WITH MONTHS of preparation and fundraising behind us, the Boghopper Express finally set off on its maiden leg of this momentous journey to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
We left Dublin on July 17th with the car loaded up, the suspension creaking under the weight of ourselves and our impressive amount of equipment.
Two days later, in London's Hyde Park, the official launch party kicked off, with inquisitive spectators moving from banger to banger making bets among themselves as to which teams would make it, and those that didn't have a hope in hell.
Fortunately for us, it was reckoned that our Golf was of "good stock" and our future arrival in Ulaanbaatar in eight weeks' time was pretty certain. They didn't know what was ahead, mind you.
Some of the many "interesting" vehicles taking part include an old London Routemaster bus, a Mini with a telephone box on its roof, and an ice cream van.
The pimped-up bangers spluttering through Piccadilly Circus did a lap around central London in convoy before our journey to Folkstone, and the awaiting Channel Tunnel.
However, the short journey became a rather more prolonged experience, as we were not only pushed over the start line due to our engine cutting out, but at a junction in Greenwich on the way to Folkstonethe driveshaft packed up with a worryingly loud thud.
With cool heads and a stroke of luck, we hunted down a local mechanic and called the AA for good measure, and within an hour we were back on the road minus fifth gear and reverse, but the cutting out problem was fixed.
Having missed our original booking on the train, we managed to secure a later one.
The drive from France, and on through Belgium and Germany had to be a speedy one and, fortunately for us, our beloved "Boggy" delivered without a single complaint and it was brilliant to spot fellow entrants en route.
The Adventurists - those organising the Mongol Rally - had given us a strict time limit in order to reach Klenova Castle in the Czech Republic by the evening of July 20th, where they had taken over the crumbling 15th century castle for a very bohemian party as a last farewell before each team left for their chosen routes.
After almost two days of hard driving we arrived at the castle at 11pm.
The party was in full swing, yet we still had to master our tent, which had never been erected before, and in the midst of this we were hit with a thunderous 30-minute downpour. We still made the party though.
The following morning, with little sleep and nursing sore heads, we left the castle, driving through the fields of Mongol Ralliers' tents and their cars, and headed towards Prague, only a short journey and a welcome respite after such a hectic two days. Now the real journey begins.
For more information, to track our progress and to watch our video diaries, please log on to theboghopperexpress.com.
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