NEWSFLASH: Substantial gains made in the 'big push'!
Submitted by hazell_29 on Thu, 31/07/2008 - 6:13am.
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Hello! After a physically and mentally exhausting 11 hour drive (including 3 hours at night) we have made it to the next city on route, Bayanhongor. Only 400 miles to go!
Yesterday started well with every petrol station in Altai having no diesel left. We ended up having to go to the Mercy Corps office and asking for mercy. One of the guys there knew someone who had a load stockpiled, so we went around his house and managed to get 80 litres. Suffice to say the 'water in fuel' warning light has been on more frequently than normal.
We hit the road and went well until it got dark. Then we got lost. Stopping at a ger we were lucky enough to find a family who were driving to our next stop and we followed them. I thought this was a good idea until they forded a 3 ft deep river - another moment where I thought it would be the end of Maxus. Along the route we shared a can of beer, some biscuits and some extremely dodgy looking meat.
Maxus is looking good. I have the utmost respect for the vehicle, that after the pounding she's taken she's still projecting us east. We've managed to fix all the little problems we had (i.e. the doors) and the mechanics have essentially sorted us mechanically. We're expecting some more problems with the transmission, but we're all experienced Maxus-fixer-uppers now so we're confident we will overcome. Still haven't got 1st gear and we lost 3rd, but this isn't proving too much of a problem anymore as we're getting to grips with the driving.
Tom's mum - tell him to wash his feet or his team mates will kill him.
Hopefully we should be in UlaanBaatar tomorrow evening, and rest assured (in the words of the character from the fast show) we'll be getting 'vveeery vveery der-runk'.
COME ON MAXUS!
Hazell.
Date | Message | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 weeks 2 days ago | After 39 gruelling days, all members of Team Ghenghis Can't are now safely home. Craig flew back from Beijing on the 5th August, and (after spending 4 days living in Terminal 3 of Beijing Airport after missing our flight...) both me and Tom returned to Bromsgrove this evening. I'll post again with the full after action report when I've recovered from all the whisky and wine drunk on the plane home. Hazell. | |
| 17 weeks 4 days ago | Hello! This morning, after recovering from a thoroughly memorable night out, we signed the van over to the CDPF. They showed us examples of all the good work they do, which made the trip feel thoroughly worth while. Prehaps more importantly they gave us cheeseburgers and beer. read more » | |
| 17 weeks 5 days ago | Team ghenghis can't have made it to ub! WE'VE FINISHED! It's been a long month but we got there. Standay for a more detailed post. HUZZAH! | |
| 18 weeks 17 hours ago | Hello! After a physically and mentally exhausting 11 hour drive (including 3 hours at night) we have made it to the next city on route, Bayanhongor. Only 400 miles to go! Yesterday started well with every petrol station in Altai having no diesel left. We ended up having to go to the Mercy Corps office and asking for mercy. One of the guys there knew someone who had a load stockpiled, so we went around his house and managed to get 80 litres. Suffice to say the 'water in fuel' warning light has been on more frequently than normal. read more » | |
| 18 weeks 1 day ago | Hello! We stayed in Altai yesterday to have a rest day (for both ourselves and the van). Got a mechanic to put new transmission fluid in and repair the underbody protection, so hopefully it'll hold long enough to get to the finishing line. Gears grind horribly when you change, so it'll be a good idea if the charity rally people start researching LDV transmission repairs for when we arrive. Had a icy cold shower this morning, which was most appreciated. We set off in an hour or so, so if you don't hear from us for 4 days start contacting international rescue. I think Thunderbird 2 will be the most appropriate rescue vehicle.... See you on the other side of the Gobi! Hazell.
| |
| 18 weeks 3 days ago | Hello! Mobiles not working out here. We're in Altai in the Gobi desert. Van is being literally ripped to pieces, but we're all safe and well. Going to have the first shower in 2 weeks tonight and i'm really looking forward to it. Everything is dusty and we stink, but hopefully we'll be finished in 3/4 days. Spent a day stuck in sand 2 days ago, and yesterday we lost all transmission fluid and therefore the ability to select a gear. Brilliant! HUZZAH! Hazell. | |
| 19 weeks 17 hours ago | In mongolia! Where haue the roads gone? Tom's already given his shoes away... Beautiful scenary and very friendly people. Maxus in for the test of its life! | |
| 19 weeks 1 day ago | Making our run for the border today! Eta 6 hours. Also, just bumped into team kipper! | |
| 19 weeks 2 days ago | on the road to mongolia! Tough day driving, but should make the border tomorrow evening. Everyone tired and smelly, but morale still high! | |
| 19 weeks 2 days ago | Finally crossed the kazakh - russia border last night at 4am local time after arriving at around 10pm. Kazakh side took 20mins, russian side took mre than 5hrs due to stupid amounts of paperwork and people who dnt understand what a queue is. Hello to the azarbaijani family who almost had to dismantle their whole car to cross! Poor guys! |
Re: NEWSFLASH: Substantial gains made in the 'big push'!
Tom wash your feet, the whole of Asia is suffering.
Why did you give away your shoes? to please or upset Hazel or to home a swarm of mozzies?
good to know you are all ok and in somewhat high spirits (except for Toms feet) LOL
One more push and you have done it, keep going and stay safe.
You guys could always come to us for a few days before Bejing and I will wash Toms feet personally. Just a thought.
Love Mummy Butler