![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.followthatfireengine.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Day-53-Sainshand-to-Zamyn-Uud-1-of-11.jpg\" "\\"Total")
<\/a>The most common issue in Mongolia – one that we\u2019ve all mentioned a million times but it still confounds us! \u2013 is that there are very few actual roads, more often than not you make your own or pick and choose between dirt tracks. So it was certainly a surprise to us to catch a glimpse of what looked like a brand new tarmac road stretching into the distance in a line straight enough to make the Romans proud. After driving alongside it on a scrappy bit of track for long enough, it looked like our off-roading time was over, Navman James gave the greenlight to Helmsman Steve to guide Martha up the bank and back onto a road we went. Sounds simple enough but as it turned out, this road is far from finished; the surface is negotiable (Martha\u2019s happy to have a crack at anything) but there are barricades of rocks or great heaps of sand every kilometre or so to keep the traffic off from having a cheeky drive until it\u2019s finished. We played slalom with them for a while, down the bank, back onto a track, back up the bank, back onto the unfinished road and so on, until one fateful descent from the road saw Martha bogged down, perched at a precarious angle and wheels free spinning to nowhere. Now normally you\u2019d expect a few worried faces and harsh words exchanged in such situations, but not with the FTFE crew! Eyes opened wide, huge grins broke out as everyone realised that they were stuck in the mud! This was a challenge to be relished! Everyone bounced out the cab and raced to get the shovel and recovery boards needed to free our little lady from her boggy situation. One practice attempt, a few adjustments and she was free! BOOM! Thanks here must go to the Ian Wright Centre for the incredible off-road & vehicle recovery training they gave us \u2013 vital stuff indeed.<\/p>\nAfter the blame had been (un?)fairly shared out for getting us stuck and we were happily back off-road, we forged our way on, bouncing every metre of the way. There was an awful lot of ground still left to cover, so fuelled by the ever-present pringles, coke light and bottles o\u2019water we cracked on, with the most eclectic collection of soundtracks and random chat to keep us going and alert.<\/p>\n
We had so far survived every challenge Mongolia had thrown at us but she had one trick left up her sleeve\u2026 still miles and miles from our destination, darkness began to fall. Imagine the darkest place you can, double it, now close your eyes and go inside a cave and triple that \u2013 that\u2019s how dark the Gobi desert is at night. Now imagine trying to drive through it. And remember there are no roads, no signs, no streetlights, no nothing to follow. Did we give up, park and set up camp for the night and settle into ration packs and sleeping bags? Nah! Of course not! Have I mentioned that this is the FTFE expedition? Quitting is just not part of the FTFE\u2019s repertoire. We kept on, taking a slowly but surely approach to the bumps & lumps of whatever track we could find, all keeping our eyes peeled and scanning the area ahead with Martha\u2019s big searchlight every now and then. Mongolia threw flocks of low-flying bats and hundreds of scampering marmots into our path for us to dodge too, just for good measure.<\/p>\n
I have to admit that when the first tiny pin-prick of light appeared on the horizon, there were cheers and elation inside the cab, not that we were lost, but that it was reassuring to know we were on the right course. A little while later, to the sounds of Empire of the Sun, we arrived in the bright lights of Zamyn-Uud, thoroughly exhausted but very content that we had conquered the desert. Dinner and a big sleep were all that were left to accomplish. Sweet dreams and goodnight Mongolia, you\u2019ve been a blast, you\u2019ll be greatly missed.<\/p>\n
Ailsa<\/p>\n
FTFE is 100% self funded by the crew.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n .<\/p>\n Photos of the Day<\/p>\n [flickr album=72157624936647692 num=30 size=Square]<\/p>\n Video<\/p>\n<\/a>If you like our blogs, please donate to our wonerful charity. Remember, all monies go to the charities.<\/p>\n
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