On 19th July 2009,  Justin and I (in the red car seen here at the Goodwood start line) set off to drive to Mongolia.  Please read all about our adventure here on the blog below, which we'll update as much as poss with pics and tales of fun & games! We are in loose convoy with Sam Coleridge & Henry Sayer: Team '999 High & Dry'.

We are also aiming to raise lots of money for two charities. We'd be very grateful if you could add your donation to the cause through Justgiving. OR If you'd prefer to send a cheque or use cash, please send it to the below address and I will include this in the money that I raise offline. Thank you!  Toby and Justin: 89 Corve Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1EB

SMS Update

A few days ago at about 4 ish local time, we made it to the finish line, greeted by beer, kebabs and photographers! 145th over the line. Treated ourselves to a luxurious hotel and had a very late night. A few days needed to unwind here before flying home on the 24th. @

They've done it!

Text sent from Toby:  "Yesterday at about 4ish local time, we made it to the finish line, greeted by beer, kebabs and photographers!  145th over the line. Treated ourselves to a luxurious hotel and had a very late night.  A few days needed to unwind here before flying home!"

WONDERFUL! MASSES OF LOVE AND CONGRATS FROM HQ LONDON  

The End is in Sight!

"The pug did about 500 miles across mongolia & after tortion bar was broken and repaired twice, two punctures, a number of bent rims and finally a small accident with a large rock after it fell off a lorry, the sump plate was ripped off, sump dented, oil pump shattered into many pieces and the engine seized!  We are both of course ok and very grateful to our friends the mighty mongol rally rangers team.  We are now two teams in a nissan micra with about 400 k to go!  Bring on the finish line and the presidential suite of the best hotel in town. X to all. T and J".

From text sent by Toby, typed by Clara.

New Photos!

Have a look at our new pics taken on the departure day at Goodwood!

Gabrielle & Clara

News via High & Dry

Sam from team High and Dry sent this message to Clara (at HQ Essex) on 15.08.09 "We are happily ploughing on between Hovd and Altay. Mongol mechanics doing a fine job".

SMS Update

after waiting for over 24 hours at the mongolian border we were finally let out to be faced with our first views of the valleys of the bayan olgii region, tarmac is now scarce, the pug is behaving, fuel problem seems to be ok but suspension having some problems, tired after border crossing so staying the night in olgii, simple hotel but friendly and there are beds and clean loo! If other rally people see this, when you leave the border there are tracks everywhere, a good tip is to follow the telegraph poles, hotel here is called tavan bogd. See you all soon

We Have Entered Mongolia!

Sent by Text from Toby: 6900 miles on clock and we have entered Mongolia! Whoo... Russian border took ages but go through eventually to be faced with absolutely stunning countryside, snow on the mountains and sunny down below. Very surreal to think we have driven here!  Camped last night in russia beside river, great swimming spot and made a large fire accompanied by some tasty grub.  Camping tonight just inside mongolian border, this is where it gets interesting, still a long way to go and roads have become very bad and a lot of cars have started to break including the peugot which now has a broken tortion rod, we have botched it for the mo but will try a better job with a more experienced botcher tomorrow!

Copied out by Clara

SMS Update

left almaty eventually, after finding our way out! Stopped in middle of nowhere and camped by river. Large ants, snakes, wolves and mosquitos in the evening followed by cows, eagles and deer in the morning. Fuel pump still being rather annoying but a couple of taps with a hammer every so often seems to sort her out

SMS Update

few problems with fuel pump filter again! Can now remove strip clean and replace in 5mins then back tearing up the melting tar road to tashkent where the team, Another speed boat adventure & we rewarded ourselves for our crazed dash in a very smart hotel to shower launder and eat ! Where we enjoyed Russian food and toby enjoyed the russian waitresses . Message to all dont ever try fish sausage !

SMS Update

en route to tashkent, stopped by police again, they seemed to get bored of our silly questions and let us go! A night and a sight see in tashkent and then on to kazakghstan@

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