Mongol Rally 2004 & 2005 Blogs & Photos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I'm not sure if this will make any sense but here are the (mostly) daily updates we sent to the main Mongol Rally website along the way.  Unfortunately a number of messages did not get through because we were unaware of the incapability of the website to accept messages over a certain length (we were firing blanks...).  On top of this I was unable to send texts from my phone while in Mongolia, hence the sudden stop (castration of the text-trickle?) which managed to worry my mother wonderfully.  Anyway it provides quite a fun alternative record of our progress.
 
2005-07-30 17:07:34;
Yay, we made it to dover! Its a bit like a small canape before an enormous feast. All ok, although some concern about the steering
 
2005-07-31 00:49:56;
Just crossed into germany, still waiting to undertake our first overtaking manouvre.
 
2005-07-31 11:16:50;
Things gained so far- an oil leak. Things lost so far-the haynes manual. Next city-nurnberg. Mood- not panicing. Weather-hot. Speed- a steady 55mph
 
2005-08-01 15:10:24;
We have made it to serbia! Got the first real taste of bureaucracy on the border buying a green card, hopefully we got it right...
 
2005-08-03 11:04:56;
We are lost in bulgarian mountains, wrong turn and gone 40k in the wrong direction. Had great time with friends last night, v nice to sleep in a bed at last
 
2005-08-03 15:00:43;
Whoo, gone over 2000 miles and still about 400k from istanbul. May get there tonight. Hopefully should meet up with the buzzwagons today
 
2005-08-05 13:19:35;
On way to turkish coast. Y hot. Still having oil problems. Istanbul was fantastic, and crazy fun to drive in. Also had turkish bath and massage. All good
 
2005-08-05 15:09:04;
Cruising along, top down, sun, sea, hills, tunes, stunning. Just a bit worried my hats going to blow off!
 
2005-08-05 15:39:01;
Anyone kind enough to text us updates on the cricket would make us happy boys :-)
 
2005-08-05 23:12:44;
In Northern turkey, coastal route, 200k from sinop. Mountains, v steep, great fun. Thanks for cricket reports, most encouraging
 
2005-08-06 19:27:22;
Still in turkey, buzzwagon had a problem with their distributer. Not as exciting today, mostly urban sprawl but roads easier. Trabzon next, then georgia.
 
2005-08-07 12:07:27;
We are in georgia, looks to be a deeply characterful country. V hot, think we will go for a swim this afternoon. we all look rather black at the mo. Poor sea.
 
2005-08-08 19:42:01;
Talk about send a cow, we just sent one flying! In azerbaijan and very glad of the bull bars. Cow got up, so did car. Aiming for baku tonight.
 
2005-08-08 21:02:53;
And an hour an a half later we have been stopped by the police, who seem to know the cow. Not quite sure what is happening now...
 
2005-08-08 22:39:32;
Harry has now set off back to the scene of the misdemeanor with a policeman, in our car, with no phone and $3. We are waiting. Dave does a good cow impression.
 
2005-08-09 03:01:09;
Its dawn, think we have been at police checkpoint nearly 5 hours, and still no sign of harry's return. I hope he's having fun...
 
2005-08-09 07:41:06;
Harry still not back, wrong turn suspected. Went hunting in buzzwagon but suspension buggered so had to stop. Temporary fix in progress. The Rally starts here!
 
2005-08-10 09:21:54;
Oh yes, we are in baku. Strange place, masses of money floating around. 1st shower since istanbul, and i thought it was a suntan! Hope to get ferry tonight.
 
2005-08-10 09:49:43;
Sorry, didnt update. Harrys back, his 1st words were i've been in the clink! seems very happy about it. Got spare for buzzwagon, being fixed. What a day!
 
2005-08-11 10:16:00;
On the boat waiting to sail to turkmenbashi, still wrangling over the 'fees', its been bloody warfare trying to get on at a reasonable price. Glad to leave baku
 
2005-08-12 05:40:30;
We are winding our way through customs in turkmenistan, so far so friendly. Keeping a tally of presidential pictures and statues. Ferry was fun. Getting hot.
 
2005-08-12 08:15:31;
Still at border, 5 1/2 hours later. They are trying to classify our silly little jeep as a lorry...
 
2005-08-14 08:21:44;
Now at turkmenabat, desert all morning. Must have been stopped over 20 times in last 2 days at police checkpoints. Will certainly remember it,
 
2005-08-14 15:00:26;
Looks like we are spending the night in no mans land, between turkmen and uz. Got through in nick of time as t visas run out tonight, border shut 6, arr 5.50!
 
2005-08-16 11:25:10;
We are in samarkand, randomly met team roshambo. Had discman and car charger nicked yesterday, v annoying. Just had great breakfast and heading for the registan
 
2005-08-17 07:28:16;
Just getting to tashkent, good to be getting the miles done again. Almaty the next target
 
2005-08-18 03:57:28;
Bit that holds the bonnet down just broke off as we were driving along, bonnet flew up and buggered windscreen. Fun.
 
2005-08-18 08:58:16;
Windscreen now held together with gaffa and clingfilm, roads v bumpy and 100k still to almaty
 
2005-08-18 12:42:36;
After charging round almaty with a toyota spare parts man our new windscreen will be ready 2nite. Still aiming for 24th!
 
2005-08-20 03:33:00;
We are at kaz russ border, not much happening yet
 
2005-08-21 05:28:56;
Car wouldnt start this morn. Got a tow to a mechanic who now appears to be burning our spark plugs. In altai somewhere.
 
2005-08-21 12:27:27;
Car still not happy, but running at least. Jolly lucky we brought a spare petrol cap too...
 
 
...and then we got to Mongolia and the phone stopped working, but the fun went on...
 
 
 
The Text Trickle