High Point: Quite literally the summit of Tsambagarav at 4208m. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it all the way to the top as after the glacier at roughly 4000m it became a technical climb, however the trek to the glacier certainly blew the cobwebs away.
Low Point: Saying goodbye to Agii and realising we were on our own, and navigation would have to be be done by compass now! Read more →
High Point: Our fixer from the border, Aggi, promised us a mini adventure and blimey did he deliver. As we set off from Oggii for two hours of crazy off road driving to visit his very good nomad friends. The route there had it all, with mountain climbs, river crossings, lunar surfaces and marsh land. The views were incredible, you can look for 50 km in each direction and see nothing but beauty. This was like no place we have been so far, and with the help of Aggi, we headed further and further into this wonderful world.
High point: Our fixer was a legend but we still didn’t break the Russian border for 8.5 hours. We fully expected to kip down in no man’s land overnight. After the Russian gates opened it was 30 mins before the Mongolian border shut but on arrival it was pretty clear Agi (fixer) knew everyone. The paperwork, passport control, vehicle docs, vehicle inspection and carnet were blitzed in 20 mins and we were through. Amazing. Russia behind us. Mongolia dirt tracks ahead! Read more →
High point: Where to begin? Seriously, come visit Siberia. It’s simply stunning.
Low Point: I was hungry for about 7 minutes, but fortunately we were moments from the best supermarket we’ve stumbled across. It sold everything, and we just about emptied it.
High point : For once in Russia the high point of the day was the scenery around us as we drove through the hills, steppe and mountains of the Altai republic.
Low point : Being told I had to stop driving and let some one else take the wheel.
No point : My beard has stopped itching! Whoop whoop!
High point: Run club. Finally, finally we managed to fit some proper exercise in and we all attempted to go running today.I think attempted is probably the right word as the air pollution in Gorno-Altaisk is pretty high (even the Lonely Planet which is normally so complementary about everything calls this place ‘a concrete scare on the landscape’), it affected our breathing, so what was discussed as a good quick 10km run turned into more of a shorter plod. Oh well at least we gave it a go!
High point: So while Ben was taking a stupid amount of time wandering around Novo trying to change Kazak Tenge into USD a Russian Wedding party stumbled across Martha. What a start to the day – you have to check out the pictures below.
High Point – The city of Novobinsk. Surprisingly impressive with tree-lined streets, pleasant parks and a far more western feel to it than some of the cities we have experienced many miles earlier. Top restaurant, great bars and a plentiful supply of vodka.
High Point : Finally Getting out of Omsk after a 2 hours drive around the town!!
Low Point : Realising it was “slightly” my fault that we were driving around Omsk for 2 hours…
No Point : Why does Steve ALWAYS leave one sock around on the floor when he leaves anywhere.
Russian Word of the day : Imodium…. Thank God its pronounced the same !!
High point: THE BORDER CROSSING without doubt, 3 hours 55 mins (Ben won the FTFE crew bet…again). The Kazakhs were so friendly on the border, and Martha got her usual fan club, and to be fair, as it was such a quiet border even the Russians were really nice and chatty. The usual problem of the carnet (Martha’s passport) wasn’t an issue as we were duly informed that it was still open for Russia. One could look at this as an error, I think it was a lucky bonus. Everyone was a winner!
