Adventure
Mongol Rally, Day 13: Would Day 13 be our unluckiest yet?
I never had a man come to me for advice yet but what I soon discovered was he thought more of his own opinion than he did of mine. — Josh Billings I was warned. I didn’t listen. As I was leaving the Kazakhstani town of Atyrau (which used to be called Guryev), Steve Priovolos, … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 12: Playing dumb is the smart thing to do
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn. –David Russell The Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile journey from Britain to Mongolia, is a road trip, for heaven’s sake. So far, I’ve gotten acquainted with the the Ukrainian police (50 euro, about $62, fine for speeding) and the … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 11: Photo etiquette in Russia? Who knew?
The trouble with using experience as a guide is that the final exam often comes first and then the lesson. –Author unknown Have you ever been menaced by Russian Gypsy women? No? The same can’t be said of me, I am afraid. One encounters all sorts of interesting folks on the Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile road trip … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 10: Craziness is in the eye of the beholder
“I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.” — G. K. Chesterton The farther east I go, the nearer I am to starting the real adventures of the Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile road trip from Britain to Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Western Europe is so very passe, it seems, for the adventure crowd. … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 8: Trouble takes a break — maybe
The mechanic wasn’t convinced that the car had a problem, but after a test drive, he heard the noise fixed it. (Leon Logothetis / July 21, 2012) “You can’t run away from trouble. There ain’t no place that far.” –Uncle Remus Some say I began my traveling as a way of running from my problems. I certainly had some of … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 7: Next stop in Ukraine? Trouble
“The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.” –Dudley Moore Lightning doesn’t strike twice, although if you’re in Ukraine it just might. You’d think I’d learned my lesson after Thursday’s near-miss with a Ukranian prison cell. (I wonder what my friend the Ukranian policeman is doing with my 50 euro … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 6: Crime doesn’t pay — for the driver
The border between Poland and Ukraine was nearly the end of the road. (Leon Logothetis) “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” –Mark Twain After what happened to me at last year’s Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile road trip from Britain to Ulan Bator, some people may think it’s slightly unbalanced … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 5: A time for somber reflection at Auschwitz
A 1945 photo of Auschwitz, just after its liberation. (Associated Press) History is a vast early warning system. –Norman Cousins The Mongol Rally is not just an opportunity for adventure and serendipity. The nature of this 10,000-mile journey from Britain to Mongolia means ralliers can immerse themselves in diverse cultures and histories. This leads to the possibility of taking … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 4: The wheels on the car go round and round
I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean. –G.K. Chesteron The mishap with the car Monday — hitting the ginormous pothole in the Czech Republic – was not a welcome development. Good things, however, can occur even in life’s little mishaps, of which there are many on the Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile road trip that about … Continue reading
Mongol Rally, Day 3: The little dangers along life’s rutted roads
On Day 3 of the Mongol Rally, a noise signals a car problem. (Leon Logothetis / July 16, 2012) “Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it.” –Ella Williams Traveling is for sissies. That’s the signature slogan of the Mongol Rally, the 10,000-mile road trip that Steve Priovolos and I started on Saturday near London with about … Continue reading
