tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31388615493009785022024-03-13T22:42:18.318-07:00Albert's StoryThis is Albert's view and the associated story of his owner's adventure of driving to Mongolia and back. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-52958047363024230522016-04-10T10:15:00.003-07:002016-04-10T10:15:36.355-07:00Upgrades - Sorted!Apologies, dear reader, for the delays in posting but at last after, component delays and snagging issues, my upgrades are at last complete and I am back on the road (Yay!!!).<br />
<br />
If you recall there were some lessons learnt from my Mongolian adventure and as a result Matt and I decided to make some changes. These were broken down into three main areas;<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bodywork </b></span>- The changes here were as a result of the damage experienced
from the very rough roads we encountered. In summary this included repairs to engine bay damage, chassis legs, bulkhead, front cross-member and A and B posts. In addition, strengthening of the chassis
around the rear of the engine compartment and the tie bar supports was
carried out as both suffered fractures. Micro-fractures were also repaired and the chassis made good wherever these were found.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeKTLOJvCOA/VwqAlo9pKFI/AAAAAAAABFk/4Mu5kdTbDqEqCpzKxyzkD2kuo2sEKf_3Q/s1600/DSCF0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeKTLOJvCOA/VwqAlo9pKFI/AAAAAAAABFk/4Mu5kdTbDqEqCpzKxyzkD2kuo2sEKf_3Q/s200/DSCF0002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DrI5aSTafag/VwqAlsLMXhI/AAAAAAAABFg/XfDtaAoisLY7ZcKeKr1OSaD8PlJYM4kGw/s1600/DSCF0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DrI5aSTafag/VwqAlsLMXhI/AAAAAAAABFg/XfDtaAoisLY7ZcKeKr1OSaD8PlJYM4kGw/s320/DSCF0005.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LewXiPEN-bQ/VwqAlgxTrZI/AAAAAAAABFs/AWHmuZtZhFwbYhSwhqLEnMZMpGJ9ZTFyg/s1600/DSCF0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LewXiPEN-bQ/VwqAlgxTrZI/AAAAAAAABFs/AWHmuZtZhFwbYhSwhqLEnMZMpGJ9ZTFyg/s200/DSCF0009.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drive train </b></span>- Whilst the suspension I originally had performed well the front dampers suffered and consequently needed replacement. In addition the torsion bars were uprated and the Minor hubs replaced with Ford once. The rear axle was replaced with a Ford English axle as the Lada one wasn't really suitable although it did get us home. In addition to the rear axle, uprated rear suspension was installed to include coil-over springs to give improved adjustment. Finally a limited slip diff was installled which will ensure traction particularly when on poor road conditions.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Is3CNHTl4kw/VwqC4qraekI/AAAAAAAABF8/afqQXrdL3a0_d4O2hCE505unG2oKVMokA/s1600/DSCF0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Is3CNHTl4kw/VwqC4qraekI/AAAAAAAABF8/afqQXrdL3a0_d4O2hCE505unG2oKVMokA/s200/DSCF0028.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDSmyAPWFuM/VwqC4r2TR5I/AAAAAAAABF0/4Kwkb86ThXEHaVugVZSR6ux7C8o7sb_ZA/s1600/DSCF0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDSmyAPWFuM/VwqC4r2TR5I/AAAAAAAABF0/4Kwkb86ThXEHaVugVZSR6ux7C8o7sb_ZA/s320/DSCF0036.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5miGsJB8ey0/VwqC4gP9axI/AAAAAAAABGA/rBvWGdYFIM0x_4ksO8F9cp2IE03kkU43A/s1600/DSCF0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5miGsJB8ey0/VwqC4gP9axI/AAAAAAAABGA/rBvWGdYFIM0x_4ksO8F9cp2IE03kkU43A/s200/DSCF0044.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gearbox - </b>Lastly, a type9 series gearbox (V6 variant) was added to give a fifth gear to reduce load when on tarmac and cruising along at 50 to 55 mph. This change in conjunction with the improved differential ratios ensure there is good torque at low speed while improving flat line speed on tarmac.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_m573c6JDA/VwqC4roqchI/AAAAAAAABGM/CUSCQEE2zfcV5yAOPYpzXcU0YwnFp9v9A/s1600/DSCF0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_m573c6JDA/VwqC4roqchI/AAAAAAAABGM/CUSCQEE2zfcV5yAOPYpzXcU0YwnFp9v9A/s320/DSCF0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">In addition the bulkhead was moved to allow the seats to be moved to give more adjustment making driving more comfortable for Sarah in particular. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-11655482239142916002015-12-03T13:44:00.000-08:002015-12-03T13:44:12.167-08:00Post Adventure ReviewSo, dear reader, our adventure is at an end and it is now time to look at what was good, not so good and what lessons were learnt from my first overland trip. As you may recall I had intended to do a couple of shake down trips before the big one but this was not to be and so after a journey of over 20,000 miles through 23 countries I pretty much have been tested in some cases to destruction so read on to find out more.<br />
<br />
<h2>
What was good</h2>
The original design (seen below) was to transform a Morris Minor Traveller into an overland vehicle and was supposed to give me both a long range tank and sufficient storage for spares, camping equipment and food and water as needed to allow us to be self-sufficient in remote areas such as the deserts of Kazakhstan and the Pamir Highway. To the extent that I have now completed a 20,000 mile trip I can confidently state that the design worked and I am now officially an overland vehicle!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwbzOJG2GOg/VAt4pggaccI/AAAAAAAAAJw/IWD0Y-ur70w/s1600/Albert_Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwbzOJG2GOg/VAt4pggaccI/AAAAAAAAAJw/IWD0Y-ur70w/s400/Albert_Interior.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conceptual Design</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The final design wasn't quite as planned but still had a long range tank
(around 35 gallons) and three tiers of storage. The lower tier which
consists of the original petrol tank was used for parts storage and a
spare tyre as well as a leisure battery, toolkits and 5l of oil. The
second tier was used for the second spare and a 20L Jerry can of fuel.
Finally the third tier was used for everything else. A pull out table
positioned below the top tier of storage gave somewhere to make tea and
even cook Matt and Sarah's supper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asH2YYq0gSA/VloOKwH_WrI/AAAAAAAABDc/j-w-TK2Vwo0/s1600/packing-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asH2YYq0gSA/VloOKwH_WrI/AAAAAAAABDc/j-w-TK2Vwo0/s400/packing-3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three tiers of storage and long-range tank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKzPWO7O1LA/VloOKV3D1VI/AAAAAAAABDY/C5Ha1Ov8SHU/s1600/packing-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKzPWO7O1LA/VloOKV3D1VI/AAAAAAAABDY/C5Ha1Ov8SHU/s400/packing-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loaded</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Matt and Sarah were going to be spending a lot of time driving so comfortable seats were important. Saab 9000 leather seats made sure that they didn't get too sticky in the hot countries and were comfortable for long periods. That said, Sarah did feel the need for a cushion :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PqN8aX_37s/VloPMdGCGpI/AAAAAAAABDs/8CF1lbuVflk/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PqN8aX_37s/VloPMdGCGpI/AAAAAAAABDs/8CF1lbuVflk/s400/DSC_0231.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saab 900 Seats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Considering that there was no shakedown trips my overall handling of the various types of driving conditions was excellent (even if I do say so myself). The original 4.55 differential combined with my 1275cc engine and Midget gearbox allowed for excellent hill climbing although flat line speed was limited to around 50mph.<br />
<br />
The second battery supplying power to the coolbox and Matt and Sarah's USB gadgets as well as the GPS speedo and dashcam meant that there was plenty of power and that the main electrics were powered through the main battery which was protected against inadvertent draining. A voltage selective relay made sure that both batteries were adequately charged with the main battery taking precedence. <br />
<br />
The sump guard was fantastic and ultimately saved the day by protecting the sump from failure following a huge hit on the Pamir Highway. Oscillations created by the rough terrain resulted in the front-end coming down heavily on a rock which dislodged the steering column. The sump guard took the majority of the shock however the sump was still damaged. Without the sump guard it would have totally been game over :( <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ep_l8Ygphs/VloRhKAruVI/AAAAAAAABEo/oYFSpMbrEQE/s1600/DSC_0966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ep_l8Ygphs/VloRhKAruVI/AAAAAAAABEo/oYFSpMbrEQE/s400/DSC_0966.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sump damage reduced through sump guard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Having the storage I had allowed me to stock up on spares such as hoses, inner tubes, alternator, clutch, fuel pump, half shafts, gaskets and other bits and pieces we thought we may need some of which we did.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP-2EvPsYiY/VmCTC-VHKEI/AAAAAAAABE4/-tMT1_nz2xE/s1600/DSC_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iP-2EvPsYiY/VmCTC-VHKEI/AAAAAAAABE4/-tMT1_nz2xE/s400/DSC_0207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inflatable jack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Although there was plenty of storage space was at a premium so we were loaned an inflatable jack which proved invaluable whilst on the Pamir Highway where uneven ground would have made use of a bottle jack or trolley jack very difficult. <br />
<br />
<h2>
What was not so good</h2>
Whilst the Saab seats were comfortable the bulkhead prevented the seats being moved back further which caused Sarah some discomfort as she really needed some more leg room. Also the interior light was ineffective.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6MRc4KkR0k/VloPMRA59yI/AAAAAAAABDo/R8eKkja5QrA/s1600/DSC_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6MRc4KkR0k/VloPMRA59yI/AAAAAAAABDo/R8eKkja5QrA/s400/DSC_0233.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limited seat adjustment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Generally I handled poor roads and the rough terrain of the Pamir Highway very well however there was some damage caused through excessive vibrations. The rear of the engine compartment and the tie bar support both suffered fractures which were temporarily fixed en-route.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHk2YkuQMvA/VloRhIJc-QI/AAAAAAAABEk/iK5Z1a5SlpM/s1600/DSC_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHk2YkuQMvA/VloRhIJc-QI/AAAAAAAABEk/iK5Z1a5SlpM/s400/DSC_0979.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine compartment support fractures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M9gomzBcpNY/VloRDB0f2mI/AAAAAAAABEQ/AR3olyySpr8/s1600/DSCN2398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M9gomzBcpNY/VloRDB0f2mI/AAAAAAAABEQ/AR3olyySpr8/s400/DSCN2398.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tie bar fractures </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The other major issue experienced was the failure of the differential. This was probably caused by the gasket failing and loss of all the diff oil. We knew that there was an issue with nuts and boltss working loose and the differential drain plug was also affected so the diff oil level was being watched and we topped this up in Osh however we think that the replacement of the rear universal joint disturbed the diff and the already damaged gasket failed resulting in the failure of the near-side half shaft and the crown wheel shaft failing probably through over-heating.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IuxBMsmzCNg/VloRDIQqLYI/AAAAAAAABEU/5BP2RzAWxpc/s1600/DSC_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IuxBMsmzCNg/VloRDIQqLYI/AAAAAAAABEU/5BP2RzAWxpc/s400/DSC_0548.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diff failure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkEn4bJT2os/VloRDGsfXwI/AAAAAAAABEY/3-CCjogVwjs/s1600/DSCN2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkEn4bJT2os/VloRDGsfXwI/AAAAAAAABEY/3-CCjogVwjs/s400/DSCN2411.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-shaft failure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Nuts and bolts loosened due to the poor road conditions and excessive vibrations. I lost some trim and a number of retaining bolts but nothing major just disruptive. Losing a bolt from the starter motor in Turkey proved to be the most disruptive of these issues. Despite having plenty of spares there were some issues where we needed parts to be shipped out from the UK in particular a rear oil seal, brake light switch, solenoid, starter motor and universal joints. <br />
<br />
Whilst the inflatable jack was fantastic on uneven ground, and where clearances wouldn't allow for the use of a bottle or trolley jack, it was very hard to use on good tarmac roads. We found that I tended to move due to the camber on the road once a wheel was removed which made changing the wheel very difficult and on a couple of occasions Matt and Sarah needed to co-opt assistance to counter my tendency for the jack to push me towards the camber. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
During the adventure the following repairs needed to be carried out<br />
<ul>
<li>Front universal joint - Bulgaria</li>
<li>Replacement starter motor bolt - Turkey </li>
<li>Throttle cable adjusted - Tajikistan</li>
<li>Steering column re-seated - Tajikistan</li>
<li>Wheels straightened - Tajikistan</li>
<li>Fuel pump replaced - Kyrkystan </li>
<li>Carburetor cleaned - Kyrkystan </li>
<li>Brake light switch replaced - Kazahkstan </li>
<li>Rear universal joint - Russia</li>
<li>Front and Rear oil seals - Russia</li>
<li>Clutch and Starter motor - Russia</li>
<li>Lada rear axle fitted (to address diff failure) - Russia</li>
</ul>
There was a persistent oil leak which meant daily (or pretty much daily) topping up of engine oil. This was found to actually be due to a small split in the sump caused by the 'big hit' on the Pamir. Also the dip stick tube was dislodged and so was another area where small amounts of oil were lost. We had around twelve flat tyres using up a total of three inner tubes.<br />
<br />
Whilst not so good I don't think it was too bad given the distance travelled and the conditions of the roads in some of the countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the Pamir Highway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
Lessons learnt</h2>
Whilst the not so good wasn't that bad there were still some lessons learnt from this adventure which I'm going to try and incorporate into the next re-iteration of the design to make me the ultimate personal overland vehicle.<br />
<br />
There are a number of areas that I need to address which can be broken down into a number of areas<br />
<br />
<b>Comfort</b> - The main problem was lack of adjustment caused by the bulkhead position. I need to look at this in order that more leg room can be got through seat adjustment. Given the way the bulkhead is attached this may not be so straight forward but a change is needed to this element of the design.<br />
<br />
<b>Storage </b>- Generally this was OK but the lack of compartments meant that everything was piled on top of each other. This meant that in some cases 'stuff' had to be emptied to get to the item needed. This was most obvious when we needed to change a wheel. Any future design of the interior is going to need some compartments specifically for items such as tools, larger spares, jack etc.<br />
<br />
<b>Spares </b>- Whilst I had some large spare items such as a clutch and alternator there were some smaller items that I should have taken such as the universal joints, oil seals, solenoid etc. By addressing the storage it should be possible to make sure that I can take all the possible spares required. Many spares are quite small and whilst I hope they will not be needed there is no real reason not to take them.<br />
<br />
<b>Performance </b>- As a consequence of the differential failure it was clear that I need to look at my running gear in a bit more detail. While the original 4.55 diff with my original wheels gave me good uphill performance under load the replacement 3.9 Lada diff with 13" wheels was rubbish going uphill but certainly improved my speed on level tarmac roads. As a consequence I need to find a good median that will give me good performance uphill as well as on the flat when under load. <br />
The suspension also worked well however the front suspension suffered from the bouncing created by oscillation on off-road conditions and so needs looking into to see what can be done to reduce oscillation and the effects of this. <br />
<br />
<b>Me </b>- The main problems I experienced were related to my construction. There are areas where my chassis needs strengthening in particular the areas that split. Also nuts and bolts shaking lose through vibrations would suggest I need nyloc nuts and to use something like loctite on studs and bolts to reduce the effect vibration has on these.<br />
<br />
The main lesson learnt is that a Morris Minor Traveller can be successfully modified to act as a personal overland vehicle which can cope with varying road conditions and that whilst there may be some additional modifications needed as a result of this adventure I can honestly say an overland traveller has been born!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-34009072449748050012015-10-23T10:18:00.000-07:002015-10-23T10:18:52.416-07:00Ulanbataar to Blighty - Sorted!<br />
Well dear reader 20,485 miles covered so far with only 136 more to go before we arrive back in Potton. The journey home was not as straight forward as we had hoped for. To make things simple for you I have broken the journey down into the three main stages;<br />
<ul>
<li>1. Ulanbataar to Moscow</li>
<li>2. Moscow to the Baltics</li>
<li>3. The Baltics back home</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFZLmttWD6o/Viot2Ix5LnI/AAAAAAAABBY/IB-sJyLUXLU/s1600/20-10-2015%2B16-23-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFZLmttWD6o/Viot2Ix5LnI/AAAAAAAABBY/IB-sJyLUXLU/s320/20-10-2015%2B16-23-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UK to Mongolia and back our final route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
Ulanbataar to Moscow.</h2>
We left Ulanbataar full of confidence that all our problems were behind us. My new axle was working well and I sounded healthy enough. The only little niggle still remaining was the oil leak but as long as my oil was checked regularly and topped up as necessary everything was A OK.<br />
<br />
During the journey back to Moscow we popped in to say hello to Igor and the guys at F!T Service and get a quick check out. The guys noticed that the front seal was leaking and as I had one of these we decided to change the seal and hopefully resolve the oil leak problem.<br />
<br />
As ever nothing was as simple as we hoped for. While changing the seal Igor noticed that there was still a leak from the rear oil seal and that the bulkhead supports had come away and needed welding. Also the nearside wheel bearings were a little bit loose. So the guys rolled up their sleeves and went about changing the oil seal, welding up the bulkhead and doing some 'adjustments' to the wheel. They stayed late and managed to get everything done so we were not delayed on our onward journey.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlLzDusx7gc/Vio19oO38PI/AAAAAAAABBw/XzX7qlcDcbU/s1600/DSC_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlLzDusx7gc/Vio19oO38PI/AAAAAAAABBw/XzX7qlcDcbU/s200/DSC_0972.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdQz9oHJhoM/Vio1hRe-o4I/AAAAAAAABBo/TpoV_ZWvSqs/s1600/DSC_0975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdQz9oHJhoM/Vio1hRe-o4I/AAAAAAAABBo/TpoV_ZWvSqs/s200/DSC_0975.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYYmrxHn4YA/Vio2LCmGeBI/AAAAAAAABCA/SlkjDf5UWdQ/s1600/DSC_0987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYYmrxHn4YA/Vio2LCmGeBI/AAAAAAAABCA/SlkjDf5UWdQ/s200/DSC_0987.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnaGIqFKwNs/Vio2CvZpgNI/AAAAAAAABB4/rp1gcy4DSaM/s1600/DSC_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnaGIqFKwNs/Vio2CvZpgNI/AAAAAAAABB4/rp1gcy4DSaM/s200/DSC_0979.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Matt ordered a rear oil seal and some gaskets to replace the ones used and a solenoid as I was having some difficulty starting. We left Novosibirsk hoping that the next five days of driving to Moscow would be straight forward. As you can probably guess it wasn't. <br />
<br />
We left Novosibirsk and no sooner had we left I started having difficulty starting. There was an ominous whirring sound and no action. A thump on the solenoid or starter motor initially helped but fairly soon Matt and Sarah had to resort to bump starting me every time the ignition was switched off. Not good!<br />
<br />
Anyway Matt managed to add a starter motor to the list of parts our friends at ESM Morris Minor were sending out to Moscow for us. Until then Sarah was pushing me while Matt did the necessary to get me going. Other than that and some variable weather we managed to get to Moscow in good time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAYvCPsJinY/VipSvYhquhI/AAAAAAAABCY/IO8g39UNVRo/s1600/DSCN2606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAYvCPsJinY/VipSvYhquhI/AAAAAAAABCY/IO8g39UNVRo/s200/DSCN2606.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeK2OOshsLk/VipSsgByCfI/AAAAAAAABCQ/CozWN2ZsUOk/s1600/DSCN2661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeK2OOshsLk/VipSsgByCfI/AAAAAAAABCQ/CozWN2ZsUOk/s200/DSCN2661.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksoEV1MqXrA/VipSvlQ-_aI/AAAAAAAABCc/YfgIYJhRUUQ/s1600/DSC_0960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksoEV1MqXrA/VipSvlQ-_aI/AAAAAAAABCc/YfgIYJhRUUQ/s200/DSC_0960.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEUneZN6Dks/VipSxcr5B2I/AAAAAAAABCo/FSE9YcN3oV0/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yEUneZN6Dks/VipSxcr5B2I/AAAAAAAABCo/FSE9YcN3oV0/s200/IMG_1305.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Moscow to the Baltics</h2>
As we left Novosibirsk Igor had given us the address of the F!T Service place in Moscow where we were hoping to get the rear oil seal sorted and at the same time the starter motor. Also it seemed that the clutch was slipping a little so as the engine needed to be removed to do the oil seal Matt asked them to check out the clutch at the same time.<br />
<br />
We arrived in Moscow pretty much at the same time as the parts shipped out from the UK did which was great as that mean no time was lost in getting me to the garage so the work could be done. Unfortunately no one at the garage spoke any English and so communications were really difficult until Matt's mate Eddie who was working in Moscow at the same time as we were there managed to get a colleague to translate. Still not ideal but ten times better than Google translate.<br />
<br />
Anyway the engine was duly removed and the rear oil seal replaced. The clutch was badly worn and so it was replaced with the spare one I had. The starter motor was also replaced but it seems that the fly wheel was badly damaged. I can't say I understood what the garage meant when they said they had turned the fly wheel over but I started so wasn't too concerned as long as we could get home I could then have Rod look at it.<br />
<br />
Once again nothing was easy. Matt came and picked me up from the garage and left to go back to the hotel. I ran OK for the first mile or so but then started to overheat and had no power. Didn't know what was wrong but clearly something wasn't right so we turned around and limped back to the garage. On the way back the brakes locked and I was stuck in traffic. Fortunately someone got out to help push me off the road and we managed to release the brakes. I got back to the garage and Matt explained we weren't happy and that they needed to sort me out. Once again I was left to the tender mercies of the mechanics who bled the brakes (they insisted the pads were OK and nothing needed changing), adjusted the timing and compression (don't know why they did this as I was fine when I went in for the oil seal change).<br />
<br />
Anyway after another day or so Matt came and collected me and insisted that they follow us to the hotel some 20 miles away so we had some backup if something still went wrong. Nothing did and so we arrived back at the hotel happy we were good to go. Matt decided I needed an oil change and managed to get hold of an oil filter in readiness for this as and when we found somewhere to do it. Once Matt and Sarah finished looking around we left for St Petersburg and the Baltics I had an oil change on the way and also managed to find someone who could check the tracking as my wheels were clearly mis-aligned. My tracking was checked and adjusted but they don't seem to have the right equipment and it was basically done with a tape measure and by eye. Whatever it was they did I was certainly better afterwards than I was before.<br />
<br />
I think it's fair to say that nothing more untoward happened for the rest of this stage of our journey although Matt and Sarah felt things still weren't quite right.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Baltics to Blighty.</h2>
We left Russia and crossed our final border where I needed to show my passport (V5c). Roads were good, weather dry and fine and all seemed well with the world. Ah well lulled into a false sense of security again.<br />
<br />
I'm not quite sure where the difficulties started but I seem to have a strange noise happening now when accelerating. It's not my engine but could be the wheel bearing the chaps in Novosibirsk 'adjusted'. Also the brakes began to bind again. They didn't lock but I was getting a juddering when accelerating until they freed themselves. It's possible that the brake pipes have taken some damage and are kinked so the pressure isn't released immediately anyway with care we proceeded on our way with the knowledge that I'll go and see Rod and Jonathon when I get back and get all these little irritants sorted.<br />
<br />
Anyway we plodded on through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to the Czech Republic where our next challenge presented itself. So we left our hotel and I came out of the secure parking only to discover I had a flat. Not a good start to the day. Matt changed the tyre for the spare which wasn't in that good shape but it did manage to get us to a garage who could deal with the flat. It seems that repairing inner tubes is not allowed in Europe and the garage didn't have one of the right size. As luck would have it Matt had brought spare tubes and up until now had, I think, only used one anyway tyre sorted and we were on our way<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the
days driving from Russia I seem to have also developed a noise that suggests my exhaust may
have a hole somewhere. Also my front brakes are binding a bit making the
wheels judder but we can accelerate through that and as long as Matt
doesn't use the brakes (he doesn't usually anyway) then there's no
problem. I still stop OK.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We left the Czech Republic and headed onto Germany where Sarah, Matt and I decided that, because </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'd been having a few
difficulties, discretion being
the better part of valour we should bail out and head home as soon as we
could. So after Matt and Sarah saw Berlin we were off on a gre<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">y, damp and cold Sunday morning.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">First challenge was would I start and if I did could I get out of the car park? Clearly the answer was yes as I did and we were on our way home. Our first bit of bad luck occurred when we were in traffic in a stretch of road works and we had a puncture. Well, this caused some problems as you can imagine fortunately the spare was OK and with a little struggling we managed to change the wheel and were off again. We stopped for the night in a motel just outside Aachen after covering nearly 400 miles.</span></span><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next morning DISASTER!!! the spare we put on the day before had gone flat overnight<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_d55a98" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png"); background-position: 0px -119px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">frown emoticon</u></i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now had this been earlier in the trip this would not have been an issue as we had two spares but after the axle change my second spare is not suitable for the front wheels. Anyway with some help from a chap called Steve Hagen who was driving around in an old Belgian post van we managed to find somewhere that had two inner tubes and so my punctures were fixed and we were on our way to Calais (yay!!).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMb4k-h8GY4/VipqvXoFvuI/AAAAAAAABDE/D9BnmBh1op0/s1600/DSCF5139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMb4k-h8GY4/VipqvXoFvuI/AAAAAAAABDE/D9BnmBh1op0/s320/DSCF5139.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8NlJu79MOGs/Vipqm-xnwMI/AAAAAAAABC4/hr9E89WgdjU/s1600/DSCF5143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8NlJu79MOGs/Vipqm-xnwMI/AAAAAAAABC4/hr9E89WgdjU/s200/DSCF5143.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, here we are back in Blighty and the land of the AA. We are intending to drive back to Potton to arrive on a Saturday (the 24th) and are looking to arrive into the Market Square around 12ish as we all felt this is where the adventure officially finishes.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So here we are 20,500 odd miles later and soon to be back home. I'll have a bit of an overhaul and then will be back on the road. Keep watching this space for my next adventure. I'll be finalising the trip stats shortly but in the meantime here are some to keep you going.</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li>Miles traveled from Potton to Ulanbataar and back to Dover - 20,485</li>
<li>Gallons of petrol used - 479</li>
<li>Miles per Gallon - 41.87</li>
<li>Actual days driving - 79</li>
<li>Average miles covered per day - 259</li>
<li>Number of speeding fines - 3</li>
<li>Number of other fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of problems requiring a mechanic - 12</li>
<li>Number of minor problems solved by Matt/Sarah - 7</li>
</ul>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-35274509565624322092015-09-10T01:08:00.001-07:002015-09-10T01:15:21.950-07:00Tashkent to Ulanbataar - Sorted!Well dear reader it has been some time since I last posted and much has happened. With some enforced rests and difficulties en-route we have finally made it to Ulanbataar. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ToBQvvkt2o/VfEbnYIyGzI/AAAAAAAAA98/YUdc27hwxeo/s1600/08-09-2015%2B15-57-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ToBQvvkt2o/VfEbnYIyGzI/AAAAAAAAA98/YUdc27hwxeo/s400/08-09-2015%2B15-57-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Read on to find out what we had to endure.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Uzbekistan</h2>
<br />
Uzbekistan was really 'just passing through' on the way to Dushanbe in Tajikistan and the Pamir Highway. Of all the countries visited thus far the roads in Uzbekistan were the worst in terms of the general state of the roads. Whilst many of the countries upto this point had bad bits the roads were in generally good repair. Not so Uzbekistan. Anyway, Matt and Sarah took a couple of days exploring Samarkand and Bukhara introducing me to the Children at the SOS Children's village in Samarkand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ll3AiD9rIm0/VebHowlB2NI/AAAAAAAAA8w/qAYJvbXw55Y/s1600/DSCN1944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ll3AiD9rIm0/VebHowlB2NI/AAAAAAAAA8w/qAYJvbXw55Y/s400/DSCN1944.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiXjttX5s_8/VebKAa7S0FI/AAAAAAAAA9I/xnywr3OIV-I/s1600/DSCN1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiXjttX5s_8/VebKAa7S0FI/AAAAAAAAA9I/xnywr3OIV-I/s200/DSCN1884.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jai--FMPLmQ/VebKAXTa5cI/AAAAAAAAA9M/8ubxzSauXEE/s1600/DSCN1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jai--FMPLmQ/VebKAXTa5cI/AAAAAAAAA9M/8ubxzSauXEE/s200/DSCN1988.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9SA2NELtlVw/VebJgB-eC8I/AAAAAAAAA88/bH9NXZuwdhA/s1600/DSCN1979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9SA2NELtlVw/VebJgB-eC8I/AAAAAAAAA88/bH9NXZuwdhA/s320/DSCN1979.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
After the difficulties entering Uzbekistan leaving proved just as difficult but in the end we were allowed to go and entered Tajikistan and the start of the most difficult stretch of our journey yet.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Tajikistan to Kyrgystan and the Pamir Highway</h2>
There is some debate as to where the Pamir Highway starts but for us it begins in Dushanbe in Tajikistan and ends in Osh, Kyrgystan although the M41 (its designation) ends in Kara-Balta to the west of Bishkek.<br />
<br />
<br />
Whilst en-route to Tajikistan there was unseasonal rainfall and as a consequence much of the main highway was damaged and was closed so we had to modify our route to travel further south to Ishkashim then to Langar and rejoin the main route to Osh. Total miles covered was around 953 most of which was on roads a four wheel drive car would baulk at. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56uOO64xk6M/VebW0v5UXyI/AAAAAAAAA9k/zE7IugntGYY/s1600/Pamir-Highway-route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56uOO64xk6M/VebW0v5UXyI/AAAAAAAAA9k/zE7IugntGYY/s400/Pamir-Highway-route.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">We left Dushanbe and convoyed some of the way with the Yorkshire 'Special' Branch team - Mark, Matt and Aidie.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zjIhEz1ReTtQN4dp1JSxC2PKR3NWPZxbNmMvE-_tooutKx6zKRMNm9jZzHRcLJD4BUveH2EUZmdj8X70_nUErWNvNY73cd8YR8WJF5QosOl_XAlVwcd1XCGgc8bxtbPeEjCbgpFv_oo/s1600/DSC_0113.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zjIhEz1ReTtQN4dp1JSxC2PKR3NWPZxbNmMvE-_tooutKx6zKRMNm9jZzHRcLJD4BUveH2EUZmdj8X70_nUErWNvNY73cd8YR8WJF5QosOl_XAlVwcd1XCGgc8bxtbPeEjCbgpFv_oo/s400/DSC_0113.jpg" style="border: medium none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Our first main port of call on the highway was Khorog some 378 miles from Dushanbe. The early part of the journey lulled us into a false sense of security as we were on good tarmac road which after around 60 miles simply disappeared and changed into broken up tarmac with potholes and unmade road. Our average speed dropped like a stone and it ended up taking three days to get to Khorog.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4fqNK285_CtUD5s1kkOvgWwrMl3kckQVM9dCSz9OYLWWm9EUadXExrRGW8t10P5GPedfLbILwOJrbLKpuLE-jUVZfssOvRKfF0G5mYxRHsN0N_yoX_mBfZfpQX_N87mq-J0gZXtbohw/s1600/DSCN2088.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4fqNK285_CtUD5s1kkOvgWwrMl3kckQVM9dCSz9OYLWWm9EUadXExrRGW8t10P5GPedfLbILwOJrbLKpuLE-jUVZfssOvRKfF0G5mYxRHsN0N_yoX_mBfZfpQX_N87mq-J0gZXtbohw/s200/DSCN2088.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lVsoUf5HmXaX17YVvxwxoqiAK585UtZtl3lL9Th8w2FB33OL1S12ad2_ID8EWQKOCFcaNUdsqGGnusaqLfI_uK8timWXPuCrvxq-rnUrgPTeQ3aoFszUvyZBj93gdgePWUztL4xAwMk/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lVsoUf5HmXaX17YVvxwxoqiAK585UtZtl3lL9Th8w2FB33OL1S12ad2_ID8EWQKOCFcaNUdsqGGnusaqLfI_uK8timWXPuCrvxq-rnUrgPTeQ3aoFszUvyZBj93gdgePWUztL4xAwMk/s320/DSC_0117.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The first day was fairly uneventful (except for all the rattling and shaking around I endured) however we only managed to cover a total of 121 miles which shows how much the road deteriorated after the good stretch from Dushanbe. The second and third days were fairly brutal and driving became much harder with avoiding potholes, rough roads and some minor water crossings but nevertheless we managed to cover around 120 miles each day. It was certainly a new experience going up and coming down hills in first but we managed to complete the first leg to Khorog in good time only suffering one flat tyre which was duly repaired before the second stage of the journey to Murghab.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDq3Wcx3C7IKqySu0VPGl-n0Ym05ZiKxYIxENawfSl83LyeLkN-WjlWozvwHLzly60mh5c2m46kIvlwYSta8gQuyju_vhsvsJhWlOKxEnYaE1Q_4g-eb2hH2Jnb8NDUJ1dPFh8dyN9ag/s1600/DSCN2229.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDq3Wcx3C7IKqySu0VPGl-n0Ym05ZiKxYIxENawfSl83LyeLkN-WjlWozvwHLzly60mh5c2m46kIvlwYSta8gQuyju_vhsvsJhWlOKxEnYaE1Q_4g-eb2hH2Jnb8NDUJ1dPFh8dyN9ag/s200/DSCN2229.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sO7WUaSiUczFm7M-DuGAR4tv8vmw_KWK5dg3LJIwFovwZsPB_IL_GTkxBYkytRjCEotFpp2PyEH4q0NfQPy7pZjgh8zWI8-OBsjOSNinum0UwCic8qL_aGAmbQSwwMdP_BOGRcYOhdg/s1600/DSCN2206.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sO7WUaSiUczFm7M-DuGAR4tv8vmw_KWK5dg3LJIwFovwZsPB_IL_GTkxBYkytRjCEotFpp2PyEH4q0NfQPy7pZjgh8zWI8-OBsjOSNinum0UwCic8qL_aGAmbQSwwMdP_BOGRcYOhdg/s320/DSCN2206.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1yZOI3KuLZ4Y9Y3A24Oh8KUy9GpYnvhO-lDyPlSWKJuihOzgHkGfNfQCwSx8YHV8aRZHtv1FLhmMVduq9TXBkgWSz0EuOwz0nOvI2uEvD5YgJflV3lUlKG5IhzPF2uePKZOxgFMiAKY/s1600/DSCN2235.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1yZOI3KuLZ4Y9Y3A24Oh8KUy9GpYnvhO-lDyPlSWKJuihOzgHkGfNfQCwSx8YHV8aRZHtv1FLhmMVduq9TXBkgWSz0EuOwz0nOvI2uEvD5YgJflV3lUlKG5IhzPF2uePKZOxgFMiAKY/s200/DSCN2235.jpg" style="border: medium none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">We were told that Dushanbe to Khorog was the hardest section which may have been true if you weren't in a 1968 Morris Minor Traveller. We left Khorog and planned to reach Langar around 150 miles away. It was on this day that my troubles started. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">I started to lose power on hills and was struggling and our average speed dropped dramatically. In fact the power loss was so bad that just outside Langar where the road was steepest Sarah had to keep putting chocks behind the rear wheels to stop me rolling back as the hand brake simply wouldn't hold. I managed to get to the campsite where Aide, who happens to be a mechanic, had a quick look and felt that
the power loss could have been due to the carburettor dashpot not having
enough oil and the accelorator cable being too slack. He tightened the
cable but we had no 3-in-1 oil and so decided to top up the dashpot with
WD40. Initially this seemed to do the job and we started the following day in
good spirits. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkqMnx_6Bp-0wfcXradJwtraGJOUCRgPrhL48HIDSGGZ7-JxXJgwNJmeMvzYpoVZxwEZ1zXZQiyblidY8QmTyyu_uHk55apanw-ksBhODOwdsRIEDVMBz-fZFlBPwKBXhhi5L3P6Qn9A/s1600/DSC_0161.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkqMnx_6Bp-0wfcXradJwtraGJOUCRgPrhL48HIDSGGZ7-JxXJgwNJmeMvzYpoVZxwEZ1zXZQiyblidY8QmTyyu_uHk55apanw-ksBhODOwdsRIEDVMBz-fZFlBPwKBXhhi5L3P6Qn9A/s400/DSC_0161.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wGW3xHtc8nOotYNJe3vsNWL4UeNQpluDI0Tf2JgdnuabBtp0mJaHd_6GtYW1VWQLDnRUUDX3xrx-nEbrxr40_Xsqujci03HIBC7B_Uo-EzdQOsKaqRfVICEWT0ofQ__isABDLvpfqc8/s1600/DSCN2109.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wGW3xHtc8nOotYNJe3vsNWL4UeNQpluDI0Tf2JgdnuabBtp0mJaHd_6GtYW1VWQLDnRUUDX3xrx-nEbrxr40_Xsqujci03HIBC7B_Uo-EzdQOsKaqRfVICEWT0ofQ__isABDLvpfqc8/s200/DSCN2109.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIllduRjLYDrrvMeeWIDMDhyc8YHswQ2ql-8GHBZwmUWU2K572A0s9b1DspdShXSZiqmbxarXEKwpc21_M6b1NkIOaDZsvobtsN6cpMNqQtP0BFtC2IO4pL9PdLbRIuqxYH3NTazPbsw/s1600/DSCN2268.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIllduRjLYDrrvMeeWIDMDhyc8YHswQ2ql-8GHBZwmUWU2K572A0s9b1DspdShXSZiqmbxarXEKwpc21_M6b1NkIOaDZsvobtsN6cpMNqQtP0BFtC2IO4pL9PdLbRIuqxYH3NTazPbsw/s320/DSCN2268.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuxJqRASyA5jJvrQOhNRuAd-5KLL_wOqxF44O9gocSrF3aVVAivnwgKmismRoBGpKWl2Jd5-yqMkJjAVYnzAuYsDXwwvyYppzXvkYh7PbRt0hhSI25FqDJx5XarXpQiNPptAxk48P4zE/s1600/DSCN2279.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuxJqRASyA5jJvrQOhNRuAd-5KLL_wOqxF44O9gocSrF3aVVAivnwgKmismRoBGpKWl2Jd5-yqMkJjAVYnzAuYsDXwwvyYppzXvkYh7PbRt0hhSI25FqDJx5XarXpQiNPptAxk48P4zE/s200/DSCN2279.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9fU0IyIOC7TUM2ugFOkd8voBCc4Rrqs_JmCmAkkm26XQ-FFYubDvIaeEjql_ojsfxWZIFE0e02RAmrQC7bHOIjrifrkd0WKfoEBNhQ2dMg8OxtRbJHGD4mtwMVWifXQopgsCTZyEJNA/s1600/DSCN2286.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9fU0IyIOC7TUM2ugFOkd8voBCc4Rrqs_JmCmAkkm26XQ-FFYubDvIaeEjql_ojsfxWZIFE0e02RAmrQC7bHOIjrifrkd0WKfoEBNhQ2dMg8OxtRbJHGD4mtwMVWifXQopgsCTZyEJNA/s320/DSCN2286.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUDFbkY5R-rkmFATapheHMBE1fb_HlAm47ayY3OFSWjoltfiNwmCYpYcLlHK0EWr6zBvROuA1sXX-_yC_EWdZ6IRPIKCwXdvcqMWdze4IMTU1SkVKGIK-R5rqcBGfEcd-oFnmMdCOkDU/s1600/DSCN2308.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUDFbkY5R-rkmFATapheHMBE1fb_HlAm47ayY3OFSWjoltfiNwmCYpYcLlHK0EWr6zBvROuA1sXX-_yC_EWdZ6IRPIKCwXdvcqMWdze4IMTU1SkVKGIK-R5rqcBGfEcd-oFnmMdCOkDU/s320/DSCN2308.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The day soon deteriorated to the Day From Hell!!! My problems first started with getting stuck in the sand whilst going up hill. I just didn't have enough in me to maintain momentum. Matt even tried reversing me up with no joy. Fortunately a passing truck gave us a lift and towed me to the top where I just about managed to get underway again (ironically we passed the same self truck bogged down in sand about a half-hour later). The roads had now become a mixture of sand, rocks and general detrious and were predominantly uphill with a little respite on the flat but even then telegraph wire on the road became a hazard getting caught up in the wheels.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">On a particularly bad section of road which was full of sand traps particularly deep ones where trucks had churned up the road I needed to go 'off-piste' to stand any sort of chance to make headway - mistake!! While going through some difficult bits of sand I hit a rock buried in a sand trap. Although I was only doing around 10 miles an hour the hit was huge and the steering column parted company from the lower section and I was effectively without steering.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWbbFH5BqGuKB76Rg-PIhk759Jy-ZQ2aoj_qnl0Q27H1gfmPMnM27oNjKLU_bv7wuYNvZqA8A5ciLwSr7hXwfkDezKEvaLW4FeiUjYQjoF2eUsNgSg707fav46VUspQwUZiG5FaNV8OY/s1600/DSC_0207.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWbbFH5BqGuKB76Rg-PIhk759Jy-ZQ2aoj_qnl0Q27H1gfmPMnM27oNjKLU_bv7wuYNvZqA8A5ciLwSr7hXwfkDezKEvaLW4FeiUjYQjoF2eUsNgSg707fav46VUspQwUZiG5FaNV8OY/s320/DSC_0207.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztJ7fGRLe8n0gQZZJQ3Tr56VOw6X06QueFLNYFTaGRkxecilvzjwTbS4sLbBTMwIRHmWI56KOqiMVboFxLiYloeP_SHOe6tivbZv-WGA_WoYWrkQBwvZzDFUy-SJEldbrkjY3ENxBgXA/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztJ7fGRLe8n0gQZZJQ3Tr56VOw6X06QueFLNYFTaGRkxecilvzjwTbS4sLbBTMwIRHmWI56KOqiMVboFxLiYloeP_SHOe6tivbZv-WGA_WoYWrkQBwvZzDFUy-SJEldbrkjY3ENxBgXA/s320/DSC_0209.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fY9zFeigIgW_BOMoL2AJuJX2za-_o2ibyr6ure8DZEZjp4ASpExPglary53AuUfc7gS8ki25evbOu6-djQqq6JKeJ711K-V5qZVRG91rUEmsRkXFA011Ju_GQN1PCajSsOGdxrFUgTc/s1600/DSC_0304.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fY9zFeigIgW_BOMoL2AJuJX2za-_o2ibyr6ure8DZEZjp4ASpExPglary53AuUfc7gS8ki25evbOu6-djQqq6JKeJ711K-V5qZVRG91rUEmsRkXFA011Ju_GQN1PCajSsOGdxrFUgTc/s320/DSC_0304.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZCU8DK4q-OVeCkhZm37fWbIjyQWzq0dxYNBrEwH3E6OlA4_3RE8HgKzLg1iTf3KfAhqkdaO8m3i7pu3PRdH1aitGd3bJH7zAUiJBtcd0a3Bx3iWwsR8XXZw1otWNT-FzDkeA7Ia93qI/s1600/DSC_0213.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZCU8DK4q-OVeCkhZm37fWbIjyQWzq0dxYNBrEwH3E6OlA4_3RE8HgKzLg1iTf3KfAhqkdaO8m3i7pu3PRdH1aitGd3bJH7zAUiJBtcd0a3Bx3iWwsR8XXZw1otWNT-FzDkeA7Ia93qI/s400/DSC_0213.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
Matt<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> managed to re-attach the column well enough to give control so I could get back on the road. It wasn't long before I needed to stop as I was struggling with the lack of power and overheating. A passing car stopped and the driver checked out my steering and also tightened the odd nut here and there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Once I had cooled down and had my nuts tightened we started off again but I soon lost power. Matt and Sarah checked the dashpot and decided that they would try some of the 14W-40 engine oil to see if something thicker would make a difference anyway this seemed to help and I managed to limp into Arichar after a miserable 80 miles in around 12 hours. </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCIOq1esyOqH4bCMIxN3iaYzst1QkUhJA6TtC5ntq0TvUcZluxhk_GFgKNMy0_JOY7Xq7mBHaoFGUG2Lt0DRNb6LsaK1voj8QFj67CV2pEvcMlzH1t1ddPPLQ_dW8BJAxODIpxM2Vujg/s1600/DSC_0302.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCIOq1esyOqH4bCMIxN3iaYzst1QkUhJA6TtC5ntq0TvUcZluxhk_GFgKNMy0_JOY7Xq7mBHaoFGUG2Lt0DRNb6LsaK1voj8QFj67CV2pEvcMlzH1t1ddPPLQ_dW8BJAxODIpxM2Vujg/s400/DSC_0302.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEks6br0GRyZaahrSAeUnJAWwkpeODYZWgt15FPZTQ3L-XWwnPd3Gf-wAVwl1KufOcu6UuHqPUJSBfZr-O18UKw7CPh0DpJHaqWus1cOfarun1Jfl6MW-rw1oItgf3ugtvbvcaHOiD9s/s1600/DSC_0333.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEks6br0GRyZaahrSAeUnJAWwkpeODYZWgt15FPZTQ3L-XWwnPd3Gf-wAVwl1KufOcu6UuHqPUJSBfZr-O18UKw7CPh0DpJHaqWus1cOfarun1Jfl6MW-rw1oItgf3ugtvbvcaHOiD9s/s400/DSC_0333.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
Matt and Sarah<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> decided to make an early start for Murgab only to find I wouldn't start. Investigation showed that fuel wasn't getting to the engine. After 'thinning' down the dashpot oil with some WD40 but no joy. It was then Matt recalled that a common problem was that the fuel pump ocassionally</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">stopped working and needed a little gentle persuasion of the tap with a hammer type so Sarah gave it a friendly belt and lo and behold fuel flowed and I started and we were off! I managed to cover the 71 miles to Murgab in a few hours without too many issues arriving in time for Matt and Sarah to get breakfast at the Pamir Hotel where the manager spoke English and was able to help get me checked over and the steering column re-attached properly.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">We left Murgab for Sary Tash in Kyrgystan and our last port of call (hopefully) before getting to Osh and the end of the Pamir Highway. Once again the day started off well only to soon go down hill. Again I was still experiencing power problems and Sarah made best friends with the tack hammer we were using to 'encourage' the fuel pump to behave. Matt also continued to add a mixture of WD40 and engine oil to the dashpot and in this way I managed to limp along. Going up the long slopes to the 4,655m (15,270 ft) high Ak-Baital pass proved to be hard going with frequents stops for me to cool down, requiring Sarah to chock the wheels and walk up some of the way while I reached a flat bit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PThxmQY0XAw/VfEkG1NqXAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/g0ZUEBbTj8c/s1600/DSC_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PThxmQY0XAw/VfEkG1NqXAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/g0ZUEBbTj8c/s400/DSC_0336.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the top of the Ak-Baital Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">At last I reached the pass and was looking forward to an easier time of things given it was effectively all down hill to Sary Tash (not a chance!). Once I started down towards the Kyrgystan border things just seemed to go from bad to worse. Two punctures meant I now had no spares and 30 miles of washboard type road made the going really tough. This only got worse once we crossed into Kyrgystan where the roads deteriorated into dried muddy roads which had been rutted and chewed up by trucks so although I was now going downhill I was manoeuvring around even more obstacles than before.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsLuI4G3J4d5291xR2QEvtDSy27yNS170bzo9MfD6kcaYPn0ESOjv1gn6m4g1y9ogQIdW2halIw1YKLDjKi2XWtZ_YCSJw9cNKll2FvE381szhpaasYxtUXmtdk1OY8iQCBbHEXm7ZYc/s1600/DSC_0353.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsLuI4G3J4d5291xR2QEvtDSy27yNS170bzo9MfD6kcaYPn0ESOjv1gn6m4g1y9ogQIdW2halIw1YKLDjKi2XWtZ_YCSJw9cNKll2FvE381szhpaasYxtUXmtdk1OY8iQCBbHEXm7ZYc/s400/DSC_0353.jpg" style="border: medium none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Could things get worse? Well actually they could. As I was negotiating the steep decline towards SaryTash I ground to a halt and no amount of gentle persuasion could get me to start. With the petrol guage still reading around half full the Jerry can of good quality petrol was used to top me up in case that was an issue as surely we couldn't have run out could we? After topping up and a quick tap I started up and we managed to continue limping our way onwards only to be in sight of Sary Tash when once again I came to a grinding halt. In desperation Matt topped up with my remaining 10L of fuel and managed to get into Sary Tash where we found an 'hotel'. Twelve hours and 157 miles later we had got there.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Matt spent some time getting my tyres fixed so I once again had spares. He had also noticed that there was some oil leaking from the diff and that the drain plug was loose so we managed to find a 'mechanic' who once again checked the suspension and tightened up the drain plug he also checked the fuel pump over and tightened the outlet nut using cotton where we might use PTFE tape .<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67s94KkwA2PR-NhsRXyIvC315X0D-R8qmQemDetM4ITEf2PVCe722HsUeaMlKzh-p67AvTu08Evka7tu7MEMgEtKn-Ki_kNIzsUaDkVW-ZOvHX3JyvsuuWZh4KnCWaTHNscafChCY4vY/s1600/DSCN2333.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: right; color: #8a9043; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67s94KkwA2PR-NhsRXyIvC315X0D-R8qmQemDetM4ITEf2PVCe722HsUeaMlKzh-p67AvTu08Evka7tu7MEMgEtKn-Ki_kNIzsUaDkVW-ZOvHX3JyvsuuWZh4KnCWaTHNscafChCY4vY/s200/DSCN2333.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6IKpTegbTgcYkaeT9c0LmdJiYLBlpIbJ-_C9L8EDWVz58IYd6DvRjuHhWWDbWegG27x3yLR0kwSKl_-jhKJKXzL8RQPgfmZiSN_ngp-Oi6hfhQByqRDv8v5upAa1eHpOIk09It8irdA/s1600/DSCN2332.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: left; color: #8a9043; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6IKpTegbTgcYkaeT9c0LmdJiYLBlpIbJ-_C9L8EDWVz58IYd6DvRjuHhWWDbWegG27x3yLR0kwSKl_-jhKJKXzL8RQPgfmZiSN_ngp-Oi6hfhQByqRDv8v5upAa1eHpOIk09It8irdA/s200/DSCN2332.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf5mEV-kioeAa6wWtUR8hgeOeQM6futDmdm8E_MtClGg2UZtlEwzyUW7DCqzZ0cRNngczDrwIpMupo2Zqieg7FpdIDcS8UB1F0DT3ZF9a-qC1-zFCJwTfhiJzchb0kbDHMVv672TP_1E/s1600/DSCN2334.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf5mEV-kioeAa6wWtUR8hgeOeQM6futDmdm8E_MtClGg2UZtlEwzyUW7DCqzZ0cRNngczDrwIpMupo2Zqieg7FpdIDcS8UB1F0DT3ZF9a-qC1-zFCJwTfhiJzchb0kbDHMVv672TP_1E/s400/DSCN2334.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">I had come so far and with only around 130 miles to go before we got to Osh with tarmac roads I was feeling that the worst was over and I should be able to get to our destination where Matt and Sarah would be able to get my problems sorted. The day started off well, as many of the previous ones did, only to get worse as we got further down the road. With our daily startup routine down pat I managed the first 60 miles in good order and with no real problems however once we got into the hills again and started to climb the lack of power began to tell and I completely gave up half way up a steep slope 81 miles into the journey. No amount of cajoling or fiddling could get me going there was just nothing there. Again, a passing Samaritan stopped and towed me the 48 miles into Osh. The Pamir Highway was finished!</span><br />
<br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ60YP9H9bt22kwVS1gsUl5uBX-oKcv9UuLjylz42hcPFIk5F4RnmeV3Je2KLljBhWJvr0mXlCbIDH4Gg0oL7YkPUGor2c-lcKldfphZjM5simwCjWwUz7jhP1NiVck573ca_l66NGYE/s1600/DSC_0362.jpg" style="color: #8a9043; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ60YP9H9bt22kwVS1gsUl5uBX-oKcv9UuLjylz42hcPFIk5F4RnmeV3Je2KLljBhWJvr0mXlCbIDH4Gg0oL7YkPUGor2c-lcKldfphZjM5simwCjWwUz7jhP1NiVck573ca_l66NGYE/s640/DSC_0362.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
Osh to Bishkek</h2>
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Now I had arrived at the end of the Pamir Highway I needed to get my problems fixed otherwise my Mongolian Adventure would come to untimely end as I just couldn't continue in this state. Fortunately Matt and Sarah met a chap, Sanjar, as I was towed into the hotel who could speak English and better yet even understood a little about older cars (result!).</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Anyway our first problem was dashpot oil and after 'googling' 3-in-1 oil Matt and Sarah found out I needed SAE20 oil Matt and Sarah managed to get some at an auto bazaar and they changed my dashpot oil which really helped. My brakes were checked, engine oil changed and the diff oil topped up and I also had a general check over with my nipples being greased and nuts tightened yet again (this is getting to be a regular habit)</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">My power issues needed sorting so Matt first checked the carburettor to make sure that there was no dirt/dust causing any problems. The fuel pump had also been giving me jip and Sarah noticed that there was a small leak from the filter plug also as she had to 'encourage' the pump to work Matt decided that he should change it as I had a spare. It seems that this did the trick and I seemed to be back to full power again.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">We left Osh with me running well, in fact so well Matt picked up a speeding fine. I made good time with the steep, winding ascent from the plains being easily handled. I covered 424 miles this day and so felt positive my troubles from the Pamir were finally resolved. We arrived in Bishkek in good time and with a couple of final tweeks I was back to my old self.</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
Kyrgystan to Russia via Kazahstan</h2>
While on the Pamir my brake lights stopped working also while being checked over in Murgab it looked like the rear universal joint was suspect and probably needed changing and so Matt and Sarah got Matt's mate Paul to send out a couple of universal joints and brake light switches which we would collect at Semey before crossing into Russia.<br />
<br />
Now back to full power I was able to get to Semey a couple of days ahead of schedule where we waited for the parts to arrive. As before the roads in Kazakhstan were pretty boring and with full power restored we made good time. Parts arrived in Semey and Matt fitted the brake light switch and decided to wait until we got to Russia before getting the universal joint fitted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1MFD2YSB38/VfEq8cAG3KI/AAAAAAAAA-k/uP_YlJ9fpyY/s1600/DSCN2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1MFD2YSB38/VfEq8cAG3KI/AAAAAAAAA-k/uP_YlJ9fpyY/s400/DSCN2358.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other than waiting in Semey for the parts, Kazakhstan was simply a transit to Russia and so nothing remarkable to report. I crossed over into Russia a week after crossing into Kazakhstan but four days were simply waiting for parts. </div>
<br />
<h2>
Russia to Mongolia</h2>
The Russia to Mongolia leg of the journey was originally to take me to Barnaul and from there the southern route through the Gobi desert to Ulanbataar. We decided that the trials and tribulations of the Pamir were potentially to be repeated but this time on a much less travelled road and so the risk of my breaking down and no one around to help was too much of a risk so we opted for the route through Russia dropping down to Ulanbataar from the north.<br />
<br />
The universal joint that was identified as being suspect was changed in Barnaul but it seems that for some unknown reason the part sent from the UK was too small for the prop shaft so the mechanic managed to source a joint from different car and used that instead. It was also noticed that the near side mounting bracket for the tie bar had fractured and so this was welded and made good. I left Barnaul thinking everything was now going to be fairly straightforward. How wrong can you be!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avNxhXMw5R8/VfEwClxDyHI/AAAAAAAAA-8/BUDmwJ_w_k8/s1600/DSCN2404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avNxhXMw5R8/VfEwClxDyHI/AAAAAAAAA-8/BUDmwJ_w_k8/s320/DSCN2404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJHDOboFVxs/VfEwB2J6rHI/AAAAAAAAA-0/tZz55ggOr0s/s1600/DSCN2398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJHDOboFVxs/VfEwB2J6rHI/AAAAAAAAA-0/tZz55ggOr0s/s200/DSCN2398.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbugFBnEwvc/VfEwCa6gcnI/AAAAAAAAA-4/H_eHXpRy5RA/s1600/DSCN2405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbugFBnEwvc/VfEwCa6gcnI/AAAAAAAAA-4/H_eHXpRy5RA/s400/DSCN2405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We left Barnaul and I soon developed a fairly worrying whining and grating noise from somewhere to the rear. Rather than simply stop and find I had an issue that couldn't be resolved and once I had stopped I maybe wouldn't be able to start again I carried on to Novosibirsk which was our next stop over. Matt and Sarah took me to a garage where it was found that I had a number of issues with the rear axle. Firstly one of the half shafts was completely knackered, secondly the gasket had gone and finally, and more importantly the diff was totally shagged.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fRRHTCywkhM/VfExnuV4oXI/AAAAAAAAA_s/FQCv7WxuJHQ/s1600/DSC_0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fRRHTCywkhM/VfExnuV4oXI/AAAAAAAAA_s/FQCv7WxuJHQ/s200/DSC_0549.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT6SJe5RHyc/VfExnTSyQ_I/AAAAAAAAA_k/ihfuFfOjvGs/s1600/DSC_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT6SJe5RHyc/VfExnTSyQ_I/AAAAAAAAA_k/ihfuFfOjvGs/s200/DSC_0548.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCETCIrQp38/VfExm5ryDhI/AAAAAAAAA_c/R7WsFEwysRE/s1600/DSCN2417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCETCIrQp38/VfExm5ryDhI/AAAAAAAAA_c/R7WsFEwysRE/s320/DSCN2417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMQoofRRk6A/VfExl719EQI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/qmYhoE88RIk/s1600/DSCN2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMQoofRRk6A/VfExl719EQI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/qmYhoE88RIk/s200/DSCN2411.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHSpNXp_3Y/VfExmIy_hYI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ZL2EpLbGFVI/s1600/DSCN2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHSpNXp_3Y/VfExmIy_hYI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ZL2EpLbGFVI/s200/DSCN2419.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">After some deliberation it was decided that if I was ever to reach Mongolia and complete my adventure a new differential was required so I was fitted with a brand new Lada rear axle. This had some advantages in that the 3.9 diff ratio would mean that on the good Russian roads my cruising speed would be improved by probably around 5mph. The downside was that the torque would be lower so steep inclines would be harder on me but we weren't expecting anything on the scale of the Pamir from now on. So the new axle was fitted and I was on the road again.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7l5dVu7LYGs/VfEztozksxI/AAAAAAAABAA/izDiaJp5iBU/s1600/DSC_0565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7l5dVu7LYGs/VfEztozksxI/AAAAAAAABAA/izDiaJp5iBU/s200/DSC_0565.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SONIqtJzk_M/VfEztsV_F7I/AAAAAAAAA_8/K08sthmAOaE/s1600/DSC_0568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SONIqtJzk_M/VfEztsV_F7I/AAAAAAAAA_8/K08sthmAOaE/s200/DSC_0568.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GrG4nRZzfiY/VfEzvRj_fhI/AAAAAAAABAY/Limojhup_68/s1600/DSC_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GrG4nRZzfiY/VfEzvRj_fhI/AAAAAAAABAY/Limojhup_68/s200/DSC_0578.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5SETTenNmUo/VfEzuhqWduI/AAAAAAAABAU/XRMv-s3tkvI/s1600/DSC_0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5SETTenNmUo/VfEzuhqWduI/AAAAAAAABAU/XRMv-s3tkvI/s200/DSC_0577.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2NHLrnh0w/VfEzwD6nlAI/AAAAAAAABAo/KozRkiQSTUM/s1600/DSC_0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka2NHLrnh0w/VfEzwD6nlAI/AAAAAAAABAo/KozRkiQSTUM/s200/DSC_0592.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfIbPjMeqi4/VfEzvhABUfI/AAAAAAAABAg/5YK-9jQAcW0/s1600/DSC_0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfIbPjMeqi4/VfEzvhABUfI/AAAAAAAABAg/5YK-9jQAcW0/s200/DSC_0581.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtYiz9eYBDo/VfEzwvovxKI/AAAAAAAABA0/nC3yqb6iTpc/s1600/fit-boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtYiz9eYBDo/VfEzwvovxKI/AAAAAAAABA0/nC3yqb6iTpc/s400/fit-boys.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">It was around 1,800 miles from Novosibirsk to Ulanbataar on for the most part good roads. I left on the 4th of September and after 5 days driving arrived in Ulanbataar reaching Mongolia and the destination of the outward part of my adventure. Despite all the difficulties on the way I had made it. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIug9tKmA1E/VfE4i5zZ8tI/AAAAAAAABBE/PQxfzzJ74a0/s1600/DSC_0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIug9tKmA1E/VfE4i5zZ8tI/AAAAAAAABBE/PQxfzzJ74a0/s640/DSC_0632.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the Genghis Khan statue - Ulanbataar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> Preparing
for the journey home so had a quick check over of steering, brakes and
suspension which are all OK so will be heading off back to Russia and
all points home.</span> Some stats of
the trip so far;<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">List of issues encountered on my outward journey.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Bulgaria </b>- Front universal joint replaced</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Turkey </b>- Lost starter motor bolt (replaced)</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Kazakhstan (1st visit)</b> - Front trim bolts lost (replaced), bonnet catch came loose</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Tajikistan and the Pamir Highway</b> - Steering column came adrift, three punctures, loss of power and overheating, loose bolts on steering and suspension, speedo coming loose, brake lights stopped working (switch replaced in Kazakhstan), rear universal joint failing (replaced in Russia)</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Kyrgystan </b>- Replaced fuel pump, replaced dashpot oil with SAE20, </span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Kazakhstan (2nd visit)</b> - Front trim bolts lost again (removed and nuts and bolts used instead)</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Russia </b>- Replaced rear universal joint, diff failure (new rear axle), solenoid playing up</span></li>
</ul>
Journey stats<br />
<ul>
<li>Miles traveled from Potton to Ulanbataar - 13,125</li>
<li>Gallons of petrol used - 306</li>
<li>Miles per Gallon - 42.89</li>
<li>Actual days driving - 58</li>
<li>Average miles covered per day - 226</li>
<li>Number of speeding fines - 3</li>
<li>Number of other fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of problems requiring a mechanic - 9</li>
<li>Number of minor problems solved by Matt/Sarah - 6</li>
</ul>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-40230980532856902072015-08-04T06:50:00.001-07:002015-08-04T07:08:00.575-07:00Tbilisi to Tashkent - SortedNearly two months into my adventure and we have reached Tashkent in Uzbekistan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7cCYeUCLE/VcDG6SOwx9I/AAAAAAAAA8A/nQdDGVzmrgs/s1600/04-08-2015%2B15-05-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0W7cCYeUCLE/VcDG6SOwx9I/AAAAAAAAA8A/nQdDGVzmrgs/s400/04-08-2015%2B15-05-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We left Tbilisi and drove a short way to Stepantsminda where Matt and Sara spent a day walking (why?) before we crossed from Georgia into Russia. The road wasn't too bad but there were sections where the recent floods had washed away the road and repairs were being undertaken<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGoKDODXjTA/Vb3uhmSVsQI/AAAAAAAAA5s/EX7R3mw91uQ/s1600/DSCN1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGoKDODXjTA/Vb3uhmSVsQI/AAAAAAAAA5s/EX7R3mw91uQ/s200/DSCN1378.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kv5nFsqPJ8g/Vb3uhW8WgMI/AAAAAAAAA5o/aE3sH0cdj-4/s1600/DSCN1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kv5nFsqPJ8g/Vb3uhW8WgMI/AAAAAAAAA5o/aE3sH0cdj-4/s200/DSCN1381.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QyMkcQ6_Js/Vb3uhkJXxhI/AAAAAAAAA5w/u7SgbOvttaA/s1600/DSCN1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QyMkcQ6_Js/Vb3uhkJXxhI/AAAAAAAAA5w/u7SgbOvttaA/s320/DSCN1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queuing in no-mans land</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Whilst the border wasn't too far away it took some time as we spent around 5 hours queuing in no-mans land after exiting Georgia and before getting to the Russian border control. The crossing was relatively straightforward but as ever I seemed to attract some attention with the Russian border guards writing on the car (wouldn't let Matt take a photo) and then looking at the engine, the luggage area and generally tapping me here and there to see if I was real I suppose. Also the customs officer dealing with the paperwork when entering Russia nearly wet himself when he saw me and called his mates over to have a look. When we reached the Kazakhstan border the person dealing with Sarah couldn't believe I was yellow until I drove up and he saw me with his own eyes. At least I'm making border crossings a little more fun for all concerned.<br />
<br />
This stage of our journey was simply to get to Uzbekistan without the need to hang about Georgia or Azerbaijan until the 29th so we could enter Uzbekistan on time. This involved driving around 2,500 miles through Russia and Kazakhstan. I managed to get to Shymkent in 9 days but we had to hang around before continuing to Uzbekistan because Matt and Sarah's visas weren't valid until the 3rd of August.<br />
<br />
With the exception of the road from the Kazakhstan border to Atyrau, which was awful, the roads were generally good and so I could maintain a nice easy pace and simply cover the miles averaging around 250 miles a day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgJumuGHZ2M/Vb3z0S1LvII/AAAAAAAAA6M/CuksQNcjdSc/s1600/DSCF1906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgJumuGHZ2M/Vb3z0S1LvII/AAAAAAAAA6M/CuksQNcjdSc/s200/DSCF1906.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19Dc65LIj7U/Vb3z0cxOlcI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/h21Qgdshf8s/s1600/DSCF1909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19Dc65LIj7U/Vb3z0cxOlcI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/h21Qgdshf8s/s200/DSCF1909.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WvhYX9J0I8/Vb3z0eUvz4I/AAAAAAAAA6I/sE4ctPszTm8/s1600/DSCF1902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WvhYX9J0I8/Vb3z0eUvz4I/AAAAAAAAA6I/sE4ctPszTm8/s320/DSCF1902.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>The road to Atyrau</u></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
We came across a couple of minor problems that were resolved en-route. The first of these involved discovering that one of the spares was flat. We found this out mainly by accident when checking that the tyre pressures were OK. No problems though as the inner tube was promptly removed and a patch put on then re-inflated - Done! As with anything that involves a garage the chaps doing the work wanted to have a look at me (I am beautiful) and in many cases get in and have their photo taken from the driving seat.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4QCe_T7HFM/Vb31xo8ZCXI/AAAAAAAAA6k/S51Pw4XJuow/s1600/DSCN1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4QCe_T7HFM/Vb31xo8ZCXI/AAAAAAAAA6k/S51Pw4XJuow/s400/DSCN1533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's have a go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We travelled on good roads from Atyrau and with one or two roadworks having to be negotiated but nothing too serious we arrived in Shymkent where all the fun and games began. So, while driving here and thereabouts there have been some really rough sections of roads with big pot holes and ruts to negotiate. Well all the bumping and shaking around meant that a piece of trim had come loose and the bulkhead had popped (probably from everything in the back coming forward).<br />
<br />
Matt had discovered the trim issue during the drive to Shymkent and put a temporary fix in place. Basically he removed the trim and put some bolts in place to hold the panels together. Not pretty but effective. Anyway we had some bolts that could be used to make the missing studs and all we needed was some washers (two to be exact).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_bN-4MuOtM/Vb34a20p3II/AAAAAAAAA7Y/_AGHJ_fTODU/s1600/DSCN1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_bN-4MuOtM/Vb34a20p3II/AAAAAAAAA7Y/_AGHJ_fTODU/s200/DSCN1813.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorted!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxuZglI1rLQ/Vb34V92yfMI/AAAAAAAAA64/3LXfgs1KKHc/s1600/DSCN1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vxuZglI1rLQ/Vb34V92yfMI/AAAAAAAAA64/3LXfgs1KKHc/s200/DSCN1633.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing Trim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Although Matt had washers in his spares the hole was too large for the small bolts needed so how difficult could it be to get washers? - You have no idea and I will leave Matt to tell that story suffice to say I generated some serious interest with all the mechanics in garages around and about coming over to look at me and get their photos taken as well as looking under the bonnet at my engine which caused some hilarity (why?)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcoed5x3CBk/Vb34VwiMZNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/PU79QbLvwk0/s1600/DSCN1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcoed5x3CBk/Vb34VwiMZNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/PU79QbLvwk0/s320/DSCN1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-879gLB5BZTs/Vb34UdTJ27I/AAAAAAAAA60/1CWOnksxw4E/s1600/DSCN1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-879gLB5BZTs/Vb34UdTJ27I/AAAAAAAAA60/1CWOnksxw4E/s320/DSCN1787.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gFmiqCHQ3qU/Vb3668GSD5I/AAAAAAAAA7k/StsSQTj7uzs/s1600/DSCN1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gFmiqCHQ3qU/Vb3668GSD5I/AAAAAAAAA7k/StsSQTj7uzs/s320/DSCN1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Anyway, once the washers were obtained and on the way back to the hotel the rattle we couldn't find returned and fortunately some mechanics outside a garage could see the near-side wheel wobbling they called me over and it turns out that I had slightly bent a tie-rod (at least that's what I think it was). Wheel off, disconnect tie-rod, couple of judicious taps with a bloody big hammer, wheel back on and all sorted. Best of all we weren't charged. I think that's because they had so much fun while I was visiting their establishment.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQKhzKgWM4k/Vb34ZUBsEBI/AAAAAAAAA7U/OR9_I2xqKdU/s1600/DSCN1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQKhzKgWM4k/Vb34ZUBsEBI/AAAAAAAAA7U/OR9_I2xqKdU/s320/DSCN1812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bent tie-rod (Sorted!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PM7EEWUdSTE/Vb34Yo35DPI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/RdFzn5Nmnnc/s1600/DSCN1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PM7EEWUdSTE/Vb34Yo35DPI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/RdFzn5Nmnnc/s400/DSCN1809.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's an engine?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDb-BhB8S34/Vb367YWY2QI/AAAAAAAAA7o/_ZIg2Afkkok/s1600/DSCN1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDb-BhB8S34/Vb367YWY2QI/AAAAAAAAA7o/_ZIg2Afkkok/s320/DSCN1807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tie-rod team</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After sorting out the washers and rattle the next job was the bulkhead. Not too hard that as the screws had simply come out and so Sarah crawled into the back and screwed in some large eyelets which secured the bulkhead back into place. Job done!<br />
<br />
We left Shymkent and crossed into Uzbekistan (after a veerrryy long border crossing) on the 3rd of August nearly two months after leaving blighty. Some stats of
the trip so far;<br />
<ul>
<li>Miles traveled from Potton to Tashkent- 8,162</li>
<li>Miles traveled to last tank full - 7,860 </li>
<li>Gallons of petrol used - 187.5</li>
<li>Miles per Gallon - 41.93</li>
<li>Actual days driving - 32</li>
<li>Number of speeding fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of other fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of problems requiring a mechanic - 4</li>
<li>Number of minor problems solved by Matt/Sarah - 2</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-42788760791945302882015-07-17T07:33:00.000-07:002015-07-17T07:33:02.282-07:00Istanbul to Tbilisi - SortedSo here we are 41 days into my adventure and I have got Matt and Sarah to Tbilisi in Georgia where I have had my nuts tightened and been well lubricated in preparation for the next stage of our journey into Russia and onwards to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h99FlsybTWw/VajzG2KB9DI/AAAAAAAAA24/0vFMvr7nUDY/s1600/17-07-2015%2B13-20-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Potton to Georgia Route" border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h99FlsybTWw/VajzG2KB9DI/AAAAAAAAA24/0vFMvr7nUDY/s400/17-07-2015%2B13-20-16.jpg" title="Potton to Georgia Route" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
After a nice rest in Istanbul we left on our journey to Georgia. Rather than taking a direct route Matt and Sarah decided there were a few things they wanted to see and do en-route and so rather than simply taking the Bosphorus Bridge to get into Asia they decided to drive down the Gallipoli Peninsula to Eceabat and cross via ferry to Cannakkle and enter Asia that way. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4n3CZJirobAoHJp4V6EZJ0sHhuZyVGbhhYCGsfzAGOJqwQucJqqLBYTnNcCDZMyjMW3SQ-21c3kiwBfPH4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
As you can imagine I was the centre of attraction both while on the ferry and through Turkey with with loads of people taking photos of me and signing blue spots to the extent we have now moved onto the blank areas of the other stickers. I've also managed to pick up a few more Angels en-route to Georgia.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Exu9jhUnbo/VakD4BopESI/AAAAAAAAA3I/jZrLa-iR3AY/s1600/security_angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Exu9jhUnbo/VakD4BopESI/AAAAAAAAA3I/jZrLa-iR3AY/s320/security_angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue8jXdpSdxI/VakD5HiO2TI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/L1w1Pehe1TQ/s1600/DSCN0777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue8jXdpSdxI/VakD5HiO2TI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/L1w1Pehe1TQ/s320/DSCN0777.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISc7w5dGf4A/VakEOmPyLRI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/fbvQVqy9Sn8/s1600/DSCN0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISc7w5dGf4A/VakEOmPyLRI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/fbvQVqy9Sn8/s320/DSCN0742.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Once into Asia the roads became much more windy and there was a lot more going up and down hills. The coast road to Oludeniz wasn't too bad but we did hit an area where the road was still being built so loose, wet gravel was an interesting surface to drive on. Also Matt and Sarah did take a couple of detours which resulted in driving through some small towns where using the term road may have been stretching it a tad.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkVclCK7D4o/VakHwxD32BI/AAAAAAAAA38/HsFXPDoKwys/s1600/DSCN0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkVclCK7D4o/VakHwxD32BI/AAAAAAAAA38/HsFXPDoKwys/s200/DSCN0821.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIZRtvAWogA/VakHosdIfUI/AAAAAAAAA3w/fIMaNx5iYtk/s1600/DSCN0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIZRtvAWogA/VakHosdIfUI/AAAAAAAAA3w/fIMaNx5iYtk/s200/DSCN0825.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZqx3EAaK8M/VakH9oO546I/AAAAAAAAA4I/cSWH16doEqs/s1600/DSCN1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZqx3EAaK8M/VakH9oO546I/AAAAAAAAA4I/cSWH16doEqs/s200/DSCN1023.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3-2DQLFjNo/VakHwOi0ZjI/AAAAAAAAA34/f7Lmr8rhLg0/s1600/DSCN0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3-2DQLFjNo/VakHwOi0ZjI/AAAAAAAAA34/f7Lmr8rhLg0/s200/DSCN0827.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kraZYArNr9E/VakIDt2hK0I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/MeNbUwpjAQo/s1600/DSCN1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kraZYArNr9E/VakIDt2hK0I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/MeNbUwpjAQo/s200/DSCN1027.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNAsnob1hRI/VakIH-Dk0AI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/c93OrMFk6ug/s1600/DSCN1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNAsnob1hRI/VakIH-Dk0AI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/c93OrMFk6ug/s200/DSCN1031.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Not only did I have to cope with rough roads we started seeing livestock which seemed to want to walk in front of me. When the roads were reasonable they were pretty steep with the hill into Oludeniz causing some challenges given my petrol tank was full and the brakes were overheating. Also leaving was fun as I had to climb back out from sea level which meant being in second for some time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kQyhh-V700/VakMgPObfUI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ezhyebnrO5A/s1600/DSCN1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kQyhh-V700/VakMgPObfUI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ezhyebnrO5A/s200/DSCN1281.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7O4oJbec4g/VakNtOitXOI/AAAAAAAAA5E/WArNe_NSdjE/s1600/DSCN1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7O4oJbec4g/VakNtOitXOI/AAAAAAAAA5E/WArNe_NSdjE/s200/DSCN1069.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-msqqBURYmrY/VakMmOq8oNI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EX00dDufOl4/s1600/DSCN0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-msqqBURYmrY/VakMmOq8oNI/AAAAAAAAA4s/EX00dDufOl4/s200/DSCN0800.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8VHSawvuy8/VakNqcKHGqI/AAAAAAAAA48/Jqb4S-OdTVw/s1600/DSCN1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8VHSawvuy8/VakNqcKHGqI/AAAAAAAAA48/Jqb4S-OdTVw/s200/DSCN1068.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4NKP0kgpcEA/VakNk8qOSII/AAAAAAAAA40/c77yurMwZCk/s1600/DSCN1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4NKP0kgpcEA/VakNk8qOSII/AAAAAAAAA40/c77yurMwZCk/s200/DSCN1072.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DaLEp7B8FyE/VakN6p-RfjI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Gvdh-W3WWxo/s1600/DSCN1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DaLEp7B8FyE/VakN6p-RfjI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Gvdh-W3WWxo/s200/DSCN1283.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Mak6cFa3F4/VakN9PuLG-I/AAAAAAAAA5U/OnfpnfyrZa8/s1600/DSCN1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Mak6cFa3F4/VakN9PuLG-I/AAAAAAAAA5U/OnfpnfyrZa8/s400/DSCN1290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway I managed to deal with all the differing road conditions without too many problems. The sump guard took a ding or two and one of the towing points is now bent but at least I haven't sustained any damage. Once in Tbilisi Matt arranged for a service where my oil was changed. The mechanic noticed that the half shaft seals were leaking but it wasn't serious so it was decided not to use the spares. Diff oil topped up and Matt will have to keep an eye on this and probably top up again. <br />
<br />
The chap who did the service also noticed that the nuts on the U bolt holding on the rear dampers were working loose so these were tightened too (another job for Matt). The speedo connection to the gearbox was also tightened hopefully stopping the small oil leak from the gearbox. <br />
<br />
Finally got by bits greased and so am now ready to take on Russia and Kazakhstan and into the next stage of our route to Uzbekistan and Central Asia. Some stats of
the trip so far;<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Miles traveled from Potton to Tbilisi - 5,105</li>
<li>Miles traveled to last tank full - 5,039 </li>
<li>Gallons of petrol used - 120</li>
<li>Miles per Gallon - 41.95</li>
<li>Actual days driving - 20</li>
<li>Number of speeding fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of other fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of problems requiring a mechanic - 2</li>
<li>Number of minor problems solved by Matt/Sarah - 0</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-23062018807559477302015-06-28T07:03:00.000-07:002015-06-28T07:05:19.998-07:00Potton to Istanbul - SortedSo here we are three weeks into my adventure and I have successfully got Matt and Sarah safely to Istanbul. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kI7c2W9jtJ4/VY_BV-HYOCI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/D7w4TH_JEvU/s1600/28-06-2015%2B10-34-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kI7c2W9jtJ4/VY_BV-HYOCI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/D7w4TH_JEvU/s400/28-06-2015%2B10-34-02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potton to Istanbul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We left Potton on Saturday 6th June with a convoy of some of my friends and a couple of Harley Outriders to make sure we had no trouble on the journey down to Dover where we were met by a Morris Minor Panda car that escorted us into the port. We landed in France and started the adventure proper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQTdFiWEjJxmUbrecKrCqNrG8jmXKBN4NWPITuTqvbPyQJqcVn6T2F8MUCzD12gnZ3ZRTgSibhFmAB5-Dk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Leaving Potton and the UK</span></div>
<br />
We have passed through six countries and crossed the Alps to get here. The roads were great for the first part of the journey and getting a little less maintained as we went through Romania and Bulgaria. The Turkish roads were OK until we got to the old town in Istanbul where they were seriously rough and uneven but I coped.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwFY1QtxCscWfnf7PY1mJY1pEbSLSx9vPEo3k9Q7ujLGBv5VzuPBJzg_FhKoWql7LdVazBaQ30bXiQCoEtM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crossing the Alps</span></div>
<br />
I had a few problems on the way but none that couldn't be sorted with a little ingenuity and some luck. My first problem was the universal joint going. I'm not quite sure when it first started breaking up but Matt aborted his trip to the SOS Children's village in Tryvania because the noise and shaking was so bad. Anyway as luck would have it the campsite owner where we were staying knew a local mechanic so I was left with him and he confirmed that the joint had in fact gone (not that Matt knew what the problem was anyway).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4KRGnQmTuk/VY_vpG1SEaI/AAAAAAAAA2M/hBeC8RO2iKE/s1600/universal_joint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4KRGnQmTuk/VY_vpG1SEaI/AAAAAAAAA2M/hBeC8RO2iKE/s320/universal_joint.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken Universal Joint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaXa7LJ-9Dg/VY_voPnyxTI/AAAAAAAAA2E/rJ2ijbMF3Os/s1600/garaged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaXa7LJ-9Dg/VY_voPnyxTI/AAAAAAAAA2E/rJ2ijbMF3Os/s320/garaged.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mischka's Garage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mischka the mechanic measured up the joint and ordered one which when it arrived needed a little customisation of the prop shaft mountings and the joint itself. The prop shaft mountings needed about 20 thousands of an inch taken off to allow the joint to fit which then needed around a millimeter off each end to shorten it to match the original part. Customisation complete I was put back together and we went on our merry way a couple of days later than planned but at least hale and hearty.<br />
<br />
Bulgarian roads left a lot to be desired and having to cross a mountain that meant I was in third all the way up didn't help our miles per hour but once we overcame that little obstacle we managed to gain some time and crossed the Turkish border mid-afternoon. From the border we over-nighted in Edirne and then drove on good roads all the way to Istanbul where after some navigational challenges found our hotel which had a special place reserved just for little 'ole me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8nK34gRPwU/VY_wvqS4zXI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/AwJzUGpoRcY/s1600/DSC_0313a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8nK34gRPwU/VY_wvqS4zXI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/AwJzUGpoRcY/s400/DSC_0313a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the hotel in Istanbul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The other problem which caused some grief was that I was having some trouble starting in the mornings. At first Matt thought it was something draining the battery but on inspection in Istanbul he found that one of the bolts holding on the rear plate of the starter motor had disappeared. It could be that all the shaking from the universal joint problem coupled with the bad roads simply meant the bolt worked lose and somewhere along the line fell out.<br />
<br />
Anyway after working out the problem and while trying to find a bolt that would fit, Sarah asked a local who stopped where we could possibly get said bolt and the next thing we know a mechanic is on hand to assist. I never knew putting a bolt in could be so difficult. First the distributor had to be removed so the starter motor could actually be removed. Then a bolt of the right length and thread size needed to be found (amazed at how many nuts bolts and screws this chap had). Once the bolt was identified the rear plate needed removing as once the original bolt fell out and the other one loosened the spring loaded contacts had also worked themselves lose. So, back plate contacts reassembled and the plate bolted into place. Motor tested OK and then re-mounted and hey presto starting was no longer a problem!<br />
<br />
The other little niggles which have been sorted are the fan belt working lose. Tightening sorted that out so Matt needs to keep an eye on that. Seems there is a small amount of oil leaking from the gearbox. This has been traced to the drain plug which seems tight but still losing a few drops here and there so need to keep an eye on the gearbox oil level too.<br />
<br />
We are now ready to leave Europe and cross the Bosphorus which will take us into Asia and into the next phase of our adventure. Some stats of the trip so far;<br />
<ul>
<li>Miles traveled from Potton to Istanbul - 2871</li>
<li>Miles traveled to last tank full - 2307 </li>
<li>Gallons of petrol used - 54</li>
<li>Miles per Gallon - 42.7</li>
<li>Actual days driving - 10</li>
<li>Number of speeding fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of other fines - 1</li>
<li>Number of problems requiring a mechanic - 2</li>
<li>Number of minor problems solved by Matt/Sarah - 0</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8nK34gRPwU/VY_wvqS4zXI/AAAAAAAAA2U/GAOrxT1BXMQ/s1600/DSC_0313a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-49947612446126603852015-06-01T10:24:00.001-07:002015-06-01T10:24:56.377-07:00Ready to rock 'n roll!Well here we are with 4 days to go and pretty much all the little niggles sorted I'm ready to roll. The new speedo issue was all down to worn threads on the nylon connector into the gearbox. As the gearbox warmed up the threads slipped effectively disconnecting the cable. Anyway a newer connector with better threads solved the problem. <br />
<br />
Checked the speedo against the GPS one and the mechanical one reads around 5mph higher than actual speed so when doing 50 according to GPS doing 55 on the speedo. This is probably not too surprising given that the reconditioned diff ratio is 4.55 rather than 4.22 which means that I'd be going slower for the same rpms and speedo works on gearbox revs rather than wheel revolutions. Anyway as long as we know what the discrepency is no problem. Will need to make sure we know the error on the miles recorded too. <br />
<br />
Everything bar a few spares have been packed and stowed away now so all there is to do is drive down to Rye and back to pick up Sarah and we are good for the off on Saturday. The convoy is building up nicely with Carl and his traveller (convoy handle Love Machine), Paul and his borrowed Minor Morris and Paul Harris with his Harley and some friends from the Fenlanders motor cycle club. Hopefully Diz and Mabel will be able to join us as well as some other classics that may come out if the weather's fine.<br />
<br />
Will keep you all updated as the adventure progresses so watch this space.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Convoy Hopefuls</b></h2>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykTcCE8_sdQ/VWyP0uHcxCI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/PVfgU4VRwzY/s1600/1005244_10151839649497580_1050110044_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykTcCE8_sdQ/VWyP0uHcxCI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/PVfgU4VRwzY/s400/1005244_10151839649497580_1050110044_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Machine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YG2-eJlNcC0/VWyQnUYowSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/cxJP0PKCOUE/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YG2-eJlNcC0/VWyQnUYowSI/AAAAAAAAA0g/cxJP0PKCOUE/s400/IMG_0455.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Harris and his Harley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VzjT1BVYgLs/VWyRcHL0YtI/AAAAAAAAA0w/GPm7hhWP0L8/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VzjT1BVYgLs/VWyRcHL0YtI/AAAAAAAAA0w/GPm7hhWP0L8/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Chariot Morris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASVdYTPIr3U/VWyRkSwCiXI/AAAAAAAAA04/f5jcK12vrRo/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASVdYTPIr3U/VWyRkSwCiXI/AAAAAAAAA04/f5jcK12vrRo/s400/DSC_0034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mabel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-70197577643290775272015-05-04T11:09:00.000-07:002015-05-04T11:22:49.432-07:00Ready to Rock and Roll!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Just over a year ago I joined up with a crazy man who decided I was going to take him to Mongolia and then bring him back. The last year has seen me undergo a number of changes and with my interior practically complete I am now ready to rock and roll!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOHRbZwP0c/VUe4Zgb2UnI/AAAAAAAAA0A/VKux9hvFnxU/s1600/DSC_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOHRbZwP0c/VUe4Zgb2UnI/AAAAAAAAA0A/VKux9hvFnxU/s320/DSC_0238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Once Jonathon and the team completed building me up into an awesome overland traveller it was time to get the interior storage space sorted and make sure Matt and Sarah were going to be comfortable (or as comfortable as they could be in a 1968 Morris Minor Traveller). Declan, Hannah's (Matt and Sarah's eldest) partner happens to work in the Adelphi theater and strangely enough has wood working skills agreed to take on making Matt's design a reality. Unfortunately he had Matt helping which maybe why it took a bit longer than expected.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSSiRYc_a4M/VUevjpQRfbI/AAAAAAAAAyY/55CbDp3Xg-4/s1600/DSC_0176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSSiRYc_a4M/VUevjpQRfbI/AAAAAAAAAyY/55CbDp3Xg-4/s200/DSC_0176.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
So, Matt measured up Paul's frame and obtained and painted the woodwork in readiness for Declan's visit. The floor of the main storage area is 18mm moisture resistant MDF with the bulkhead 12mm moisture resistant MDF. 6mm 'flexible' MDF was used for the sides and ceiling as well as headlining in the cab. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5Posb4ZdXU/VUevk7Rn4EI/AAAAAAAAAyg/zx8IzCPr7Bg/s1600/DSC_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d5Posb4ZdXU/VUevk7Rn4EI/AAAAAAAAAyg/zx8IzCPr7Bg/s200/DSC_0212.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVbC1LTZLOM/VUevmfYjTSI/AAAAAAAAAyo/UEcIoTWAacs/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVbC1LTZLOM/VUevmfYjTSI/AAAAAAAAAyo/UEcIoTWAacs/s200/DSC_0209.jpg" width="200" /></a>Unfortunately Matt's measuring skills left a lot to be desired and Declan needed to trim the floor sections before they could be fitted which meant that there was a little delay before the main work could begin. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once the floor was in work started on the interior proper. Roof sections cut, bulkhead created and then the whole lot was put together to create a great usable space.<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Z6OoerNWM/VUevo7axjAI/AAAAAAAAAy4/yHE6egmlRlg/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Z6OoerNWM/VUevo7axjAI/AAAAAAAAAy4/yHE6egmlRlg/s200/DSC_0218.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy3wIwZUCLE/VUevnQ909BI/AAAAAAAAAyw/fZFugnK1drk/s1600/DSC_0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hy3wIwZUCLE/VUevnQ909BI/AAAAAAAAAyw/fZFugnK1drk/s200/DSC_0216.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Z6OoerNWM/VUevo7axjAI/AAAAAAAAAy4/yHE6egmlRlg/s1600/DSC_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLNx55SGuBw/VUevrxyBRVI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/R_FtbF8pMJ8/s1600/DSC_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLNx55SGuBw/VUevrxyBRVI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/R_FtbF8pMJ8/s200/DSC_0224.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3TuR6Ws_2E/VUevqK4RQwI/AAAAAAAAAzA/hdnRW5i8JQA/s1600/DSC_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3TuR6Ws_2E/VUevqK4RQwI/AAAAAAAAAzA/hdnRW5i8JQA/s200/DSC_0221.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6wgODKFmlQ/VUevrEYRRkI/AAAAAAAAAzI/HYeuM3IhGLw/s1600/DSC_0223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6wgODKFmlQ/VUevrEYRRkI/AAAAAAAAAzI/HYeuM3IhGLw/s400/DSC_0223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In addition to fitting out the interior storage area, Jonathon and Anthony fitted the seats which if you recall, dear reader, I mentioned were to be Saab 9000 electric seats. These are leather and from what Matt said are really comfortable. I don't know what Sarah thinks and as she is taller she may not agree but with the seats being adjustable up, down, forward and back and with an adjustable head rest she should be able to adjust them to suit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dD_NCICEFZQ/VUevvPpbrpI/AAAAAAAAAzs/I_uQyEQVpuc/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dD_NCICEFZQ/VUevvPpbrpI/AAAAAAAAAzs/I_uQyEQVpuc/s200/DSC_0231.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOgYKKc9U98/VUevupx8FFI/AAAAAAAAAzo/mkE_uhmpaPU/s1600/DSC_0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOgYKKc9U98/VUevupx8FFI/AAAAAAAAAzo/mkE_uhmpaPU/s320/DSC_0229.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So now other than minor cosmetic bits and pieces we are good to go. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-73781805283424239082015-02-15T02:03:00.001-08:002015-02-15T02:04:29.142-08:00Running in - not what I expectedSince the initial restoration work has been complete and now I have a new engine and gearbox Matt was told I need running in which means around 500 miles taking it easy and not going over 50. Well all was going well until Muppet boy decided to test my front bumper by driving into another car!!<br />
<br />
Well good news is that I wasn't going too fast and no one was killed (although I am considering doing Matt an injury in repayment).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5Zr7ioDKSI/VOBodnIvFCI/AAAAAAAAApc/5-N9gkxh_yI/s1600/20150214_142942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5Zr7ioDKSI/VOBodnIvFCI/AAAAAAAAApc/5-N9gkxh_yI/s1600/20150214_142942.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9frdHcJvA8Q/VOBofJMCw4I/AAAAAAAAApk/DQed_jHLI_s/s1600/20150214_142948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9frdHcJvA8Q/VOBofJMCw4I/AAAAAAAAApk/DQed_jHLI_s/s1600/20150214_142948.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway now I have been run in (in more ways that one) I need to go back to Jonathon's so that Rod can do what he needs to the engine. Also there are a couple of minor things that need to be ironed out. Gears are a bit stiff, petrol sensor still needs calibrating, headlining needs putting and the like.<br />
<br />
Also while I was back with Matt his mate <a href="http://www.paulpibworth.co.uk/" target="_blank">Paul Pibworth (Artist, Journeyman, Sculptor)</a> started putting together the framework for my second floor. Considering that Paul makes things like the <a href="http://www.paulpibworth.co.uk/the-wilstead-man.html" target="_blank">Wilstead Man</a> (his most recent project) I'm feeling honoured that my insides are being modified by an artist of such repute (grovelling over).<br />
<br />
Anyway the idea behind the second floor is to create an area to store my second spare wheel and other bits and pieces such as tents whilst creating the floor for the main storage area.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GbbM4W3GJM/VOBtwjflYzI/AAAAAAAAAp0/PH-ubA-yXdU/s1600/20150214_142849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GbbM4W3GJM/VOBtwjflYzI/AAAAAAAAAp0/PH-ubA-yXdU/s1600/20150214_142849.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Js5xD17W9Ac/VOBtzJvldCI/AAAAAAAAAqE/RtR8huZMA4I/s1600/20150214_142907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Js5xD17W9Ac/VOBtzJvldCI/AAAAAAAAAqE/RtR8huZMA4I/s1600/20150214_142907.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N33wHGwYPU0/VOBtyarc_uI/AAAAAAAAAp8/Q7MZFTdi8BQ/s1600/20150214_152320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N33wHGwYPU0/VOBtyarc_uI/AAAAAAAAAp8/Q7MZFTdi8BQ/s1600/20150214_152320.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrHjiRdiK8k/VOBt0y7PpRI/AAAAAAAAAqU/tA-IAA71WNQ/s1600/20150214_152431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DrHjiRdiK8k/VOBt0y7PpRI/AAAAAAAAAqU/tA-IAA71WNQ/s1600/20150214_152431.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, initial fabrication is underway and should hopefully be finished soon. Thanks Paul! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-46559458954138701462015-01-27T15:29:00.000-08:002015-01-27T15:29:16.272-08:00An Overland Traveller is born - Almost!So the time has finally come when my restoration and customisation is nearly complete and I am back on the road and now fundraising has started with my birthday party on the 24th January where we raised over £1,000 for Sue Ryder St John's Hospice in Moggerhanger (well done everyone!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QP3_lJ4lf10/VMgZXpio2EI/AAAAAAAAAoA/rdiPquEz9yw/s1600/image_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QP3_lJ4lf10/VMgZXpio2EI/AAAAAAAAAoA/rdiPquEz9yw/s1600/image_4.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The final steps after the bodywork and main running gear was completed was to put in the reconditioned MG Midget 1275cc engine and gearbox to give me the power of movement. The interior was finished and all the knobs and switches added as well as Metro GTi seats which are only temporary but are comfortable and adjustable. Daylight lights ensure that I (well Matt) won't get fined in the countries where these are required. All that now needs to be done is complete the interior and fill the tank!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OerKMmokys/VMgYbGx_BeI/AAAAAAAAAm4/GD0KFQSn7eI/s1600/DSCF0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5OerKMmokys/VMgYbGx_BeI/AAAAAAAAAm4/GD0KFQSn7eI/s1600/DSCF0001.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZF6K_K2Ruk/VMgYbZ2OWNI/AAAAAAAAAnA/b9vGMVE-IWQ/s1600/DSCF0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZF6K_K2Ruk/VMgYbZ2OWNI/AAAAAAAAAnA/b9vGMVE-IWQ/s1600/DSCF0006.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yV1RtSuUuPI/VMgYbEz3P9I/AAAAAAAAAm8/SJbA9ucpp7Y/s1600/DSCF0003a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yV1RtSuUuPI/VMgYbEz3P9I/AAAAAAAAAm8/SJbA9ucpp7Y/s1600/DSCF0003a.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cWtmRvfOdc/VMgYbj02fbI/AAAAAAAAAnI/P1QeBZKiTAc/s1600/DSCF0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cWtmRvfOdc/VMgYbj02fbI/AAAAAAAAAnI/P1QeBZKiTAc/s1600/DSCF0008.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI4zRXVFI2A/VMgZWMGDiVI/AAAAAAAAAn4/LilSWJzFNIk/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI4zRXVFI2A/VMgZWMGDiVI/AAAAAAAAAn4/LilSWJzFNIk/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nf1iaX5d4Q/VMgY8MxnCYI/AAAAAAAAAnc/eCXyCW0AIAY/s1600/DSCF0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nf1iaX5d4Q/VMgY8MxnCYI/AAAAAAAAAnc/eCXyCW0AIAY/s1600/DSCF0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-73471168416786895822014-12-14T09:44:00.000-08:002014-12-14T09:44:13.502-08:00Rebuilding - UnderwayNow most of me has been painted, in what I understand is Chevy Yellow, the rebuilding has started and bits are staring to be put onto my lovely new shell.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMOyHmsmrm4/VI3DHuyQJcI/AAAAAAAAAWE/LoBZQZo54Uc/s1600/DSCF0003%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMOyHmsmrm4/VI3DHuyQJcI/AAAAAAAAAWE/LoBZQZo54Uc/s1600/DSCF0003%2B(2).JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The wood, an integral part of the structure, has been put on to allow it to be fitted as it seems while the wood maybe perfect I apparently am not and so things like rear wings need to be 'encouraged' to fit<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCwcr_H27sc/VI2_0DinCjI/AAAAAAAAAU8/sVmzvHU_Bvw/s1600/DSCF0005%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCwcr_H27sc/VI2_0DinCjI/AAAAAAAAAU8/sVmzvHU_Bvw/s1600/DSCF0005%2B(2).JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a> Wood is covered with masking tape to protect it while being initially fitted. What a difference this makes I'm now beginning to look like a car again!. <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JcP5Dynejq0/VI3AwSPvIKI/AAAAAAAAAVI/xi3E2b2Q3EU/s1600/Albert%2B021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JcP5Dynejq0/VI3AwSPvIKI/AAAAAAAAAVI/xi3E2b2Q3EU/s1600/Albert%2B021.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a> Once the wood's been fitted the rear wings were put on and it seems took a lot of encouragement by Martin to be made to fit. But after some persuasion, judicious knocking around and then a bit of filler and sanding I have rear wings that are ready to paint..<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbDkYObRCIU/VI3BUQIB33I/AAAAAAAAAV4/zaeqocZMh8s/s1600/Albert-026_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbDkYObRCIU/VI3BUQIB33I/AAAAAAAAAV4/zaeqocZMh8s/s1600/Albert-026_w.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>The long range tank has now been delivered!! Yay!! It looks absolutely brill. It fits (now that 20mm was shaved off the width) and looks just like the drawing. <br />
<br />
The tank has been filled with safety foam which is designed to prevent vapour build up. It has been positioned so that the weight is where it would be when people would be in the back seat of the car. Also it makes good use of the space wasted through folding down the rear seat. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SriHgauVYmk/VI3BMXYkEHI/AAAAAAAAAVo/90xqQ9seagg/s1600/Albert%2B040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SriHgauVYmk/VI3BMXYkEHI/AAAAAAAAAVo/90xqQ9seagg/s1600/Albert%2B040.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Axsd-P-_6bQ/VI3AyeP5LKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/Jt-sq0iBE3Y/s1600/Albert%2B033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Axsd-P-_6bQ/VI3AyeP5LKI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/Jt-sq0iBE3Y/s1600/Albert%2B033.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
As well as making final preparation on the body, work has started on putting 'stuff' on. The loom is now in place (sort of) and front suspension and brakes are also going on hopefully things are will start really escalate once Rod has completed the engine and the rear springs have been received. Anyway I'm really pleased with the way this is all working out. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-86455197684877191182014-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:002014-11-20T13:33:54.100-08:00Painting - Sorted<br />
At last, I'm yellow again!! You have to agree I look luverly! After lots of hard work by Martin on the body work I am finally painted yellow and reconstruction now begins.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGAFYMr7fPY/VG5XpGOBO-I/AAAAAAAAALw/IZeJTyns08Y/s1600/DSCF0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGAFYMr7fPY/VG5XpGOBO-I/AAAAAAAAALw/IZeJTyns08Y/s1600/DSCF0060.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frd8LSHzYWQ/VG5Xq6gOSgI/AAAAAAAAAME/_q1v8hyCa_g/s1600/DSCF0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frd8LSHzYWQ/VG5Xq6gOSgI/AAAAAAAAAME/_q1v8hyCa_g/s1600/DSCF0109.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From this..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQN1qjgeSEE/VG5XoKOAtFI/AAAAAAAAALo/stTW2BMs0L8/s1600/DSCF0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQN1qjgeSEE/VG5XoKOAtFI/AAAAAAAAALo/stTW2BMs0L8/s1600/DSCF0057.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21xv6A5_q3w/VG5Xp-obgqI/AAAAAAAAAL4/aBWlONXeKhI/s1600/DSCF0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21xv6A5_q3w/VG5Xp-obgqI/AAAAAAAAAL4/aBWlONXeKhI/s1600/DSCF0058.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVW6Ba6vhkY/VG5Xq3ntScI/AAAAAAAAAMA/aBGyLl1GSC0/s1600/DSCF0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVW6Ba6vhkY/VG5Xq3ntScI/AAAAAAAAAMA/aBGyLl1GSC0/s1600/DSCF0070.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To this - Fantastic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now the shell is painted the panels just need to be finished and I can
start being put back together. Woodwork has arrived and will hopefully
go on now so things should progress nicely. Engine is being sorted at
the moment and so should be ready to install in a few weeks (would be a
nice Xmas present!).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-50214358024609975872014-10-31T10:28:00.001-07:002014-10-31T10:28:05.982-07:00Bodywork - SortedWhen I was first stripped naked and taken back to 'basics' it looked like there wasn't too much to do as to be honest I think I looked pretty good. Shot blasting revealed some more parts (or lack of) that needed some addressing so not was all as first seemed.<br />
<br />
After getting to grips with things the shell work progressed reasonably well but as anyone who has been in hospital knows not fast enough as all you want is to get out of there. Anyway Martin, Jonathan's body man, got down to it and has now pretty much completed all the body work with the panels all done and being etched ready for painting. In fact I now have wheels on although they'll need to come off while I'm being beautified. Hopefully next set of pictures will be me in all my glory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IU0wSo_nrUw/VFOqtLhRsYI/AAAAAAAAAG0/208GKnx6h9o/s1600/DSCF0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IU0wSo_nrUw/VFOqtLhRsYI/AAAAAAAAAG0/208GKnx6h9o/s1600/DSCF0026.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1X4zanXiOU/VFOqs5k9DrI/AAAAAAAAAGw/CVoHOy9nqvM/s1600/DSCF0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1X4zanXiOU/VFOqs5k9DrI/AAAAAAAAAGw/CVoHOy9nqvM/s1600/DSCF0021.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qcFSdbV6BIc/VFOqtZgf4qI/AAAAAAAAAG4/cTXKZviAwpM/s1600/DSCF0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qcFSdbV6BIc/VFOqtZgf4qI/AAAAAAAAAG4/cTXKZviAwpM/s1600/DSCF0029.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9v09EwyvVw/VFOqtnsk2-I/AAAAAAAAAHA/4fWXLrKsFp4/s1600/DSCF0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9v09EwyvVw/VFOqtnsk2-I/AAAAAAAAAHA/4fWXLrKsFp4/s1600/DSCF0032.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mVYcFw65_8I/VFOquI3kPwI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yOgjj1o3XwA/s1600/DSCF0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mVYcFw65_8I/VFOquI3kPwI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yOgjj1o3XwA/s1600/DSCF0036.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-A8mwNeCUU/VFOquYysK3I/AAAAAAAAAHI/3GSzFgHbkDg/s1600/DSCF0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-A8mwNeCUU/VFOquYysK3I/AAAAAAAAAHI/3GSzFgHbkDg/s1600/DSCF0082.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKOIo9rt-4M/VFOqul2MyqI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Ba52SqtqZZ4/s1600/DSCF0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKOIo9rt-4M/VFOqul2MyqI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Ba52SqtqZZ4/s1600/DSCF0085.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThGhs96oOwA/VFOqvrncjqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/zzdz8Id2yuE/s1600/DSCF0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThGhs96oOwA/VFOqvrncjqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/zzdz8Id2yuE/s1600/DSCF0092.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQQgISZE3FY/VFOqvNYQ8wI/AAAAAAAAAHs/_5GeFvA3Hds/s1600/DSCF0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQQgISZE3FY/VFOqvNYQ8wI/AAAAAAAAAHs/_5GeFvA3Hds/s1600/DSCF0087.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLYUpFTJ8-U/VFOqvtGF_8I/AAAAAAAAAHc/z2i4mQFWuzw/s1600/DSCF0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLYUpFTJ8-U/VFOqvtGF_8I/AAAAAAAAAHc/z2i4mQFWuzw/s1600/DSCF0091.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X0G5YBYfnF0/VFOqwHL0L6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/5Wwucfv78Q4/s1600/DSCF0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X0G5YBYfnF0/VFOqwHL0L6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/5Wwucfv78Q4/s1600/DSCF0093.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSKqj9AiWnk/VFOq9aF4rwI/AAAAAAAAAII/JH5k-qmDC5g/s1600/DSCF0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSKqj9AiWnk/VFOq9aF4rwI/AAAAAAAAAII/JH5k-qmDC5g/s1600/DSCF0080.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-87824960728103125322014-10-31T10:14:00.000-07:002014-10-31T10:14:56.683-07:00Long range tank - SortedAs anyone following Matt's blog will know our route takes us across some rough terrain in some pretty remote areas so we decided I needed a long range tank. I suppose we could have simply left the old tank (or maybe a slightly larger one) in place and used Jerry cans but there were a couple of issues with that. The first and most obvious is that the Jerry cans will take up storage space and without having details of where we could fill up I'd probably need two or three to be safe and storage space may well be a premium, I'm not really that big after all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eCCeFd-U4go/VFPCLyvHrtI/AAAAAAAAAJI/KrfAU8OYCw0/s1600/PetrolTankFitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eCCeFd-U4go/VFPCLyvHrtI/AAAAAAAAAJI/KrfAU8OYCw0/s1600/PetrolTankFitting.jpg" height="173" width="200" /></a>The second issue was that the petrol tank is mounted through a hole positioned at the rear of my body shell. The issue here is that the tank would need some form of protection to make sure that rocks and rough roads can't damage it or worse still put a hole in it.<br />
<br />
The solution to this is actually quite easy and you will see from the design posting we plan to place this where the rear seats would have been folded into.<br />
<br />
<br />
With a little help from Jonathan the design we came up with was a 160
litre alloy tank which is filled with safety foam to make it safe and prevent
the build up of fumes. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNzWVXCbbU/VFO1XlbhzlI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FW9SsRKgt_Q/s1600/Matts%2Bfuel%2Btank%2Bdesign002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNzWVXCbbU/VFO1XlbhzlI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FW9SsRKgt_Q/s1600/Matts%2Bfuel%2Btank%2Bdesign002.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual drawing for fabricators</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AYiAaNmmYY/VFO3gdrPAJI/AAAAAAAAAIw/j7r8-3N2DaQ/s1600/Matts%2Bfuel%2Btank%2Bdesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AYiAaNmmYY/VFO3gdrPAJI/AAAAAAAAAIw/j7r8-3N2DaQ/s1600/Matts%2Bfuel%2Btank%2Bdesign.jpg" height="120" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan's contribution</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The internal pipes (shown in green) will allow the petrol pump to suck up petrol from either side of the tank straddling the prop shaft tunnel. This tank when full should hopefully give me a range of around 1,000 miles at 30 mpg. I'm estimating a low mpg as when the tank is full it'll be the same weight as two people in the back seat and I don't suppose I'd get much more than that. If I do it'll be a bonus.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-33258899059610210752014-09-06T14:40:00.000-07:002014-09-06T14:40:47.151-07:00design decisions - sortedWhilst lying here in bits waiting for Jonathan to do his magic and put me back together and make me as good (no better) than new, I've been thinking about some of the changes needed to make sure I am in a fit state for this insane adventure I seem to have been conscripted into.<br />
<br />
Some of the challenges we (I) need to address is the range on a tank of petrol. My standard tank is 6.5 gallons and if I get the best mpg possible I may just about squeeze 280 miles out of a tank but that assumes good roads and not that much weight for me to carry. If any of you reading this know Matt then you know I'm on a hiding to nothing there trying to reduce weight then. <br />
<br />
Anyway even if I could get the most out of a tank and install a 9.5 gallon tank which is the biggest standard tank we can get I don't think we would have enough range for some of the countries where petrol stations are few and far between, so additional capacity is required. What's the problem, take jerry cans I hear you say, but have you any idea how awkward these things are? So, what's the solution you ask. A bloody great big tank I say. Where the hell are you going to put that you say. Ah ha! I say using a cunning plan I have worked out how to install a tank that will give me a range of around 1,100 miles at 30mpg. Bloody hell I hear you say how have you done that?<br />
<br />
Well, given that there's only going to be Matt and Sarah the plan was always going to be to fold away the back seat and use my full capacity for carrying 'stuff'. And there is the solution. Put a tank where the back seat is and use that space for a sodding great big tank!<br />
<br />
So, in order to install a large, very large, capacity tank whilst also having loads of storage for everything we (well Matt and Sarah) are going to need to take I (yes, I) have come up with this cunning design and so the Overland Traveller is born.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwbzOJG2GOg/VAt4pggaccI/AAAAAAAAAFY/dAPqVySuDYk/s1600/Albert_Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwbzOJG2GOg/VAt4pggaccI/AAAAAAAAAFY/dAPqVySuDYk/s1600/Albert_Interior.jpg" height="444" title="Albert's Interior" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albert's overland interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The petrol tank sits underneath a raised floor which creates an additional storage area for a second spare wheel. A standard petrol tank base will replace the old petrol tank creating a storage area for tools. One spare wheel, the jack and some spares will be stored in the original void below the floor. A second floor going the length of the car creates a base for the main storage area. A bulkhead separates the storage from the 'cab' and is used to create a storage area that can have shelves for smaller items such as food, cooking utensils etc. The larger storage area at the rear will be used for large items.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBVeny6W10M/VAt8SUUa23I/AAAAAAAAAF8/P_Bw8-q1Q5I/s1600/t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBVeny6W10M/VAt8SUUa23I/AAAAAAAAAF8/P_Bw8-q1Q5I/s1600/t.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrol tank mock up fitted and size verified as OK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paul and Matt visited recently and mocked up the petrol tank to make sure it goes in and to check the measurements Matt took using Carl's traveller. It seems he didn't screw it up all together and the idea works OK although it does look like it takes up loads of room you will be surprised that once I get put back together you won't even notice the space it takes up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7NpFevWO_M/VAt8MJAIT-I/AAAAAAAAAF0/D2la4d1TyUs/s1600/mark_n_albert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7NpFevWO_M/VAt8MJAIT-I/AAAAAAAAAF0/D2la4d1TyUs/s1600/mark_n_albert.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Paul's going to make the tank for me and Carl says he's happy to do the interior woodwork so once Mark has finished knocking me about and I can get painted, Jonathan can put me back together again. <br />
<br />
I hope everyone has received an invite to our first fundraising event in January and that I'll see you all there. So put the 24th in you diaries now and be at the Coach House, Potton at 12 o'clock when all the fun starts. See you thenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-77707608093527675482014-08-01T14:38:00.002-07:002014-08-01T14:38:25.659-07:00the transformation beginsAs you may be aware Matt decided to leave me at JLH Morris Minor for Jonathan to start working on my suspension and some other mechanical work but I've had time to talk Jonathan round to ignoring what Matt wants and to go with my idea which is a total transformation rather than doing bits and pieces. Fortunately Jonathan after looking around my bottom parts agreed that it would not be sensible to do only the mechanicals and suspension as doing the suspension would actually compromise my already fragile wooden bits and as a result if I hit a big bump I'd probably fall apart.<br />
<br />
In fact I did start falling to apart when Jonathan started playing around with my suspension and some of my wooden bits dropped off. He also discovered that the front cross member was welded, rather than bolted, on and so there was some unexpected additional work to be done to make the suspension good to go. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YzoKqi_FsHY/U9wBO0ACs8I/AAAAAAAAAEg/CEvV7BcdvKY/s1600/20140801_162841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YzoKqi_FsHY/U9wBO0ACs8I/AAAAAAAAAEg/CEvV7BcdvKY/s1600/20140801_162841.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-17gzigLQk/U9wA5dD8ZCI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/YrIzQ5H50VA/s1600/20140801_162916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-17gzigLQk/U9wA5dD8ZCI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/YrIzQ5H50VA/s1600/20140801_162916.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gL-PyTecEvc/U9wBJ_OYbtI/AAAAAAAAAEY/HFvgStW-9kA/s1600/20140801_162815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gL-PyTecEvc/U9wBJ_OYbtI/AAAAAAAAAEY/HFvgStW-9kA/s1600/20140801_162815.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front suspension removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It soon became obvious that simply taking everything off and starting the full transformation now would actually be cheaper in the long run than doing my body work at a later date, assuming I survived the journey to Mongolia and back in one piece. As Matt was away I made the decision for him and as it's not my money it was a reasonably easy decision to make.<br />
<br />
So, decision made Jonathan's boys took me apart and have started to make good my main body shell. This work has involved doing some patching, sand blasting and doing some etching ready for an initial paint job once the little bits and pieces that came to light are sorted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlouDW5_zoo/U9wGKwOS8JI/AAAAAAAAAFA/r36Ese9uJ4E/s1600/20140801_165459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlouDW5_zoo/U9wGKwOS8JI/AAAAAAAAAFA/r36Ese9uJ4E/s1600/20140801_165459.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UgKud7zV4k/U9wGGBS1U1I/AAAAAAAAAEw/RKfx6zIc0tA/s1600/20140801_165549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UgKud7zV4k/U9wGGBS1U1I/AAAAAAAAAEw/RKfx6zIc0tA/s1600/20140801_165549.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOFPnnNP7-E/U9wGIyabcbI/AAAAAAAAAE4/xJeKCSzoV_U/s1600/20140801_165427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOFPnnNP7-E/U9wGIyabcbI/AAAAAAAAAE4/xJeKCSzoV_U/s1600/20140801_165427.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The next stage will be to get my bodywork completely sorted and painted and then add back the important bits like the engine, gearbox, suspension and everything needed to make me a whole car once again.<br />
<br />
Jonathan estimates I'm going to be indisposed for some months now but that'll give Matt time to work out what he wants doing to make sure we can complete our challenge successfully.<br />
<br />
It's going to be really great watching Matt's face when he finds out what's been going on while he has been away. Will keep everyone up to date with my transformation over the coming months.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-44018824068932601762014-07-13T14:47:00.001-07:002014-07-13T14:47:50.056-07:00I come out of retirementAs you probably know <a href="https://plus.google.com/+MattGivertz/posts" target="_blank">Matt Givertz</a> has decided that he wants to drive from the UK to Mongolia and back to raise money for charity. Chances are you are following his blog about this and while his desire to do a challenge to raise money for charity is a very worthwhile undertaking I felt it was only right and proper that, since I wasn't consulted but simply dragged into the venture, you also got my view on this. As a consequence I have sought out my mate Stephen who has supplied me with the technology to be able to put my thoughts down on paper so to speak so here it is, the alternative blog to <a href="http://mattgivertzdoes60.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MattGivertzDoes60</a>.<br />
<br />
So, there I was enjoying retirement in Cinderford in the Forest of Dean with my previous keeper, Peter Morgan, when one day along comes this chap and his mate to uproot me from my life of comfort and effectively turn my world upside down. I found out that the one with the weird taste in coats was Matt and that he was to be my new keeper. I've got to say I find it hard to believe that anyone with such apparent shocking taste would appreciate a car of my dashing appearance but there y'go nought so strange as folk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2EmQyRQRtc/U8L94nCzg2I/AAAAAAAAAEA/hfPAFs_2pXk/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2EmQyRQRtc/U8L94nCzg2I/AAAAAAAAAEA/hfPAFs_2pXk/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt's the weirdo in the coat. I'm the car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anyway, Matt and his mate, who I now know is Paul Pibworth, spent a while chatting with Peter and his dad before I guess money changed hands and Peter handed over the keys. <br />
<br />
As I wasn't too happy about not being consulted in this change to my life style I decided to make it difficult for Matt and for a while refused to start and then almost rear-ended Paul's car on the way out of town. In the end I decided what the hell and let Matt drive me back to wherever it is he lives which was a couple of hours away from Cinderford. The journey passed off relatively uneventfully with Matt muttering a lot and it wasn't until we got back that I found out he hadn't driven for around 17 years!<br />
<br />
<b>What had I got myself into?</b><br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138861549300978502.post-27096727447734410482014-07-13T14:38:00.000-07:002014-07-13T14:48:22.656-07:00our first days togetherMy first days after leaving Cinderford were a bit of a blur if I'm honest. Since Matt lives in this house where there is no where to park a car he has found me lodgings in what is could be described as a big green box. I don't mind that too much as at least I don't have to put up with him driving me to the shop, the station and simply here and there just because he can.<br />
<br />
I tend to be left alone with my thoughts for most of the week with Matt turning up on a Saturday to take me out. The first thing he did, which I do appreciate, was to get me new tyres and brakes which to a car is like having a new pair of shoes. He also got my floppy bits sorted which I can tell you was a blessing as they itched like only a person with piles can appreciate. It's even worse when you are a car as you can't scratch and believe me it does drive you to distraction.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KI4njDfWdVM/U8L2-h5DNsI/AAAAAAAAADs/t6HB7XsIvBY/s1600/work_4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KI4njDfWdVM/U8L2-h5DNsI/AAAAAAAAADs/t6HB7XsIvBY/s1600/work_4a.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZgtNeCPTec/U8L2-ZetI3I/AAAAAAAAADo/CLkrUE0m9nY/s1600/work_2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZgtNeCPTec/U8L2-ZetI3I/AAAAAAAAADo/CLkrUE0m9nY/s1600/work_2a.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><< Floppy bits before</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <b>Floppy bits after >></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My stay with Trevor, Damon and Bruv was really nice and I met a couple of nice cars who were having some body work done (you won't catch me having cosmetic surgery). Anyway after my time away I was seeing things in a new light. I'm currently staying with a very nice chap called Jonathan from JLH Morris Minors who is going to sort out my suspension which given my bottom's been sagging for some time I'm quite looking forward to.<br />
<br />
Matt and his mate young Ron also took me to a couple of classic car shows where I got to meet some really nice cars who told me not to worry my keeper was a nutter and I should just humour him as he probably won't go through with his mad venture but I have a horrible feeling he is going to go all the way and I'm going to have to go with him.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493752259009442936noreply@blogger.com0