 Hello!
On the 18th July we are heading off from Goodwood on a little drive to Mongolia, unsupported and in a completely inappropriate car. 5 weeks, 17 countries, 10,000miles of ill-prepared, ill-equipped and irresponsible adventuring and raising money for charity. Keep track of our (un)preparations and progress here and if you can, please donate to our charities... Thank you! Ta ikh tus bolloo! - Christian and James Share on Facebook Days 28-34: Mongolia!
Posted by Christian at 21st August 2009 at 09:34
We made it in to Ulaanbaatar yesterday with a day to spare for our flights tomorrow morning! The last 850km were pretty tough after a mechanic insisted that our front wheel and hub would definitely fall off in 200km! Mongolia has been amazing - we've taken Flic from mountains a foot deep in snow to mud to desert, through three rivers and a the final 200km into Ulaanbator on tarmac with the front wheels pointing in different directions. In the end we've driven 9100miles (14500km) across 17 countries - 8000km of which with the Italians in the Fiat Panda: Diego, Davide and Pippo who have been brilliant company. Grazie ragazzi! Hopefully the photos below will give a bit of a feel... 
Repairs in a hail blizzard 
Mongolia starting to feel quite arctic 
Flics first gentle test 
"I think we are stuck here..." 
The blissful protection of an animal shed to sleep in while we sit the snow out 
And then the sun came out! 
My attempt at snow chains 
Finally on our way out (Patrick the Swiss on the motorbike) 
The bed shop we slept in! 
The Gobi - 2 days of mostly nothing! 
Final camp 
Job done!
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia) at 21st August 2009 at 07:27
We've arrived! Now just enjoying Ulanbaatar before we get on our flight back in the morning. C
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Arvaikheer - Mongolia) at 20th August 2009 at 03:17
370km to go. Suspension and most bearings on front right destroyed but we are still moving and counting down every km! Just went past another terminally broken rallier. C
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Semipalatinsk - Kazakhstan) at 18th August 2009 at 14:19
More from the bored passenger stats machine (BPSM): 8554 miles, 1084 litres of petrol, 660 photos, 99 degrees east, 17 countries, 5 flat tires, 4 parking tickets, 2 speeding tickets, 2 stomach bugs, 1 night spent in a bed shop
C@
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Altay - Mongolia) at 18th August 2009 at 06:20
Got to altai late covered head to toe in dust from the road. All two hotels were full so convinced owner of bed shop to let us sleep on his beds (just like sleeping in ikea). Fixed two punctured spares this morning now heading onwards - cars falling like flies on the mongol roads (broken axels, suspension, sumps, fuel tanks and clutches mostly). Fingers crossed flic will make the last 1000km. C@
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Khovd - Mongolia) at 17th August 2009 at 10:04
Finally out of the mountains (only 200km covered in two days) and heading into the gobi. Hoping will make it to altay tonight. C
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Khovd - Mongolia) at 16th August 2009 at 06:25
Woke this morning to perfect powder snow in every direction and bright sunshine! We have some guides with 4x4s on their way to pull us out so now we are just relaxing in the most perfect place you could ever be stuck. C
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Khovd - Mongolia) at 15th August 2009 at 15:20
A little lost and snowed in with 4 other cars and a motorbike on our way to khovd. Holed up for the night in a mountain farm house (animal shed) and will see how conditions are tomorrow! C@
We are in Mongolia!
Posted by Christian at 15th August 2009 at 05:16
We are finally in Mongolia! After 16h hours in the Kazak/Russia border and then 31h in the Russia/Mongolia border we're a little bit excited to have no more borders to cross and finally be in Mongolia! 
1 border, 2600m, 19 cars, lots of tents, 31h in the cold... 
Snow in Mongolia!
SMS Update
Recieved by SMS (Location: Tsagaannuur - Mongolia) at 14th August 2009 at 04:23
Got to Mongol border first thing yesterday but have been stuck here since as customs havent received import tax for vehicles from adventurists. Very cold and windy night at 2600m but hopefully we will be on our way today. C
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