Day 9/10
We have had no internet connection the past four days…..and a lot happened since my last report.
We had the worst road conditions we ever experienced, but at the same time it was the most epic drive and it is just amazing where you can actually go with a car! There are time trials every day, average speeds are high and only the fastest cars can make it. In several instances we decided to slow down in order not to destroy the car. Rubber bushings on front shock absorbers are worn out and the noise of metal on metal for hours is annoying. Bolts and nuts are coming loose. On top of that there is dust everywhere, in the car, in the tent in the sleeping bag and you can feel it in your teeth…..
We are in the car for 7 to 10 hours, with no break for anything – tough but manageable.
The last days we have experienced the most beautiful nature, wild life, but what has been disappointing are some of the Mongolians we have encountered.
There have been incidents where local people have been violent, asked for money, thrown stones at the cars while we were driving.
In 2013 we only met very friendly people – such a sad change!
Yesterday on the way to the Mongolian-Russian border, the engine started backfiring on cylinder 5. Hopefully it is only an inlet valve which burned. We got a tow to the border by the Petrolicious film crew. We were determined to cross the border, as there is absolutely nothing on the Mongolian side. The border control closed at 18.00 and would remain so for 36 hours, we passed at 17.45. Several crews got stuck in Mongolia. We removed the plug to the injector valve on cylinder 5 and drove the car across. We immediately got the car loaded on a trailer towed by a Toyota Landcruiser – which is a flashback to P2P 2013. We are heading for Novosibirsk where we shall be arriving at 08.00 after a 14 hour drive. We have an appointment at Porsche, where Brian Løkke will be arriving this morning.
Hopefully the problem can be solved….
