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As regular listeners will know we set out yesterday morning with the noble aim of having a wash and reaching the 50th. We drove for a while along a road which in due course turned out to be entirely the wrong road. It was actually a Kazakh motorway, although without any road signs, lanes or even much of a road surface.

We adjusted our course and found a delightful river for lunch and a wash.

Refreshed and not stinking quite as much we headed back in search of a track. Ten minutes in I had managed to get Roxanne stuck up to the axles in the most minging mud we’ve seen. At least since we last got stuck.

Plenty of digging ensued and before long we were once again mucky and sweaty. Eventually after about three hours and a bit of assistance from our terrific winch we got out and headed on to another sandy beach for the night

- disappointingly only 30 miles on from our previous nights camp!

Today we once again we set out with the noble aim of having a wash and reaching the 50th. Within 15 metres of camp we had managed to get stuck once again. More digging and numerous attempts later we eventually got free, again taking about three hours. It can be demoralising to be able to still see your camp when you left it so long ago, especially when you’re being eaten alive by giant mosquitoes and assorted other winged beasties.

However we did get free and pushed on to towards our line – covering 200 miles on dirt tracks. We stocked up on diesel and provisions in the beautiful town of Torghay, the arrival of our Landy causing much commotion in town. Everyone wanted their picture taken with it – we printed out copies of the photos for them and they gave us vodka in return, seems like a fair deal to me.

We’ve now hit the 50th and are hoping to offroad along it most of the way to Astana. The terrain is incredible flat and featureless but there’s some salt flats and rivers to be negotiated ahead. Stay tuned.

- Spike

Playing on the iPod: “Gone to November” by Wyclef Jean

P.S. We’ve each chosen teams to support in the European Championship. I’ve got Holland, Germany and Sweden. Dave has Czech Rep, Croatia and France and Pete has Switzerland, Italy and Portugal. Any updates of scores sent to the sat. phone much appreciated.

P.P.S Keep the cricket score coming, as much info as possible. Many thanks to Iain and Ed for their messages so far.