![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.followthatfireengine.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/world-map.gif\" "\\"world-map\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nBut which way East? Hours were spent poured over maps, discussing the route in the company of numerous friends and family and he was permanently in possession of the map.<\/p>\n
A big map of the world was subsequently purchased and permanently spread over the FTFE HQ\u2019s dinner table. Black lines were drawn in and rubbed out time and time again. Everything was considered. I can remember one evening David Orders turning up and proclaiming no one would take this expedition seriously unless we \u201cmanned up\u201d and drove straight across the Andes and through the Amazon. He picked up a black marker and promptly drew a horizontal line through the middle of South America\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n
It soon became clear that due to the obvious issues in the Middle East meant that Russia looked the likely or only option. There was a route through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India that was technically possible on paper but the area is so volatile and concerns were raised over the number of borders we would have to cross making it an admin nightmare. So pretty much the route that the expedition is now following was agreed and presented by Steve to his father Garth for the very first time for sign off. A nervous Steve didn\u2019t leave anything to chance for this meeting. He had to have all the answers. Garth Moore was a man that did a proper job and would need to see a detailed outline to take Steve seriously \u2013 clearly he knew Steve very well. However Steve needn\u2019t have been concerned as Garth thought it was incredible.<\/p>\n
So over the next few months, with some assistance Steve did a massive amount of research. He spoke to just about everybody that he could find that had done any kind of overland expedition for information and advice. There was of course no blue print for this expedition and no library book entitled \u201cHow to drive a fire engine around the There were two bits of advice that Steve received on a regular basis, the first that I still think haunts him to this day are the immortal words \u201cHave you thought of this?\u201d which meant the to-do-list being added to or someone stating the obvious. The second was \u201cDon\u2019t do China\u201d.<\/p>\n China had caused numerous headaches to expeditions in the past and many had come to an abrupt halt. This was due to bureaucracy and cost. You can\u2019t just turn up at the border with a VISA and the paperwork. You need to know the people on the ground and it needs to be planned months in advance (6 months to be precise) to ensure all the permits are in place. Steve was painstaking in his research and found a company called NAVO (Nature Adventure Voyage Off-road).<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.navo-tour.com\/en\/aboutus\/<\/a><\/p>\n To give you an idea of their experience of the last ten overland expeditions that have gone into China driving their own vehicle(s) six have gone with NAVO and the other four had to request NAVO\u2019s help. NAVO began accepting foreign tourists to do the special tourism since 1993. Most guests were from Europe and the United States. They have embarked on diversiform adventure tour, such as Trekking, Self-driving, off-road travel, photography tour, bird-watching tour, Motorcycling tour, learning martial arts tour, etc. Moreover, they are always ready to accept challenges and arrange more special kinds of tours in China. Perfect for FTFE!<\/p>\n Since the autumn of 2009 we have been discussing the expedition with Li Zhuoyun (Karen Lee) who is based at NAVO\u2019s head office in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Karen, whose vital stats are below, has worked tirelessly exchanging many emails with me and Steve to ensure that the mountain of paperwork and itinerary, were in place to submit an application to the Chinese Government for the necessary permits.<\/p>\n Our first application was refused but some incredible work (and it really needed to be) by Kate Bartishel\u00a0(Crew member stage 6) liaising with her DVLA contact (who provided excellent advice, support and guidance) meant that the China stage was saved and our second application was successful.<\/p>\n The Vladivostok-Tokyo-Bangkok route that was seriously being looked into could be put on ice. (But remains a contingency \u2013 no tempting fate here!).<\/p>\n Ben Lloyd is a good friend of mine and in his own words is an \u201cEx fund manager having mid life crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n He has lived in china for the last two years learning Mandarin. Last autumn we dispatched Ben as our man on the ground to go and meet with Karen at the NAVO offices in Chengdu and discuss the expedition. This gave us an additional level of comfort, as I\u2019m sure you can appreciate that NAVO was a company that we could trust.<\/p>\n In addition to managing the complex application process the legendary Karen, and NAVO\u2019s involvement with FTFE goes much deeper.<\/p>\n NAVO\u2019s head office in Chengdu is on the route, and Karen and the team are hosting a celebration dinner for us when we arrive.<\/p>\n Karen has also arranged for us to visit the firehouse in Chengdu to meet the fire fighters there and park Martha next to a Chinese Fire Engine. Karen describes comparing them both as \u201ca very interesting thing\u201d<\/p>\n NAVO gave FTFE a discount on the cost of their service and have donated \u00a3500 to FTFE.<\/p>\n NAVO have very kindly paid the vehicle deposit that must be paid when we enter China, rather than leaving the crew to find \u00a310,000 GBP. This will be paid back by the Chinese government three months after our exit and NAVO are only charging us a tiny amount of interest for the cost of the loan and the admin involved.<\/p>\n Lastly, it is a stipulation of our government permit that we are accompanied by a guide the entire time we are in China. NAVO have provided the guide and I\u2019m delighted to introduce a man you\u2019re going to be seeing a lot of, Honouree crew member Mr Sun Ji\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I asked Mr Sun Ji to introduce himself and say a few words;<\/p>\n \u201cI’m Sun Ji, who will be a part of your team in China, it’s my pleasure and lucky to experience this kind of journey with you, I think it will be very special. Wonderful\u00a0to Mr Sun Ji will arrive at Beijing in 5th<\/sup> Sep to start the enormous amount of paperwork involved which will take him 2 days.<\/p>\n He will then arrive at to Erenhot (Mongolia\/China border crossing) on 7th<\/sup> or 8th<\/sup> September to meet the crew on 9th<\/sup> September.<\/p>\n FTFE crew, HQ and NAVO are closely monitoring the traffic situation between Erenhot and Beijing that Chris Moore (Crew member stage 1) alerted the team to. http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-asia-pacific-11062708<\/a><\/p>\n Paul Barham<\/p>\n The vital statistics for Karen and our honoree crew members for FTFE does China<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Age:30<\/p>\n Height:70kg<\/p>\n Profession: environment and culture protection<\/p>\n Sporting Loves & Achievements: badminton, hiking<\/p>\n Most Annoying Habit: wasting food and smoking a lot<\/p>\n Most Overused phrase: haven\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n Favourite Sandwich:sandwich with many vegetable but actually prefer Chinese food of course<\/p>\n Favourite Fire Engine: I haven\u2019t as I don’t know about it<\/p>\n Top\u00a0skills\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Expedition\u00a0:Chinese-speaking and some work experience in charity field<\/p>\n Biggest Fear: Snake and woman crying<\/p>\n Top 3 items to take: money, computer and cloth<\/p>\n Top 3 songs for the radio: love county music and a Chinese singer’s all song, whose name is Xuwei<\/p>\n Reasons for going: it\u2019s a meaningful journey<\/p>\n Li Zhuoyun (Karen lee)<\/strong><\/p>\n Age: 26<\/p>\n Height: 46kg<\/p>\n Profession: adventure tour in China (Trekking, self-driving, Charity tour, Volunteer project program) Sporting Loves & Achievements: Swimming<\/p>\n Most Annoying Habit: So far, no.<\/p>\n Most Overused phrase: Are you crazy?<\/p>\n Favourite Sandwich: Chief sandwich \u00a0<\/p>\n Favourite Fire Engine: Our team\u2019s fire engine will be absolutely my favorite one.<\/p>\n Top\u00a0skills\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Expedition: Know about the rules of how to run self-driving tour in China and can help to arrange the expedition. \u00a0<\/p>\n Biggest Fear: Acrophobia<\/p>\n Top 3 items to take: what a pity that I need to stay in the office to deal with the paper work.<\/p>\n<\/a>world\u201d. This really was pioneering stuff.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Ben will be joining the expedition as an honoree crew member travelling a few days from Xi\u2019an to Chengdu where he is organizing for us to visit a school and enjoy a typical Sichuan hot pot. Ben\u2019s vital stats are below<\/p>\n<\/a> hear that your whole journey is carbon neutral. I learnt inform from the attachments in your email and from the website, I should say I respect every fire fighters who save people from emergency, I used to want to be a fireman but it’s difficult in China. Your\u00a0charity journey to memory\u00a0a\u00a0man who devotes his life in this profession\u00a0and also\u00a0raises money for helping more people is\u00a0so meaningful. As I’m\u00a0working for some NGOs (charities) in China,\u00a0I\u00a0will assist you\u00a0to do some\u00a0activities\u00a0with them if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/strong><\/a>Sun Ji<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n