We are back on blog and on track with the rally after a very difficult start.
Where have we been – pretty well everywhere !
We rejoined the rally in Ulaan Baatar having fixed our seized piston and for that we need to
thank our fellow competitor David Ayre. Gingerly at first and then with more confidence we
Set off into the Mongolian desert. Awesome scenery and crazy rutted,potholed tracks made for
Long and tiring days driving upwards of 350kms and often taking twelve hours to do it.
Here are the different days driving we have had.
Ulaan Baatar to Kharkhorin 362km and then an evening of yurting –
Kharkhorin to Tariat 327kms and then our first night of camping – Freezing at night.
Tariat to Uliastai 336kms and even colder night of tenting – Ice in the tents in the morning.
Uliastai to Teel river 253kms – No tarmac at all just one long pothole.
Teel River to Khovd 177kms – Fabulous campsite and not so cold.
Khovd to the Russian border – 310kms – our first hotel for 6 nights – fab !
Border to Belokurikha – 581kms – Disgusting hotel , truly disgusting .
Belokurikha to border and the Semey – 548kms.
Semey to Usharal 580kms – camping again – dreadful but fortified by vodka.
Usharal to Almaty 551kms.- Oh joy an Intercontinental hotel and two days of rest.
So the last two weeks have seen us travel through Mongolia and into Russia for a couple of days and then
Through into Kazakhstan. Tomorrow we leave on a mere 729km journey that will get us close to the border
With Uzbekistan.Two days rest has been much needed but we spent the first day fixing the car with all its
Problems and that took just under 12 hours.
The car –
Everyday something has gone wrong or fallen off or just disintegrated and it’s not just us, pretty well
Everyone is missing bits and pieces from their cars. I reversed the car into a van quite early on in Mongolia and
That meant the boot was staved in and unable to be opened , a pity as that is where our reserve fuel tank is.
We lost part of our roof.We lost half our fuse box so no headlamps , another pity as we had a 20 hour journey into
Russia with 6 of them in darkness.
We have had oil leaking from pretty well every part of the engine and then spotted a fractured oil pipe.
None of these little troubles have stopped us having to laugh at adversity – it’s all part of the game.
Border crossings – How to learn about patience and then learn some more. We spent just under 8 hours crossing from Mongolia into Russia , not helped by the border guards having a decent one and a half hour lunch break. Crossing into Kazakhstan was a piece of cake , just 4 hours was all it took. Interminable paperwork and lots of men in different hats compounding the issue.
Comedy beards – We’ve both got them.
So we are now packing up and readying to leave the civilised , air conditioned comfort of the Intercontinental for another heavy duty day of rallying. Thus far we have had an incredible time. Fellow competitors are on the whole great fun and terribly helpful. We have seen some fabulous scenery and Ham and I are definitely losing weight.
A number of cars have gone from the rally , some people have gone out and bought replacements but are not certain if they can get them through the borders to come. One pair saw their car catch fire and just melt in front of their eyes.
Another pair have the interesting experience of one of them marrying the other one’s ex wife – wonder what they talk about ! So the peloton rolls on and we are ready for another long long day tomorrow , still talking and still not listening to each other.
