doing 50. Car has picked up a few more squeaks and other new noises but is still rolling. Today included my first ever bump-start (starter motor is dead) river crossing, all went well till ran out of revs 2/3 the way across and had to be towed out. Several local children had climbed into the passenger seat to enjoy the crossing and were trying to open the car door against the upstream flow much to their amusement. Good times!
Altay, China
Olgiy to Hovd was crazy, 8 hours of driving up untracked mountians accross vast plains and over huge rocks. Said goodbye to 2 tyres and one alloy. Stayed the night in the rally camp, couple of beers with the excelent chapeau nouveau guys. Yeasterday, hovd to altay 'roads' were better, sandy so lots of sliding about, all great fun. Camped the night a couple of km east of altay, nothing but mountains, empty plains and giant bugs. Aiming for Bayanhongor tonight, fingers crossed the cars can keep it together for the last 1000k to the finish line.
Ölgiy, Mongolia
Into Mongolia!!! Staying in hotel Bastua in Olgiy with the mongol mash. Border took most the day, mongol side pc is still playing up, only 5 of 25 teams made it through, met the head of immigration and chief of Police while crossing, they laughed at the wagon r. Mongolia is pretty much as expected, insanely beautiful and a flat out rally stage. Loving every second!!!
Almaty, Kazakhstan
150k north of Almaty, camping in a massive valley under a see of shooting stars. Been an insane week what with the highwell from hell (aktobe to aral road), half the team getting arrested in Josali, a tiny nowheresville town near baikonour (Russia space centre), last night staying in a hotel where whole bathroom floor was alive and today taking a dip lake Qapshaghay Bogeni only to discover the 45 degree sand track we drove down to reach the lake was not one our cars could get back up (full blogs will follow), all the while the whole team has been decidedly unwell. It's sounds bad, it's actually awesome, kazstan in testing us, we are loving it!@
Atyrau, Kazakhstan
ps, good lesson learned at the hotel atyrau last night... when trying to put the drinks on a room other than your own in an effort to avoid the bill it's wise to first check that the room number you quote actually exists. Worth remembering....
Atyrau, Kazakhstan
having completed 800k due south and then east yesterday over 16 hours, we are today travelling due north 500k (effectively back the way we've come) to Oral. We have it on very good local authority that road direct to Aqtobe is a complete shocker so are taking a monster detour to avoid it. The road north however is excelent and progress is swift :-)
Atyrau, Kazakhstan
just arrived in atyrau after easy border crossing . Have enjoyed a day of traditional Russian Big Macs and a pleasant dinner en route of chicken flavoured crisps and dubious tasting cookies. Camel sightings so far : about 60, customs officers at border requiring bribe: 3
Odesa, Ukraine
does anyone know Evan John Adams, John Robertson, Jason Koxvold? Found the exit portion of their border paperwork at Ukraine border. I'm on 0044 7790 908029 if you need this stuff.@
<p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font size="3"></font></span></strong></p><h4><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font color="#000080"><span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt">“The </span><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt">Mongol Rally</span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt"> is </span></strong><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt">dangerous</span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt">!”........ </span></strong> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt"> <span> </span><span> </span></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt"><span> </span><span> </span> ....."is NOT an organised tour”.... </span></strong><font color="#0000ff"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></font></p></span></font></span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font color="#0000ff"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"> </span><span>….“you will r<font color="#0000ff">eceive</font> <span style="color: red">no support</span><span style="color: #0070c0">”....</span> <span style="color: #002060"> </span></span></font></span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span><span style="color: #002060"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"></span><font color="#0000ff"><span> ....“your short term and long term health and even your <font color="#ff0000">life at risk</font>”....</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"> </span></font></span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"></span><font color="#0000ff"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt"> </span><span>……………….“you cannot underestimate the risks involved in undertaking this kind of adventure”.</span></font></span></h4><h4><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font color="#0000ff"><span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><font color="#0000ff"><span></span></font></span></h4>
