2010 - The one that started it all. An insomnia fueled internet binge around 2 in the morning led to my discovery of The Adventurists, a madcap group out of England dedicated to "making the world less boring". Their flagship adventure: "The Mongol Rally", a challenge to drive from London to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia in the most comically unsuitable vehicle possible. No routes planned out for you, no assistance along the way. Just one wild party at a castle in the Czech Republic 2 days after the official launch and then off you go, best of luck! I don't think I can put into words the way in which the prospect of a trip like this thrilled me. It HAD to be done. So I rounded up two friends who (bless them) had absolutely NO idea of what they were really in for, bought a beat up 2001 Citroen Saxo for 500 quid on Ebay UK, retrofitted it to run on vegetable oil (taking the directive "comically unsuitable" to a whole new level) and off we went! It could take me the better part of a year to properly download all of the misadventures we crammed into that six week excursion: the mechanical failures, the breakdowns, the interpersonal drama, the vodka, the gin, the fermented mare's milk...
Suffice it to say we made it to Ulan Baatar in one piece (though the same can't be said of our trusty steed, Baldrick, who was driven into a ditch thanks to a complete lack of breaks, and now resides in a rally graveyard in Altai, Mongolia) thanks to a strong sense of determination, and the help of some great friends made along the way. They say you never forget your first... well, anything, really... and the Mongol Rally will always hold a special place in my heart for providing that first jolt of excitement about travel off-the-beaten-path. RIP Baldrick I.
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| Baldrick I |
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| It's the name of a town in Austria, I swear! |
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| Taking a break in Kazakhstan |
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| Showing the camels who's boss |
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| Driving through a river, as you do. |
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| Triumphant (and filthy) at the finish! |
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