Somerset old Gits Mongol Rally Team: July 2016

Sunday, 31 July 2016

Sunday update

To say I am annoyed is a bit of an understatement I spent the last break from driving writing a huge elaborate piece and for got to save it it might be here somewhere but at the moment I can't find it

So an update today we started th day by putting in 24 litres which when added to the can means we were running on fumes last night when we stopped.

Last night was surreal we pulled into a fuel station just off the main road, I should explain fuel stations are few and far between we are talking hundreds of miles apart, we have just driven for over 90 before we found a station and that from only when we started looking, fortunately we have 15 litres on the roof and 5 in the boot.

Anyway back to last night the nice brand new fuel station complete with pump attendant in new suit didn't have any petrol only diesel, fortunately the now redundant fuel attendant could speak English and suggested we didn't try our first suggestion, to carry on until the next one, as it was "1000 kms" 600 miles, I think he meat 100 kms but nevertheless we would not have made it. He told us where there was one in town and it soon became apparent that it was in high demand as there was a massive queue of HGVs waiting, we sneeked in the out, well they wanted diesel and we needed benzine, once again we had a smart attendant who asked us how much we needed and sent Neil off to pay, only for him to have the door slammed in his face and to be told they were closed for five minutes, we were told every five minutes that they would be closed for five minutes, until we gave up and proceeded to a bed and breakfast cum hotel, run by delightful lady who must have thought we were tramps when we turned up covered in dust. So much so that she even brought us or probably me as I was twice as dirty as Neil, some shower gel.

Whilst she was nice she was also a business woman who insisted she took us to a restaurant for our evening meal via the ATM so we could pay her cash, she did however pick us up when we finished so good on her, so if you ever in downtown Aral look up kayak yin HYP hotel you will get a bargain.

So today we left a bit late it is Sunday and as it was my turn filled up with fuel and yes we took on board nearly 23 litres which if added to the 5 or 6 litres form the can means we were probably running on fumes yesterday.

Any during the night I gave Katie a proverbial John Cleese thrashing and this morning she ran like a peach I drove 100 miles in two hours and Neil did the same so 200 miles before lunch not that we were having any today we wanted to do miles so it was coke on the run, afters Neil's 100 we decided to change after an hour each and after my hours run we stopped for fuel and change and as on as we did she started playing up again. She would run on full throttle but also react bad to pressure differences like passing Lorries or them passing us just like when we had the problem in Germany and Poland I took over to see if I could indent ivy the problem and after about 120 miles came to the conclusions that we either had bad fuel or the filler cap was off. Now for the past two weeks we have both been paranoid about the cap and we have both stopped after a hundred yards just to check to see if we had replaced the cap always to find that we had, only this time we or should I say I hadn't the filler was bare, I started to think on my feet 120 miles was too far to go back, but Neil asked in his normal way it's not on the roof is it, I was just about to say no chance when sat just behind the spare wheel was the lost cap it had managed to stay balanced for 120 miles sometimes at 70+ mph

So we with much I don't believed to put it back on and continued on our way, suspecting our troubles were behind us, but although a lot better Katie was still cutting out I worked out if when she cut out you depressed the clutch and let the car idle you could then slowly bring the clutch back up she would fire and run for another five ten or one minute depending on her whim and then you have to go back to the same thing again.

We thought it was bad petrol so we used a can that we filled up a long time ago she is better but not perfect, tools out again tonight .

Saturday, 30 July 2016

A more logical explanation

Steve Thraxton has been our man in the uk trying to sort out our problems and we both thank him for his efforts and Neil at Marsh Kia talk about service beyond,

As Neil has already said that I keep coming up with theories, my latest is that the fuel tank is overheating probably caused by hot fuel being sent back to the tank, which could partly explain why Neil had more problems than me Neil uses the throttle more and I think on overrun fuel goes back to the tank and starts to heat it up when it gets too hot somewhere may be a pressure switch in the tank cuts the car out

To try and sort this problem I have removed the plate above the sender unit under the rear seat, I have also wired the fan to stay on permanently we also run with the bonnet open yesterday once we got on the good road the car ran faultlessly until we stopped to refuel and I know if we had refuelled it would have run again but because the station was closed cashing up before. Change of shift wand we could not get fuel the tank was still hot and probably go threat bit hotter whilst we were stopped and refused to run now I know we were not out of fuel but as soon as we added a cool 5 litres of fuel she started and ran perfect we are only 1/2 mile form the service station and I will tell you how much fuel we add the most we have have ever added was 28 litres so anything under 23 litres says we were not empty

update on the car

well I am sorry to say that despite all my natural and logical thoughts this car has an entity of its own this must be a relationship to Herbie the love bug because it has a mind of its own
take yesterday, we were off roading bouncing down what was the road and she he it prefomed faultlessly, trust me i have never driven anything in the manner we had to too get pass some of the problems. yet faultless.
we got on a bette but still rough road and she stopped, I will not go into it too much but neil and i had to resolve a problem and Katie stopped dead, so we as we do get out the kettle, its much like the morecome and wise sketch were they prepare breakfast, without a word being spoken. we resolved the problem and hey ho Katie started and ran perfect for MOST of the rest of the day.
we has come to one of those descion making points whether to stop at Aral or go on for another 100 miles to where the space centre is, it was not an easy decsion and we were both discussing the pro and cons of either option and still had not actallu decided when we stopped just outside Aral for fuel. I will try and tell you more about this later, but lets just say at the current time despite there being a line of lorries waiting for fuel, the garage was closed, only for 5 minutes we were told three time five minutes apart. so we said in the normal manner bollocks we will go somewhere else. as we pulled out of the fuel station depsite there being a 1/4 of a tank left Katie started her antics again and even I could not coax her any futher she would start and tick over like a dream but try and pull away and she, like a stubbern mule would have none of it, until we made the descion to stay the night in a hotel that we could see, ok i admit we did put another 5 litres of fuel and off she trotted like a goodone to park up outside the hotel engine purring.
I will try and add my thoughts on putting reality to this but at the moment Katie is the Korean cousin of Herbie and has a mind of her own.

a really nice Belarus lorry driver and his son stopped for a chat

we have had some comments and i wish i know how to reply to then and i dont so here are the answers

we are travelling in a white KIA pride on english plates W341RYB you cant miss us we have three spare wheels on the roof and and a spot light on the bonnet

our night by the railway line in Kazakastan with Alex the railman with a bad cough

this is what happens of Kazakastan highways

The mosque around the corner from our hotel

Update

Saturday 30 July where do I begin Thursday night we stayed in a rather tired hotel Aqtobe which is in Kazakastan we arrived in good time to have a shower/ bath in the smallest bath you have seen I think Neil booked us into the dwarfs room as my bed was not much over 5 feet long. We had a relaxing meal in the hotel grounds with the waitress using her voice activated translator to help with translations an interesting departure which did not go down well with Luddite Neil who poo poos most modern aids to life, perhaps that's why we have his old scout compass in the glove box.
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around this corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could preach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rearhubs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer, realigning, I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so I choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sure enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got worse than the worse I already decribed we learnt to follow what the locals and at timesseveeral hundred metres off to either the left or right of the main road bouncing and crashing through like a steam roller. Katie somehow came good and only appeared to stop on main roads, it was well dark when we eventually fond some kind of life a lone signalmand beside a railway, which we decided was a good place to stop so stop we did and pitched tent or our our case Hammock neil was to sleep in the car and I found a Russian railway postto attach the other end of my hammock and soon we were well ensconced having a pims and bacon and beans. The only problem, well not the only problem, but the really main one was that a bloody great train came past probablely every 10 to 20 minutes the whole ground shook and if ther was any chance of sleeping through the noise there was no chance with the rocking of the hammock which alos rocked the car that neil was trying to sleep in. there was also the problem of Alex the gate operator who opened and shut the gate that allowed the cars accross the track. He was not only partially deaf, and had a really bad cough, spitting up great wads of phlem which you had to try and keep track of as he spat them out in various locations around our campsite, but alos liked to sing, all bloody night we either had his coughing spitting or singing. I think he alos rented out his car as bed and breakfast as in the morning there was a lorry parked up and the driver fast asleep in Alexs Lada.
During the night i had heard a converstaion between Alex and someone, who obviously was aware that we where sleeping and tried to talk in a hushed voice, I dont know what was said but the conversation was something like this
man 1 in a hushed voice, " whats happenng here."
Alex "what"
man 1 slightly louder "whats happeing"
Alex Whats
man one even louder, whats happening.
alex then would give a detailed reply which ended with man 1 saying something hushed and the Alex "what" and so on for an enternity only broken by Alex grinding up another ball of phlem and spitting it somewhere unknown
he good thing was we were up and gone by 7 am

Update

Saturday 30 July where do I begin Thursday night we stayed in a rather tired hotel Aqtobe which is in Kazakastan we arrived in good time to have a shower/ bath in the smallest bath you have seen I think Neil booked us into the dwarfs room as my bed was not much over 5 feet long. We had a relaxing meal in the hotel grounds with the waitress using her voice activated translator to help with translations an interesting departure which did not go down well with Luddite Neil who poo poos most modern aids to life, perhaps that's why we have his old scout compass in the glove box.
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around the corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could peach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rehabs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer realigning I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sue enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got w

Update

Saturday 30 July where do I begin Thursday night we stayed in a rather tired hotel Aqtobe which is in Kazakastan we arrived in good time to have a shower/ bath in the smallest bath you have seen I think Neil booked us into the dwarfs room as my bed was not much over 5 feet long. We had a relaxing meal in the hotel grounds with the waitress using her voice activated translator to help with translations an interesting departure which did not go down well with Luddite Neil who poo poos most modern aids to life, perhaps that's why we have his old scout compass in the glove box.
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around the corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could peach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rehabs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer realigning I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sue enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got w

Update

Saturday 30 July where do I begin Thursday night we stayed in a rather tired hotel Aqtobe which is in Kazakastan we arrived in good time to have a shower/ bath in the smallest bath you have seen I think Neil booked us into the dwarfs room as my bed was not much over 5 feet long. We had a relaxing meal in the hotel grounds with the waitress using her voice activated translator to help with translations an interesting departure which did not go down well with Luddite Neil who poo poos most modern aids to life, perhaps that's why we have his old scout compass in the glove box.
I was determined to get an early start and was really pleased when we left the hotel
before 9:00 and did it with seconds to spare, a quick photo by the mosque and we were off. Neil and I take it turn driving and normally drive for about two hours before we change over, no matter who drove last the night before we alternate who starts each day. Thursday was my turn to start and as we proceeded merrily on our way........ Well officer it was like this I was proceeding in a easterly direction was I observed a stop sign I clearly saw the stop sign but below it was a plate with a distance so I presumed it was a junction around the corner no around the corner discreetly hidden was a police officer with a ginormous hat which would have kept his shoulder dry in a shower, who waved us to stop, now I have not told you this yet but we have been stopped probably half a dozen times so far, and have gotten into the drill of shaking hands and introducing myself, first impressions and all that, I then look at their number displayed on their badge and can normally remember someone with a similar number that I have worked with, this throws them and so we explain and normally when I produce an old police badge taken off one of my cast uniforms and my International Police badge it breaks the ice, and we normally leave shaking hand or fists. Not this time "passport" I was then marched around the corner to be shown the sign again, my protestations about the sign and lack of line when unheeded, and I noticed that all the locals drove up to the sign, which was situation about 20 metres back from the junction, stopped and then moved off up to the junction and in one case pulling out in front of another car, that was alright he had stopped at the line. I was then marched to a equally hidden police car, and spoke to mr really unfriendly, who was busy writing out what I presume was a ticket for someone else, my passport was thrown on the dashboard of the car and the driver who was sat with a Kalashnikov between his knees had a one way conversation with me, I thought about what a naughty boy I had been, he even showed me the video camera that was recording the junction. After a longer one way conversation I was summonsed to sit in the back seat, and yet another one way conversation went over my head, I am not slow normally but it then dawned on me that there was a monetary penalty involved here even though I was a policeman , no matter what I said my passport stayed on the dash board but like a chest piece was slowly moved further away from me . As much as it sticks in my throat I eventually took about a not which was valued about £5:00 and proceeded to give it to him, but no he would not touch it, he just waved his hand as if leave it on the seat, no matter what I did there was a wave to leave it on the seat, which I did , as soon as it touched the seat, my passport miraculously was handed back and I was waved away. I could peach all day about police corruption all I can say in thirty years in the JOB I never saw sight or sign. Anyway financial penalty payed we were released on our way. I am afraid the the officers reminded me of some of those that I worked with Numbers numbers number stop being bitchy Kemp, get on with what happened next.
Well Neil had a hankering of going down a yellow road between Qandiaghash and Aral to anyone thinking of doing the same, don't well not until the build a road, things started bad and just went worse, we had stopped at a nice service station to fuel and I bought some grease to repack the rehabs which had started winding a bit I also noticed that the right tyre was scrubbing the inner arch so set about it with a hammer realigning I think is the technical term. Serviced done we swapped drivers and Neil was in the hot seat my job was navigating and resting, only one of which I could do as at a time so choose resting we had traveled about 50 km when in my slumber I noticed my leg getting burnt, now I will not bore you with to much just the facts going East sun is on the right driver gets burnt( right hand drive car) my knee should not be getting burnt sue enough we were on the wrong road and heading the wrong way, there was nothing else for it to turn around an get it right, so probably two hours later we are back were we serviced the car, taking a right where we went straight on. Now the main roads are not that good here but this road got worse and worse and dare I say it worse, our original plan of staying in Aral went by the board at at 7 pm when descion were to be made we pulled of the " road into a village where Neil hoped to find a bar and hotel, there was not even a road to this place we drove across the wasteland to get there and believe me there was nothing there, ok there was a magazine which I think is some time and beard in someone's shed, Neil looked pleased with his bag of biscuits/bread and bottle of " milk" no beer and no where to stop, now Neil's thought making process is not to make one unless you have to which I admire it gives him that payed back approach, BUT it's not that good when your looking for somewhere to sleep, more of which later.
Now I should update you on Kevin or as we have started calling her Katie, (sorry Katie Kemp) Because Kevin did not fit her temperament, she I am afraid has been a right swine, barely a day has gone by when I have not had the tool box out, the scrapping on the back wheel has got so bad it's really marking the wheel so at some time I had to take the wheel off and realign the back arch a little more with a Daghenham screwdriver, for those not in the trade that's a BIG hammer, I will try and get some photos on the web site.
Whilst doing up the wheel it I found the culprit the offside,drivers side shocker was on its way out it was not leaking but there was very little resistance so we moved the kit around again and did yet more lightening gone was Neil's bottle of cider, left on the road for some thirsty traveller.
No sooner had we moved off when Katie stopped dead with a very suspicious back firing/rattle. This was something else something a it more serious I tried to start her and she was as dead as the proverbial, I checked all the wiring this was my worse fears have no idea about electronic ignition or all the other bits and bobs that Katie fitted I tried to look as I knew what I was doing and tried it again nothing so I took a plug lead off and tried a spare plug which I had brought to see if there was a spark with one plug lead off Neil turned the car over and low and behold she started ok only on three BUT SHE STARTED, I told Neil to turn it off and quickly replaced the lead and she started running like she always has, tools away bonnet slammed shut and she stopped dead obviously caused by the bonnet but how? Again I checked all the leads tried her again nothing when fiddling about with the fuse able link she fired up and run ok found the problem when I looked the terminals were green with corrosion which called for a bit of vinegar to clean then, no vinegar but lemon juice would do and Neil had some so I soon cleaned the terminals put them back in pleased with finding the problem turned the key, nothing bloody nothing, bloody car every time I think I have sorted the problem it's not that.
Then for no apparent reason she started and ran like a sewing machine. As we were packing up, now you have to remember we are in the middle of Kazakhstan on a Friday night, so a breakdown pulled up. Now what could I tell him bearing in mind I do not speak the language " it stopped but it's ok now" the answer was to keep going keep him behind us and hope that if we broke down again we could grab him.
Now somehow the roads got w

Thursday, 28 July 2016

From The Borat attaché

Wednesday July 27th.

We left Sorotov and drove through vast acreages of sunflowers and wheat as well as recently tilled fields. Although it was obvious that it s harvest time for the cereals there seemed little evidence of machinery working or in ploughing afterwards. At a coffee stop e met up with Steen and Joanna from Arbroath - I had met with them previously at Bristol and Goodwood - they were team Ta'Agila Sunrise as they ere driving a Vauxhall Agila. They were going to do a tour of all the "Stans" before heading for Mongolia. We accompanied them to the Russian / Kazakhstan border. The Russian were particularly "jobs worth" you wold have thought that they would have been pleased to get rid of us and our rusting vehicles. In contrast the Kazakhstan border guards were friendly helpful and even said welcome to Kazakhstan and shook or hands. We fortunately found the insurance agent this time and got some cover for our up to permissible 15 days.
By This time we had just over 1 hours daylight's left to drive 100 km to the nearest town and somewhere to stay and this turned out to be exceedingly optimistic. The road was full of potholes big enough to loose a double decker bus in ad as bad or worse then anything I had seen in Africa. The disadvantage of the Kazakhstan version was that there was a drop into a bullet each side so the lorries could not leave the highway and create a new dirt road?

Oral or Uralsk seemed a strange city with a lot of night clubs liquor kiosks and the drunks to go with them. We found an hotel and were confused about the actual time we obviously had crossed another time zone.

Thursday 28th July.

Due to our late arrival and then having eaten in the equivalent of a Kazakhstan McDonald's we had little sleep, none the less Gordon was up and implementing his latest theories about why the car was not running smoothly.

From Oral onwards the roads improved beyond recognition there was mile after mile of straight road with a mostly good surface. We were now crossing typical steppe terrain with Savannah grassland becoming more sparse as we traveller south. In Kazakhstan it is more of a pastoral existence with flocks of sheep and goats usually with a shepherd and cattle unattended. The horse herds were interesting are they just wild or are they managed as horse meat is available in the restaurants?

We made it to Aktobe another Kazakhstan town with lots of disco's, karaoke bars ten pin bowling and a large mosque, but nicer and less drunks than Oral.

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Kevin at 100,000 miles