Day 39

Distance Covered: 157miles

Total Distance Covered: 7998miles

After a quick breakfast of bread and jam and teas and coffee’s we sorted some Dutch chaps out with new music and got on our way, not the intended ‘south route’ but a route which had been recommended by Tony, our Mongolian host at the camp. Unfortunately this route was not marked on our map or GPS so a fair bit of guesswork was involved. After a few wrong direction choices we were finally on our way through a maze of sandy tracks heading east, asking for directions along the way we managed to stay on course. At around 4ish, in the middle of nowhere we got stuck in the sand. However after putting to use the lengths of carpet we had brought along and some furious pushing we got out in no time, feeling a tad nervous about the road to come we proceeded gingerly but inevitably, not long afterwards we got stuck again, this time in an attempt to avoid getting stuck in the sand we had ventured off the track, following some tyre tracks onto what looked like firmer ground but turned out to be the same if not worse, after a few vain attempts we soon gave up partly not wanting to ruin the clutch and partly due to the fact we were shattered. Spotting a few Gers in the distance Hugh and Jeremy set off in search of help. About 45minutes later they returned with help in the form of what we presumed to be father and son. Much digging, pushing and laying down of various grippy materials in Keith’s’ path later we were free but exhausted. After giving the two men a few surplus water containers as a token of our gratitude (which they seemed very happy with) and a short drive, belting it through any sandy sections in the fear of getting stuck again we parked up for the night.