We are in the capital of Kazkhstan. It took us quite a few days to get here from Kostanay as the Shogun had to be fixed up and we got lost a lot.

On route to Astana the Hilux snapped a leaf spring so had to fix it in Astana. This gave the rest of us a day to take in the pretty terrible sights of Astana. Our goal was to walk to the tower that is all the Kazak money. On route we managed to go on some rusty pedalos, go on a horse ride round a fountain and visit a mini Kazkhstan thing that was extremelly odd. After 6 hours of walking we finally made it to the tower, it was faily impressive. We got in a lift and went to the top, where in typical Kazak style there was plenty of odd things to be seen.

We'r now heading south to lake Balqash, then onto the Russian border.

We left the luxury of ourhotel in Uralsk and headed for Aktobe. We had been warned about the road by counless people but it was our only real option without taking a 1000 mile detour. Leaving town we passed a road sign reading 'Good Luck!', a slightly disconcerting but humerous sign.

After driving an a good tarmac road for about an hour we passed a flock of  camels, and stopped to take some photos. While we where stopped two Kazakh men pulled up and told us it would be best to follow them to Aktobe as the road was very bad. We did so but I think some people where certain they where going to slaughter us. After following them on good roads till sun down we pulled up to camp.

The Kazakhs where called Boris (who spoke perfect English) and Vorishfjfgsj (who didnt speak any English). They told us about the political situation in Kazkhstan and how many people longed for the Soviet Union, they where very interesting. Vorishfkgbjhd used to be in the Soviet Navy patrolling the Black Sea in a Cruiser. They also spent some time teaching me some Russian. We went to bed and Boris told us we had to be up at 4am in order to make Aktobe by lunchtime, and he warned us that in 10k the tarmac will run out.

We arose early and set off heading fro the shit roads. When they came they where truelly terrible. They where just entirely made of sand, dust and potholes. I was thouroughly enjoying myself, my tactis was to hang back and as soon as I spotted someone getting into trouble in some deep sand,just floor it and beam through. Not sure If it was the correct technique but it was a lot of fun.

Eventually leading the way Boris got stuck on some sand, we attempted to push him out but it wasn't working. The Hilux had to come to the rescue and pull him out. Next up was the Golf, it took a big run up but proceded to get stuck in more of less tha same place as Boris. The Hilux pulled they out, then just as i was getting excited to take on the sand, it was decided it would be best toruen back and find another route.

We ploghed on on another route up and down steep sand covered hills, it was excellent fun. We made it back onto tarmac and into Aktobe. Our car was covered in dust, and our fake website address was unreadable.

Boris took us to a garage to attempt to fix our fuel pipe, he then proceded to go to the local market on his own to try and find a replacement pipe, he was most helpfull man i've ever met.

The pipe that Boris got wasnt the right size so the mechanic attempted to pull the pipe out the way, it helped a bit but its still not fixed.

For the next two days we drove for a long time on variable roads from Aktobe to Kostanay, next stop is Astana. Hopefully will make it in two days, but the Sgogun is having a few problems so could take longer.

Al

To everyones relief we made it out of Ukraine alive, it truelly has a lot of work to do if it hopes to hold the Euros in 2012. Although the Ukraine wasn't great, for the rest of my life i will remember and incedent with ducks in a shopping mall in Kiev, i'll explain that when i get home.

The Russian border took about 3 nd half hours, lots of queing and border guards taking the piss a bit. At one point I had to fill out a form about the car, the fella handed me a form in cyrillic. He watched me stare blankly at it for 10 mins, clearly not knowing what I was meant to write, then came over and spoke perfect English and told me what to write, he was just trying to wind me up.

Once over the border we came across our first police checkpoint, I could clearly see there ws a sign in the road saying stop, but for reasons im not fully aware of I just kept driving. Many whistles where blown, I pulled over and was swiftly carted off to the police hut. The head policeman wielding a semi automatic rifle kept threatinging to steal my driving liscense in between shouting 'STOP!!!' at me. It was a far more threatening experience than the Ukrainian police, though we got away without a fine.

That evening we met up with the convoy again, Mongol Warriors, Team Ullan Battered and a new recruit Team Gibbo. After meeting the teams we chatted about the border crossing and it turns out they got the cyrillic form i was given in english, i was not happy about this. We camped in a field looking over the city of Kursk.

Next day we had a long day of driving trying to make it to Saratov on the Volga river. I was feeling pretty ill so Tom had to do more driving, By the time we pulled up at about 1am just short of Saratov everyone waqs pretty low.

Feeling much better in the morning, spirits seemed to rise as we where aiming to cross in Kazkhstan that evening and everyone was pretty excited. The drive was longer than anticipated but the road to the border was brilliant, not bumpy enough to ruin the car but just bumpy enough to make it really thrilling to drive down.

The Kazakh border was long but was quite good fun, the guards where nicer than previous borders and spirite where high in the convoy. Took about 4 hours to get across but seemed much shorter. As it was late we camped just the other side of the border.

Awoke to soem wild horses and a beautifull view of the kazakh steppe. Driving onto Uralsk everyone who passed us beeped us and was waving, In Ukrain and Russia we got beeped a lot too, though that was in rage. The Kazakhs thus far seem really nice, we pulled up at some lights and the car next to us offered us some vodka with a huge smile, we politely decline as we where driving and all.

We arrived in Uralsk and the first hotel we came accross was a 4 star one, we took a punt and asked how much it was. £35 each for the night, after not washing in 4 days we decided to pay up. the hotel is excellent and I had the most satisfying shower i've ever had.

Tomorrow we are attempting to fix our fuel line again then pushing on to Aktobe.

Really gutted to hear about Team 1st Gear, hope they made it home ok.

Bye bye

Al

So we have made it Kiev, thus far the Ukraine has been pretty hard work. Our border crossing was fairly easy, took two hours to get through. Almost got into a bit of trouble after the border guard asked me to drive up to customs, i didnt see it and drove straight through at 40. Luckily no one seemed to notice so a quitly reversed back 50 m to where i was meant to be. We randomly met Team Ullan Batteredat the border and convoyed with them to a hostel in L'viv.

The Ukrainian roads are terrible, constant pot hole dodging and bumps, its a real rough ride in the Panda. There are chickens, cow, dogs and goats in the road though we'v managed to avoid them thus far. The Shogun is leading the way with animal kills with a bird and a hedgehog.

We made it  to L'viv in good time with our three car convoy managed to yet agin get lost in a city as is becoming very common on this trip. After asking about 10 different people how to get to our hostel, one lady agreed to get into our car and direct us there. 

Next day our convoy set out planning to reach Kiev by the evening and meet up with the Mongol Warriors on route. We where making good progress untill our panda started to play up and had to pull into a town to find a garage. It was a national holiday in Ukraine so none where open but we did find one man who tried to help but said he coudnt get the part we need till monday, that meant we'd have to stay in one of the worst towns i've ever seen for two days. We agreed to let the convoy go on to Kiev and wait till Monday to get a new fuel pump. Just as the convoy was pulling off, Tom's Dad found the problem over the phone and with a bit of help from the Hilux's spares we where back on the road to Kiev.

 Adfter about an hour of driving we where flagged down by an angry policeman who claimed we where speeding, though I think he may have been lying. After some hand waving and shouting me and one of the warriors agreed to pay a 25 pound bribe. After this incedent our convoy speed dropped from about 60mph to maybe 30mph with no one wanting to take the lead as they only seem to pull in the front two cars.

We made it to Kiev at about 12pm, got lost again before stumbling upon a lake where we set up camp for the night.

Now we have a day of RandR while we wait for jay's flight home, we hope to be in Russia by Tuesday, The Ukraine is rubbish.

P.S. It appears our text updates aren't working but we'l keep trying to sure that problem.

Bye Bye 

Al 

After a night camping outside bamburg we are on route to prague. Fuel leak appears to be fixed, lovely.

Currently in Vienna en route to Bratislava.

We'll do a proper update tomorrow from budapest...

So with 3 days to go before the off, we are almost ready. The car is sorted, currency collected, sponsorship target met and the route is planned though almost certain to change.  After packing up the car we seem to have a lot of space, suggesting we may have forgotten to pack a lot of things. With two days to find these forgotten things hopefully we'l leave with everything we need.