http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/Recent updates from the The Mongol Rally 2010 teamsen-gbSat, 25 May 2013 16:00:23 GMTpress@theadventurists.com (The Adventurists)press@theadventurists.com (The Adventurists)10 We're in M O N G O L I A. We arrived at the mongol border lastnight, infront of about 12 other teams we thought we would be there for atleast a day like all the previous teams, YET to our joy, we were met with the news that we need not fart around in the courtyard waiting on the long car exportation process as we weren't, like the rest. So we were last in first out, with a grin and a wink, we headed out of the gates and hit the....roads? No, there are not roads. We only just made it up one of the montains, dropping down onto a fully conventional super smooth Tarmac road, odd. Its a shame it's raining. Xhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 26 Aug 2010 10:00:12 GMT We're in M O N G O L I A. We arrived at the mongol border lastnight, infront of about 12 other teams we thought we would be there for atleast a day like all the previous teams, YET to our joy, we were met with the news that we need not fart around in the courtyard waiting on the long car exportation process as we weren't, like the rest. So we were last in first out, with a grin and a wink, we headed out of the gates and hit the....roads? Nhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 26 Aug 2010 09:57:26 GMT We saw an eagle today. A few. We are about half an hour from the Mon-FRIGGIN-golian border. Funny landscapes, getting vast. Very vast. Our russian camping experience has been wet and super cold. Alex is truely feeling it in his 'founditintheattic' sleepingbag. Laurence and charlie have matching sleepingbags and are holding out just fine, although Charlie whipped out his thermal lining. And am finally loving my winter -22degrees sleepingbag. Sorry if I have developed a mongolian swagger by the next text.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyWed, 25 Aug 2010 09:47:51 GMT Ok, Russia. We found somewhere to camp close the the border lastnight, it was a cold and windy night sleep, quite refreshing though! Atlast being able to sleep in our sleepingbags(fartsacks). Woke up thismorning to hit a surprisingly easyeasy border. Let's hope it stays that way. We booked our flights home yesterday, from Irkutsk to heathrow on the 9/9, feeling nervous and hoping we have left enough time to sort out the car 'getting rid of' in Irkutsk. It's cold in Russia so we're going to head straight for Mongolia, get as close as we can tonight! After yesterdays poor poor potholey roads these cracking European roads. We have travelled for 8000 miles and we are still in Europe...can't wait to be in Mongolia. 5 hours ahead of you all and loving it.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyTue, 24 Aug 2010 09:33:35 GMThttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyTue, 24 Aug 2010 07:14:26 GMT H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ALEX! Alex lovers out there, worry no more, he woke up to a shaded tent, 'ahmad tea', a full English(fried egg and beans), he played baseball hitting the ball as far as he could watching us run to through it back, he threw orders left right and centre, he got given a bottle of long awaited 'heaven' vodka, had a midday birthdaycake, chose another bottle of vodka (mainly for it's outrageous bottle), spread his legs as far as he could in the front of the car whilst we drove, we found a fantastic spot by the river to camp with our hilarious swiss mates, had cold river child beers, ate glorious pasta and sipped heavenly vodka. What more could an ageing man want! This message is dedicated to Alex and Alex only. Peace birthdayboy lovers. P.s. Mission is to currently get him naked in the icy river, the naked bit isn't going to be hard.@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 21 Aug 2010 17:34:55 GMT We get given melon wherever we stop. Today we have had watermelon from breakfast, a two ft long oval honeycomb melon for lunch and watermelon is on the menu for supper. Give us meeeeeat! Academically; Charlie has read one book and is halfway through his second, Laurence read charlie's first book in an afternoon for a laugh then sank his head back into the maps, Alex has nearly finished 'Auto repairs for Dummies' and still thinks that pretty much all cars are rear wheel drive, and I (Jackson) have pretended to read one book whilst getting bored and starting another one which has a magical power to send me to sleep. Kazak is hot damn and we are making not-so-steady tracks but will be in Russia by the 24th, Mongolia hopefully by the 26th. Peace out to those (if any) (hopefully atleast our mothers) who are reading this still. Love.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 19 Aug 2010 11:58:08 GMT We get given melon wherever we stop. Today we have had watermelon from breakfast, a two ft long oval honeycomb melon for lunch and another watermelon for tea. Totally meloned out! Give us meaaaat. Academically; As the days have passed, Charlie has finished a book and is onto his second, Laurence read that book that Charlie read first in an afternoon for a laugh, then returned to sinking his head into the maps, Alex has just about finished Auto repairs fhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 19 Aug 2010 11:48:22 GMT We are driving between sumerqand and tashkent. Charlie just flew through a police checkpoint at 50mph skidding to a holt after the waving batons and whistling whistles. They wern't happy. They expected 200dollars. After disgustions, arm wrestling and all of us and the surrounding truck driver sharing melon we managed to solve it with an McWhippy t-shirt. Nice one Charlie.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyTue, 17 Aug 2010 17:03:22 GMT We had slept on the forecourt of a restaurant lastnight, pitching up as the bride and groom left their wedding reception from the upstairs restaurant. Odd. We were shattered and collapsed in a heap. The men from the restaurant had taken a shunning to me because of 'michael jackson' and woke me minutes after falling asleep, practically dragging my limp body to a table set for four of us where we ate deep fried lamb off the bone and did shots (small cups) of vodka, Whilst Alex (who had been wishing this would happen all night) and the boys were asleep. 3 bottles later after plenty of hand gestures and laughing Alex arrived from his tent and joined for the fourth. It was great, then I got into bed, that was not. I was straight back up again and stumbling around the forecourt, then......yes ugh. Today has been horrible! After dragging our paws around the beautiful town. We found a fantastic square lined with bars and cafes looking onto a central fountain. Next thing, there are rally teams everywhere. We are trying to leave now to head east to sumerquand(summat like that). Uzbek is nice, apart from the angry parking ticket guy we ran away from. Byebye@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyMon, 16 Aug 2010 17:37:21 GMT Sunny sun, long roads, bored boys bumpy roads, pothole aversion, drinking drought under the sun. No fuel in Uzbek but we stocked up in turkmen. We are waiting for a restaurant we befriended to close before we camp down in their courtyard. Going to see the marvellous town tomorrow then head east to samarquand. Cheese balls in the beer tonight as a delicacy. Didn't go down well. Peace out. We're exhausted. Xhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySun, 15 Aug 2010 19:23:48 GMTNukus. Just entered into Uzbekistan! Country number 13! Heading to find a place to camp with 7 other teams. Charlie's been un well today, lurking in the depths of the back seat! After some flat coke and lots of imodium He's fine so don't worry! We spent last night next to the gates of hell. A burning hole in the ground Which was the result of a soviet oil mining mishap. After a 3 hour drive across the Turkmen desert, a hour walk and a quick 10 min jeep ride we were met by the roaring flames of the gas pocket still burning after 40years. Can you believe we have actually driven to somewhere in which you sleep alongside wild camels? We can't. Love to all x x@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 14 Aug 2010 16:05:16 GMTNukus. Just entered into Uzbekistan! Country number 13! Heading to find a place to camp with 7 other teams. Charlie's been un well today, the lurking in the depths of the blackhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 14 Aug 2010 15:52:41 GMTNukus. Just entered into Uzbekistan! Country number 13! Heading to find a place to camp with 7 other teams. Charlie's been un well today, In the lurking in the depths of the blackhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 14 Aug 2010 15:51:17 GMT officially the funniest place on earth, not just this trip. It is so odd. Some facts; there is a 12ft gold statue of the x president that rotates to face the sun. The streets are polished. There isn't anyone here except boys watering the pristine 'do not touch' grass lawns everywhere. All the buildings are made of marbel and gold. The 'British pub' was crap. It's like a toy city that the president dreamt about! Also the president re-named the month April after his mother. Last of all he ordered a curfew of 11 which we are racing back for! Ahhhhh!http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 12 Aug 2010 18:56:01 GMT So. The last two days have been (I'm running out of words) superspecialcan'tevenexplainit. We stayed outside Rasht the night before last, we stopped in Rasht the next day, we planned a toilet break. We stayed there 5 hours. Alex and Charlie made phone call, Laurence met an undercover special service agent who I then went to the police station with to check he was legit, enroute met Pouyo and Pedro. P+P were bezzies and Pouyo took us to his family house to use the Internet. We met the family, spoke politics(they spoke politics to us), fed us icecream, peaches, cherry drinks and took us for only what I can describe as ice/to melting noodles with a Ribena sauce. They are our new friends. We left for Tehran waving the WHOLE way down the motorway exchanging 'hi fives' with kids hanging out windows. Arrived in Tehran about 11 where we met Rimen(I think) on the motorway, who decided to show us where we could stay. After half an hour of hotels being to expensive and meeting two casually dressed policemen sharing a putput motorcycle trying to show us hotels aswel, Rimen took us to the park where we pitched up for the night. Only to be woken up at 6 by a shouting/whistling/tentshaking/shashwearing park warden who insisted we move on. He found it pretty hilarious in the end. So,(deep breath) we hit the biggest Market in the world covering over 20sq km and met another friend (Mahmoud) a carpet man/king of the bazaar who took us for breakfast, amazing iranian omelette, bread and tea, at they back of the Market stores with all the workers. My my my it was the best breakfast I have ever had. Wow-ie Iran is completely and nothing like any of us expect/ed. They love us. We haven't seen another tourist yet, so infact, don't come. It's special.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyWed, 11 Aug 2010 10:18:07 GMT Salam. Fuel is cheaper than cheap. We stayed with Hussein lastnight in his family home. It was five minutes before meeting him to being asleep on his living room floor. We still don't know him. Heading along the coast towards Tehran today. Byehttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyTue, 10 Aug 2010 06:20:57 GMT so that was odd. Most unofficial border. Some bloke jumped in with us and decided to show us how it's done. Didn't even need to pay da man. Sweet. So just filled up and it cost a wapping £15, he just let the petrol ooze out of the car before he put it back. Cracking. Peace@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySun, 08 Aug 2010 19:45:41 GMT Emre, close enough Emer. Found cold water spring, it was a race down the rubble hill, miraculously elder misick managed to get into his birthday suit and in the water first (So he can move fast if he wants to). Best wash so far. We are heading for the border, we could make it tonight but we're going to get up early and set off in Iran. Partly apprehensive about tomorrow, but a our parents have said 'keep your passport on you at all times and always hold hands to the toilet'... huh? Central Turkey is such a stretch of vast bulky dry landscape. Haven't had my feta stuffed peppers yet though. Darn. Peace y'all.@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 07 Aug 2010 12:27:03 GMT we left glorious Istanbul this morning. It's been special, we can't thank anyone more than Hevall, Gurol and everyone around them. There generosity, helpfulness and kindness helped us recharge our batteries and come away refreshed (I can see why you held onto her for 3 years Josie). So we are on our way to just east of Ankara tonight currently winding along the coast on the motorway. The mix of powerstaion and outstanding coastline is something else. Peacehttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyFri, 06 Aug 2010 11:07:59 GMT we left glorious Istanbul this morning. It's been special, we can't thank anyone more than Hevall, Gurol and everyone around them. There generosity, helpfulness and kindness helped us recharge our batteries and come away refreshed (I can see why you held onto her for 3 years Josie). So we are on our way to just east of Ankara tonight currently w@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyFri, 06 Aug 2010 11:07:59 GMT just come out of the whirlwind that was the grand bazaar Market. Bliemy. Didn't manage to buy anything. We got more confused by all of our new 'my friends' than anything. It's raining egg size drops of water. Turk 4 life. Xhttp://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 05 Aug 2010 11:11:21 GMT Istanbul, Turkey : We are in TURKEYYYY! it's amazing already! We just drove into Istanbul with all hell breaking loose around us. There were thumbs up all round. We didn't have a clue. With laurences in built navigation, charlies act as the blindspot locator, alexs skills at all round communication and my careless thumbs up and dominating driving it was a Turkish delight. We are sat outside fenebache stadium. It's emotional.@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyTue, 03 Aug 2010 18:33:18 GMT Yeh baby, it's B for Bulgaria.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyMon, 02 Aug 2010 19:37:41 GMT just picked up our permits and enroute to Bulg and Turk. Thank the Roma gods. Spent lastnight on the Roma version of paradise island from pinoccio lastnight called Mamaia it the equivalent of Butlins. Can't wait to get to Turkey and stuff our faces with olives, oil and flat bread. We love our girlfriends.@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyMon, 02 Aug 2010 18:04:32 GMT It is hotter than the sun. Moral was low this morn' but the Coastal route and rugged roads have inspired our childlike souls. Hi Mums.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySun, 01 Aug 2010 14:59:35 GMTGalati, Romania. At the moldovian border because we thought we would go into Moldovia for the night with the other boys, had to buy some kind of insurance so we decided not to bother, turned round to re enter Romania to find ourselves faced with a night wait for the border. Guards didn't sympathise so here I am waiting whilst the other whippians take a nap. Major Boredom and I'm joined by glaring Miskitos and biting Moldavians@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySun, 01 Aug 2010 00:24:21 GMT so, we have a crack in our front windscreen from the bottom right heading up due left, we are driving and watching it grow. Rock n' roll baby. Heading toward the coast still with team mc jizzy whipping chaps, we just can't leave eachother. Maybe tonight we will part. Stayed by an amazing castle lastnight on top a hill. Still gutted about the hold up in r@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 31 Jul 2010 11:13:00 GMT Pulled over straight away. They tried to pull us on insurance. Not happening. Ro ro ro ro romannnnnia.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyFri, 30 Jul 2010 01:09:59 GMT Just leaving Budapest, had a cracking night lastnight, not good thismorning. Had a bit of a worry when we realised we need international driving permits(thanks for everyone NOT mentioning those!) freaked out but managed to sort it out, their being sent to us, so unfortunately we will be chilling on the coast for a few days. On our way to central Romania to stay in a cornfield then wake up and head on to the black sea. Peace. We love our families.@http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyThu, 29 Jul 2010 18:53:04 GMT just left a lake campsite with the kigu crew the jizzy disco'ers and the mongol schumakers heading for Bratislava. This convoy rocks and knocks the socks off any others, had a shower thismorning. Czech people are grumpy frumps.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyWed, 28 Jul 2010 14:32:50 GMT just stocked up in the cheapest aldi with spirits we can't read the labels off and grapes, sat in the mcmultipla watching the rest of the convoy 'help strap trolley t' roof' of fear and loathing our favourite northern idiots! Rally rally rally!http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippyMon, 26 Jul 2010 13:04:39 GMT on the road after sleeping in an allotment with a convoy of 10 cars, heading to Liepzig.http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySun, 25 Jul 2010 14:07:31 GMTDoesa anyone know anything about the rules concerning novelty vehicles? We are desperately seeking advice as we wish to go the... ...http://mongolrally10.theadventurists.com/m-c-whippySat, 12 Sep 2009 12:42:58 GMT