We are in the city of Barnauld in Siberia. It was a long trek across Kazakhstan with a few problems on the way. The red panda lost its exhaust 3 times in one day meaning we only covered about 300km and then we hit a pothole and mangled one of our rims. We were able to hammer it back into shape though and were soon back on the road.
Kazakhstan was excellent and didn't deserve any of the bad press it got prior to the rally. We found the people to be helpful and the authorities to be pretty decent. We did get pulled over in a small town by an unmarked police car with blacked out windows though. They managed to get the equivalent of about 20p out of us as a souvenir (a 2 pence piece, 50 uzbek money and 1000 turkmen).
We're going to be puching on towards Irkutsk from here, and the red panda is heading southeast towards the western border of Mongolia. So, we'll be going it alone for a thousand km! Chances are that we will bump into other teams on the way as we know there are more to come.
The Collins mini atlas is working a treat. The fact that it has so little detail and just a few main roads means that we don't take wrong turnings onto the deadly pothole ridden B roads. We should be in UB before the 18th.
5 comments:
Hi Tim and friends
Glad to see everything seems to be going OK.Big place Russia to be crossing with a dodgy exhaust. I found that blutac was useful in these circumstances, although I must admit my mechanical knowledge is limited.Your Aunty Mary says do you fancy a cup of tea as she is making one!I am going to have mine with lemon to get into the spirit of Russia. Keep going and look forward to seeing you soon.
Len and Mary
Hello Tom and Tim,
Holmez introduced me to this website for the first time this lovely sunday morning and I am astounded at the communication process - good to hear it all in detail. Anyway- lots of love to you both even though i only know half the team. Good luck with the rest of it.
Love Lexi!!
TIMBO!!!
Good to hear you and Tom are making such good progress - nearly there!
We just got back from Greece, and I have to say that FLYING really is a far easier option than the one you guys have chosen lol.
Keep it going lads, remember that everyone is rooting for you back here,
Matt and Dom x
Hi Guys well you've been rumbled, just got back from Panda 'heaven' - Italy and we are sure we saw Molly and friends 'vincino al mare' sipping cappuccini! Pandas there also supported unique body work due to the 'arduous terrain' and an obvious urgency to meet a deadline! (Crazy driving)
Amazed and ecstatic that you have got so far, well done, and all due to a 'Collins Mini Atlas!' (What are Mum's for?) You could get 'royalties' for their endorsement on your return. Hope the journey continues well and we soon hear from you both in Ulaan Bataar.
Love Richard and Vanessa xx
To all readers
They have made it! Hoorah for Molly and England and St George......or something equally over the toply extravagant.
D&H
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