When my son Cameron was about 13 or 14 he heard about a little event called the Mongol Rally and said, with all the certainty of youth, “I’m going to do that one day. I’m going to drive to Mongolia!”
As an adult we can often dream about stuff too, but then we think of obstacles, all the “Yeah, but….” All the reasons why we can’t do it.
It’s really nice to see that Cam isn’t too much like that. On Sunday 17th July he’s driving to Mongolia… in a Nissan Micra (which happens to look like a dalmatian). He’s going with his mates Jake and Charlie and they’re all well over 6 feet tall, so it’s going to be cosy. Ostensibly it’s to raise money for charity but we all know damn well it’s a jolly — especially when they do things like just now added a week onto the return trip cos “Charlie’s met this bird in Finland and he wants to see her... and it's practically next door as we’ll be in Russia anyway.”
[ah, the call of Rumpo!] And so far most of the preparations have included lots of beer. Like they do.
If you want to give the charities, (a local hospice which helped Charlie’s dad die well, and an eco project for water) for the cost of a couple of pints they’ll be totally grateful. I’ll add some links for that and to their blogs.
If you’ve ever had a dream I guess sometimes it’s good to go, “Yeah but… Why the hell not?!”
Money for the hospice
https://www.gofundme.com/uzjgp9qcFacebook
https://www.facebook.com/101damnnations/Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/101damnnations/Blog
https://101damn-nations.com/With the car, L to R: Charlie, Jake, Cameron
Comments
A Nissan Micra, you say?
It could be a long job.
Car-jacking by envious, myopic OAP's will be the biggest issue.
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Mongolia never crossed my mind. I used to know a chap who was a regular visitor to Tibet (did voluntary work as a doctor there) and I loved his stories.
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But, you get to go into Mongolia. It was worth it. Amazing place.
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Somehow they've made it. Six and a half weeks to get there.
Got this pic yesterday on way there, that's Cam hanging out of the car, that's his road buddy Megan doing the selfie. (And a random ninja on top of Cruella, the dalmatian Micra.) All looks a bit Mad Max but a lot of fun. Freedom.
The Nissan Micra now has a new suspension which a Mongolian mechanic added from an old Soviet lorry and although they need ladder to get in the car, basically ground clearance is no longer an issue.
@ICBM I just Googled the Altai mountains and... wow.
http://www.altaiexpeditions.com/altaimountains_2358.jpg