Finish

HI everyone

 I dont know if its the same for everyone but after that journey, life just seems dull. Im now clean and the sand is out of my ears. But yet id give anything to be back out there on the road. Its true what people say travelling is adictive, its like a drug but this one just messes with your asspirations. I want more from my life now. So I suppose it begs the question whas going to be next, well I think I speak for everyone when i say id love to do the Mongolian rally again, with some fundamental changes, i.e. sponsorship and lots of it.

So id love to hear from people regarding what they think the rally has taught them about themselves, and where they see themselves going in the future as a result of this.

Well, the car is now officially handed over now to the lovely people at CPDF in Ulan Baatar, and it is being worked by their mechanic as I type. Thanks to all of those that have supported us on this adventure, we couldn't have done it without you.

We have booked flights for Saturday, so until then we plan to be proper tourists for the next few days - no more driving! I'm looking forward to the luxuries of home and a car with working shock absorbers.

Thanks all.

Hello Ulan Bator!

We've handed the car over (less an exhaust), goodbye Skodie, you've been so good to us.

CALLING ALL PINKIES SUPPORTERS!

 You’ve begun every morning by reading the blog….You’ve followed the daring journey on Google Earth….. You’ve thrilled with the girls as they’ve thrown off the advances of blonde, bronzed Russians….You’ve held your breath as they dodged flash-floods, knocked back cheap vodka and struggled with greasy, lifeless hair….Now come to the party! See the pictures they hoped would never see the light of day! Hear their amazing stories! Find out the fate of their much loved Disco! And help Jen celebrate her 40th birthday in style!

Where:  A ger somewhere in Combe Down, Bath (further details tbc)

When: Saturday 6th September 2008 (8pm til late)  read more »

Sorted out most of our transport home now, gettin the train to Moscow on Tuesday and then to Tallinn on Saturday. Flying back to Manchester on the Sunday from there. Thanks to everyone who donated, see you all soon x

I can't believe what's happening at the northern border (Sukhbaatar). Why are rally cars not being allowed to enter. It must be absolute nightmare for teams at the moment after everything they have been through. Any news on if Lance has made it in his micra to mongolia (Team Gibbo).

Hello all im back home safe and well just need to rest and repair before work on monday. I will back track and tell you how i got on in the last few days of the rally. I can't remember exact dates but i made really good progress and i travelled from Novosibirsk to Krasnoyarsk 500 miles in a day pretty good roads. Then from Krasnoyarsk heading for Irkutsk another 500 miles on shocking roads really bad but i couldn't make it to Irkutsk so slept in the car. Got up early and drove through Irkutsk and then i visited lake baikal then 280 miles to Ulan Ude really nice place and i had dinner in the irish bar there.

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apart from us of course, the car has been a legend, though we got through a few tyres, almost all punctures through the sidewalls, had none in Kazakhstan, but Mongolia is lethal for rubber it seems, so I'm glad our bonnet based rubber ducks didn't make it that far.  Our last moment on the road wasn't quite on the road as we grounded out on an earthen road block but it only set us back by an hour or so and we made UB by lunch, last night the tent finally died when the wind tore it up and blew it flat, Dan took to the car while I hid under the remaining tatters, we just relaxing today in the Gobi Backpackers hostel and will deliver the car to the CDPF tomorrow, wicked!

Rock on people!

Ricky Balboa & One Man Band Dan 

Following the end of the rally and two straight days of sleeping and eating weve managed to slap together a few photo albums from AJ and Drews cameras, split into the three albums that can be access via the links below:  read more »

Well, we've made it.....We arrived in Ulaan Bataar this morning amidst great scenes of jubilation as  locals swarmed the streets to wave banners and welcome us..  Well, almost .

We've checked into a couple of deluxe suites in a posh hotel and are looking forward to the first wash in over a week followed by several icey cold beers.

The Pajero is still going  strong we are pleased to add.  Albeit with a few scrapes, some new tyres, not a great deal of suspension and some very dodgy screeching noises that seem to go away when we shut the windows and turn the music up...We'll be sad to see it go actually.  Well, a bit when we regain the feeling in our arse cheeks.  read more »