The Blog 

Having departed the British shores on the 24th July, we are now on the 10,000 mile road to Mongolia.  We'll be using various internet methods, SMS messages and carrier pigeons to update you on our progress across Central Asia and we're also on Facebook under Silk Road Raiders (Mongol Rally 2010).

PLESAE PLEASE keep the sponsorship coming at www.justgiving.com/silkroadraiders every penny really does help.

Finished

After 11,165 miles and 41 days we've arrived in Ulaanbaatar.....the bar was closed!!!!....but has since reopened.

It was one hell of a journey, the road was rocky at times but Frankie and the team held it together somehow.

We'd like to say a THANKS to everyone for there sponsorship, we raised over 2000 pounds for The Christina Noble Children's Foundation. 

And also a MASSIVE THANKS to our corporate sponsors; Rothuas for the beer (which came in very handy in Europe) and the Fleeces (which were amazing in minus temp's in Mongolia).  To Wayfayrer for their incredible (and I'm not just saying that) meal pouches which saved us so many times.  Trailblazer for their great Silk Road guide and Precision Profiles for the Aluminium we used on the sump guard, without which we won't have made it to Mongolia, in fact I'm not sure we would have made it past Turkey.

And last but not least Chris Davies and the boys at CAM Autos (Newport) for building and fitting the sump and tank guard and all the other prep on the car.

Dirt, dirt and more dirt......

After miles and miles of dirt, pot holes, sand, river crossings and endless pot holes we have arrived in Tsetserleg.  Found a British cafe serving bacon sandwiches and an internet connecting.  The scenery along the last 700 km of dirt (it can't be called road) was amazing, a cross between Canada and Scotland but it could only be Mongolia with the Ger Camps and herds of Yaks.  Not sure we would have made it without our amazing sump guard (which is almost a flat piece of metal again) and our supply of Wayfarers meals, you really can't beat a Chicken Tikka Masala after digging your car out of another sand pit!!!!

Apparently we only have another 100 miles of dirt until we hit the tarmac and the run into Ulaanbaatar.  We are aiming to be in late Thursday or Friday morning so that we have time for a shower (the last one was in Russia) before visiting the Christina Noble Foundation and the final party on Saturday.

Frankie is doing well and we are amazed everyday with the type of terrain that she gets over.  The fan is still playing up a little but then again it is held together with cable ties and she certainly has a few new dents but her service over the last 10,800 miles has been legendary.

And finally we'd like to say a massive thanks to everyone that has helped us break the 2000 pound mark with our charity donations.  We are hoping to see where all the money will be going once we reach UB. 

Miles from anywhere!!!!!

Miles from anywhere!!!!!  On the worst roads in the world......

We're in Mongolia

Very quick update, we have made it into Mongolia. We past the 10,000 mile mark today. The roads are bad but not as bad as we expected. Currently at the Ger Camp in Hovd with about 8 other teams enjoying a cold beer. The Russian/Mongolian border took 24 hours, we camped in the customs pen. Frankie is going well apart from a broken fan and a snapped key. Everything else is well.

Almaty

Made it into Almaty today, a Kazakhstan oil town with far to much money and no taste.  Heading north tomorrow with the aim of reaching the Russian border on Wedneday.

Arrived in Bishkek

We've made it to Bishkek having crossed the Pamir's mountains and some of the worst roads so far - the car wouldn't have made it wasn't for the sump guard. We past 8000 miles this morning and hopefully she'll be good for the remaining 2500 miles across Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Thanks again for all your text and messages of support, sorry we can't answer them all (the internet is somewhat slow in these parts, in fact it's nonexistent in most places) and a really big thanks for all the donation to our charity cause.  We are almost at the 2000 pound mark, so any additional help would be very much appreciated.

Onwards to Kazakhstan and Borat country tomorrow.......

About to start the Pamir Highway

Made it into Dushanbe in Tajikistan after 9 hours on mountain roads, sump guard performance top noche!  Heading off tomorrow into the wilds of the Pamir mountains on the 2nd highest main road in the world, lets hope little Frankie does as well as her did today. My mobile phone does seem to be updating via SMS so we will be on radio silence for about a week.

About to start running dark.....

We are heading for Tajikistan tomorrow morning so we will be running dark for a week or so.  We are not expecting to see too many internet shacks on the Pamir Highway and not really sure if my mobile will let us send SMS updates.....so until next time goodnight and good luck.

Old City of Bukhara

We are at the halfway point in the trip, we've covered 6,427 miles and are currently exploring the ancient city of Bukhara on the Silk Road.

Turkmenabat

Spent last night in Turkmenabat

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