We are not quite sure when or how, as we sat at the Kaz border I noticed the trailer seemed to be sitting very low at the nose end.
OMG the trailer was ripping the back end off the defender.
Closer inspection revealed a bit of a horror show, with no option we dived into the first Kaz town we came across, got Toms pointer book out and started to find out how easy or hard this was going going to be.....
Actually after a fair bit of pointing and discussing with fingers and scibbles we found a welder at around six PM, he did some serious industrial welding on the back of the defender and a two AM we finally went to bed with the truck and trailer in back in one peice.
BEFORE anyone thinks the trailer is too heavy, the answer is no, the problem was the extension was too long on the NATO hook and it was creating a down force that the defender could not handle.
The extension is now gone, the defender has some serious weld action on its back side, and we are back on the road.
Tonight we are free camping in a field in the middle of nowhere.
I have changed the oil, the oil filter and the oil particle filter, fixed the spot light on the roof that got a clip at a road side checking station.
I replaced all the snapped rivets on the bonnet with bolts as the Kaz roads have popped the front rivets on the spare wheel holder.
Botched a fixed on the jockey wheel so it can rotate away from the ground, its grounded a couple of times....
It will need a new wheel at some point.
All in all, reasonably happy with things, a couple of niggles with the defender, but its working hard.
I will post what went wrong, what was replaced, and what held up nearer the end game.
The human element is doing OK, keeping clean and sane which all things considered is not bad going.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
From Russia with love......
We always knew that Russia was a bit of stepping stone into Kaz, we never really understood how much time it would take.
We hurried up onto the Trabzon to Sochi Ferry, little did we know that we would still be on the boat that this was the start of a 47 hour long journey that really should only take 12 hours.
The captain decided to go to a wedding rather that set sail for Russia so we sat in the Turkish port of Trabzon for nearly 24 hours.
Must be nice to be the boss of your own boat !!
To be fair we where just about the only non locals on the boat and they all seemed happy to mill about the boat, the food was good and cheap.
The ticket was 500 US $, no cabin, NSF all is forgiven...
Once we did get to Russia there was a lot more hurry up lets wait, with lots of forms and document to process.
It was quite an antique process, we where well worried that the Russians where going to take our cars apart but they did not, to fair the process once in it was not at all too bad, getting too the process was a drama.
Russia itself was kind of odd, the older Russians seemed to be really nice and welcoming, the younger ones seemed to carry a bit of an attitude.
The journey itself through Russia was without drama, apart from one incident, which I will write about separately.
Three days of sunflower fields later we where at the Kaz border, more fun and games !!!
We hurried up onto the Trabzon to Sochi Ferry, little did we know that we would still be on the boat that this was the start of a 47 hour long journey that really should only take 12 hours.
The captain decided to go to a wedding rather that set sail for Russia so we sat in the Turkish port of Trabzon for nearly 24 hours.
Must be nice to be the boss of your own boat !!
To be fair we where just about the only non locals on the boat and they all seemed happy to mill about the boat, the food was good and cheap.
The ticket was 500 US $, no cabin, NSF all is forgiven...
Once we did get to Russia there was a lot more hurry up lets wait, with lots of forms and document to process.
It was quite an antique process, we where well worried that the Russians where going to take our cars apart but they did not, to fair the process once in it was not at all too bad, getting too the process was a drama.
Russia itself was kind of odd, the older Russians seemed to be really nice and welcoming, the younger ones seemed to carry a bit of an attitude.
The journey itself through Russia was without drama, apart from one incident, which I will write about separately.
Three days of sunflower fields later we where at the Kaz border, more fun and games !!!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
On a very slow boat to Sochi Russia
Well theres a thing, we rushed like mad dogs to get on a boat, leaving maybe yesterday heading for Sochi....
We are still in the port of Trabzon getting slow roasted as the boat is a fantastic conductor of heat and at 35 or so degrees we have been cooking slowly but surely.
With Russia as our desination we expect to be jumping through a number of customs hoops, and I suppose the challange of the trip is about to begin.
In the next 14 or so days we will go through Southern Russia and West to East across Kaz.....
The defender is holding up better than we are, The driving has been steady, we are around 10% into the journey...
I think its best not to focus too much on what is ahead in terms of both KMs and time, if we did, we would probably turn tail and go back to Holland......
We are still in the port of Trabzon getting slow roasted as the boat is a fantastic conductor of heat and at 35 or so degrees we have been cooking slowly but surely.
With Russia as our desination we expect to be jumping through a number of customs hoops, and I suppose the challange of the trip is about to begin.
In the next 14 or so days we will go through Southern Russia and West to East across Kaz.....
The defender is holding up better than we are, The driving has been steady, we are around 10% into the journey...
I think its best not to focus too much on what is ahead in terms of both KMs and time, if we did, we would probably turn tail and go back to Holland......
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wham, bang as we HIT Istanbul
We have managed to rack up our first fender bender of the trip, with Mark and Beth getting side swiped by a Toyota......
Luckily all where OK, Beth and Mark stayed remarkably calm, whilst Pat protested there innocence to the police.
It took hours to sort out, the van is OK, minor door damage, we are sure that between us there will be more to come, lets hope nothing too serious.
Rachael and Tom have been keeping a brave face on the oily lump at the back of the Baja, which is now fixed, I think they where consuming more oil than Petrol at one point.
Both are Great teams holding up well.
We have gathered some last minute spares from a great supplier in Istanbul, I had to change the rear disc pads they where getting a bit tired, I have finally learnt the meaning of the diff lock and high/low ratio gearbox (thanks Mark) tomorrow I will put my new knowledge to the test.
Tiny has been a star so far, he has had to work really hard tugging 4 tonnes up and down the country and coastal roads, the next challenge is really Russia and Kaz, I am sure he will eat up all everything I put on his plate.
So far every encounter we have had has been a good one, the Turkish people are fantastic, they really cannot do enough for you, their driving is off the scale but hey really do make up for it in their welcoming attitude....
Luckily all where OK, Beth and Mark stayed remarkably calm, whilst Pat protested there innocence to the police.
It took hours to sort out, the van is OK, minor door damage, we are sure that between us there will be more to come, lets hope nothing too serious.
Rachael and Tom have been keeping a brave face on the oily lump at the back of the Baja, which is now fixed, I think they where consuming more oil than Petrol at one point.
Both are Great teams holding up well.
We have gathered some last minute spares from a great supplier in Istanbul, I had to change the rear disc pads they where getting a bit tired, I have finally learnt the meaning of the diff lock and high/low ratio gearbox (thanks Mark) tomorrow I will put my new knowledge to the test.
Tiny has been a star so far, he has had to work really hard tugging 4 tonnes up and down the country and coastal roads, the next challenge is really Russia and Kaz, I am sure he will eat up all everything I put on his plate.
So far every encounter we have had has been a good one, the Turkish people are fantastic, they really cannot do enough for you, their driving is off the scale but hey really do make up for it in their welcoming attitude....
Gateway to Asia
Yesterday we crossed officially into Asia.
No dramas to report......
Doing some sight seeing in Istanbul today.
No dramas to report......
Doing some sight seeing in Istanbul today.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
So far so Good
So far we have trail blazed....
Holland
Germany
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
You can check out our location 'real time' at
www.myescapestrategy.com
So far, so good......
What I have learnt,
Tiny does not stop well at roundabouts in the rain.
Tiny can climb 24.5 degree climbs, fully loaded !!
Tiny drinks deisel like a man on a mission.......
Pats rollers do not work.
I smoke too much
Holland
Germany
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
You can check out our location 'real time' at
www.myescapestrategy.com
So far, so good......
What I have learnt,
Tiny does not stop well at roundabouts in the rain.
Tiny can climb 24.5 degree climbs, fully loaded !!
Tiny drinks deisel like a man on a mission.......
Pats rollers do not work.
I smoke too much
Day one line up.....
So here they then in order of madness.....
VW BAJA Beetle
Rachael and Tom
Tiny
Pat and me
VW Camper
Mark and Beth
Another BAJA is hot on our tails
Fiona and Rica
VW BAJA Beetle
Rachael and Tom
Tiny
Pat and me
VW Camper
Mark and Beth
Another BAJA is hot on our tails
Fiona and Rica
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Have you donated yet??
As we are now officially on the road as a rally, for those of you that have not as yet visited my charity web page, I invite you to do so, have a look at who's contributed and see if you can help Pat and I reach our total before we leave.
( I will then move the goal posts!!)
One pound clears one square meter of mine field.
Thirty provides an artificial leg to a victim of war....
most probably a child.
Go on have a look......
( I will then move the goal posts!!)
One pound clears one square meter of mine field.
Thirty provides an artificial leg to a victim of war....
most probably a child.
Go on have a look......
Then make a differance !!!!!
OMG were on TV !!!
On Monday we spent a couple of hours in the company of Rob Olver and his good lady Shelagh...
Rob is the front line reporter for BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)
We will provide a link here, once known, so you can down load our interview.
Rob and Shelagh also made a considerable donation to our charity cause, so a big thank you to you both.
Rob is the front line reporter for BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)
We will provide a link here, once known, so you can down load our interview.
Rob and Shelagh also made a considerable donation to our charity cause, so a big thank you to you both.
Web page now available including map locator
Thanks to my great buddy Neil I am now the proud owner of
http://www.myescapestrategy.com
Its being managed by Neil, as I don't have a clue....
This .com also has a location map, which might make for interesting viewing.
http://www.myescapestrategy.com
Its being managed by Neil, as I don't have a clue....
This .com also has a location map, which might make for interesting viewing.
Its officially started !!!!!
With Mark, Beth, Rach and Tom now on their way over to Holland, the OZ Rally of 2009 has started......
We've still got things to do, so I had better get a shunt on...
Good news though, Passports back and bulging with random visas from all over the place, BIG thanks to Travcour for getting the required visas completed in time.
My next post will be from on the road........
Watch and follow us for the next 4 months......
It might, just maybe, be the trip of a lifetime!!!
Fiona and Rica are heading off tomorrow, Good luck ladies, see you out on the route.
We've still got things to do, so I had better get a shunt on...
Good news though, Passports back and bulging with random visas from all over the place, BIG thanks to Travcour for getting the required visas completed in time.
My next post will be from on the road........
Watch and follow us for the next 4 months......
It might, just maybe, be the trip of a lifetime!!!
Fiona and Rica are heading off tomorrow, Good luck ladies, see you out on the route.
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