After waiting more than 11 hours, the truck to pick them up had just arrived. It did not live up to Oupa's vision of a flat bed tow truck that would winch the car up and drive away. It was, exactly as advertised, a truck. There are a few pieces of rope and wood in the back, and the driver is confident that it will take no more than a couple of hours to load Matilda and set off on the 6 hour drive (in perfect darkness) back to the capital.
I predict there will be two very tired South Africans in Ulaan Baatar tomorrow. Let's see what happens...
In the meanwhile Oupa has asked me to source two new bearings and courier them out to a place along the route. That will be the easiest part.
It is difficult to imagine how remote these places are. UPS and Fedex are not even aware of the towns that they will be stopping in over the next five days. And the UPS International Expedited will take more than 8 days to get to their first stop in Russia.
So pleased that you are warm and safe.
ReplyDeleteIt was never going to be plain sailing, then you would have gone to Mauritius?
What are the stars like in the Gobi desert ? Are they anything like at Baviaanskloof?