We are legendary!

We learned a lot about life on the Rally — how to off-road, how to sustain solely on Snickers, how to blank out and drive for 36 hours straight.  And I’m glad to share some of that knowledge here on this site.  We’ve received lots of emails and calls from prospective Ralliers.  If you have a specific question, contact us.  Otherwise, here are some of the things you might want to know.

Fundraising

The #1 (serious) question people ask about the Rally is, “And how did you afford it?”  Well, it was expensive — more expensive than I would have liked and more expensive than it had to be, in my opinion.  The Rally organizers were helpful in making the journey possible and fun … but I’m sure they would be the first to note that anybody with gumption can do this on their own. That said, the Rally does provide the major benefit of “a purpose” in that you can tell the media, investors, donors, your parents, future employers, and yourself that you are not doing this merely out of idiocy or wanderlust, but for charity.  Also, even as novel as driving a small car across the World is, the Rally creates a back-story and a community — two things that are essential for gaining press and charitable donations.

So, raising money.  First of all, get it in your mind that you’re meeting your charity goals first and that anything that comes in after that will pay for the car (which will also be donated) and, thirdly, yourself (plane tickets, hotels, food).  Be clear to anyone you speak to that you are not doing this for profit and that donations will go directly to meeting charitable giving goals.

Then, you just ask people for money.  Ask your family, friends, past and present employers, and businesses and organizations.  Look into grants.  It didn’t work for us but maybe it could for you.  And, most importantly, contact all the media you can think of — local and national NPR, papers, blogs, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, even FOXNews.com.  Get interviews and pledge to mention donors’ businesses on-air.  Go door-to-door downtown.  Offer ad space on the car.  Build a website.  Make business cards. Think up events.  Be prepared to explain over and over why you’re doing this and, particularly, why the Rally is important to you.

Shadowboat Route

If you don’t go the Southern Route, you might as well not even go, you wimp. And go to Iran. We didn’t but I wish we had. Don’t buy yourself an exit plane ticket from Mongolia in advance, if you can help it. It sucks to tie yourself to a date.

Get the Calais ferry tickets early if you do that. Don’t be late getting to the terminal!

If you can avoid the Caspian Sea ferry by going through Iran, do it. If you can’t, good luck. If you take the ferry to the Road of Death, put me in your will.

If you go to Turkmenistan, get a tour guide. Unless you’re driving a sportscar, you’ll probably get arrested and deported otherwise. Also, the camels sleep in the road at night.

  1. UK through Europe
  2. Turkey
  3. Georgia
  4. Azerbaijan
  5. The Caspian Sea via Ferry
  6. Turkmenistan
  7. Uzbekistan
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Kazakhstan (Single Entry)
  10. Russia (Single Entry)
  11. Mongolia

 

Insurance and borders

People email me all the time asking about insurance. In our case, “all” we needed was insurance through the UK, Europe, and Turkey. You get all the other countries’ insurance at the door (in theory; I mean, I paid for handfuls of paper but who knows what it was for). Also, word on the street is none of the other countries honor any insurance but their own. Also, also, I’ve never heard of anyone who had to make use of insurance so don’t think of this as advice — just what we did.

Anyhow, Google up “Walkabout Insurance.” It can get you through Europe and Turkey. If you’re from the US, you might have to get someone to “help you out” with an address.

As for borders, have fun but don’t get yourself arrested!

Visas

If you’re American, check out Visa Obtainers. Give Mike a really hard time. He likes it.

Things we thought we needed

We (thought) we needed a whole ton of stuff to get across that continent. I’m a bit of a tool nut so I had the basics already but quite a few people donated quite a bit of kit.

Auto – Mechanical

  • Daihatsu HiJet 993cc Van – Thanks, Dave and James!!!
  • Bungee Cords, Roof Bars
  • Maps, Orientary Book, Compass – Thanks, Mom!!!
  • Hayne’s Manual for Daihatsu HiJet
  • Jacks and roll-on elevators
  • Lots of electrical and duct tape – Thanks Rouses!!!
  • A much better socket set than I have right now
  • Maybe a torch for welding (if you trust I won’t burn my face off)
  • Wire
  • Sand Bridge X 2
  • Spot lights
  • 15 to 20 Gal Petrol Jerry Cans (need to get these overseas)
  • Oil, Fuel Additives, Coolant, Brake and Steering Fluids if applicable, Spark Plugs, Fan Belts, Air Filter, Oil Filters, all the stuff we can’t bring on a plane

Camping, Touring and Etcetera

  • Tent – Got it!
  • Axe, Mattock, Machete, Shovel, Scary Knives – Got it!
  • Solar-heated shower bag – Got it!
  • A very small traveler guitar for chillin with the locals and/or battering robbers
  • A good camping cooker and some fuel – Thanks, Linda!!!
  • Small cigarette lighter powered cooler – thanks Dana and Khanh!
  • Small camping pots and pans
  • Multiple 2 or 5 Gal Collapsible Water Carriers (bags) – Thanks, Linda!!!
  • Freeze-dried food bags (about 10 – 20 ought to do it) – Thanks, Dad!!!
  • Water-proof tarps – Thanks, Dad!
  • Tactical Pilotage Charts (Maps) of The Stans, Russia, Mongolia
  • 4GB memory cards and/or lenses for the Nikon D70
  • All of Steven and Eli’s camera equipment, hahahaha…
  • A video camera, to borrow, not for keeps!
  • Extra tent poles
  • LED Lantern
  • Rope and twine
  • First Aid stuff like sunscreen, bug repellent, stomach meds, burn and cut meds
  • Advice from experienced long-haulers

What we really needed

  • The Daihatsu HiJet and its weird manual bought on CD-ROM from UK eBay
  • Car (“MACHINE”) papers
  • Visas
  • Calais ferry ticket
  • Turkmenistan ferry ticket
  • Turkmenistan guide
  • Maps, Wikipedia, compass
  • Spare tires and jack
  • Jerry cans
  • Oil and water and coolant and fix-a-flat
  • Rags
  • Utility knives
  • Rubber, rope, wire, tape, bailing twine, and the boards were really helpful
  • Basic tools, screwdriver
  • Flashlights and lamps
  • Cameras, polaroids
  • Clothes, blankets, pillows, and towels
  • Medicines, first aid, bug stuff, sunscreen,
  • Alarm clocks
  • Lucky charms
  • The Sierra Stove
  • Cellphone and WordPress website with the calling plugin
  • Gifts for all the people
  • Snickers and Fanta
  • Music would have been nice

What we didn’t end up needing

  • Serious tools
  • Replacement parts more exotic than air and oil filters
  • Tent
  • Sand bridge
  • Spot lights
  • Shower bag
  • Putties (nothing fixes a gas leak)