A royal arse-load of teams are getting stuck into the Mongol Rally, others are just getting stuck in Mongolian dirt. Sadly it is raining somewhat in Mongolia, and a lot of the non-roads have been washed away. Areas which are usually arid steppe currently look more akin to swamp, and the change in conditions has certainly brought additional challenges to this years rally.

Friengineers

Now seems like a splendid time to bring you a couple of updates you might've missed. I think this group of messages set the tone of the 2012 rally nicely.

I don't know what this blog says but it starts "Middle of f***cking nowhere," mentions Chinggis Vodka in the middle and ends "All gooood!"
Efter en mindre detour in the middle of f***king nowhere, har Danes og Thunder mistet sine engelske og australske convoy-buddies, og er alene paa Mongol-stien! Og maaske er det okay, for Partnerens roev er langt fra spaendt som en fjeder laengere! Efter at have rost og hyldet den i gaar aftes for at have klaret en hel dags koersel uden breakdowns, har den i dag valgt at springe bagfjederen, og vi kan nu se frem til at snegle de sidste 450km. til UlaanBataar med max blaes paa varmen pga. en oedelagt koeler.. Men hey, vi har Chinggis Khaan vodka med maerkelige guldstykker i, og Mikkel har redet en faarehyrdes hest i dag - so it's all gooood!
15/08/12
Danes of Thunder

Team Fingers Crossed learn early that Airag and diarrhea relief are inseperable drinking buddies 
Fermented mare's milk with an Immodium chaser. Not to be missed.
05:42 - 16/08/12
Fingers crossed

It'll do a Trip find a ruddy great puddle to splash in

Team Stunt Pilot & Long way Lost are enjoying the mud.
Serious torture! First so stuck in the mud only a big 4x4 could pull us out. Then extreme vibrations on dry washboard roads. Broken rear shock absorber, broken left rear brake, another tyre and exhaust about to fall of. All of it sort of fixed today. Lots of stranded teams. We are confident we will make it to Ulaanbataar
08:18 - 14/08/12
Team Stunt Pilot

The Mongolian roads haven't been so forgiving. We got bogged twice last night and ended up all four of us having to sleep in the car because of the knee deep mud. Today we suffered a flat tyre and a hole in our petrol tank...on our way to successfully fixing both though!
02:36 - 13/08/12
Long way Lost

But it's not all bad, 020 Bastards & I can't believe it's not Baatar seem to be having fun
Vodka!!
11:53 - 13/08/12
020 bastards

But if you had any doubt about the welcome bestowed upon the teams this summer I'll just throw in a couple more of these
Our long run of no car problems has come to an end. Driving through hundreds of puddles and rivers has caused the engine to cut out and power lost, it is intermittent but were changing the spark plugs and will go from there, engine management and battery lights are flashing like no tomorrow.
09:38 - 12/08/12
Super Troopers

Making our way towards the finish. Got stuck in the mud last night and got pulled out by two camels this morning. Also rescued a van carrying 20 people who were also caught in the mud. Looking forward to a shower in UB...
12/08/2012
Team Bob

When the ruts are deeper than your ground clearance and your wheels are free spinning it is more commonly known as being completely stuck.
04:50 - 10/08/12
Fingers crossed

Fers club. Because of the pissing down rain here it's the only place the clubbing girls wear wellies. Awesome party!
05:29 - 10/08/12
Desert scousers

I'll leave the last word though, to Chris from Masons to Mongolia
I have developed a very stiff shoulder, may be something to do with the tazering I got last night!
02:57 - 11/08/12
Masons 2 Mongolia

One Steppe at a Time