Back in 2016, I drove a Nissan Micra A little Nissan Micra at the start of the Mongol Rally. from England to Mongolia Rolling into Mongolia after 13,000 miles on the road. – 13,000 miles, 19 countries, and a lifetime’s worth of chaos in two months.

We threaded our way across Europe Threading our way across Europe, one border at a time. , partied on the Black Sea Late nights along the Black Sea before heading east. , and rolled into Turkey Crossing into Turkey right in the middle of a coup. with flares in the sky and flags everywhere.

In Shiraz, Iran Heat haze rising off the streets in Shiraz, Iran. we felt the heat, then crossed into the holy city of Mashhad Evening light over the streets of Mashhad. . We stayed at the presidential hotel in Turkmenistan Turkmenistan’s marble skyline from the hotel. and visited the Doorway to Hell The Doorway to Hell crater glowing through the night. . We rescued puppies in Tajikistan Dusty roads and high passes in Tajikistan. and camped on a football pitch in Kyrgyzstan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan as our backdrop for the night. .

In Kazakhstan Wrenching on the car in Kazakhstan to fix the rear axle. we dropped the rear axle of a Ford Focus at the roadside to fix the bushes. Later in Mongolia Mongolian traffic, including the fire engine that hit us. a fire engine rear-ended us and we ended up detained at the station. CCTV proved it wasn’t our fault, and thanks to a contact at the British Embassy A quick call to the British Embassy that turned things around. we walked out the next morning.

We crossed the finish line in Ulan-Ude, Russia Finish line energy in Ulan-Ude, Russia. without a single breakdown and celebrated on the Trans-Siberian Express Toasting the win on the Trans-Siberian Express back to Moscow. . That trip turned travel from a passion into a profession.