Alex Gordon and Ant Collins are Team Fuel and we are embarking on the Mongol Rally.

This is an 8-10,000 mile epic quest from Hyde Park in London to the capital of Mongolia, Ulan Bator. By the time we finish, we will have travelled a quarter of the way round the world, across mountain ranges, deserts, forests and on some of the worst roads in the world.

We will be keeping you updated  on our progress whenever we can find an internet connection, so watch this space for details on our adventure!

We are aiming to raise over £1500 for ‘Send a Cow’ and ‘CNCF’.  Donations to these charities, or to help us to cover the cost of the car, trip and equipment are gratefully received!

www.mongolrally.com

Launch at Hyde Park: 22nd July - After a few minor hiccups (including the accelerator pedal falling off near Petworth!) the boys made it to the launch in plenty of time to register and FINALLY get their long awaited passports back.

There was just enough time to check out some of the other cars in the rally and say goodbyes to all the family and friends that made it up for the launch before Alex and Ant line up with the other 200 cars anxiously waiting for the off. Lots of last minute tuning and goodbyes and at 1.30pm the heavens opened for the most almighty downpour and the boys pull out of Hyde Park and are on their way to Dover for the first leg of their journey to Prague.

Prague, Czech Republic: 23rd July - After a hefty 23 hours driving, a few blown fuses, a new tyre and a lost roof rack the boys finally make it to Prague in plenty of time for a few beers before a good nights sleep in a local hostel. A good chance to chat with all the other teams and swap amusing stories of the trip so far. Lots of teams struggling already and one apparently still stuck 50 miles from Dover – ooops!

Poland, Wroclaw: July 24th - After a relaxing morning in Prague the boys set off for Poland. Another 9 hours driving and their first run in with local police. A quick search and a few smiles and off they go. First nights camping.

Poland, Warsaw: July 25th - A long run across Poland to arrive in Warsaw late afternoon. A chance to look around, grab some beers and then head out of the city to find a campsite. In convoy with 3 other teams. Could be a fun night.

Belarus, Minsk: July 26th - Overnight the boys decided to change their route slightly, missing out Lithuania and Latvia and head directly from Warsaw to Moscow through Belarus. A slight concern about the lack of Belarusian Visas and strict customs officials!

The Belarus boarder was somewhat tricky. After being turned away they somehow managed to get a police escort to accompany them to the local Embassy to try and get Visas. This should be impossible due to the lack of necessary paperwork, but in true Alex and Ant style they return to the border, visas in hand, push straight to the front if the queue and they're in!

A long night drive saw them arrive in Minsk at 2am. They found a nice place to park and spend the night sleeping in the car. Please note – the boys have not had a shower since Sunday...

Entering Russia: July 27th - Random meat and potato breakfast in Minsk and it’s off again towards the border into Russia. The car is running superbly and gets them to the border in the early evening. With all the correct paperwork this time, a few hours at the border and they’re off again towards Moscow. Alex and Ant put this quick entry in Russia fully down to the fact that they stink so badly no official was brave enough to come near them! Bring on Moscow and a shower! The boys spend yet another night sleeping in the car on route to the capital, very tired and very cold.

Russia, Moscow: July 28th - An early start and they arrived in Moscow. A slightly tricky place to navigate but the team manage to find their way to check into their 5* hotel! (courtesy of Alex’s sister – cheers sis!) and have that well needed shower. At last they get a whole evening free to enjoy the city and have perhaps a few too many local vodkas. What a crazy place.

Russia, Volgograd: July 29th - With slightly hazy heads they eventually manage to leave Moscow. Two policemen, four passers by, three shop workers, a drunk and 5 maps and they are finally out of the city and on their way towards the Kazakhstan border. 21 hours straight driving and a few hours sleep in the car - the car is not sounding so happy. Back firing, overheating and leaking petrol but it has finally got them to Volgograd near the border into Kazakhstan and they find a hotel for the night.

Kazakhstan, "just near the border": July 31st - Luckily the boys woke up to realise that the hotel they were staying in was right next door to the Russian equivalent to Halfords! They spent the morning working on the car and getting Margo (as they have so affectionately name her) back in shape and ready for the journey ahead. Then they head off again towards the border. The roads are getting increasingly bad now. WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN Their route has taken them right into desert and some of the most beautiful scenery they have seen so far. Sleeping in the car... AGAIN.