Route
The event organisers played their joker last night by announcing the route for the event. There was always a chance they'd do something out of the ordinary - and they didn't disappoint. Obviously they didn't get enough buzz from the 8,000 mile trial run across 11 countries last year - and have 'modified' the route to incorporate a minimum of 13 countries (plus 1 repeated) this time round.
The options are outlined on the home page of this site, but they are broadly as follows:
1) Start in London - progress through France, Belgium and Germany, then the Czech Republic to the first 'checkpoint' (a teashop somewhere!). Then - roar up through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia to Moscow - before descending south through Kazakstan, into Uzbekistan and the second checkpoint - onto the moutains of Krygyzstan, back into Kazakstan, Russia and across Mongolia.
Sound tough...hmm....maybe look at option 2
2) As with 1, through western europe and to the tea shop in Prague, then across Poland and the Ukraine to Kiev - then joining route 1 to take in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Krygyzstan, Russia again and the sprint finish to Mongolia.
Interesting...but the coup de grace could be option 3
3) The same initial route to Prague, but then a dramatic dip southwards through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan and then to Uzbekistan to join the other racers for the final flurry across Krygyzstan, Russia and Mongolia.
So we're left pondering those mighty options - in the meantime thanks to my former colleague Chris who kindly donated to the cause.
The options are outlined on the home page of this site, but they are broadly as follows:
1) Start in London - progress through France, Belgium and Germany, then the Czech Republic to the first 'checkpoint' (a teashop somewhere!). Then - roar up through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia to Moscow - before descending south through Kazakstan, into Uzbekistan and the second checkpoint - onto the moutains of Krygyzstan, back into Kazakstan, Russia and across Mongolia.
Sound tough...hmm....maybe look at option 2
2) As with 1, through western europe and to the tea shop in Prague, then across Poland and the Ukraine to Kiev - then joining route 1 to take in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Krygyzstan, Russia again and the sprint finish to Mongolia.
Interesting...but the coup de grace could be option 3
3) The same initial route to Prague, but then a dramatic dip southwards through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan and then to Uzbekistan to join the other racers for the final flurry across Krygyzstan, Russia and Mongolia.
So we're left pondering those mighty options - in the meantime thanks to my former colleague Chris who kindly donated to the cause.
posted by Birchy at
7:15 pm
3 Comments:
Hmmmm. I can see the initial excitement for the southerly route, but I think I prefer the initial northerly route. Can't quite put my finger on it at the moment.... maybe it's the prospect of driving through Iran, and next to Syria. The way things are going at the moment we'll end up stumbling into George's next foray into THE AXIS OF EEEEEVIL. Last thing I want to do is have our Panda confused for a British troop carrier and therefore getting blown to pieces by a Yank helicopter gun-ship.
Can recommend driving through Iran. Was there 7.5 years ago. Roads are pretty good- covered a fair amount of ground- down to Esfahan & Shiraz. Then later, over the Alborz mountains from Tehran to the Caspian coast. Problems were the borders. Turkish/Iranian border at place called "Doggybiscuit" or something similar was a bit interesting. Was warned off border with Turkmenistan altogether at the time- perhaps things have changed.
Kyrgyzstan is fabulous- went there 2.5 years ago. Birchy- Steve Ling is your man for info on Kyrgyz & Kazakh. He lived in Bishkek for a while and we did a driving tour of the country together- you may do better with a Lada Niva, although I hear that those Panda 4x4s kick ass (a bit). Everybody speaks Russian there btw.
Good luck with it all. Loz
Thanks Loz - we've decided to take the high road via Moscow, but will be going through Kazak, Uzbek, Kryg on our meanering way to Mongolia so its all useful advice. Great to hear from you. I'm looking into learning a bit of basic Russian to get us out of any scrapes...
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