Mongol Rally 2017 — Travel prep

Miles:Countries: UKStops: ColchesterPlaylists: Vocal Trance Hits, Classic rock 60s, 70s, and 80s, Classic Rock Greatest Hits (all Spotify) What a beautiful day! The sun was shining and we actually had sweat coming out of places we didn't know it could. That's reassuring before we head off to the desert. Fun fact: how do you remember which dessert/desert has 1 or 2 S's? Dessert always has 2, because you go back for seconds. #randomconversations I also learned a few new words today, but I'm completely blanking at the moment.  Waking up, it was still fairly cloudy, and slightly drizzling so it...

Miles: 15Countries: UKStops: ColchesterPlaylists: cruising blues (Apple Music), Vocal Trance hits (Spotify)The day started off with an angry wake up call and cursing the neighbours for using tools at an ungodly hour - 7am. Turns out it was actually 9:20, which ended up being a good wake up call as we had plenty of work to get to and didn't mean to sleep in #jetlag #cantwinWhile one of us tinkered with the inverter, removed seat belts, and drilled holes to run wires, the other spent countless hours taping off the hood (bonnet) to then spray-paint our tracking map. Guess who...

Miles: 100Countries: UKStops: Colchester -> London -> Colchester Playlists: N/AUpon waking up, sick as a dog, we stumbled our way out of bed, got ready, and got a ride to the train. An hour later we arrived in London and were on a mission to get them damn Russian visas. It was interesting to travel without our phones, not using the satellite GPS, and having to rely on the maps on the walls and a compass. Makes you realize just how depended we are on our gadgets nowadays. Just a tease for what's to come, I'm sure! Outside the visa centre we were greeted...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, after a few weeks and many arguments, we've finally found a name for our companion that we can BOTH agree on!We've had some amazing suggestions; thank you to the many submissions! We looked at everything from "The Canadian Job" to "Dale", from "the Goose" to "the Caboose", from "Stallion" to "Crimson Chariot", from "Astrid" to "Car McCarface" (although not so much that last one, sorry Brad). "Gone in 60 seconds", "The Slow and Peaceful", "Speed-Ish", and... "Barry". There were many others, and while I was really trying to push "2 Moose in the Goose on the Loose",...

Dear Diary; Jackpot. Cue the dramatic music 1.2 litres of raw, uninhibited muscle cranking out 59 thundering horsepower... 0-60mph in a whopping 12 seconds... Red... Eat your heart out, Vin Diesel. We are pleased to introduce our Crimson Chariot, a 2002 Ford Fiesta hatchback. We just acquired this sexy beast with some amazing help from some local friends for the low low price of £300. So it doesn't have AC, so what? It has a removable sunroof, so it's practically a convertible. Sure it's rusting on the fender, but that just adds some decorative platescab for texture.  That dent? That right there is a battle scar.. you should see the other guy!  This...