This is just a short note at this stage to advise ya all that due to the Kazakh Consultate refusal to issue me with a second (earlier) visa, I will be spending the next 16 days in Russia. My plans at this stage are to return to the Altai Region ( a mere 1500km jaunt) and doo a spot of sightseeing. Then I might sleep for 5 days. Anyhow watch this space as I will try to update with some GOOD NEWS when it comes to light.

What more can I say about Mongolia. It is beautiful beyond belief because of the scale. The mountains are big. The Gobi Desert is big. The treeless rolling hills and plains are so big they look like they stretch forever and the people are just the most down to earth sincere race on the planet. I will never forget their smiles, inquisitive nature and their sheer tenacity in making such a simple life so meaningful. We spent the last days in Mongolia camping beside ...

Vologda to OmskI arrived in Omsk having travelled some 10,000 kms since leaving the UK a month ago. Despite the horrendous roads in Russia at times the Mule had performed faultlessly and to date I have not used my tool kit for anything bar an oil change in Estonia. It was not without plenty of warning from previous travellers that I would face suspension and frame failure problems on these roads. So far my preparation and attention to these issues had paid off fo...