This is where myescape will post its daily location and physical description of stop over.
I will try add a few comments about the route, driven distance, accumulated trip and stop over location as we go.....
Watch this space........
Monday, May 25, 2009
Iranianvisa.com a personal thought
If you decide that an overland journey to OZ is for you, there are many ways to get there, you can see our chosen route on a different thread.
One of the most attractive routes is through Iran and Pakistan.
To do this you will need an authority number from The ministry of foreign affairs in Tehran.
There are two companies that our Rally members have used.
One is Stantours, who have been successful in gaining the required number and have been very proactive in providing support and advice.
The other is Iranianvisa.com, who after being paid a good deal of money, have failed miserably to gain the required authority.
Worse than that, they do not respond to emails, answer their phones or communicate at all, other than to ask for payment.
It is not for me to pass on advise to others, a touch of sour grapes perhaps, nether the less, work out carefully in advance who you are going to use.
This has been a hard lesson learnt.
My personal thought is DO NOT touch Iranianvisa.com with a barge pole!!!
We are now rerouting through Russia and Kazakstan, wheres theres a will theres a way !!!!!!
One of the most attractive routes is through Iran and Pakistan.
To do this you will need an authority number from The ministry of foreign affairs in Tehran.
There are two companies that our Rally members have used.
One is Stantours, who have been successful in gaining the required number and have been very proactive in providing support and advice.
The other is Iranianvisa.com, who after being paid a good deal of money, have failed miserably to gain the required authority.
Worse than that, they do not respond to emails, answer their phones or communicate at all, other than to ask for payment.
It is not for me to pass on advise to others, a touch of sour grapes perhaps, nether the less, work out carefully in advance who you are going to use.
This has been a hard lesson learnt.
My personal thought is DO NOT touch Iranianvisa.com with a barge pole!!!
We are now rerouting through Russia and Kazakstan, wheres theres a will theres a way !!!!!!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Plan A The journey to OZ from the UK
Plan B to follow.........
3rd July Day 1 - London - Goodwood
4th July Day 2 - Goodwood Festival of Speed
5th July Day 3 - Goodwood – Germany
6th July Day 4 - Salzburg, Austria
7th July Day 5 - Split, Croatia
8th July Day 6 - Montenegro
9th July Day 7 - Rest day, Montenegro
10th July Day 8 - Through Albania and Macedonia to Greece
11th July Day 9 - Greece
12th July Day 10 - Istanbul, Turkey
13th July Day 11 - Rest Day – Istanbul
14th July Day 12 - Head toward Goreme, Turkey
15th July Day 13 - Goreme
16th July Day 14 - Diyarbakir
17th July Day 15 - Dogubeyazit, Turkey
18th July Day 16 - Tabriz, Iran
19th July Day 17 - Hamadan
20th July Day 18 - Esfahan
21st July Day 19 - Rest day, Esfahan
22nd July Day 20 - Shiraz
23rd July Day 21 - Kerman
24th July Day 22 - Zahedan
25th July Day 23 - Taftan, Pakistan
26th July Day 24 - Dalbandin, Pakistan
27th July Day 25 - Quetta, Pakistan
28th July Day 26 - Multan, Pakistan
29th July Day 27 - Rest day
30th July Day 28 - Lahore, Pakistan
31st July Day 29 - Wahga, (border ceremony and cross into India)
1st Aug Day 30 - Amritsar
2nd Aug Day 31 - Rest day Amritsar
3rd Aug Day 32 - Corbett tiger reserve
4th Aug Day 33 - Agra (Taj mahal then on towards Varanasi)
5th Aug Day 34 - Varanasi
6th Aug Day 35 - Rest day Varanasi
7th Aug Day 36 - Lumbini, Nepal (Buddha’s birthplace)
8th Aug Day 37 - Pokhara, Nepal (Himalayan Raptor Centre)
9th Aug Day 38 - Kathmandu
10th Aug Day 39 - Rest day, Kathmandu
11th Aug Day 40 - Chinese Border
12th Aug Day 41 - Mt Everest
13th Aug Day 42 - Mt Everest to Dingri
14th Aug Day 43 - Lhasa
15th Aug Day 44 - Rest day, Lhasa
16th Aug Day 45 - Nyingchi, China
17th Aug Day 46 - Ranwu, China
18th Aug Day 47 - Mangkang, China
19th Aug Day 48 - Shang-gri La, China
20th Aug Day 49 - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang
21st Aug Day 50 - Kunming, China
22nd Aug Day 51 - Jianshui, china
23rd Aug Day 52 - Lao Border on to Luang Prabang
24th Aug Day 53 - Plain of Jars, Laos
25th Aug Day 54 - Vientianne, Laos
26th Aug Day 55 - Cope Laos, mine victim rehabilitation centre, Vientianne
27th Aug Day 56 - Pakse, Laos
28th Aug Day 57 - Head for Cambodia
29th Aug Day 58 - Head for Angkor Watt
30th Aug Day 59 - Angkor Watt
31st Aug Day 60 - Rest day Angkor Watt
1st Sept Day 61 - Bangkok, Thailand
2nd Sept Day 62 - Chumphon
3rd Sept Day 63 - Kuala Lumpar
4th Sept Day 64 - Rest day Kuala Lumpar
5th Sept Day 65 - Ferry from Melaka to Indonesia
6th Sept Day 66 - Jambi
7th Sept Day 67 - Ferry to Jakarta, Java
8th Sept Day 68 - Magelang, Java, Indonesia
9th Sept Day 69 - Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
10th Sept Day 70 - Rest day Bali, Indonesia
11th Sept Day 71 - Ferry to Mataram, cross island, ferry to Alas
12th Sept Day 72 - Bajo
13th Sept Day 73 - Ferry to Endeh, Flores, Indonesia
14th Sept Day 74 - Ferry to Kupang, Indonesian Timor
15th Sept to 20th Sept Day 75 – 79 – Explore East Timor, Clean, repair and ship cars to Darwin
21st Sept Day 80 - Fly to Darwin
22nd Sept Day 81 - Rest day, Darwin
23rd Sept Day 82 – Rest day, Darwin (kakadu)
24th Sept Day 83 - Newcastle Waters
25th Sept Day 84 - Alice Springs
26th Sept Day 85 - Ayers Rock
27th Sept Day 86 - Coober Pedy
28th Sept Day 87 - Port Augusta
29th Sept Day 88 - Adelaide
30th Sept Day 89 - Melbourne
1st Oct Day 90 - Rest day, Melbourne
2nd Oct Day 91 - Eden
3rd Oct Day 92 - Sydney
3rd July Day 1 - London - Goodwood
4th July Day 2 - Goodwood Festival of Speed
5th July Day 3 - Goodwood – Germany
6th July Day 4 - Salzburg, Austria
7th July Day 5 - Split, Croatia
8th July Day 6 - Montenegro
9th July Day 7 - Rest day, Montenegro
10th July Day 8 - Through Albania and Macedonia to Greece
11th July Day 9 - Greece
12th July Day 10 - Istanbul, Turkey
13th July Day 11 - Rest Day – Istanbul
14th July Day 12 - Head toward Goreme, Turkey
15th July Day 13 - Goreme
16th July Day 14 - Diyarbakir
17th July Day 15 - Dogubeyazit, Turkey
18th July Day 16 - Tabriz, Iran
19th July Day 17 - Hamadan
20th July Day 18 - Esfahan
21st July Day 19 - Rest day, Esfahan
22nd July Day 20 - Shiraz
23rd July Day 21 - Kerman
24th July Day 22 - Zahedan
25th July Day 23 - Taftan, Pakistan
26th July Day 24 - Dalbandin, Pakistan
27th July Day 25 - Quetta, Pakistan
28th July Day 26 - Multan, Pakistan
29th July Day 27 - Rest day
30th July Day 28 - Lahore, Pakistan
31st July Day 29 - Wahga, (border ceremony and cross into India)
1st Aug Day 30 - Amritsar
2nd Aug Day 31 - Rest day Amritsar
3rd Aug Day 32 - Corbett tiger reserve
4th Aug Day 33 - Agra (Taj mahal then on towards Varanasi)
5th Aug Day 34 - Varanasi
6th Aug Day 35 - Rest day Varanasi
7th Aug Day 36 - Lumbini, Nepal (Buddha’s birthplace)
8th Aug Day 37 - Pokhara, Nepal (Himalayan Raptor Centre)
9th Aug Day 38 - Kathmandu
10th Aug Day 39 - Rest day, Kathmandu
11th Aug Day 40 - Chinese Border
12th Aug Day 41 - Mt Everest
13th Aug Day 42 - Mt Everest to Dingri
14th Aug Day 43 - Lhasa
15th Aug Day 44 - Rest day, Lhasa
16th Aug Day 45 - Nyingchi, China
17th Aug Day 46 - Ranwu, China
18th Aug Day 47 - Mangkang, China
19th Aug Day 48 - Shang-gri La, China
20th Aug Day 49 - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang
21st Aug Day 50 - Kunming, China
22nd Aug Day 51 - Jianshui, china
23rd Aug Day 52 - Lao Border on to Luang Prabang
24th Aug Day 53 - Plain of Jars, Laos
25th Aug Day 54 - Vientianne, Laos
26th Aug Day 55 - Cope Laos, mine victim rehabilitation centre, Vientianne
27th Aug Day 56 - Pakse, Laos
28th Aug Day 57 - Head for Cambodia
29th Aug Day 58 - Head for Angkor Watt
30th Aug Day 59 - Angkor Watt
31st Aug Day 60 - Rest day Angkor Watt
1st Sept Day 61 - Bangkok, Thailand
2nd Sept Day 62 - Chumphon
3rd Sept Day 63 - Kuala Lumpar
4th Sept Day 64 - Rest day Kuala Lumpar
5th Sept Day 65 - Ferry from Melaka to Indonesia
6th Sept Day 66 - Jambi
7th Sept Day 67 - Ferry to Jakarta, Java
8th Sept Day 68 - Magelang, Java, Indonesia
9th Sept Day 69 - Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
10th Sept Day 70 - Rest day Bali, Indonesia
11th Sept Day 71 - Ferry to Mataram, cross island, ferry to Alas
12th Sept Day 72 - Bajo
13th Sept Day 73 - Ferry to Endeh, Flores, Indonesia
14th Sept Day 74 - Ferry to Kupang, Indonesian Timor
15th Sept to 20th Sept Day 75 – 79 – Explore East Timor, Clean, repair and ship cars to Darwin
21st Sept Day 80 - Fly to Darwin
22nd Sept Day 81 - Rest day, Darwin
23rd Sept Day 82 – Rest day, Darwin (kakadu)
24th Sept Day 83 - Newcastle Waters
25th Sept Day 84 - Alice Springs
26th Sept Day 85 - Ayers Rock
27th Sept Day 86 - Coober Pedy
28th Sept Day 87 - Port Augusta
29th Sept Day 88 - Adelaide
30th Sept Day 89 - Melbourne
1st Oct Day 90 - Rest day, Melbourne
2nd Oct Day 91 - Eden
3rd Oct Day 92 - Sydney
Chris Morrell paints my wagon.....
Its was no laughing matter....
Just above freezing in Recklinghausen, Germany.
'Tiny' used to be a pristine white Land rover 130, this however was not going to cut it for the Oz Rally.....
Just above freezing in Recklinghausen, Germany.
'Tiny' used to be a pristine white Land rover 130, this however was not going to cut it for the Oz Rally.....
Following a local advertisment for an artist to paint my wagon, Chris Morrell more well known for his fine art work on motorbikes gave me call.
A date was set for mid Feb "As long as its not too cold it wont be a problem" was the last statement Chris made to me......
With a tight schedule for Chris to work in and limited options for location we set on taking 'Tiny' to Recklinghausen in Germany for its make over, it was freezing cold but Chris decided to work under a tent....
As an ex REME man Chris was used to working long hours I asked him why he left the REME he said " I hated working out doors in the cold and I cant stand land rovers"So thats two for nil I thought, one bit of good news was though that Chris is a highly thought of artist in very high demand and I knew he would really give 'Tiny' a makeover worthy of the Rally.
I did not at the time know what Chris was planning, a week later I was stunned at the work Chris had done, 'Tiny' actually is a bit of a big lad....imagine painting the whole thing with an airbrush with a 0.4mm nozzle!!
You can find examples of Chris Morrells work at
If you need a paint job and it needs to be a bit special he's your man.Chris undertook the entire project at COST in support of the Rally and Team 'myescape'
31000 Kms worth of security advice....Scienexus is supporting Oz Rally with Risk Information throughout their adventure.
Scienexus delivers operational security and risk management services to any endeavour.Scienexus will be following the rally's progress and providing:
Risk Updates - Dynamic updates about what is happening along the way that will impact the people involved and rally's progress.
Risk Profiles - Looking at each of the destinations and countries en-route and providing easy to understand background risk information that enables decisions to be based on a real understanding of the risks.
Essential Emergency Information - Details of who do you contact in an emergency for all destinations and countries along the way.
Government Travel Advisories - Regular updates from the official sites of governments with their latest advice.
Useful Links - Web links that may help the travellers understand more about the environment they are travelling in and the cultures they will encounter.
Scienexus' support can be followed at:
Start letting our team know about your risk concerns and our dedicated researcher will start building insights that enable your adventure!
Scienexus wishes all the teams good luck in your preparations and in the journey to come!
Scienexus wishes all the teams good luck in your preparations and in the journey to come!
A quick introduction to the star of the show...TINY
Please allow me to introduce Tiny......
HE is a Land Rover Defender 130 single cab, with a living space conversion.
Specail Paint job, just for this journey, he will be Black eventually.
He started life in Austria, spent some time in the UK and Germany, resides in Holland, and is just about to take us on a 30 000 KM plus overland journey, hes ready........
I will go into the paint work later.
HE is a Land Rover Defender 130 single cab, with a living space conversion.
Specail Paint job, just for this journey, he will be Black eventually.
He started life in Austria, spent some time in the UK and Germany, resides in Holland, and is just about to take us on a 30 000 KM plus overland journey, hes ready........
I will go into the paint work later.
Myescape laid bare as the count down starts
With only five weeks to go, things have flipped flopped around , alot has changed in the last couple of days .
Due to the Iranian Ministry of Affairs getting all high and mighty and refusing to allow us visas, we have had to change our route.
So....
Once we get to Turkey, its off on a boat across the Black sea to Russia, a skip and a jump into and through Kazakhstan then onto China.
Regrettably this means the Rally will split, with the original Iran-Pakistan-India option still be driven by those can get clearance.
We have had to mess about with the start dates as well to try and compensate for the Plan B route.
So we are Heading South on the 1st of June (subject to gaining those all important visas)
Due to the Iranian Ministry of Affairs getting all high and mighty and refusing to allow us visas, we have had to change our route.
So....
Once we get to Turkey, its off on a boat across the Black sea to Russia, a skip and a jump into and through Kazakhstan then onto China.
Regrettably this means the Rally will split, with the original Iran-Pakistan-India option still be driven by those can get clearance.
We have had to mess about with the start dates as well to try and compensate for the Plan B route.
So we are Heading South on the 1st of June (subject to gaining those all important visas)
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