The nightmare start

Who could have believed that after such a short distance we would be broken down on the side of a Chinese motorway outside Beijing. Once more the 6^th piston had seized, only this time it wasn’t six miles from the garage! We pushed the old girl to safety and were then towed by one of the support crews to a filling station where we were joined by James one of the slightly odd local “guides”. I wanted to go back to Beijing but we weren’t allowed to. All the cars that entered China had to leave into Mongolia, through the designated border crossing and at the designated time. So the car was collected by a truck which we were told would meet us at the border. Just to make sure the “guide” took the drivers ID card. James and I were then driven in the guides car to the first hotel stop at Daihai. Sadly we were not the only ones in trouble so early with one of the Bentley’s in trouble with a broken clutch and Tim Scott’s FN motorbike also struggling .

 

One of the most depressing arrivals that first night. Everyone with tales to tell except car 66!

 

The picture shows just how calm James can be during stressful times.

 

RHC