We actually made it!
How this has happened I will never know. We have actually driven our universally derided car through 17 countries, across deserts, over mountain ranges, in sun, in rain, and in snow, all the way to Mongolia.
Leaving Kazakhstan and entering Russia a few days ago was when it really began to hit us that we had almost made it. With an easy border crossing, and good roads all round, we made it to Barnaul well before dark. Having not researched a hostel we found one on our maps and headed straight there. With our good luck still holding, the hostel turned out to be both very nice and very cheap. After about a week without a proper wash it was great to grab a quick shower before we headed out for some dinner. We ate at a restaurant recommended to us by the hostel owner, and the food was delicious; despite taking ages to arrive. As a result of this it was getting late by the time we had finished and paid, which was frustrating because the hostel owner had told us to be back before 11pm. This was the only downside of the hostel, but rather an annoying one as we would have loved to head off into Barnaul for a bit more of a look around.
A proper nights sleep did us some good though, and after a lazy morning we popped down the road for a late cooked breakfast; which although not quite a full English hit the spot all the same. We set off early in the afternoon, headed for the Altai Region. The Altai mountain range is mid sized range of mountains ranging across northern Kazakhstan and this Central Southern part of Russia. It is reminiscent of sections of the Alps, with roads winding alongside rivers through forested valleys. Although we only had half a day of driving, with the Russian roads continuing to be extremely smooth we made it well into the hills and camped up by a river. Although in most places we have been to we've not had much trouble whilst free camping, Russia is one of few places where it is actually legal. On top of this we found that there are even areas designated for camping but with no cost. These may not have toilets and showers, but a flat grassy patch of ground is certainly more than we've had elsewhere.
'The Altai Region'
Yesterday was when the landscape truly started to look like what we had expected from Mongolia. As we drove towards the border the steep valleys died away and were replaced by massive plateaus amidst rolling hills. The roads though were still distinctly Russian so we made quick progress towards the border. We had been planning on meeting back up with Rub a Dub Dub to resume the convoy and had told them we would meet them right at the border. However, stopping at one of the last towns before the border to get water we got distracted by a group of local kids who wanted a game of football. Splitting ourselves between the teams an originally 5 a side match quickly grew into 11 a side as more and more kids joined in. After Callum's team to took the lead through a freak deflected goal, we pulled one back soon after. With Hux floundering in goal, our best local player took advantage; cutting in from the wing and smashing home for 1-1. The match was brutally called to an end at this point though by an off duty border guard. We hadn't realised but the Russian exit was just at the other side of this town. But this had just closed at 6pm and in the 40km or so before the border it is illegal to camp. As we started blasting back to just before this zone we heard from Rub a Dub Dub. Expecting them to be arriving much later we were amazed to hear that they had just been to the border and found it closed as well; and must have driven right past where we were having a kickabout, missing us only as a result of a row of houses blocking the view from the road.
'Reunited'
Reunited we hit the road to go and camp just outside the border zone. Today we got up early and headed to the border. After the usual faff on both sides, and bumping into lots of other rally teams in the process, we finally made it into Mongolia! Amazingly the roads were actually quite good for a short while so we made it to the first town and headed in to get some food. Surprisingly, I was suddenly accosted by two blokes who wanted to buy Thunderbird 4 from us. They were offering 100 dollars which is pretty reasonable but we didn't really want to sell it before we had got across Mongolia with it. So I had to turn them down eventually but maybe if we get an offer at the finish line it can get sold on to raise some more money for charity. We have also added a car to the convoy since we have entered Mongolia. Team Honeymoon Roadtrip were understandably wary of driving across Mongolia alone so they are going to drive with us at least as far as Ulaanbaatar. It's freezing cold again but we are persevering with the camping and are ready to set off proper across the Mongolian steppe tomorrow.
'Welcome to Mongolia, please stop and consider how stupid what you are doing is'
