What a couple of weeks it’s been!  We were all worried as the time for sign ups approached, mainly because we were anxious about getting a place at all, such has been the interest in the rally this year.  Our realisation that things were getting ‘real’ was a big factor, and as such we’ve made a few changes.  The website, as you can see, has been redesigned to include our fab new logo from the guys over at Error Studios.  There’s been some discussion from our better halves about the length of time we were planning to be away, so we’ve also changed our route significantly to reduce the amount of time we’re away.  We’re a bit disappointed we’ll not now be going to Iran or along the Silk Road in Central Asia, but we’re pleased to be visiting Ukraine now, as well as more time in Russia.  Plus, we’re still going to have plenty of time to screw things up and get stuck in the sand in Kazakhstan and Mongolia!

So, September 1st came with various members of Mongolia 5 poised over their keyboards to complete sign up.  In the end though, the rush for places took place over the whole day rather than straight from the get go and we secured our place, paid our hard-earned cash and got a place on the Rally.  Cue many phone calls, a lot of whooping and a dawning sense of the hard work starting now.

We need a vehicle and we need help from sponsoring organisations towards the cost of the rally, but more importantly than all that we need your help to achieve our goal of raising £20,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  We’ll do it, no problem, of that we have no doubt at all.  It’s going to be a journey in more ways than one, so stick around.

Mongolia Five are doing the Mongol Rally 2011.  Game on.

Not that we’re particularly jealous, you understand, but watching all the 2010 teams setting off today from The Festival Of Slow there was definitely a feeling of wishing we were there and on our way too!  It’s certainly going to be an interesting rally.  The political situation in Kyrgyzstan will certainly have meant a change to a number “South Routers” plans as they look to avoid the ethnic tensions and refugee crisis in the area along the southern border with Uzbekistan, and this years extremely harsh winter hit Mongolian herdsman and their livestock very hard.  What all this means is that the 2010 ralliers will be visiting some places in real need.

So, we wish all the teams taking part in this years rally the very best of luck.  Stay safe, enjoy the ride.  We’ll see you next year