An army they say marches on its on stomach and expeditions are certainly no different. Diesel for Martha who is always hungry, but then again who wouldn’t be travelling 26,000 miles, and food and water for the crew.
As the expedition began to evolve from those early spring months in 2009, and research and advice was continually gleaned from every quarter, a list of priorities emerged that we knew were vital to our success. The Showstoppers
One of the items that we knew would have to be dealt with at some point was VISAs.
High Point: Showers. Camping each day is obviously amazing but it had been over a week since we’d been able to properly clean. Altai provided an opportunity to stay in a hotel with running water. And it didn’t disappoint. We’ve been bathing in ice cold river water for a long time but the hotel had warm running water! We now look almost human again. Read more →
High point: An amazing sunset, followed by a great dinner with equal thanks to Dave and Vestey Foods for their invaluable inputs.
Low point: today was my personal nadir. It started with a sore head as I’d imbibed perhaps a touch too much of the local potion the previous evening. This was followed up by a 185 k drive on tracks that made sitting in Martha feel like being in a washing machine. Also it was a filthy hot day. Finally, every stop we made was warmly greeted by a swarm of ravenous mosquitos. Wow, I hope I’m not sounding as fed up as the stage one crew. It’s really not that bad! Read more →
High point : waking up to our amazing campsite on the High Mongolian steppe surrounded by mountains and flowing rivers.
Low point : the battering martha took on the main Mongolian highway, just brutal! Read more →
High Point: Quite literally the summit of Tsambagarav at 4208m. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it all the way to the top as after the glacier at roughly 4000m it became a technical climb, however the trek to the glacier certainly blew the cobwebs away.
Low Point: Saying goodbye to Agii and realising we were on our own, and navigation would have to be be done by compass now! Read more →
High Point: Our fixer from the border, Aggi, promised us a mini adventure and blimey did he deliver. As we set off from Oggii for two hours of crazy off road driving to visit his very good nomad friends. The route there had it all, with mountain climbs, river crossings, lunar surfaces and marsh land. The views were incredible, you can look for 50 km in each direction and see nothing but beauty. This was like no place we have been so far, and with the help of Aggi, we headed further and further into this wonderful world.
High point: Our fixer was a legend but we still didn’t break the Russian border for 8.5 hours. We fully expected to kip down in no man’s land overnight. After the Russian gates opened it was 30 mins before the Mongolian border shut but on arrival it was pretty clear Agi (fixer) knew everyone. The paperwork, passport control, vehicle docs, vehicle inspection and carnet were blitzed in 20 mins and we were through. Amazing. Russia behind us. Mongolia dirt tracks ahead! Read more →
High point: Where to begin? Seriously, come visit Siberia. It’s simply stunning.
Low Point: I was hungry for about 7 minutes, but fortunately we were moments from the best supermarket we’ve stumbled across. It sold everything, and we just about emptied it.
High point : For once in Russia the high point of the day was the scenery around us as we drove through the hills, steppe and mountains of the Altai republic.
Low point : Being told I had to stop driving and let some one else take the wheel.
No point : My beard has stopped itching! Whoop whoop!
