the front
MR 2006 | Ukraine to Russia in Just 4 posts
Stuck in Charcoal
It is 1120 pm and we are currently sitting on the side of the road in Kharkov. This is the most frightening city we have been in thus far. The Mini Scamp has severely bent its rear suspension on a man's sized pot hole. To add to the excitement it seems that Russia is starting to deny ralliers. Man all I want is to get out of the Ukraine, as the Brits say its dodgy as hell, mate.
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Russian Border within Range
7:45 am
There's nothing better to wake up to than the jimber jamber of a couple of Ukrainian women attempting to rise the occupants of five rally cars. The lads managed to fix the suspension issues on the Scamp but alas we only made another 100 miles or so before everyone needed to sleep. As always, we chose the most frightening place possible to retire, just decaying concrete structures and overgrown. Slightly hidden above the neighboring tower, one could see the remnants of the CCCP, a rusted hammer and sickle.
8:40 am
Well we just had our first run-in with the infamous Ukrainian police, luckily we deftly dumbfounded him with idiocy and ignorance. There was some tension when he kept pointing at the video cameras and he really wanted my leatherman, he kept saying "presente, presente." Honestly at the time I was sure he was saying "Prison, prison" to which I replied "No thank you." The wiffle ball bat was a particular hit.
Back on the road, no bribes, just babble.
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Sitting At The Border Again
4:00pm
Well we are through the Ukraine border and waiting for the Russian border to open. Its been an interesting day thus far. We had our interaction with the police, then the Scamp threw its rear suspension again. There was a lot of discussion and some wiffle ball in the countryside, then we fixed it with a few hose clamps and silicon. Upon arriving at the border, we were accosted by insurance salesman. I am not kidding either, we have the photos and little calendars to prove it. The Ukranians did a lot of babbling about the required documentation then let us through. Not before the obligatory angry female guard laughed at both Dom's and my passport photos.
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More border, more border, finally in Russia
7:34 pm
We are still sitting at the Russian border, they are starting to mess with us. We got to the front of the line and then they pulled us out to fill out forms that no one else has to fill out. Now they won't even acknowledge that we are here. How very Russian.
10:45 pm
We have just made it across the border. If anyone tells you that the Russians run a efficient operation, they are lying, plain straight lying. On to a campsite. More tomorrow. Seth......
FRANKly Preposterous
From the Hexham Courant: www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
INDIAN JOURNEY FOR FRESH WATER
Published at 09:10, Monday, 20 September 2010
ONE of the first warnings given by tourist guides to visitors to many Eastern countries is – don’t ride in the tuk-tuks!
These are the wildly unstable auto rickshaw taxis which buzz around cities of India and beyond like angry wasps.
But the inherent dangers have failed to dissuade Corbridge’s Jhared Bouri and three of his mates from driving one of the contraptions 5,000km down the length of the sub-continent.
Along with former school friends from Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School James Rickwood-Dodsworth, Andrew Wallace and Hugh Morgan, Jared will be setting off from Jaisalmer in the far North West of India hoping to reach Cochin in the far South around two weeks and 5000km later.
They will be aboard a 150cc, 7hp auto-rickshaw, and will have to battle through jungle, barren plains and mountain ranges, navigate through some of the world’s largest and most congested cities and of course try to avoid an accident on the world’s most dangerous road network.
Needless to say, it’s all being done in the name of charity.
They are competing in the Rickshaw Run, a charity rally run by The Adventurists (www.rickshawrun.com) in aid of Frank Water Projects.
Each team must raise at least £1,000 to guarantee their entry on the rally, and Jared and his friends are hoping to raise at least double that.
All funds raised will be donated to FRANK – no other party takes a cut.
FRANK is a small charity that funds sustainable, safe, clean drinking water projects in India by installing village filtration facilities.
Since 2005 FRANK has funded the installation of over 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh, India benefiting over 210,000 people.
James, who lives in Ryton, said: “We have been writing to local companies and charities for sponsorship as well as badgering friends and acquaintances.
“However, we would also love other people to sponsor us.”
For further information, or to support the boys, view their website at www.justgiving.com/2011rickshawrun
They are also keeping a blog at www.badcolonies.org
RICKSHAW RUN - JANUARY 2011
In 2006, Andrew Wallace and James Rickwood-Dodsworth drove 8000 miles from London to Mongolia, across five mountain ranges and two deserts, in a less than reliable Fiat Cinquecento. By doing so, they raised over £2000 for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and Send a Cow.
4 years later and they are back!!! This time competing in the Rickshaw Run Winter 2011. A 5000km trek the length of India from Jaisalmer to Cochin.....
The trip should last about two weeks as we battle through some of the most difficult terrain Asia has to offer, as well as the inevitable breakdowns and bouts of illness. There are no support vehicles. The Rickshaw Run is therefore the ultimate challenge of man and unsuitably unstable machine Rickshaw Run Website
We are aiming to raise over £2000 for Frank Water Projects. FRANK is a small charity that funds sustainable, safe, clean drinking water projects in India by installing village filtration facilities. Projects are funded by FRANK but community owned and run.
Since 2005 FRANK has funded the installation of over 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh, India benefiting over 210,000 people. FRANK website
We are looking for donations of any amount to help us to raise as much money as possible. ALL monies will be donated to Frank Water Projects. Donations can be made via our website Just Giving 2011 Rickshaw Run
PLEASE HELP US TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA WITH THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT OF CLEAN, SAFE, DRINKING WATER
Ethnic Violence in Kyrgyzstan Rages
Having spent such a fantastic time in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan during the Mongol Rally, it is disappointing to read about the escalation of the ethnic violence that has been simmering for years.
