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Mongolia – the next steppeIt is full steam ahead for our would-be adventurists, Team Generation Game. Preparations are well underway for the day that father and son, Shane and Ruari Rhodes and, of course, their 10-year-old Skoda Felicia, Polly set out for Ulaanbaatar.
There have been first aid courses taken, Russian conversational skills learnt, Advanced Driving certificates earned and sponsorship raised to give the trio the best support possible when they leave for Mongolia on July 18. The starting line has been moved from the traditional location because of the sheer number of entrants for this year’s rally have made it impossible to depart from Hyde Park and competitors will now begin their journey from Goodwood.
In the mood for a bit more historic racetrack, the Rhodes men plan to take Polly for a spin around the Nürburgring before leaving Germany to work their way through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Russia and “all the Istans” and back through the Russian Steppes en-route to the finish line in Outer Mongolia.
Howe Engineering of Great Hormead have carried out work on the sub-car and Hayes Garage, Clacton, have assisted with preparations and servicing to ensure Polly survives any trials and tribulations that come the her way with Sign Team, Molehill Green tattooing Polly with details of the team's quest and The Burning Question, fire and chimney specialists based in Edinburgh, providing capital to help keep them, and their informative bodywork, on the road.
The kind people at Look what we found! will be providing fuel for the men in the form of one gourmet meal-in-a-bag and a soup each every day for the duration of their voyage. Polly however is still looking for volunteers to help keep her tank full and rubber between her and the (unpaved) road.
Fund-raising is continuing in earnest with plans for a stand at the Clavering fete and Clacton Motor Show, to reach more sponsors for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The father-son team are also hoping to attract further corporate sponsors to lighten the financial burden of paying for visas, flights and other essentials.
On Saturday, June 13, The Butchers Arms near Great Dunmow is playing host to a charity Open Day with a raffle, games for all the family, a barbeque and music in the evening to accompany a buffet dinner. Camping pitches will be provided for those wishing to brave the elements over night and publican Mark Powell will be cooking breakfast.
The camping will continue on the road and when the team finally reach Mongolia (hopefully in a little less than a month from the off) Shane and Ruari will spend time in the Altai Mountains in the company of Wolves, Mongolian Brown Bears and Snow Leopards, 18 species of buzzard and the Przewalski's Horse, the oldest breed of horse in the world.
The team have been invited to visit the Blue Sky Ger Village, a safe haven for some of the homeless children on Ulaanbataar set up by CNCF in 1997 based on traditional nomadic ger settlements. They plan to also visit real nomadic villages and ancient Buddhist temples.
For a map of their route, to keep up on the team’s progress or to sponsor them, visit www.bespoketouring.com/mongol and follow the links on the first page.
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