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We are pressing on well, have refilled all water cylinders, are fully stocked with Oil and Fuel and ready for whatever lies ahead. We head off with 4 cars, Martha, Hollie (Road Dwarf), Brother in laws in arm (2 lads from Jersey (who are great guy's and a lot of fun). and 2 American lads and a Puerta Rican (who sleeps more than more than a koala bear) - they also turn out to be top lads who I meet up with time and time again!

We head off n the Southern route - this is the harder route in terms of climbs, roads and distance but much better in terms of river crossings and the very serious threat on the more northern route of being stranded for several weeks between rivers in the North in the event of rain!!

Things are going well until we reach the first mountain pass. Martha is the first to object. According to the maps it is about 8500ft and Martha simply won't go. She just stalls. No more she says. I am really worried as we are 3rd and I can't see the Americans behind me anymore! The Jersey lads and Road Dwarf are ahead and still going!

After about 30 mins and a lot of trying from me we are no further forward and the others have returned (I assume to see what is up but it turns out it is because they cannot get over the pass higher up!). We have asked diretions so we know this is the right way but the guy's are adamant that it cannot be climbed.

We head back down and find out that there is an easier way up! So lifted by this we head for the easy way up the pass! Only to discover it is again too steep for Martha. Road Dwarf make it look easy though. We have to find a way up!

On a third attempt and with a good run up Martha coughing and splutting makes it over the pass (just) and not without a few very worrying moments but we still don't have the jersey lads. They just can't get enough fuel through to the engine. A quick modification which involves drawing the fuel from a Jerry on the roof instead of the tank and a push start from about 10 lads half way up the pass finally gets them moving again and sloshigh fuel all over the front of the car they make it to the top.

With crossing the border (6 hours) and the detor for the pass and all the numerous attempts we have only done about 90 miles today and are only about 40 miles further forward but it is an imense sense of achievement that we feel. I am concerns as there are 2 more severe passed to get over showing on the map and I am far from confident that Martha is up t them (I have reason to be concerned!) but that is another day and tonight we are just going to enjoy the fact that the first one is done!

Tomorrow it looks like more of the same on the maps very mountainous and there is little hope that the roads will improve! But for now we celebrate the first pass with a couple of drinks and set camp for the first time in Mongolia - it feels great - this is what we came for!!