After an epic 10,000 mile journey from London to Mongolia, Wondering Sailors' Nissan Cabstar was auctioned for a whopping $3,700, all of which will go to the Go Help Mongolia fund and support Go Help's ongoing work in Mongolia. Thanks again to Gareth and Lloyd at the Wondering Sailors!

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Best regards,

The Charity Rallies Team

Kiwis are home

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Wafting our way down to Barnaul we passed across flat, flat harsh land, again swamp ridden with many subsistant farmers scratching a living. Came into Barnaul city while she was celebrating National Day of the Altai Region. Barnaul is totally unlike other cities visited in Russia. This one is vibrant & quite modern with a huge variety of dress codes but all with a Russian twist. The older part of the city is designed around a long straight road with a tree grassed center Isle with tree lined pavements all coming down to a meandering broad river having it's source deep in the Altais.  read more »

We have arrived yesterday to the place of Ulaan Baatar after many hours meandering around roads which would make you drool. I mean the main high way is a feat of the imagination where even the locals go across country as the things are so bad to the extreme. Quite often we were down to 10 to 20 km per hour as we wound our way around pot hold carnivorous roads. We have traveled terrain which would have made you all wonder. Through mountain passes into plains littered with yurts & there wandering farmers & their herds of cattle, sheep, goats, small powerful horses of such small stature which either trot or gallop no walking here.  read more »

Here we are tucked away in a decent hotel for the night right in the middle of town a few minutes walk from the Mighty Volga which happens to be a very important trade route for commerce in Russia. All products are shipped by barge; if I'm correct this river connects to the Baltic right down to the Caspian sea . The waters & Islands that we have seen look rather inciting especially when one sees keeler sailing around & yesterday we passed two lots of Lasers been carted by road.  read more »

Last night in Latvia spent at a gorgeous lake just South of Ludza costing just $12 Euros. Not another punter in sight to enjoy this tranquil jewel set in a silver birch forest with a fringe of reeds. Sun went down in a blaze of glory of reds which streaked across the lake,  painting those angry clouds a devilish red. Think you are having fun Norm try this little possy for size. Garth & I boarded our peddle boat while Lloyd could be heard playing the music of the night. Off we set for our night peddle across sending waves frothing from our urgent bow. Ooo what fun!!  read more »

The night of traditional dance & song within the walls of the local castle was fantastic. There were groups from all over Europe & even one from Korea all dressed in traditional costume . For 3 hrs they entertained us with ballads & frenetic dances. What a spot of luck to be in town on the night of this show. Midnight saw us wandering back to camp.

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We are in beautiful wonderful Ancient Riga all set in ribbons of cobbles &
parks. I have never seen so many cobbled streets -- god they are a pain to drive on. Today we set off for the border with Russia entering early on the 14th. Heard back from Mongol Charity -- Charly The Mongolian Western entry point has been hit with huge floods. With a spot of luck that should have gone by the time we get through but will check at Barnaul & might have to go through the Eastern border. Truck all going well.

Last script from Llawa on the shores in the Great Masurian Lake District of Poland. These shallow lakes were formed in the last Ice age making a wonderland of lakes connected by an extensive network of canals, the jewel of Poland with much of its history escaping the ravages of the last war & now becoming the play ground of Europe. Small trailable Yachts,  festoon the shores with kayaks and the usual fizz boats deafening the tranquillity.  read more »