Interests include winding avid rugby union supporters up by suggesting a drive from London to Mongolia after they've had a few pints on a Saturday (and that includes Lesley as well as Paul!). OK, so they weren't fit to go on that Saturday, but look what that bright idea has led to! And I have no idea why the team has concerns about mechanical expertise etc, my Green Flag cover is international.....though perhaps I should check small print for details? I should have realised that a small stone in a pond has that huge rippling effect, and now here we are. Though I am sure that if all those who said we'd never do it had kept their opinions to themselves - we'd have probably never done it!! Looking forward to the trip, hard working though it is going to be. A few weeks away from my reality into another can only be a good thing, experiencing something that will no doubt be with us forever after.
I am currently employed as a Senior Manager in the NHS. I trained initially as a Psychiatric Nurse before doing further training in General Nursing. I have lived and worked in several parts of the country including, Oxford, Yorkshire, Birmingham and London before settling in Tonbridge and working in my current post at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Outside of work I am married to Lesley and have two teenage children Emma and Josh. I am a passionate but sad Oxford United supporter. I have previously supported a number of events to raise money for mental health Charities but see the Mongol rally as a great chance for a personal challenge in terms of the fund raising effort and the trip to Mongolia itself.
When I tell people that I am embarking on this epic adventure they always ask “Why Lesley??” I answer “Why me? Don’t know.” I can’t think of a single skill, apart from having a slightly more varied cooking repertoire than bacon butties and cheese on toast or the ability to order beer, wine and white coffee in four languages none of which are Russian or any other tongue which would be useful on this trip. Perhaps I am along for the comedy value that I might bring to the proceedings when faced with desert, rutted road or flooded river (must remember to pack water wings and not high heels for this journey then).
“No, why?” they say. Now that I really can’t answer. Roped in when drunk and incapable? No, I do remember agreeing to go without too much harassment. I just think that it would be the trip of a lifetime whilst I still have a little life left in me. Being a medical secretary at Kings College Hospital, London I am reminded every day of just how short life can be.
As wife of Bobby and mother of Lyndon, aged 12, I don’t know if this is the best thing that I could be doing but when Claire asked me to follow in the footsteps of Ewan McGregor I thought why not!
Actually one of the main reasons is that, having been roped into most of the charity events that some of the others in the team have organised, I wanted to raise as much money as possible for our very deserving charities. This is one of the best ways I could do that and still have my dignity (!?) intact. Well otherwise they would have had me sitting, bikini clad, in a bath of beans.
Hi, my name is Lynda. I work for Moat Housing Support Services as a Administration Officer. I love travelling to remote places, thrive on the unknown and I am always open to new adventures. My friends say that I am funny, laid back, a team player and a fountain of knowledge. I only met this motley lot when the idea of driving halfway across the world was put to me, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. The fact that it means a few weeks off from work was obviously a bonus! I used to do a lot of hiking, having hiked along the China Wall and hiked over The Andes to Machu Picchu taking 6 days. I think that after those hikes, sitting in a vehicle with several men to push should it go wrong will be a walk in the park!
I am an avid rugby union supporter and still play for my local club at New Ash Green. I am still not sure how I managed to volunteer for this rally but do remember discussing it with someone over a few pints one Saturday after a match and the rest as they say is history. Now for such an epic adventure you would expect the team to be comprised of as many different skills as possible to ensure a safe journey across 10,000 miles of fairly inhospitable terrain through numerous countries. We therefore have looked to see what mechanical knowledge we have to prepare the vehicles for departure and to keep them going through the journey, we have collated a list of how many different languages we can speak between us. We looked at our survival skills knowledge, discussed our medical expertise. Investigated who has knowledge of international law (should we fall foul of the local laws and customs), After numerous meetings we have discovered we have none of the above unless you count the one team member who can order two beers in Spanish and another who did watch a whole episode of Ray Mears survival in the Antarctic! So all in all I think we are well prepared for anything that this challenge can throw at us.
As you can imagine, there are many items - large and small - that the team is going to need for the drive. All items will be donated to the charities in Mongolia at the end of the journey so you can re-assured that nothing gets wasted!
We have put together below a list of items we think may be needed. We've 'borrowed' ideas for the list from several other adventurers and amalgamated it.
6 tents. Donated. When i get the details from who it'll be going on the sponsors page!
One of those rubber buckets (the soft, deformable ones) - ok the one we've got is a Wilkinsons £1 job but we're sure it'll work
Plastic boxes to keep the vehicle really organised.
A squirty spray water bottle (sooooo cooling - and that's just for the boys)
Different colour ratchet straps (so we know what strap is going where)
Cool box (or two)
2 CB radios so the vehicles can keep in touch!
Spare tyre pump - Again, down to Simon. Watch the donors page for updates.
bottle jack - screw ones take the pi** when you use them at least once a day.
Wind up torch. And camping lamps. If nothing else it'll make the boys wonder what's going on in the girls tents ;o)
GPS
Lump hammer
Carpet - to extract vehicles from sand.
camping chairs (mongolians love them)
Six 20L jerry cans
Foot pump
A spade or shovel. Or both.
Cable ties.
Gaffa tape
Set of spanners
Socket set and ratchet, with extension bar
Pliers
Scissors - cheers Jules.
Engine oil (not too easy to get hold of in Mongolia)
Wet wipes, or industrial wet wipes.
Alcohol hand wash (it could be our only form of washing!)
Cooking equipment, a large sauce pan, sharp knives, crockery (ok plasticery) and cutlery. Again thanks to Simon. Sponsors page to be updated with details. Oh, and my Mum & Albert too. Thanks. Luv ya.
Compass. Or wake up at dawn, draw arrow in dust, get long stick and fixate on a point miles away and spend the day heading that way. If you get to the Pacific you've gone too far.
Inner tubes and a puncture repair kit.
A piece of 3" angle iron about 4" long and 5mm thick, with a lump hammer you can use this as a bead breaker to get the tyre off the rim
Or tyre leavers
4 way wheel brace. A folding one saves space.
Jump leads Good heavy duty ones with thick cables. Nothing worse then seeing the cables catch fire and burn away when you're trying to start the vehicle
Spare hose. Such as fuel and heater/radiator hose.
Screw drivers. Slotted and Phillips head.
Set of Allen keys is a useful thing to have.
Tow rope (not from the pound shop, which would be entertaining but only for about 5 minutes)
Fire extinguisher - or two. Or fast running shoes.
High vis jackets x 6
WD 40
Spare fuses and light bulbs
Inverter for charging phones, cameras, batteries GPS etc.
Map of where you are going to/coming from printed/stick to the car to show people
Lots of things to give to cops as bribes (if anyone asks we'll deny we said that)
Things to give to locals as presents (good things, because so many people will have to help us, without them we'll be driving in circles)
More mozzie repellent than you think you could ever use.
Real chocolate. Its a good moral booster.
Coins (lots of border guards collect coins)
SheWee/long skirt - thinking David Beckham/sarong. Are boys are soooo fit ;o)
Sources of light - wind up lantern, head torches
Filtrex water purifying straw and purification tablets
Sleeping mats - Simon has come through again. Watch sponsors page for updates.
Whistle
Survival foil body wrap
A head mozzy net
Magnesium fire stick
Red road flares
Camelbak rucksack with a 3litre water capacity
Sand goggles
Sunglasses
Glasses - if you need them.
Video camera if you have one.
Olympus shock/water/dustproof camera.
FOOD - dried stuff, pasta, rice, powdered soups etc. And tins.
Contact the Team
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