Day 13-14: Novosibirsk

Feel like we have gone through re- entry. Back in civilization, rivers, hills , grass, roads, barriers, all the things one expects to see next to the highway. We have arrived in Novosibirsk, had a souvlaki of the street, hope I don't regret it! Will set off the repair the car tomorrow and clean the dirt out of every corner of my body, hopefully. Also try to clean up electronics and fix camera.

Day 12: Siberia at last! Never expected to say I was happy to be in Siberia

Asphalt at Last!

We filed slowly through the border between Mongolia and Russia. The point is newly opened and the last thing they expected was to see 130 odd cars lined up waiting to go thru, they get on the average 6 cars a day, not 10 an hour! Siberia was a pleasant surprise, green pastures vs sandy steppes, asphalt vs sandy nothing roads, mountains and rivers and beautiful trees vs barren stretches of desert without even a shrub for days not hours. Oh I never knew how much I loved asphalt, boy did I miss it!

Day 11: Khovd to Border

We try to protect ourselves from the wind, the sun and the never ending sand. Bruce wears his new hat to keep his head warm, given to him by Christofer after he hit his head 5 times on the door frame of the Ger.

Peter during a break

Day 10: Altay to Khovd: Almost out of Mongolia 1 more day in the tents

Khovd Peters Car after crossing to Khovd, looking worse for the wear Sand storm in the path

Day 9: Bayankhongor to Altay

Mongolian road sign!

Peter's racing style Endless dirt roads to nowhere

Yannis' car being loaded on a truck

Day 8: Heating and parking

The locals cut wood to burn in the fires of the gers where we will sleep, not a tree in site, so the pieces of wood are microscopic! It is freezing, snow. In Mongolia they say in spring you can see all four seasons in one day! They are right we left Ulaan Bator in 30 degree weather , and when we arrived in Khakorim there was a freezing howling wind whipping around us. The white tents are the gers that they have prepared for us to sleep in, a lot better than sleeping in our tents!

Day 7: Entertainment provided by Christof in Khakourin

Mongolian

wrestling anyone? Wolf in our yard at dawn!

Everyone enjoys a warm and filling meal

Cooking risotto inside the Ger

Yannis relaxes Champagne! 6 hours drive into the steppes of Mongolia served by a local?!

Music and Singing by locals Shopping

Polo on Mongolian ponies. and some gymnastics,

All types of entertainment before we go off to our gers to sleep.

Day 7: Yannis sitting in the Ger that will be home tonight in Khakourim

The Camp

He grins at the idea of a warm shower! It sure beats sleeping in a tent in a sand storm

Day 7: Dinner in the plains outside Khakorin after driving 368 kl

The main ger where all had dinner is the largest ger in Mongolia and is used for the President when he visits Karakorin The race organizer makes an announcement Party in the ger for the lucky ones who did not get lost in the desert or break down, about 1/4 of the cars have not made it there by dinner time.

Day 7: Start in the main square of Ulan Bataar

King of Malaysia consults with Franco before the start

Bruce has not shaved in 7 days! Cars collect in main square We are there at the crack of dawn to start off for the gruelling five days ahead, where we will be put to the test in more ways than one!