For the 2010 Mongol Rally, we drove an ambulance. Why? First, Ambulances are cool. Second, Ambulances usually pretty well maintained. Third, Charity. Mongolia is landlocked and has pretty limited access to equipment. They need ambulances.
10,475 miles, 15 Countries, 2 Continents. The long road to Mongolia started at Goodwood race track in the UK and covered 15 countries. England, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia
The Mongol Rally isn't just about adventure. Each team is required to raise 1000 GBP for charity. The team decided to support Mecrycorp and MSF. Each team also donates their adventure hardened vehicle at the conclusion of the journey.
The Mongol Rally team doesn’t launch itself. The months leading up to the journey was an adventure.
The Mongol Rally started off rough. Stephen lost his backpack in Berlin. Judy waited 14 hours at Gatwick for the team. Tom booked the wrong flight and arrived a day late.
The rally truly begins at Czech Republic. Eastern Europe gave the team the first dose of unfamiliar language, and culture.
We encountered nothing but hospitality in Turkey. A random encounter one morning resulted in a invitation onto a boat trip to sea and a traditional home cooked meal.
The greatest challenge for the team was the ferry across the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan. The team waited for the ferry at at the port for miserable 4 days.
Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world. Kazakh roads are worse than terrible. The combination of the two resulted in a very long and slow drive in the middle of nowhere to the middle of nowhere.
Siberian roads were in surprisingly good shape. We made our way from Omsk to Ulan-Ude without much trouble. Along we way we made new friends and was challenged to a could arm wrestling matches. USA 2 - RUS 0
The team crossed into Mongolia on September 1, 2010, after 10000 miles and 40 days on the road.
The team parted ways after the journey. Stephen boarded a train back through Russia, Judy flew to Barcelona, Tom to Paris, and Lillie returned to Berlin.