Final blog post

Well we made it! It took us 26 days to complete The Mongol Rally 2007. We made it back to England a few weeks ago now, we decided not to take the trans-Siberian train to China as originally planned. We had so many amazing experiences on the rally, we felt it would be better to absorb the rally and experience the trans-Siberian at a later date.

This is the last post on this blog as the www.rustyrhinos.com website will shortly redirect to a new Rusty Rhinos website that we are launching. All new posts and information will be published on the new site.

The new website will contain a link back to this blog, it will also contain information about our route, our photos, the Rusty Rhinos Experience video and much more.

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Adam

SMS Update

We have arrived in Ulan Bataar and successfully completed The Mongol Rally 2007. Thanks to all for your support.

SMS Update

Car bodged together this morning, now back on route at a slow pace due to terrain and car condition.

SMS Update

On route to Ulan Bataar, another leaf spring snapped and front prop shaft fell out. Spent night at roadside.

SMS Update

After some night driving and an early start today, we've made Arvayheer. We lost our 4wd functionality again!

SMS Update

Just passed the 8000 mile mark, 4wd bodged back together, now heading for Arvayheer in the rain, weather cooler.

SMS Update

After spending a day lost in the Gobi, made it to Bayanhongor. Snapped another leaf and made up a replacement.

SMS Update

Made it to Altay a day later than planned after engine cut outs, overheating, exhaust snapping and tyre blowout!

SMS Update

We're now heading for Altay about 270 miles away in the Gobi desert, we should hopefully arrive tomorrow.

SMS Update

After getting lost in the Mongolian mountains and spending time replacing another spring, we made it to Khovd.

SMS Update

Currently heading for Olgii to obtain some much needed petrol, then will head for Khovd for the night.

SMS Update

Crossed into Mongolia at midday, superb scenery and great weather. Limited mobile reception, blog updates reduced.

SMS Update

We arrived at the Russian-Mongolian border at 8pm local time, but its closed! We'll be camping by the border.

SMS Update

We're about 100 miles from Mongol border, driving through spectacular mountain range. We completed 7000 miles today.

SMS Update

We're about 100 miles from Mongol border, driving through spectacular mountain range. We completed 7000 miles today.

SMS Update

Tarmac still exists, we've found it in Russia! We've now passed Barnaul and are heading for the Mongolian border.

SMS Update

Started on the 28th, suspension snapped, exhaust fell off, now fwd we leave Kazakhstan and are in Russia on the 6th.

SMS Update

We passed the 6000 miles mark today. We've just passed Ayatoz and are heading for radioactive Semey.

SMS Update

After spending the night in the car in the mountains, we're on route to Semey and have just passed Taldy-Korghan.

SMS Update

We've arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan at 5.30pm local time. Now heading north to the Russian border 700 miles away.

SMS Update

Due to losing 2 days in Kazakhstan so far, we're continuing to battle over night on to Almaty. Local time 10.20pm.

SMS Update

Made it to Shimkent. Ran out of local currency but managed to negotiate using dollars at local petrol station.

SMS Update

Snapped another leaf (another fabrictated). Killed shaft so front wheel drive only! Now attempting Shimkent again.

SMS Update

We made it to Qizilorda and pressing on towards Shimkent.

SMS Update

All your motivational text messages have been much appreciated.

SMS Update

Now on route from Aral to Qizilorda, exhaust fell off this morning, but has been bodged back on, roads improving.

SMS Update

Snapped leaf spring just outside Aral at 4pm yesterday, leaf replaced with spare with friendly truck drivers at 8pm.

SMS Update

We spent a day and a half getting from Aqtobe to Aral due to the craters in the road. We mostly went off road.

SMS Update

At 10.30am we have finally arrived in Aqtobe, however we have been towing a broken Lada for the last 70 miles.

SMS Update

On the road again after spending the night in the car. 6 rough hours sleep obtained. Everything is covered in dust.

SMS Update

We seem to be convoying in the middle of the night with the Kazaks we met earlier. We had a great dinner together.

SMS Update

Met some Kazaks on route who we stopped with to have thick warm milk and strong chilled vodka. 4000 miles completed.

SMS Update

We would really like to know who is visiting our blog, send us a text with any news. Thanks.

SMS Update

Still on route to Aqtobe on one of the worst roads so far. The road has craters in it, we can barely average 10mph.

SMS Update

Some good offroading today. Camped out a mile or so from a track. Cooking rice under moonlight.

SMS Update

We've been convoying with Team Clouseau from the Kazakhstan border to Atyrau. Now we're heading to Aqtobe alone.

SMS Update

Camped just over Kazak border last night. No sign of Borat, just mosquitos. Now off to find fuel and currency.

SMS Update

Alex is looking forward to eating slightly melted birthday cake once into Kazak later today :-)

SMS Update

While getting lost as well as the closed border last night, a petrol tanker driver helped by giving us free petrol.

SMS Update

After losing a day to a closed border, we are on route to Astrakhan to get to the Russian-Kazakhstan border.

SMS Update

3.39am: police block. After reading passport upside down asked for one smallest english coin for his own collection.

SMS Update

Made through Russian border with no problems, but we had to pay a bribe to leave the Ukrainian border.

SMS Update

We were unavoidably pulled over again about 40 miles from Russian border by the police for speeding! He let us off.

SMS Update

Ukrainian police just attempted to pull us over, but we dodged them by ignoring them and driving on.

SMS Update

We spent the night in a quirky hotel in Kharkiv, we had a filling breakfast. Now on route to Doneck, Russian border.

SMS Update

We made it to Kiev this morning, spent an hour getting lost. We're now hacking it through heavy rain to Khariv.

SMS Update

Just crossed the Ukraineian border after an hour of security checks. We've met 2 other teams just before Ukraine.

SMS Update

After spending 3 hours finding a closed camp site, we drove through the night towards Krakov, then slept in the car.

SMS Update

We crossed into Poland from Czech Republic yesterday at 8.30pm. Border patrol were wary of us and checked our car.

SMS Update

First 1000 miles completed at picturesque Kutna Hora, CZ.