View Full Version : Progress
Well, Fee has been planning for well over a year and I decided to join in this madness in about September 08.
I bought the Baja on Ebay in November, it was £500!, the engine was a type 4 so the Baja club talked me into swapping it for a Type 1 making parts easier to get and it much easier to work on - allegedly!
I bought an engine for £350, which included the seller (eye candy) bringing it up to mine and fitting it too. He didn't have time to help me set up the timing and fuelling so I've had a go myself.
The points were a bit crap so I replaced them and used a static timing light to get it right. The engine started up but once its warm it stalls. Possibly the carbs or fuelling. Also I suspect the condensor could do with swapping and I have a new one ready.
So a chap from the Baja club is giving me a set up carb to try and see if that solves the problem, if not I might have to spend some money on a guy coming over to look at it :(
Today the drivers side had a good inch of water in the bottom, if I had a shot gun I'd do the Topgear method of water removal, but a sponge had to do for today. I'll make a hole or 2 in the floor pan at some point I think.
We have all the info ready to start applying for Visas, probably towards mid-April.
The RAC are providing our Carnets, they're about £400 per car.
Crossing China has been the biggest headache so far, we have to pay an import bond based on the value of the car (the Baja is £1000) employ a Chinese guide for each day, have a medical and Chinese driving licences. The cost is about £700 each, so not bad for 2 weeks in China! Then our petrol, food, lodgings on top of that.
The more we investigate the more problems crop up, its tempting to just chuck a bag in the car and head off hoping for the best!
We found a blog where a couple had been held up at the Vietnamese border for 4 weeks while they had driving licences translated and negotiated all the red-tape.
Every month I buy a few more things, I don't want a last minute panic to buy all my camping stuff and car parts. The list of spares is a page long, I'm only allowed to bring 3 pairs of shoes this year :(
We still have a huge amount to do, I've started carrying a diary to write down all the things wizzing round my head, waking up at 2am worrying that I've forgotten to speak to someone or had a new idea isn't much fun.
Time is dragging for me lately, Feb seems to have gone on forever!
Well the original plan was that me and my best mate Tracey were going to do this drive for our 40th birthdays. The idea being to set of from my boat on her 40th birthday aiming to arrive at her house in Oz several months later on my 40th.
Then I got the rally bug, did the Plymouth-Banjul, chased the Mille Miglia, drove to Mongolia. So I decided I couldn't wait till I was 40 and started planning the Oz trip earlier than intended (a lot earlier!).
The car I took on the Plymouth - Banjul was an 1972 Beetle which we bought for £99 and hadn't run for 15 years! We had quite a few problems, wheel bearings and the like but the engine was amazingly reliable! The simple air-cooled system never missed a beat in the Sahara desert! Best of all people we met on the road loved the cute knackered looking old Beetle which made border crossings and police check points a lot easier (and cheaper).
Thats why I decided to take a bug to Oz. This time I've gone for a Baja style bug which is nicely beefed up to deal with the off-road stuff almost as well as a landrover - better in some situations as it's so much lighter. Plus unlike a Landy it's cute and won't incite dodgy officials to extort bribes from us.
I bought Pedro back in August but as I bought him in California he has only just arrived in the UK! Now he's with a fab mechanic getting MOT'd so I can register him!
I'm having the last of my vaccinations next week, the final one in my course of Japanese Encephalitis jabs. Got my Australian e-visa, starting on the rest.
We're setting off on the weekend of 3rd July and that seems to be rushing up very quickly now! Next month we have to have our Carnet applications in and we aren't even sure which countries we need to get at the moment. As the Chinese authorities have just thrown a spanner in the works by stopping all permits for Tibet it looks like we have to re-route! Arrggghhh! Can't wait to get the beaurocracy out the way and get on the road!
Ben-san
23-02-09, 09:20 AM
Thanks for the update - sounds like half the adventure is pre-departure!
Japanese Encephalitis jabs can be quite drowsy - do be careful during your course Fi.
I've heard several stories from friends and family about touring China - it was difficult enough via train, let alone by road. I hope it leaves a better impression on you both once you're there.
The mindless beaurocracy of it all is doing my head in at the moment! Can't wait to get on the road!
Had a busy week this week. Secured sponsorship of most of the broadcast gear I need to film the trip and my Baja has gone to stay with an ex REME guy who cross breeds Landrovers with Beetles and, amongst other things has built a nitros powered buggy! There are certainly some weird and wonderful machines in his yard. I'm down there on weds so will take some photos to post.
love to see those hybrids, two of the most versatile and rugged vehicles ever crossed together....should be interesting!
Spent a day at "The Dreamshack" the other day, the garage where Mark is prepping my bug for the rally.
He's putting in so much work on my car I thought the least i could do was get down there and get my hands dirty on my day off.....
First, under Mark's instruction I took the engine out. The cars just been imported from california so what we found was a lovely rust free underside:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0694.jpg
I want it to stay that way so sprayed some of that rust-inhibiting gungy underseal on pretty much everything...including Mark (oops!)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0697.jpg
Then we checked the clutch plate (it was new), he showed me how to clean the carb out if we pick up any shitty fuel and it manages to get past all the in-line filters. Then we put the engine back in:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0698.jpg
Mark's also been making Jerry can bins, a roof rack, roll cage and full on jacking points for my high-lift jack. This is progress so far:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0691.jpg
Note the ladder up the side and camera mount to the front of the jerry can bin. Spare wheel on the roof is going to be on sliders so we can undo it and slide it down over the back window onto a spring loaded cradle to lift it off!
Going for MOT on Thursday so more photos then and I'll try and remember to take pics of some of Marks other creations in the Dreamshack yard.
sprint355
10-03-09, 00:51 AM
Great to meet you, shame was a bit tired, cool journey, hope to see the badger soon.
i still find your enthusiasm for this dautning trip infectious.
oh and on the subject of badgers........
http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/
it's work safe(but turn your speakers down if you're at work)
and i swear you will never be able to say the word badger again without saying it 3 times!
I love that vid, I put it on when I'm feeling down, never fails to put a smile on my face :D
This is one of my video's from the off-road track at VW Action. Pause at 0.04 seconds in and you'll see a brief shot of Badger the Baja....doesn't feature more as it broke down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ppY_XqdC0&feature=channel_page
This is one of my video's from the off-road track at VW Action. Pause at 0.04 seconds in and you'll see a brief shot of Badger the Baja....doesn't feature more as it broke down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ppY_XqdC0&feature=channel_page
yay for the Badger!
:D
Ben-san
24-03-09, 17:25 PM
Hey Fi,
I've been chasing around for information on the Malaysia to Indonesia ferry crossing for you.
Do you have a specific Indonesian port that you need to land on? I'm told that there are several options - let me know so I can get the right timetable for you. :)
Ben-san
28-03-09, 13:32 PM
Fi? Rach?
I'm off to Kuala Lumpur next Wednesday... :)
Hi Ben!
Sorry, been away at the Volksworld show at Sandown Park all weekend.
Pedro looked great!! shame he wasn't running!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0734.jpg
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It looks like the ferry goes from Melaka over to Dumai?? Not really sure, thats why some local info would be great! We expect to be there around 5th September (if all goes to plan!)
Hey Fi,
I've been chasing around for information on the Malaysia to Indonesia ferry crossing for you.
Do you have a specific Indonesian port that you need to land on? I'm told that there are several options - let me know so I can get the right timetable for you. :)
The only reference I've found for vehicle crossings on the net has been Dumai. Doesn't have to be Dumai though, It'd be nice to know all options so we have a contingency plan if theres a problem.
Cheers,
Fiona
Ben-san
01-04-09, 10:08 AM
Excellent show - well done to Pedro!
I'll continue digging about Dumai and the rest of the ports. Just to give you a heads-up, it transpires that the Malaka to Dumai car ferry was due for launch in 2008, but there were some issues on the Indonesian side about the financial feasability of the project. Many overland bikers resort to shipping their gear via cargo from Penang, landing in the Indo Port of Medan.
This isn't ideal for your visit to KL of course - and the port authorities in Medan have been less than helpful, and to be honest, a little on the dodgy side. I think you may be forced to pay an import 'tax'.
I'll keep looking...
Why you guys are all away :auto: we're still here planning and (mildly) stressing
Everything is worryingly under control!
Visas in order.... last few to get now
Max the Baja is with an Aircooled specialist in Hull, still needs tyres and stickers
Travel insurance - to do
Ferry - to book
Pop to post office for International Driving Licence
Buy spares
So not much really :coolgleamA:
Pedro, my Baja, is now sharing garage space at the Dreamshack with this:
http://www.bajaclub.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5095&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
There's also a Vauxhall Cresta on the lift, a Baja/moster truck, a couple of hot rod type projects, a double decker bus, an awesome looking beach buggy......to name but a few!
Not much happening with Pedro at the moment as Mark has a paying job he needs to get finished, then he's planning to rebuild my engine as he says theres too much endfloat and finish off the rollcage, roofrack etc :)
Ben-san
29-04-09, 15:29 PM
Nice!
BTW Fi, I'll tell you what I know about crossing to Sumatra at the Ace...
Cool, see you there. Not working so should be there bright and early to avoid the traffic!
Ben-san
12-05-09, 17:47 PM
Hey Fi. Info as promised.
Penang-Medan Passenger Crossing
(RM 90 One-way, RM 160 Return, Journey time approx 4.5 hours)
A number of companies operate ferries to Belawan from Swettenham Pier in Penang. Ekspres Bahagia leave Penang for Medan on Mondays and Tuesdays at 0900 and on Wednesdays and Fridays at 1000. They depart Medan/Belawan for Penang on Mondays and Tuesdays at 1330 and on Thursdays and Saturdays at 1000.
Office:
Ekspres Bahagia
Ground Floor,
Penang Port,
Commission Shopping Complex,
Jalan Pesara King Edward.
Telephone: +60 4 2631 943 or +60 4 2635 255
The same company's agent in Medan is:
Eka Sukma Wisata Tour and Travel
92A Jalan Sisingamangaraja
Another passenger ferry operator between Penang and Medan is the Perdana Ekspres.
This operator leaves Penang on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0900, and return on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1000.
The Perdana Ekspress office can also be found at the same port building as Ekspres Bahagia. I have no phone number for these guys.
There's another ferry company that operates the route, called Selasa Express. Their office is bu the Penang Clock Tower, next to the Penang Tourist Office. You can get in touch with the latter (their English should be ok) for some more advice on transporting Pedro on:
Penang Tourist Office, Telephone: +60 4 2625 630
One useful thing to note, is that all the above companies offer a free transfer service between Belawan and Medan.
You can also find a whole load of travel agencies that might be able to advise on Lebuh Chulia. Please be aware though, that Penang drivers (and Malaysian driving standards in general) are REALLY bad, which at first will seem agressive.
The Melaka to Dumai Crossing
As far as I could see in Melaka, there is no real cargo service available. Some bikers may be allowed to accompany their gear on the passenger ferry at the discretion of the port authorities, but taking a car seems impossible on limited time investigating. I'd recommend you speak to the Malaysian Tourist Office in London (in person if you can, they're can't just fob you off then), who are on Trafalgar Square.
Telephone: 020 7930 7932
Fax: 020 7930 9015
Postal address:
Malaysia House
57 Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 5DU
Thanks Ben,
Good stuff.
I'll keep digging for details of those cargo companies. It's definitely doable as there are a few blogs around of people who have done it before. Wish they would get that promised car ferry running!!
I've been let down by someone who offered to organise a gig for me with proceeds to No More Landmines.
Anyone got any ideas/contacts that might be able to set something up? I don't really have time to sort it myself what with all the other rally stuff and work too.
I was planning to auction off a signed football there too. Been getting all our football guests at Sky to sign it, so far it's been signed by:
Matt le Tissier
Tony Adams
Avram Grant
Jeff Stelling
Paul walsh
Phil Thompson
Charley Nicolas
Helen Chamberlaine
Max Rushden
Gerry Armstrong
Matt Jansen
Stuart McCall
Kevin philips
Chris Iwelomu
John Salako
The producer of Soccer Saturday said I can auction off a visit to the show too. Was going to sort out some other stuff when the gig fell through so not sure what to do now.
Eric Cantona signed the No More Landmines football for me today!
Thats very cool indeed,
no idea how i missed the last post.
i dont know about organising a specific charity gig
but i do know a couple of decent bands....one of course being the Lettuceheads, the other being a ska band.
neither are famous but both are good.
what you got in mind?
The gig was just going to be some local bands in Southampton. So I thought the ball would go well there, having Matt Le Tissiers autograph on it - they think he's a god down there!
Anyway the guy who offered to set it up has dropped off the face of the earth?? I guess he must of offered something he couldn't deliver on. So am left with a ball and a visit to Soccer saturday and nowhere to auction them. I was going to see if I could get any other stuff from the cricketers, tennis players and golfers who come in but didn't bother when it became apparent the event wasn't going to happen.
Spoke to stuart about maybe doing the auction at a Lettuceheads gig. He suggested the Milton Keynes venue would be a good one as it's a football type crowd. He was gonna run it by the guys and the venue and see what they think.
I have Isla Trequair, who presents channel 5's news at 7pm, to thank for the cantona signature. She interviewed him at a press junkett today and took the ball along for me :)
My friend Dave who is on the road to Oz right now has been undertaking dares or "charity challenges" in exchange for sponsorship. This one is hilarious!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARqyXav4KRg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elondon2sydney%2Enet%2F%3Fp %3D380&feature=player_embedded
Now I know I'm going to regret this but the fundraising is going a little slow so if anyone has any suggestions, preferably ones that won't get me killed or arrested then let me know. The sponsorship amount should reflect the difficulty/embarrassment factor of the challenge! For ideas see Dave and Chris's blog: http://www.london2sydney.net/?page_id=18 I'd be up for most of their challenges, apart from the monkey one, I don't think thats ethical unless they were wild monkeys and then theres a good chance of losing an ear! Firing a gun in Pakistan is also a bit dodgy but I wouldn't rule it out completely
Less painful challenges might include obtaining an authentic curry recipe, my co-driver is a chef so I'm sure we could do that or Bachi, if you supply a PN t-shirt in Rica's size(shes way more attractive than me) I will photograph her wearing it at various exotic locations or draped over any interesting cars we find on our travels.
Our route plan is on: www.ozrally.org
or you can sponsor us at www.justgiving.com/overland2oz
If you would like to propose a challenge then please sponsor us £5, write your challenge in the comments section and the amount you promise to donate if we complete it.
I await your suggestions in nervous anticipation!
Fiona
Halfords sorted me out with a huge pile of spares, tools, oil, grease etc today by way of sponsorship :)
Hmm, wonder if I can copy in a quote from the Baja club forum? This is the latest from Mark, aka Dreamshack, who is prepping Pedro for me.
Finally got to mess about with it again... Roofrack on, though mounts not shown here as I forgot to take some last snaps...Take no notice of the bolts and wires hanging out of the spots, they will not show when it is redone....
Tomorrow is fit bushwires, fit spare wheels load system, fabricate other sidebar. Then fit aluminium top box for roofrack, solar shower, and running water system. Also planning a raised air intake and filter unit coming up the back of the roofrack...
Thursday will see the internal cage and the new comfy seats all done, then it's engine in and time for a shakedown for a week before it comes back for the fun bits, inverters, split charge system, stereo, and knowing fiona probably pink fluffy dice...
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4587.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4588.jpg
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It had some trekking company today, there was a bit of a Disco invasion today, one ex Camel trophy, just back from several trips through both Europe and northern Africa, a discl feeling unwell after a muddy swim on Sunday, and a subversive DJ's TD5 in for a 2 inch front lift and a 5 inch rear. The 5 inch rear actually took it up about 3 inches... It keeps blowing airbags offroad because of the sheer weight of the stereo gear in there, so now it has springs! He does inpromptu raves in forests.... Has 15 stone of batteries alone in there 8O 8O
Pics below....
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4600.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4601.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4602.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4603.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4604.jpg
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http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4608.jpg
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4609.jpg
...and the "bush wires" that are going to stop branches smashing the windscreen.
Well here are the bushwires, tension adjustment is via the screwthread, the nut pulling a sleeve backwards. There is a large spreader plate under the wing. This is a really simple and pretty cheap way of doing bushwires invented by my good self, feel free to copy or adapt. If the vehicle had a better or higher front bar it would have been preferable to put them there.
I am going to be selling complete setups like Fiona's, ie: roofrack, sidebars, ladder, my own front and rear cage/bars (instead of these weak ones Fionas came with) bushwires and spots, jerricans, engine and gearbox skid, all included for £695, fitting free, so a bolt-on conversion for anyone interested...
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r365/dreamshack/DSCF4622.jpg
just awesome.
cant wait to see it in the flesh at Supercar sunday and then Goodwood :)
you're going to have so much fun!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0779.jpg
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First photo is in the Cricket AM set at Sky. The rest at Supercar Sunday. Thanks to Bachi and Andy for sticking with me at 55mph all the way back, it must have been torture for you! Very sweet of you, although I think I would have prefered to have a slightly less expensive car in front of me with no brakes :eek:
Day one was a bit of a mare! Got to chunnel queue and car wouldn't restart! Knackered starter motor. Bashing with hammer helped but still problematic so headed to a big vw meet in belgium. Hooked up with crazy canuck drag race team who were absolute stars! Spent all day making the car run like a dream. - also found a new starter which they fitted. Of course then we had to go out on the town with them and get hammered!
Left belgium late this morning, now near munich.
so it was more than just a sticky switch that was the problem at goodwood?
glad you've sorted it now Fi, i sense you'll be making more friends along the way.
chevy-stu
07-07-09, 14:36 PM
Great to see the big adventure happening..... Good luck.. !!!
Brahman
07-07-09, 20:20 PM
Good Work! 150 miles in and you're out boozing with craaazy drag teams. Do you think 4 months long enough?
Redex R
08-07-09, 20:29 PM
Day1 - met new crazy people and got hammered , now thats fast work , I think this is the start of a trip you will NEVER forget , well done Fiona and remember do it Nirvana style !
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A few pics so far...finally got my first blog post in Nancy if you want to cross post it to the PN one: www.ozrally.org and follow the blog link on left.
Staying at the Mines Awareness Trust offices in Peja (Pec), Kosovo. We have to head on today but the guys here have been great, they even let me blow stuff up! I personally detonated 2 grenades and a mortar!
I've updated my blog but will have to add photos later as the internet is really slow here and dropping out before I can add them. Someone told me the menu on my website has disappeared, very odd, in which case you can access my blog directly at:
www.overland2oz.blogspot.com
On to Pristina today to see the Bill Clinton mural then heading into Greece.
Made it into Iran! Border took hours and got finger-printed. Met a mongolian rally team there and travelled with them to tabriz.
Heading to national park with a salt lake then down to kermanshah or hamadan, see how I do for time.
So far, so good. Only been hissed at once. Most people friendly, sick of wearing a headscarf already!
Stopped in a small town in iran to have the car looked at - sorted now, anyway loads of kida were hanging around so gave them all PN stickers.
They're now stuck all over their bikes and cars!
In kerman now heading for zahadan tomorrow then pak border! Been having a great time, iranians very friendly.one family took me home and put me up for the night.
Blimey - sounds like you're making very good progress & meeting some great people on the way :)
Well I was making good progress then my throttle cable snapped just outside of Bam in Eastern Iran....the area considered the badlands because it's so close to Pakistan.
At first I thought it had just come off like it did on the way back from Gaydon when Bachi fixed it. So I stuck my head in the footwell, not easy when you're trying to keep a headscarf on so you don't offend anyone, but on closer inspection I found it had snapped.
First a white van man pulled up and gave me some cold water, it's 40 degrees here and my bottled water in the car boils almost as soon as I open it. Then a man in the iranian version of a BMW and a sharp suit stopped. He spoke to the van driver, spoke into his walkie talkie and phone and before I knew it a police 4x4 was there and towing me down the road. The police saluted the guy in the suit so I guess he was important.
I thought they might be taking me to a mechanic but we actually stopped at a guest house where the owner and his son speak excellent english. He explained that it was friday (their rest day) so the garages were closed but not to worry, the police would take care of it.
Well they did, they disappeared off and returned with a mechanic, who looked a bit bemused at being dragged out of his home and presented with an old VW that he'd never seen the like of before. What a guy though, as we speak he is getting a new cable sent from Kerman(where I stayed last night). They say it should be here tonight and I can be on my way in the morning.
All rather embarrassing as I'm sponsored by a cable company. they offered to make me spares too but it would have meant taking the ones out of my car to send to them and get made and their wasn't time....I knew when I wasn't able to get them made that sods law would dictate one of them breaking!
At least the badlands have turned out to be just as friendly as the rest of Iran so no worries and if I can be on my way again tomorrow should stay on schedule. Actually Bam where I am now has had a really bad time of it. Akbar said he used to get loads of foreign guests but first there was a big earthquake in 2003 which flattened 95% of the city and killed 55,000 people and then the trouble in Afghanistan and Pakistan has kept people away. So their you go, you should all come to Akbars guest house in bam, Iran. Only 5 dollars a night and highly recommended in Lonely Planet.
Proper Petrolhead Nirvana spirit :)
Its been an eventful week in Pakistan. First I got food poisoning and was admitted to Quetta hospital
For 2 days. Then really shitty non-existent roads caused a string of car problems.they are having one of their hottest summers ever
With temperatures hitting 50! Brake pipes are actually melting on the car!
But pakistan has been the biggest surprise of the trip for me, despite the heat, dust and hardships I absolutely love it here!
Contrary to everything I'd heard the people here love the english! They are so unbelievably friendly, warm, welcoming people.
The nurse who looked after me in quetta and the police sherriff who looked after me in Loralai are both coming to london next year
So hopefully you'll get to meet them.
In lahore now, waiting for a mechanic to replace brake pipes and fix oil leak. Also pakistani tv are coming to interview me.
Redex R
12-08-09, 19:37 PM
Come on Fiona , whats the news ? do we need to send out International Rescue ?
jumplead
13-08-09, 08:01 AM
http://twitter.com/overland2oz
Looks like she is still motoring on, getting very close to China now.
awsome just found this thread while looking for PN and what a journey keep it up and i look forward to reading more about your journey:)
Am in kathmandu, very cool place! Getting repairs done to the car ready for china.
Loads of beetles here, apparently they were all driven here by hippies in the 60's!
But the owners club tell me there has never been a beetle at everest bse camp - pedro will be the first, how cool is that!
More news and photos on my blog
www.ozrally.org
www.overland2oz.blogspot.com
Don't forget to sponsor me :-)
having a mare!
Car is running great it's the bloddy tour company who are stuffing us up!
It would take forever to go through all their fuck ups and the incompetency of the guide but the latest thing is...on arriving in Lhasa the guide told us we would need to hire a truck (for around 500 pounds) to take the car past a bad section od road. He said the road was only for 4x4's and our car couldn't go that way. He's 24 and has never even owned a car but has been telling the tour company our car is crap and can't drive that road! Obviously we don't want to pay out money for a truck we don't need so asked about driving a different route. We were told they only have permits for us for the bad road that they won't let us drive. So we have been stuck in Lhasa in a stalemate with the tour company (NAVO - don't ever use them).
Told them if they want us to take a truck then they can bloody well pay for it because our car is running well and it's their fuck up! They even suggested scrapping the car so we can fly out of China before our visa runs out - you can imagine what I said to that!!
Wish us luck dealing with the mindless bureaucracy!
Bloody hell Fiona - that's crap.
Hope you get it sorted ASAP :)
Hethelred
29-08-09, 15:42 PM
Keep the faith, i'm sure the car and driver are good to go, having followed you on some runs!
well our visa runs out in a few days so we have had to submit to their blackmail! 800 quid to but the car on a truck and over 300 on flights to get me from Lhasa to the Laos border.
They have delayed us here for so long that unless Sky are feeling warm and fuzzy and decide to give me more time off then I won't have time to do the Australia section of the rally and will have to ship home from Singapore Really fcuk off because it's through no fault of my own or the cars but a 24 year old chinese guide who has never owned a car or even seen a Beetle before, let alone a Baja!
Keep your fingers crossed that my boss talks HR into giving me another couple of weeks off.
The only plus to this is that I've laid such a guilt trip on the tour company over this that although they are not willing to admit fault or pay any of the expenses they've caused us they are talking about making a donation to the charities by way of recompense. I think it's the least the bastards can do personally!!
My next blog post will be interesting! You'll have to wait till I get out of china though, blogspot, facebook, twitter etc are all censored here. PN is allowed though!
If anyone else wants to make a donation then the Just Giving links are on my website.
www.ozrally.org
Brahman
24-09-09, 13:31 PM
Any further news Fiona? Where are you now?
Redex R
01-10-09, 23:13 PM
Last blog entry 16th Sept - Laos , after Tibet and China , don't ask her to reccomend any guides if you ever go there..:banghead:
I'm back!!
After the delays in China I knew I wouldn't have time to ship the car to Oz so instead I opted to drive to Singapore. Basically as far as you can drive from the Uk without reaching water.
Full update is on my blog with photos: www.overland2oz.blogspot.com
or via my website: www.ozrally.org
Had a great time despite the nightmare in China. Spent time in Kuala Lumpur and Borneo. Then I had to bus it up through Laos to meet the car at the china/Laos border. Of course it was late! Met some great people on the bus though, including a kiwi backpacker who convinced me it would be a good idea to hire motorbikes to explore the local tribal villages. My first time riding a motorbike was swiftly followed by my first time falling off a motorbike! In my defense we were riding on muddy, slippery, dirt tracks. I'm still aching now but luckily didn't break anything.
I finally picked Pedro up from the border and headed south, visiting our 2nd charity project, the Cope centre in Vientienne www.copelaos.org
Then it was across the border and down through Thailand. I decided to spare myself the Bangkok traffic and took the ring road, stopping in Damoen Saduak where the famous floating market is....cue shopping session!
Malaysia was a series of breakdowns, luckily I did a bit of sightseeing when I was in KL. Did manage a nice evening drinking Mojito's on the beach on penang Island though :-)
Arrived in Singapore running on 3 cylinders, smoking like a trooper and leaving an oil slick down the road! The shipping company wouldn't accept him on the ro-ro because of the oil leak. I pointed out that he wasn't leaking oil anymore - it was all on the road but they wanted to drive him on to the ship, necessitating putting oil in the engine, which brings us back to problem A. There's just no pleasing some people!
So, with Pedro en-route to Southampton I flew on to Oz for a quick visit with my mates in Brisbane and relatives in melbourne.
Hope to see you all at the next Ace night...can't promise Pedro will be well enough in time, currently having to top oil up every 15 minutes, but I will try and bring some pictures.
awesome Fiona!
welcome back...seems just yesterday we were at Goodwood....you've lived a lifetime since then and experienced things most never do.
on behalf of all of us, we're proud of what you've achieved, looking forward to seeing you at the Ace.
now go get a beer!
Wish I could, haven't stopped working since I got back! Gotta pay for it all now I'm back! That's the only flaw in my, live life, worry about the bills later philosophy!
hmmmm i know that feeling.....
see you at the Ace then :)
It's going to take me a while to get all my pictures up on photobucket but here's a start.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0005-1.jpg
Me with Jay Kay of Jamiroquai at Goodwood on our launch day
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0045-2.jpg
Austria
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0046-1.jpg
Dubrovnik, Croatia
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0013.jpg
This Polish 4x4 club were driving to Turkey, they loved Pedro!!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0038.jpg
Turkish roads....worse to come!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0034.jpg
Pedro In Cappodoccia, Turkey
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0024.jpg
Pedro In Cappodoccia
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0026.jpg
Nice hairpin![/quote]
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0052.jpg
The drag race team that helped us fit our new starter motor at the Euro Bug In, Chimay, Belgium
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0051.jpg
Montenegro
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0055.jpg
Tunnel, Montenegro
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0060.jpg
De-mining dogs at work in Kosovo
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0061.jpg
Rica and I in our flack jackets. The Mines Awareness Trust (MAT) team found 2 grenades and a mortar that morning .....and they let me press the button to blow them up :bup: How cool is that! Got it on film.....coming soon when I sort out all my video.[/quote]
seriously cool photos Fiona :)
like the hairpin and the tunnel ones too ;)
how much video did you take?
Not as much as I would have liked. I think I have about 12 hours which is bugger all considering I took 14 hours on the Africa run and this was more than 3 times as long! I was somewhat hampered by having a co-driver who couldn't drive and wasn't with me half the time. Tried to teach her to drive a manual when I had altitude sickness in Tibet but after 30 miles I couldn't stand the terrified screams from our guide anymore and took over again. Seriously, she said the brakes didn't work (she wasn't pressing them hard enough) and couldn't get the hang of the clutch...lots of slipping backwards down himalayas while I grabbed for the hand brake!
Anyway having to do all the driving meant i couldn't do any out the window stuff. I didn't take the bullet cam with me for fear of appearing to "pro" when searched at the Iran and China borders (the anti-press countries). Also Rica was too nervous of using the "expensive" camera so I couldn't get her to do any filming either. Should be able to edit something interesting together but without another vehicle to film from it's going to be lacking in the action shots!
Next time I would like at least one other car with me, another person who can use the camera and also a co-driver who can drive!
you dont ask for much do you?
i remember when you left goodwood....there were a couple of concerns even then!
it makes it even more of a feat having done it whilst carrying someone too!
Just a co-driver who could drive would have made a huge difference - 20,000miles is quite a long way! Anyway, a few more pics, gradually getting them uploaded!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0063.jpg
with the de-miners
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0068.jpg
Dangerous ground!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0066.jpg
View from the minefield across Peja, Kosovo
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0072.jpg
The lovely Iranian family I stayed with, headscarfs and Chadors are purely for public wear, it's quite different at home!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0074.jpg
Dinner with the family
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0078.jpg
The ancient ruins of Persepolis
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0084.jpg
more Persepolis
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0085.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0076.jpg
I've seen stuff like this in the British museum but seeing it where it belongs is really incredible!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0081.jpg
Wish I could have taken a photo of Pedro infront of Persepolis but the car park is some distance away and they take the whole site preservation think very seriously!
Redex R
24-10-09, 00:27 AM
Fantastic artifacts , I guess you were following in Alexander the Great's footsteps at that point ? , amazing to think all that history is left so exposed and potentially at risk of being lost forever , must have been an awesome adventure Fiona.
Yep, I'm sure Alexander the great would have used a Baja instead of Elephants if he were around today
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0095.jpg
Another Beetle in Iran. Sorry taken through very dirty windscreen but the traffic was too busy to get out!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0100.jpg
Pedro picks up his first police escort in Iran....they were less than impressed to find me stranded at the side of the road with a broken throttle cable in an area where 12 tourists disappeared the previous year.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0101.jpg
The police wanted me out of their hair asap so tracked down a throttle cable for me that night!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0104.jpg
The Pakistani police were a lot more welcoming. Lots of tea drinking and cricket chat.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0105.jpg
In fact everyone in Pakistan was really friendly. Here's Pedro with a few of his fans he picked up along the way
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0109.jpg
Melon sellers
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0107.jpg
Took a picture of these guys changing there flat
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0111.jpg
Then I got one myself! The only one on the whole trip...I can vouch for Kuhmo A/T tyres, kindly supplied by Micheldever tyres :thumbup:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0112.jpg
Fortunately I had what every girl needs in this situation...a dozen police and bystanders to do the job for me and supply me with copious amounts of tea while I look on!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0110.jpg
Petrol Station! Cheap stuff smuggled across the border from Iran.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0114.jpg
Pakistani trucks weigh 40 tonnes and crawl along at 2mph but they are gorgeous so who cares!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0115.jpg
Great pics Fiona, keep 'em coming :)
Will do:) right...more trucks!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0116.jpg
The back usually has the main design on, either a landscape or one of the Bhutto's
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0117.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0120.jpg
Petrol station owner and his family who invited me in for tea and mangoes
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0121.jpg
The only Dodge charger in Pakistan
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0127.jpg
As much as I hate photos of me here I am at lahore Fort in traditional Pakistani Salwar Kameez I was given
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0136.jpg
lahore Mosque
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0147.jpg
All the guards at the Pakistan/India border are this tall!!
more to come....
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0153.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0150.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0170.jpg
The boat we took along the Ganges, Varanasi
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0175.jpg
Cremation on the burning Ghat, varanasi
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0157.jpg
Pedro in a Varanasi back alley with cows and shit
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0190.jpg
Pedro in the Kathmandu VW garage, Nepal
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0193.jpg
Members of the Nepal Beetle Users group kept popping by to see Pedro.....
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0192.jpg
....and got branded with PN stickers :)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0206.jpg
Garage grease monkey using Pedro's ladder
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0208.jpg
Where's the engine?
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0210.jpg
There it is! Pedro arrived in Kathmandu leaving a trail of oil behind him.....
Ben-san
29-10-09, 10:29 AM
Fi, this is STUNNING stuff. I'm absolutely envious of your adventure!
More more more! :D
verysideways
29-10-09, 12:03 PM
Fabulous pictures. An amazing adventure :)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0216.jpg
with the Nepalese VW mechanics
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0217.jpg
Members of AN-BUG kept popping by to see Pedro. They branded him so.....
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0192-1.jpg
I returned the favour :)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0193-1.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0218.jpg
Pedro in Kathmandu
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0221.jpg
Tamil, kathmandu (By the way if anyone is heading to Nepal I can give you a good rate on Nepal rupees!)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0228.jpg
cows rule the roads
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0233.jpg
A "thanka" painted by budhist monks (at least thats what the salesmen say)
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0237-1.jpg
One of the many gods being worshipped in Durbar square, kathmandu
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0242.jpg
temple in Durbar square
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0244.jpg
The bag I bought from this lady fell apart pretty quick but at £2 for 5 I can't really complain.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0243.jpg
shrine built into tree roots
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0259.jpg
Pedro broken down next to some awesome white water.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0271.jpg
Tibetan prayer flags
That Everest picture is coming soon I promise!
Right then, here's what you've been waiting for....
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0281.jpg
One of those distant peaks is Everest, sadly the top was hidden by cloud as it is most of the time.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0283.jpg
getting nearer!!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0284.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0290-1.jpg
Everest without a cloud in the sky...how cool is that!! 8) Totally worth the altitude sickness
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0291.jpg
Typical of the kind of attention Pedro attracted. This was taken in the police station car park where I had to go for my chinese driving license.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0367.jpg
My chinese driving license
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0300.jpg
Prayer flags
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0302.jpg
Jihong temple, Lhasa, Tibet
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0312.jpg
The occupying forces in Lhasa, Tibet
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0324-1.jpg
sign on the back of our hotel room door in Lhasa
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/DSC05789.jpg
Rica suggested visiting the hotel "Spa" for a massage and this is what we discovered!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0327-1-1.jpg
This is the rent boy who worked the front desk in the hotel "Spa". All the prostitutes loved Pedro and waved whenever we walked past. They even learnt how to say hello in English.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0331.jpg
Prayer wheels around Potola Palace, Lhasa
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0337.jpg
Man with prayer wheel infront of Potola Palace
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0343.jpg
Potola palace
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0372.jpg
with a name like "deerland" i thought this wildlife park would be a bit lame but it was brilliant. The owner who showed us around personally had such a good relationship with the animals. He invited me into the enclosures too, I hand fed this baby bear!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0385.jpg
swimming with elephants in Malaysia
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0396.jpg
Orang-utan spotting, Borneo
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0398.jpg
kuching, borneo
wow Fiona...those phots are amazing, but i bet the stories are even more so.....
yes i think Wow is the right word!
did you spot the PN fleece at Everest?
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0407.jpg
Kuching, Borneo. Kuching means cat in Malay and they are everywhere
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0422.jpg
attack of the killer cat
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0433.jpg
the serious side of the rally. Raising funds to clear landmines and unexploded weapons of war
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0437.jpg
The Cope centre in Laos provide prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation for mine victims
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0440.jpg
I shared a Tuk-tuk with this lady. Sadly she couldn't understand me saying "Hey, I've got one of those"!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0464.jpg
Waiting for the chinese to give Pedro back in Luang prabang. We hired motorbikes to explore the local Akha tribe villages. This is the track I fell off on...I've never ridden a bike before
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0463.jpg
wrong turn!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0461.jpg
The lovely family who invited us in out of the rain
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0455.jpg
houses are very basic but surprisingly some have satelite dishes!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0454.jpg
clearing rocks from the road
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0473.jpg
stopped outside this guest house when I saw the camper
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0472.jpg
Imagine my delight to discover it was also the worlds smallest irish bar
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0470.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0474.jpg
On the road from Luang prabang to Vientienne, laos
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0475.jpg
limestone mountains
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0484.jpg
Pedro chooses the prettiest places to break down. he spat out a spark plug here so I went for a look round the temple
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0481.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0477.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0488.jpg
The folks at the Cope centre were very excited to meet Pedro. The Cope centre was the second landmine charity we supported on the rally. They provide rehabilitation and prosthesis to victims of unexploded ordnance.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0485.jpg
and showed us how to make a leg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0490.jpg
weird wild west themed place i stayed in, thailand
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0491.jpg
and the temple next door
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0494.jpg
floating market at Damoen Saduak, Thailand
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0495.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0496.jpg
going round the clock in Thailand
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0499.jpg
kickapoo Joy juice...what more can I say!
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/PICT0501.jpg
More spark plugs please...vw garage penang
A fantastic thread. It really does give me itchy feet. Looks like one of those trips where the minutes of pleasure make up for the hours of torture :)
A fantastic thread. It really does give me itchy feet. Looks like one of those trips where the minutes of pleasure make up for the hours of torture :)
You could say that, I did London - Gambia and London - Mongolia before this though so you could say I'm hooked!
I think it was Ranulph Fiennes who said "Adventure is Pain and hardship relived in comfort" I know where he's coming from. There were times when I couldn't help wondering what the hell I was putting myself through it for but then there were those other times which really made it worth while. :D
Thought I'd add a little update on Pedro. He has been off the road for a little while as his last engine seized but last month Volksworld VW magazine wanted me to show him at their annual show and also be a guest speaker in their small theatre area!
I called Dreamshack and Mark was up for the challenge to get him running in time. Fortunately he had an engine build in progress already so this was stolen from his own car and installed in Pedro, the bug lives again!
Here he is at the show
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/Volksworld%20show%202011/PICT0587.jpg
with a camper that toured Europe
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/Volksworld%20show%202011/PICT0603.jpg
and surrounded by his adoring fans :D
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/flossie007/Volksworld%20show%202011/PICT0593.jpg
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