Day Fifty-Two: The Final push

I must apologise for the delay in this final posting. Although it may have had the effect of adding an air of suspense to the final leg of our journey, this was not the sole purpose and if anything makes the task of writing the final post all the more difficult.

I think due to the fact that we knew it was likely to be our last day we delayed leaving our final campsite for quite sometime, playing the 'Nutella vs Generic Chocolate Spread' taste test, and Rocky Rock with a catapult.

When we eventually did pack up and leave we still had some further site seeing to do before we could leave for Ulaanbaatar. We went to see the Mongolian Empire Map, a Phallic Statue (not quite sure of the purpose of this, but people had been putting money into it) and a Turtle Statue that marked one of the four corners of Ghengis Khans City.

After the remainder of our city tour, we rejoined the paved roads and eventually sped off towards Ulaanbaatar after driving the wrong direction for about half an hour, Thanks Kit! :)

The roads were unlike any others we had experienced in Mongolia, and after a few hours we even came across a dual carriage way!

The sun began to set, and just as we were wondering how much further we would have to go, a smattering of light appears in the distance which could only be one thing. Ulaanbaatar. 

We had made it.

It took us a little while to negotiate the bustling city but eventually found the drop off point where we would have to depart with our cars.

Entering Ulaanbaatar after driving nearly the entirety of Mongolia from the West was like entering another country. There were no more Gers, cows wandering into the roads, or swarms of goats crossing our paths, but instead an abundance of Hummers, 4x4s and tall buildings.

We all parked up, found a hotel at the finish line, and celebrated our victorious arrival. The next morning we had to return to clear out our stuff and officially hand over the cars. It was emotional to say goodbye to our little reliable Micra, after we had been through so much, but the money raised from her auction would be going to a good cause, and from the amount of people we had asking us how much she cost after only being there for about 5 minutes I think she will make a handsome sum.

I'm not quite sure what the best way to end this near-eight-week blog is, as somehow just finishing with, "and then we arrived - The End" doesn't quite seem appropriate, so I have decided on a list of Rally Tips which I hope will be sufficient. It will give anyone who might be thinking about doing the rally an idea of what it will be like, and for everyone else it will just sum up some of the discoveries that I have made along the way.

1) Leave enough time. Decide how long you want to take on the rally, and when planning for Mongolia estimate a speed of around 20 miles an hour (I never thought that this could feel fast) until Arvaikheer where you will be on tarmac roads. Leave an extra 5 days for things to go wrong, then another 2 for good luck. Chances are even if your car is fine, you will end up in a convoy with someone who breaks down a lot and unless you fancy parting with the group and going on alone you need to have a flight home that is far enough in the distance.

2) Don't worry about meeting other teams to convoy with. After the first week the reserved British attitude goes out the window and spotting another rallier on the road becomes like finding a long lost relative.

3) Play dumb and poor. Never pay for a bribe. We bartered down a bribe worth a few hundred pounds to three bottles of beer and two packets of cigarettes.

4) Don't bother packing foam tyre filler. Unless you need to use it in Europe or during the last 50km towards Ulaanbaatar it will be utterly useless on the battered bumpy roads.

5) In Siberia, and Mongolia it will be cold. Unless perhaps you complete the rally in the first two weeks of summer, on which I would not comment. But otherwise it will be not just chilly, but freezing cold to the point of snow.

6) If you want to stay in a Ger in Mongolia, your best bet is to camp near one and it is likely you will be invited in. Be prepared to eat goat, very strong hard goat cheese and drink Salty Milky tea.

7) It's almost uncanny how much you can rely on the help of strangers. If you break down, you won't have to wait long for some help, just beware that sometimes you might be expected to pay for it.

8) Never before will pasta have been such an important and staple part of your diet. However, strangely in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, pasta sauce becomes exceedingly elusive so you may want to stock up before you get there. You can also never have enough water.

9) If you're a girl, consider a SheWee. Seriously. If you're not, just count yourself lucky.

10) Last but not least remember the statistics. Two in Seven will not make it.