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| Day 46 : Tuesday 01/09/2009 Team ABZ 2 ULN did it. They made it to Ulaanbataar unfortunately the Mean Green Mongolian Machine made it to Mongolia but not the finish line. Watch this blog for the details of this epic adventure!!! |
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| Day 45 : Monday 31/08/2009 All is fine, we about 800Km from Ulaanbataar. Sad news - the Berlingo is dead. We with other teams but will prob arrange a taxi to UB |
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| Day 39 : Tuesday 25/08/2009 We at the Mongolian border, should leave in the morning, just got here this morning. got to the Russion border at 12 yesterday did not get thru slept there |
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Day 36 : Saturday 22/08/2009 Barnaul - Russia Away to cross the border into Russia, heres hoping they don’t live up to their bad reputation haha prob Rubtovsk tonight. |
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| Day 35 : Friday 21/08/2009 Had a good night last night, we about 400 km from Russia, prob camp tonight. |
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| Day 34 : Thursday 20/08/2009 Everything is fine, no probs, everybody happy |
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| Day 31 : Monday 17/08/2009 We had a difficult few days, the car is going lost some parts, but we are going.... many stories and photo's to share. Made it through the Pamir's I don't think any other teams will make it behind us.We all slept in the car and when we woke up this moring it was like the Swiss alps behind us. Last 24 hours went through difficult river crossing, desert sand storms, lost my temper with border guards,snow blizzards mud slide rock slide, 5 punctures 3 in last 24 hours...oh well it is part of the adventure the high altitude also had some interesting effects. We are in Osh Kirghistan taken most of the day to fix punctures only reached here late afternoon, we enjoyed our first shower in 4 days. Had a fantastic meal this evening $11.00 for the three of us including beer, might just stay another day. I am tired now the lads went looking at the lights Catch up soon and will send some photo's |
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| Day 28 : Friday 14/08/2009 At last see gallery for some photos!!! |
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Day 26 : Wednesday 12/08/2009 Dushanbe - Tajikistan We away to the Pamirs today feeling rough as anything and the gear stick is loose doh! Oh well it will be fine :) |
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Day 22 : Saturday 08/08/2009 Allright people we in Uzbeckistan done 5000 miles only 5000 to go haha. Take it easy cause we won't!! |
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Day 21: Friday 07/08/2009 Bukhara - Uzbekistan Just entered uzbekistan border was a breeze friendly ppl beer cheaper too! |
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Day 20 : Thursday 06/08/2009 Mary - Turkmenistan On our way to Mary Ashgabat is one weird and wonderful place.In convoy with 6 other teams great to have beer again! |
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| Day 18 : Tuesday 04/08/2009 Zanjan - Iran We staying overnight in Quchan turkmen border tom. |
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General news from team ABZ 2 ULN in Iran
Hi There
Everything is fine hope you are all the same.
Just to let you know we will be leaving for Turkmenistan tomorrow. Would have liked to stay here in Iran longer but have run out of money and cannot use Banks here. Also Gary and Jon are suffering alcohol withdrawal symptoms ...ha ha. The people here are so welcoming and friendly saw some fantastic scenery... shopping to go mad about. The nice surprise here is there is no charge for Diesel you just help yourself.... there are no Diesel cars so I have confused every pump attendant. Trucks and tractors only so it is provided free. Saying that petrol is about 15 cents a litre.We took the 4x4 route to Masuleh (will send photos). Cheers for now |
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Day 17 : Monday 03/08/2009 Tehran – Iran We went to Masulehou yesterday and stayed in a campsite on the coast no showers – bizarre –Headed towards Gonbad-e-kavus today and Turkmen border tomorrow. |
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Day 14 : Friday 31/07/2009 Uromiyey – Iran We in Iran fantastic place people so friendly we headed for a dead sea type of lake where you can float on the water. We were at the border for 7 hours. |
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Day 13 : Thursday 30/07/2009 We near Dogubayazit near Iran border trying to sort out a carnet – wish us luck |
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| Day 9 : Sunday 26/07/2009 Today its turkey woohoo so cold tho raining this morning and only 26 degrees haha |
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| Day 8 : Saturday 25/07/2009 We got to a place called Varna on the black sea at about 12 booked in hotel cheap £45 for a big room headed to the pool at 1 for drinks then about 2 headed down to the beach and walked all the way to town about 5km drinking in bars on the way most expensive pint |
| 75p. We continued on to a restuarant on a full scale pirate boat had the most amazing calamari and fish £20 for a starter main and a beer each.We then headed to town and eventually ended up in this amazing rave club on the beach |
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| Day 7 : Friday 24/07/2009 We now on our way to the bulgarian coast prob stay there a day or two hard life hey miss you all tho! |
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| Day 7 : Friday 24/07/2009 Well same old hot as hell.We were in serbia for 25 mins they wanted 115 euros for car insurance and we would only have been there one day.Big detour later we ended up in romania fantastic place we got lost and found a holiday resort 20 euros a night beer 80p full lunch £2.50 so we stayed there yesterday for some fun |
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Day 5 : Wednesday 22/07/2009 30 degrees again today I love Europe Serbia here we come ready or not |
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Day 4 : Tuesday 21/07/2009 Budapest baby epic drive we left at 12 just arrived at 10pm heaps of other teams on the road we having so much fun.Now we away to rock the night away woohoo |
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| Day 4 : Tuesday 21/07/2009 we did not make it to prague we got lost for like the 6th time so just camped in nurnberg.We all driving drink driving is the way forward motorway all the way piece of piss tho I am not doing it like my licence too much. |
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Day 4 : Tuesday 21/07/2009 last night was amazing so pissed gary and i got like 1 hour sleep and muir is already drinking again on the road to austria now via prague yeah baby |
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Day 3 : Monday 20/07/2009 All night long launch party in the czech republic tonight woohoo |
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| Day 2 : Sunday 19/07/2009 we almost in prague wow the autobahn rocks |
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| Day 1 : Saturday 18/07/2009 the launch at Goodwood |
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| We arrived at Goodwood on 17/07/2009 and camped for the night. After parking up at the racecourse and collecting the passports we did our lap |
around the track and then we were released onto the road to Mongolia!!! |
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| 16/07/2009 We in the P & J again http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1309020 |
Trio on road to Mongolian adventure
Jon passed driving just in time for fundraising Great Banger Rally
By Stacey Horne
Published: 16/07/2009
AN ABERDEEN man who passed his driving test just two months ago will set off on an arduous drive from the city to Mongolia for charity today.
Jon Van Heerden, 26, with his stepfather, Muir MacKenzie, 49, both of Hardgate, and friend Gary Morrison, 25, of Ashvale Place, Aberdeen, will leave the city today and hope to reach their destination of Ulan Bator in four to six weeks.
Mr Van Heerden, who earned his licence in May, said they would be driving an old Citroen Berlingo, which they recently bought at an auction. When they reach Ulan Bator, they will sell it at an auction and give the money to Mongolian projects.
Their adventure will join the Mongol Rally 2009, which has been dubbed the “Great Banger Rally” as competitors must make the trip in a vehicle with an engine capacity of one litre or less.
There is no recognised route and the 500 teams taking part must make their way there unsupported.
The aim for each team is to raise more than £5,000 for charities based in Mongolia or in the poorest countries they pass through.
The principal charity is Mercy Corps Mongolia, which helps rural communities to become self-sufficient.
Mr Van Heerden said: “We are all excited. Hopefully the car will get us there. We have attached a shed to the roof of it for comedy value.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the team, or donating towards the cause, should call 07533 666546 or visit www.tripoholic.co.uk |
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| 15/07/2009 3 days to go |
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Adios Amigos We leave at 6am tommorow!!!!!!! Woohoo Mongolia here we come!!!!!!!!! |
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| 29/06/2009 20 days to go |
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| A big thank you to our third sponsor Norson for the interest in our adventure and for helping us help others. |
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| 25/06/2009 23 days to go |
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| We would like to put in a advance thank you to our latest sponsors Liberty School of Motoring's Mervyn Cobb, thanks for helping us help others. |
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| We met up with Mo from Team Mojo and Mr E in the pub to talk about the rally and had an interesting chat about the rally. It was good to be able to talk to someone and not bore them for a change haha. |
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| Things are getting really exciting now and tons of events have taken place. We attended the North East Motor Show and had a great scorching day out. We held a raffle which done well and enjoyed all the exhibits. |
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| We held a Bbq at Carlin's school selling hamburgers and hotdogs and raised even more for our charities thanks to everyone that helped especially Riana and Kirsty |
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| 18/05/2009 60 days to go |
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| We can now announce a major sponsor. Thank you very much to Aberdeen Control Limited for their big donation. They informed us on Monday that |
| wish to become a major sponsor and also offered to help us raise even more money by contacting people on our behalf. |
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| Jon also passed his driving test first time round with only 3 Minor Faults Congratulations!!!!!!! This also means that the Mongol Mobile will be seen |
| around town on a regular basis. |
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29/04/2009 75 days to go |
| Muir was interviewed as guest of Damien McLeod on local radio station Northsound 2. This was an appeal for a fourth and final member to join team. |
| You can listen to the interview by clicking on the link below. |
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| Northsound 2 |
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23/04/2009 86 days to go |
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| We had our second moment of fame when we appeared in the local paper the Press and Journal. It was a nice article on page 4. |
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| You can look at the original article here Press and Journal |
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03/04/2009 107 days to go
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We have our first visa, if you ever fancy going to Kazakhstan for business or pleasure visit the consulate in Golden Square they were very helpful. Thank you!
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We have a new team member congratulations Gary Morrison for grabbing the spot. One more spot available!
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Team ABZ 2 ULN had there first moment of fame we were broadcast on Northsound news. Listen to it here Northsound . This has kickstarted our media campaign. We have future studio time and events planned with Northsound Radio
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31/03/2009
We are finally live!! Thanks a million to Jon Li who built our site, if you ever need a site built or some graphic design please get in touch with him!
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