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| Stage 3: Steppe by Steppe through Russia |
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| August 16th 23:45 Day 18 Steve and Bill are have now made excellent progress through Ukraine, arriving in Kiev (view a webcam of the city centre here) this morning, and they are now in the deeply Russophone Kharkov in the east of what is arguably Europe's second largest country. Bill has sent me text messages detailing some of the car's latest mechanical problems, which I have presented graphically below. My apologies if any of the arrows point to the wrong place as cars are not my strong suit! |
| August 17th 23:45 Day 19 Bill texts from Saratov: watched moonset on the Volga-paid my first bribe to the cops - a bottle of vodka. A cheaper currency than US dollars. (and probably worth more than the Morris by now- Ed) |
| August 18th Day 20 An early start-- text received at 03:49 BST On road from Saratov to Balakovo. Miles from London 2758 |
| August 19th Day 21 21:30 The traveller is now intercontinental! Bill yelled the news that they are now east of the Urals, and thus in Asia during a mobile phone call this evening. Improbably, the car is still functioning, despite a series of mechanical reports that make grim reading: suspension broken, jettisoning non-vital weight to ease strain on chassis. Back seat, back boards dumped; fuel tank leaking if more than half full, most fuel now kept in cans, rear floor now cracking open and spray from road coming in. Brakes weak. Head gasket blew yesterday but repaired. Unbelievable Russian roads basically shaking us slowly to pieces. Bill tells me that the rest of the journey to Mongolia will be almost totally through Russia, with only a brief use of Northern Kazakhstan |
| August 20th Day 22 21:11 More problems, although hopefully resolvable,as the latest text reveals: two tyres gone. immobile. Will seek a tyre place tomorrow. Now half way Kurgan to Omsk. |
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| August 21st Day 23 It looks as though the 4000-mile mark has been reached they have now arrived Omsk. 2 new tyres fitted. Pizza and hotel bed. A later text reavels that they have been denied entry into Kazakhstan, although it doesn't say why: repaired suspension, also 2 flat tyres repaired. Brakes bled, slight improvement. Now in Omsk. 1 more offer to buy the car. Refused entry to Kazakhstan, will continue in Russia! [ received at 20.03 BST] The team formerly known as the Karakoram Caravan Club appears to have met up with the Chingiss Khaan't jeep once again. |
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