Where Are We Now? - A very good question and one we both regularly ask ourselves. The weather showing above is current and a snap-shot from key parts of our journey. You can get an idea of what is happening to us weather-wise. The Blog below should update automatically from regular texts we are sending while on route. Our real-time progress is bieng plotted via a tracking system gismo you can access from our 'On the Road' page...fancy or what?

Cheers for taking a look at the progress of Team OaB.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Symkent - Kazakhstan) at 1st August 2009 at 13:00

At Kyzlorda on route for Symkent 2nite (maybe), the roads have improved allowing 60mph if you hang on!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Almaty - Kazakhstan) at 2nd August 2009 at 12:22

Set off early from Turkistan should make Almaty 2nite, only 100k to go, good rd, beast going well.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Almaty - Kazakhstan) at 2nd August 2009 at 15:06

Got 2 Almati at 18:30, stopped short of city to camp (in a small motel), we wanted 2 use tent but no spaces available in the desert.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Almaty - Kazakhstan) at 3rd August 2009 at 05:46

Lots of lightning l'nite, now heading north in l'rain, Try 2 make Semey in 2 days, so far so good.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Semipalatinsk - Kazakhstan) at 4th August 2009 at 09:03

Good distance Yesterday despite lots of rain, camped in middle of nowhere, just leaving Semey 4 brdr (fun with guards 4sure)

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Semipalatinsk - Kazakhstan) at 4th August 2009 at 09:33

Stopped 4 b'fast, explained 'eggs' by clucking in Kazak, lady produced a chicken!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Barnaul - Russia) at 5th August 2009 at 07:43

No probs getting out of KZ in2 Russia, thought about tent (until we saw a hotel) Stormed out when told it was 1000rbls for suite, only Â£20-oops!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Barnaul - Russia) at 6th August 2009 at 02:44

Tented in a lovely spot (no hotels:-() spent 4hours rubbing 2boyscouts together 2 make a fire b4 giving up and pouring petrol on a Ray Mears ** some text is missing **

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Altai - Russia) at 6th August 2009 at 07:55

In Altay Mnts near Mongolian brdr, might b there 2nite, fantastic scenery, snow capd peaks, beast is 'runnin on rails'(24hrs cud b different!)

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Tsagaannuur - Mongolia) at 6th August 2009 at 13:16

Organisers admin continues to lack a little something, stuck at Mong' brdr with 10 other teams cos they've not paid import tax, should b fixed soon!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Tsagaannuur - Mongolia) at 7th August 2009 at 04:10

Slept in car last nite, in customs compound at 3500 feet with a significant chill factor, may be sorted soon.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Tsagaannuur - Mongolia) at 7th August 2009 at 08:36

Still detained by Mong' customs, been in this compound longer than we were in Austria n Hungary - escape commitee being formed.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Tsagaannuur - Mongolia) at 7th August 2009 at 10:24

On the move! We are into Mongolia proper! Oh heck

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Olgy - Mongolia) at 8th August 2009 at 03:16

Spent the nite in tent outside Olgly celebrating our freedom, hdg 4 Khovd which is 200k sort of southish.

Show 1 comment

Em C.	8th August 2009 at 11:54
Hi Mike Been having issues with Broadband and my ability to BLOG otherwise would have been in touch sooner - but better late than never! :-) Your doing really well - certainly chose the right vehicle !! Em (the Geordie)

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Khovd - Mongolia) at 8th August 2009 at 15:22

Good weather 4 trek out of mountains (10,000), road is mostly dirt trk, tent AGAIN 2nite in mdl of nowhere with bad signal.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Altay - Mongolia) at 10th August 2009 at 05:54

On route to Altay, really testing driving, 1 puncture and broken rear shock -fixed within an hour, only get signal in towns so few blogs.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Altay - Mongolia) at 10th August 2009 at 06:51

In Altay getting inr tube 4 flat, then back in2 Ghobi dsrt 4 400k 2 Bayankhongor, very harsh driving, very warm.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Altay - Mongolia) at 11th August 2009 at 03:36

An hour further into desert-not much to see! And just when u thought it cudn't get any worse, some1 has drop'd crisps on the carpet!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Bayankhongor - Mongolia) at 11th August 2009 at 03:36

We've a rough idea where we spent last nite, cos we cud see mountns 50 miles North n South of us, but East n West?-just the horizon.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Bayankhongor - Mongolia) at 11th August 2009 at 05:28

Heading on2 Arvaykhaer 175km might make it by 2nite?? Weather may be cooling, beast is brilliant.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Bayankhongor - Mongolia) at 12th August 2009 at 04:11

Unfortunately Arvaykhaer is 175km East n we traveld 100km South b4 wondering why the sun was still in our eyes-we're now going NEast a tad bhind!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Bayankhongor - Mongolia) at 12th August 2009 at 05:53

Have been paired with CZ team (pirana brothers) since Mong border, their Swift is now unlikely 2 pass an MOT, so progress is 25mph until real road

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Arvaikheer - Mongolia) at 12th August 2009 at 06:28

Both teams on ashfelt (and hopefully the it's the right bit) speed up2 50mph now.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Arvaikheer - Mongolia) at 12th August 2009 at 10:25

UB is 125 miles away, so at an average speed of 55mph that should take 2 an a bit hours - alot can happen in a Mongolian hour!

Show 1 comment

Lynda P.	12th August 2009 at 14:38
This is the longest two and a bit hours of my life........... !!

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia) at 12th August 2009 at 15:11

Guess where we are? At 22:00 local on Aug 12 'the swift has landed' 10,000 miles away in UB:-).

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia) at 13th August 2009 at 13:13

One very dusty, dirty, 993cc mountain climbing, river wading, desert scrambling all-terrain small family car, has begun its new life in Mongolia.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia) at 13th August 2009 at 13:16

Some photos of the finish are in the Gallery. Many more to follow. Have a look.

Show 1 comment

Matt B.	13th August 2009 at 13:32
Congratulations! That is fantastic news! Good to see the Swift faired so well as did the pilots.

SMS Update

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Recieved by SMS (Location: Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia) at 14th August 2009 at 12:37

Landed back at Heathrow, thanks to an Aeroflot Mig27, it was a new experience flying with all safety gear on and a parachute under the seat.