The Finish Line
After a pretty sleep deprived 24 hour bus trip, we arrived at the finish line in Ulaanbaatar yesterday morning. Enjoyed a celebratory breckfast beer and are now chilling out in the city. Most of the teams that we were travelling with have arrived now and a big party is planned for tonight. Then we're planning to go to the orphanage we sponsored on monday followed by a 2 day horse treck into the nearby National Park, then flying out on saturday. We've had a wicked adventure and it'll be good to see the charity that we were able to support on the way. The fact that we didn't quite make it, was more than made up for in the experience we had when were sitting by the side of the road, not only from the help we recieved from the other teams, but also the hospitality of the local mongolians, who ensured we were fed and watered as well as inviteing us in to their Gur for mutton stew. Thankyou everyone for your support, and expect the first pictures on facebook soon. This is Ed, Rich and Mike signing off.
Altay, China
it is difficult to explain exactly how uncomfortable it was driving through the night on the back of the truck. We got to the garage where they confirmed that the car is truely dead-oil pump broke and resulted in pistons being ground out. Plan now is to head to UB by bus. Emotional day
Altay, China
finally got a truck to pick us up-currently on the back of a low loader-car almost fell off putting it on-dodgy! driving along still in the car, its like we're driving on a green screen of mongolia.Gonna get dropped at nearest town, see if we can get the car fixed & play it from there!
Altay, China
We are currently camping at the side of the road after hitting huge rock, damaging the sump&gearbox, perhaps terminally. Luckily brok ** some text is missing **
Govi-Altai, Mongolia
Although not as bad as some russian roads-the sustained onslaught of mongolian roads is taking its toll-today we had a wheel shred,exhaust fall off&ruptured the fuel tank-all fixed now!Past other teams who's car has died!Still making good progess and had 1st shower since st petersburg!
Bayan Olgii, Mongolia
got through the mongolia border at the nth hour last night after 46hours at the crossing-it took 20 us dollars to make it. Now making our way to a town to maybe get a sump guard fitted as the roads have taken a turn for the worst. Mongolia: yurts,horsemen, dodgy roads, frost!
Republic of Altai, Russian Federation
we're at the mongolian border- been here for 24hrs now-still at the 1st checkpoint on the russian side-its so slow, bout 20 other teams here!Still have 20km of no-mansland, then mongolian checkpoint. Not sure how much signal after russia so this maybe the update in a while!
Republic of Altai, Russian Federation
eventful day yesterday: stayed in beautiful place in altai mountains-went for naked banya sauna+whipped each other with branches, then speed boat ride, then open air night club-great night! However on way home-rich's got camera stolen, mike's money stolen-all ok!at police station now.
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
Today's driving was a dream compared with yesterday's city hell, clear straight roads mean we r making good progess despite ed leaving the map on the roof at a petrol station, then realising 16 miles down the road-luckily a crazy lady retrieved it from the roadside in our absense.@
Tatarsk, Russian Federation
advise for anyone goin to omsk (particularly by car): if you want to get out again, just dont go. There is nothing there&no signs telling u how to get out-imagine that in a city of 1.1million. On the plus side we had a mid traffic jam signage of the car+we managed to book flights home.
