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So we set of and things are looking pretty good - we even get a few 100meters of tarmac at one point which was really nice. Then we are off on the long hard road to Khovd and what a road it runs out to be - its beautiful but dreadful - at times there are 30 tracks running in various directions but all effectively heading the same way and ultimatley going to the same place. You pick the one that looks the best and hope it will be OK!

We know that we have 2 more big passes and the hope is that we will get them both done today - its only about 150 miles but that is a huge distance with a top speed of 35 miles per hour and an average nearer 12! The scenary is stunning but I can hardly get a look at it as I am on my own and every ounce of concentration has to go into the road immediatley ahead of me. There are 3 of us in convoy - brother in laws in arm (the jersey lads), me and Martha and our ever loyal friends Road Dwarf.

The road is taking its toll but Martha is running good for once and I am hopeful although she is still losing power uphills - the passes could be a problem. We stop for a breather half way up a hill and to compare notes on how bad the roads are and then set off again - the Jersey lads don't get moving and correctly diagnose that the worn clutch bearing they have been suffering has finally gone. It is decided that we can get them going again if we all push them (including their co driver) and then they slam it into gear. This is really hard work in the heat and uphill but we get them going and they are not planning on stopping - our last sight is of their co pilot grabing the side of the moving car and sliding through the open window dukes of hazard style - so again and its just us and road dwarf.

Things are going OK as we approach the second big pass I put my foot down and get up to 35mph on the best bit of road we have seen in Mongolia - its still dust but its not bad anyway this back fires as I dont see a track coming in from the left with 4 huge ruts - having no breaks I cannot stop and hit them at about 30mph. My only thought is to keep the car upright and hope that I come out the other side - I have to say it the most frightening moment so far - we bounce through with some terrible noises and huge impacts but come out the otherside still running. I stop and check things over and its not good - the sump has survived but is dented inwards on the bottom - I am relieved until I notice that the reason the sump has survived is cos I have sheared all the engine mounts - closer inspection shows that the gearbox mounts are also gone. This is not good but I have no choice but to keep going.

Half way up the pass true to form Martha objects, loses power and stalls! I'm in the zone and determained to get up this pass. There has to be a way and she aint gonna do it under her own steam. Soon enough a German 4x4 tour shows up and kindly stops (I am stood in the middle of the road and they are my ticket up this pass ;D). Although they don't seem initially keen the guy's from Kangaroo tours turn out to be fantastic they toe Martha all the way to the top of the path - filming the whole thing - they even get us across what by all accounts a pretty nasty river crossing - I was on the end of a 4' rope so knew very little about it till it came in the window (and of course the gearstick as well). At the top of the pass the Germans set me on my own again and I have a look at the car. The engine has dropped a bit and this has pushed the clutch linkage out of position so I have no clutch again. 40 mins in the blistering heat and the clutch asembly is removed and the clutch is linked direct to the peddle. This in effect means that the clutch works but has VERY sharp bite point (in lay mans terms you scream the revs and dump the clutch and lurch away but its fine - it could be worse i.e. no clutch again). We are still in the game!