New Blog

We will be using our new blog: http://trip100.ontheroad.to/uk-mongolia-uk/ from now on. Although we will update this one periodically, the other blog is easier to manage and allows us to update via SMS. So please visit us on thge other blog. Thanks.

Ups and downs of landrovers

The top picture is how the pop-up looked originally and the other two show what it looks like now. Also in the photo are John, Jan and Julian from Exmoor Trim.

I have not written an entry for a while. Not long now before we go, just days in fact. So much as been happening and so much to organise.

Truck:
The truck has had its ups and downs. The highlight has been the people from Exmoor Trim who have given us new pop-up canvas and two new front seats - the people there are FANTASTIC. John and Jan did most of the work. A huge thank-you goes to Julian for offering to do the job and a huge thank you to everyone else there - I was made to feel very welcome. So BIG UP Exmoor Trim. Today I had a panic about the water pump, I thought it was broken and they are impossible to find - turns out it is a faulty guage! I put a new carb in last week and the truck is running sweetly. My love-hate relationship with the truck continues.

Other prep
We have practically all our gear ready; truck spares, tools, manuals, guides, maps and even a 3-stake ground anchor very kindly lent to us by my mate David. We are still waiting on visas.

We have started another blog - not sure which one we will keep to. The other one appears to be easier to update - particularly via mobile phone. For those that want to take a look, this the address: http://trip100.ontheroad.to/uk-mongolia-uk/

Expedition check.

Everything is staring to fall in to place. matt has finished the expedition check on the Truck. He has managed most of the jobs and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. My mate dave has done a fantatsic job on repairing our winch (A Ramsey RE 8000). Dave is also lending us a land anchor for the trip. I must say now that Landrover enthusiasts are fantastic and have hearts of gold. My mate John has nearly finished making a bed for one of the kids (now we all have beds in the truck). I have a warm glow all over - such good people.

My Mate Matt

My mate Matt is a Landrover fanatic, he owns one, he has a baby one for his son and he works in a Landy garage - best of all he loves working on my Landrover! Matt has been a true source of help and inspiration for me in learning how to love and look after my Landy.

He now has a real task and his biggest Landy test to date: he is sorting out the final problems and doing an expedition check on my Landy expedition truck.

As well as the major expedition check he is going to sort out my final snagging list:
- Repair winch on front of vehicle
- Radiator: It needs lowering so that it does not catch the radiator hose. The bearing/fixing also needs tightening/repairing
- Rear air locker is leaking air through the rear axle
- Change front wheel bearings (save for spares), and check rear ones.
- Fit windscreen water jets (supplied)
- Repair small leak in roof – water is coming through in to the top of the cab and damaging the electric’s (radio etc). I have sealed some of the joins in the roof but have been unable to locate and repair the leak source
- Fix a rear recovery point plus something on the front (tow hook and rings?). Three and a half ton pin hitch?
- Replace both broken wing mirrors
- Replace brake light switch

Matt is a top bloke and I'm very happy to be his friend. I only wish he was coming on the expedition with us! Thanks Matt :-)

Satellite phone

We have decided to take a Thuraya satellite phone with us for emergency use. Those of you that would like the number please contact us. Be warned that they can be quite expensive to phone but it is possible I believe to send free sms texts messages from the Thuraya website (http://services.thuraya.com/sms.html). For more details about Thuraya check out this good site: http://www.nomadic-one.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=2

Online Thuraya services: http://services.thuraya.com/

Russian and Mongolian Visas

Russian and Mongolian Visa application forms were huge but have now been filled-in and sent off. Now just got to send them the fee, ouch! As we are getting multiple entry Russian visas we have had to provide letters of introduction.

New curtains!

Cath has made new curtains for the truck, hooray. We also got an elctronic ignition fitted which was donated to us by the very nice people at Autocar Electrical Equipment Ltd - I will be putting up a thank you note to them on the website shortly. I have booked in the truck for its expedition check this week. My current snagging list is: Winch needs repairing, radiator needs moving so that itn does not catch the hose, and rear axel air locker needs repairing. Plus I want the front wheel bearings changed (take the old ones as spares), a front and rear recovery point fixed and all the oils, filters, plugs, hoses, wires, clips, seals etc checked and replaced as neccesary (I have checked them but I want someone with knowledge to check them!).

Getting the truck ready

We have been working fast and furious on getting the truck ready. In the past week we have fitted the roofrack, checked all the electrics (including repairs on the TV, radio, fridge and heater), sourced a new starter solenoid (no longer a fire hazzard!). Cath started making curtains by hand and has now finished all the cushions. John is making our final bed. Just ordered an electronic ignition - that should stop the points problem. Commuynication is going to be easier in out of the way Mongolia with our new satellite phone.

We have nearly had all the injections.

Planning is all on track.

Everyone is excited.

Kids film

We trained the kids up in basic film work in preparation of the trip. I would like them to take a lead on filming while we are away. As much as possible I would like to get this trip recorded from their perspective. During their 3-day training they made this short film called 'Kids Kidnap Colourful camper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25FHZqPKN6Q - I think its pretty funny and they did a good job.

Mpower You Magazine

Read the latest copy of 'Empower You' magazine here: http://www.mpower.eu/ or here: http://www.yudu.com/item/details/145825/Mpower-You-Magazine-Issue-2

Mpower You Magazine

The latest issue of Mpower Magazine has a story about our expedition. Check it out at mpower.eu

Bombings in Russia

In the last two days the news has been awash with troubles in Russia. 2 bombs in Moscow and now 2 in the Dagestan region (Kikzlyar). Nearly a hundred innocent people have been killed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who have suffered loss. We will need to keep an eye on developments in Russia as this may well affect our route through it this summer. We were never due to go anywhere near the Dagestan region but we had planned to visit Moscow.

Kids help out

The children helped work on the truck today.

We sanded down some of the roof rack, did the tappets and tightened up the cam belt.

Matt and Alan helpd again - both have been a great source of advice and help. Alan started work on the water leak - a pipe located under one of the petrol tanks!

Truck work photos

This is the Morris Minor engine that I sourced some old bolts for my gearbox cover (below). I had to aplogise to the spiders for disturbing them. My first car was a Morris Minor - I bought it for £15 second hand, did it up and drove it for several years. Great car!



This is the cover/plate I made for the gear box. Not bad for an old bit of metal and some cutters!

Fuel pumps

Had another day of fixing things on the truck today. I have been having great problems with one of the fuel pumps - it would only work intermitently, so i took it off today and tested it; it was fine! The I put it back on and it stopped working again (grrr). If I pressed down on one end it would work, but take the pressure off and it would stop. I took it off again and accidentaly, with it on, brushed one of the points against the body of the truck and it worked. IDEA: it was not earthing properly, so i sanded off the paint where the fuel pump bolts on and YAY it is now working (see picture). As you can see from the photo, I am holding the fuel pump, and near where it bolts on you can see where i have sanded it down. Such a little thing has made a bi difference!

I also made a cover (see photo) for the gear box and bolted that on - Because this truck is so old (1969 Forward Control Landrover), I had to search for some bolts to fit (imperial do not fit), and I found them on an old Morris Minor (see photo).

In addition to the above I changed the fuel filters and put in a new choke cable. Not a bad days work!

Seat belts

Just had four seat belts fitted in the rear of the truck.

Auto electricians

What is it about auto electricians?! I have contacted two so far but neither return my calls. I need to get some basic electrics sorted out on the truck (Radio and alarm).

Which Landy will give way?

Spent today with my mate Matt, a Landy lover. Matt helped me fix my 4wd gear linkage. His son parked his mini Landy in front of our Landy truck.

More hosing

Changed the radiator hose yet again! This picture shows how the radiator fan was cutting through the hose. I have now replaced it with a flexible piece of hosing that I have now sent off centre to miss the fan tips by about 3cm.

Perpetual hosing

The raditor hose in the Landy F/C keeps being sliced by the fan! I am going to have to design a new system that lets the hose skirt around the fan. This also means new brackets! Oh for the joys of motoring.

Food Served with Love

Review of a restaurant we will try in Ulan Bator:

“Be Veg! Go Green! Save the Planet!” – The Loving Hut’s mantra.

As I walked down the crowded aisle, past stalls displaying cheap underwear on plastic mannequin torsos, shiny leather jackets and impossibly high-heeled boots, I found myself thinking… “Surely there can’t be an outlet of the fastest growing international vegan fast food chain down here”.

But lo and behold, as I passed the final stall, complete with a seller perched perilously on a small stool, Iphone in one hand and greasy huushuur in the other, tucked away in a true understated vegan-style, was…The Loving Hut.

According to their website, there are four of these vegan cafeteria-style eateries in Ulaanbaatar, but I’ve only visited this one, (secretly tucked away at the back of the second level in Mongol Nekhmel), LLC building, in Khan-Uul district.

Read the rest of the article here: http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4383

Law making in Mongolia

Is this really how laws are passed in Mongolia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut5S-Qu3TE0

Tracker

We have been offered a tracker to roadtest. This will be linked to google maps and send daily transmissions to a map on our website showing our current position and the route we have taken to date. I will give you full spec and other details when we have agreed the deal.

Fundraising

Fundraising is difficult! Well we all knew that ... how to move on from that? People are often generous and the most generous thing people have given us is their time. Time giving suggestions, help and ideas, time working on the truck, time promoting and writing about our expedition. We have also had recent generous donations of equipment - details of donor and equipment will follow.

Zud Dzud Disaster

The latest from Mongolia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/694716.stm shows us that Mongolia is facing a human and ecological disaster. With so many disasters such as Haiti and Chile, disasters like what is happening in Mongolia are being lost.

Mongolian Zud (Dzud)

Mongolians are currently suffering a national disaster. Millions of livestock have died in the freezing weather, in what is known as a Zud. Once the thaw starts in the spring it will leave dead animal carcasses littering the country. This has the potential to spread disease, it also means that poverty is going to increase all over the country. More info can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/25/united-nations-mongolia-dead-livestock-clearance

We will be carefully monitoring the situation in Mongolia and how it might affect our expedition. We are also looking at ways we can help.

Injections

I was flabergasted when given a bill from the doctor for over £1200 for our injections - thats over £300 each person!

Preparation

Training dolls used by the St Johns team for us to practice CPR.

Preparation

We just finished participating in a 2-day first aid course with St Johns Ambulance team. Excellent. Learnt loads. Am now a qualified first aider - that is a scary thought with lots of responsibility.

I have to ask the question why is the new emergency number not advertised? To ring your local police/fire or ambulance the number is no: 112. 999 still works but it is not as efficient and it does not work all over Europe like 112.

Google Maps

I am sure there must be an easy way to integrate google maps into this blog. If anyone knows please tell me :-)

Drive For Peace website

The new Drive For Peace website (www.driveforpeace.com) is now up and running.

Touring Truck

Clunk clunk ... overheating ... I have now changed a hose from the radiator three times. Reason: the fan was catching it and sliced it open! Dripping water everywhere! I am now going to design a special shaped hose so that it misses the fan! Hey ho the joys of motoring. Will upload pictures soon.

Opening up the blog

Even though there will not be much going on in this blog until the expedition starts in July, we have decided to make the blog public. This will give us a chance to further test it and finding ways of using it as an interactive medium.

There is some fresh news; we have already made contact with schools and arts organisations in Russia and Mongolia.

Who is going to contribute to this blog? The answer is the four people who are travelling (Andy and Cath, the adults, and Kaia and Mir, the children). So people reading this will get four different perspectives. General news will not be authored, but comment and opinion will be. To reiterate the above we don't believe its going to get interesting until the expedition actually starts and everybody starts contributing to it. Once we get some followers of this blog we will open up the possibility to comment and engage in dialogue with us.

Andy and Cath are just about to undertake some first aid training and the children have been booked in to have some filmmaking training, in addition to having some creative workshop training. The children will be filming and documenting this expedition from their perspective. On our return to the UK we will be producing a film documentary of the trip.

Touring Truck

Finally got some photos of the truck. We did our first mini-tour to the coast and tested it out on the sand - all okay. It's great seeing all the smiles from people as we pass them.

Touring Truck

Truck continues to bring up problems. It seems every time I fix one thing another thing crops up. We have 2 wooden roof racks made from African cherry hardwood. I have taken them both of the truck as they were covered in mold and am now sanding them down - slow process! After sanding I am putting on a layer of linseed oil. Before putting back on to the truck I will put on a second coat of linseed oil. Had a visit from Landrover magazine today who want to run an article about the truck and our trip! The reporter said he loved it! If and when it comes out I will post details on this blog. Cath has chosen a colour for all the interior cushions - a dark red. I have booked a date soon to teach the kids how to use the cameras so they can film the trip. As well as making a documentary about the trip, we will do something about travelling with children, and travelling from the kids point of view. We are currently making contact with schools, youth and community groups in both Russia and Mongolia so that we can support them and run some creative workshops with them.

Touring Truck

Took our 1969 F/C Landy on its longest trip so far. 60 mile round trip without any problems.

Painting Truck

This is a test update via e-mail. We will be posting pictures of the
touring truck paintwork soon.

World Cup

We are away for the world cup.

Outbound route

We have decided on an outbound route of: England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Mongolia. We are leaving the return leg flexible for now.

Planning

Five months to go and the planning is all on schedule.

We have permission from the children's schools for the time off. Not only that we are going to help with linking one or two Mongolian and Somerset schools. We have started our jabs, and have decided on additional rabies and tick born encephalitis jabs. At £50 a hit its expensive. We are paying out £800 + on vaccinations - why is it so expensive? We have had the Landy truck painted and will post pictures soon. Will also write an outline of the whole expedition soon.

The Landy truck is a 1969 Foward Control 110 Series Landrover. We have kitted it out with the essentials for two kids and two adults to live in it for three and a half months while driving to Mongolia. Work still to be done on the truck includes: repairing the radiator hose, the rear air locker (that means going into the axel), one of the water pipes (but not a simple job as its under one of the petrol tanks - we have three petrol tanks by the way, and when full means we could drive for 1400 miles without having to refill). Also need to repair the push-up roof and put the wooden roof racks back on. We have been trying to think of a name for the truck but cannot agree on one yet. The suggestions so far have been Lulu and Roxy.