The team members are all in Istanbul!

Brendan writes "In Turkey. Taxi driver is driving like it's still a race but the lads are already drinking beer at the hotel!"

Looking back... Day 3, 4, 5 from Manoj's journal

Day 3 started off a little later at the Meridien Hotel, Lattakia with a short drive through the beautifully green Kassab area of Syria. Then across the border, past Antakya, Adana, Tarsus and Ankara. We ran out of fuel & daylight & slept in the car. Minus 4 deg C with snow outside. 1100 km covered, highest point 1600m.

Ancient site of Ugarit, just north of Lattakia.

More of the site at Ugarit, where the oldest cunieform writing has been found.

Syrian / Turkish border.


The most delicious cake in the world - packed by Samantha. It lasted 3 days because Pete kept it hidden from Manoj. (Editor's note: thanks to Jack for sharing it at the Apache office and Susan for sharing the recipe!)



A lake in Kassab, Syria.

The night spent in the Landy. Someone was snoring.

Days 4 & 5: Pete & Manoj got to Istanbul a just few mintues before Brendan, completing 4000 km by road. After a few beers, and then some more beers we tried to find the Greek Orthodox shed next to the Aya Sofia to light candles for Jim, Marina & world peace. We did not find it, but got a good discount on some postcards - sorry Jim they'll have to do. Good luck Brendan & Pete for the rest of the trip!

Crossing the Bospherous from Asia to Europe. Pete was filming whilst driving. "Take it easy, Pete."

The hotel Acropol, where we stayed. 5 minutes walk from Aya Sofia & the Blue Mosque not to mention countless bars & eateries.

Brendan hits the sack early. He woke up in the bathroom as someone was snoring.

Pete & Manoj outside the Blue Mosque.

The Turks are huge fans of Giri - his name was everywhere. (Editor's note: Manoj's son's name is Giri.)

Entrance to Aya Sofia.

Aya Sofia - still can't find those candles. Maybe it has something to do with the place becoming a mosque a few centuries ago.

Bus tour of Istanbul - all 3 of us were frozen to the core.

Fishermen across the bride over the Golden Horn.

Crustaceans!

One of the old wooden houses of Istanbul.

Fish restaurant below the bridge where the guys were fishing. Welcome! Welcome! (Editor's note: Pick the newbie...)

Pete contemplating the miles ahead.

2.25pm

The boys are cruising through Turkey - Adana, Capadocia, Ankara, Istanbul over two days.

Brendan flies out tomorrow morning to meet them in Istanbul. All packed and ready to roll.

They made it to Turkey!

At 1.31pm today, the team got themselves to Turkey.

9am

Pete writes "Just having what could loosely be described as swine slop complete with swine bits as breakfast at our minus 5 star hotel. We do have a Med view however and there is a reef break. Shower pressure was good."

6am

Pete writes "In Latakia on the Med (Syria close to border with Turkey)."

Manoj says "Price of fuel is increasing as we travel towards Europe - should have bought a tanker trailer of diesel in Saudi!"

From Manoj's Journal

Manoj is safely back in Doha, and shares some of his photographic diary...

Day one of getting the Land Rover Discovery from Doha to Budapest.

Sir Peter Theisinger & Sir Manoj Fiennes took off at 03:55 on 6/01/09 with the objective of meeting up with Sir Brendan Shakleton in Istanbul, 4000 km by road in Istanbul on 9/01/09.

Pete in Green Village compound at 03:30, fully loaded.

Cockpit of the Discovery with no less than 3 different GPS devices.

KSA, Hufhuf

Small town past Hufhuf, where we saw one of the best desert camping shops. Everything you could want and cheap as chips.

Crossing a railway line.

Cooking Pete's egg sandwich.

Pete washing down the sandwich with some tea. Filling up the car was sweet - 40 litres of diesel came to 8 Saudi Riyals or 1.60 GB Pounds.

Saudi is not all desert. There were loads of oases and some freshwater lakes as it rained recently.

Hotel in Turayf, KSA. Outside temperature: -2 Celsius. Price for a twin room for 2 persons 200 Saudi Riyals, which is about 40 GB Pounds.

One of the desert pools of freshwater.

Looking back... Day 2 from Manoj's journal

Day two began at 5:30 am in Turayf, KSA. Then across the border to Jordan, past Amman to the Dead Sea for a dip, back past Aman to Syria near Daraa. Then a drive through Damascus via Homs to Lattakia close to the Turkish border. Total 800 km by road up to 1500 m elevation near Homs.

GPS showing an elevation of minus 345 m as we descend towards the Dead Sea coast.

Dead Sea coast. Just managed to get rid of one of the guys out of the Chemical Brothers music video by giving him a slice of the Bloke's Cake. Much to Manoj's dismay.


Pete in the middle of the Dead Sea - he tried to swim to the other side - but was put off by the guns.

Marriott Hotel, Dead Sea - salmon & cream cheese bagels with tomato pastries washed down with some ice cold orange juice (know what I mean Taz).

The morning after. We didn't manage to take any photos of the drive between Damascus & Homs, which was done in the dark, through a thunderstorm with psychotic Syrian drivers trying to trail us like heat seeking missiles.

Pete applying some TLC to the Landy. We lost some oil in the 2600 km covered so far.

7.56pm

Pete writes "We are currently at 1450m and climbing."

7.38pm

Pete writes "Damascus: a shit hole of mammoth proportions."

5.55pm

Pete writes "We have just gone through Syria border. En route to Latakia 4.5 hours from now. I did swim properly in Dead Sea. I was the only one doing this. All systems green."

1.47pm

Pete writes "Just swam in the Dead Sea Jordan."

9.03am

Pete writes "Just got through Jordan border. Off to Dead Sea. Minus 2 degrees. Cake holding out."

8.18am

Pete writes "We are in Jordan. Minus 2 outside."

9pm

Pete writes "Just passed ARAR. Only 232 km left. Good night."

12:55pm

Pete writes, "Just driving past Kuwait. 993km to Turaye where we will spend the night."

Just In

Pete writes: "Having tea just past hufhuf. 6 degrees. All is well very smooth at border."

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1... blast off!

The final necessary paperwork came through at 10am today and now, laden with fresh homebaked goods, the adventure is about to begin. Tomorrow morning at 3.30am, Pete and Manoj (co-driver as far as Istanbul) will set out from Doha. Let the games commence.

The Final Countdown

With only 3 days before the boys leave Doha the final preparations to the vehicle are underway. After checking the weather report for Eastern Europe it was decided that a more potent anti-freeze in the radiator - it may be a tad colder in Budapest then it is in Doha!

Petit Cadeau

Brendan's daughter Isabelle and her best friend Ruby prepare some petit cadeau for the children Peter and Brendan will meet in Africa.

Shopping for all the gifts.

Sorting out crayons, colouring books, notepads, stickers, marbles, badges, rulers, small toys, etc.

Wow! We made 100 gift bags for boys and girls. Can't wait to see photos of some happy kids!