A pair of adventurous part-time airmen have told of their delight at completing a journey through some of the world’s most difficult terrain.
Mike Muir and Colin Murray have returned home after taking on an epic 9000 miles through 14 countries in the infamous Mongol Rally.
The pair, who serve with 2622(Highland) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, took on the challenge in their Daewoo Kalos as a tribute to the wife of a colleague at the base who was seriously injured in a road accident last year.
Nikki Thornely, wife of Phil Thornley who also serves with the reserve squadron, was left paralysed from the neck down and continues to receive treatment at the spinal unit in Glasgow General Hospital.
The Mongol Rally is one of the toughest events imaginable. Setting out from London at the end of July, Mike and Colin faced a series of challenges as they drove through Europe to Mongolia – over terrain described as a ‘car killer’ by previous participants.
[box type=”info”] The pair have already raised more than £1100 for Spinal Injuries Scotland from their epic journey – anyone who wishes to add to that total can do so via https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/mikeandminty [/box] Mike said: “It was a fantastic experience and we had a great time, despite it being very tiring with quite a few stressful moments.
“The road varied from very good to very, very bad – or in some places, no road at all. We had a run-in with some very dodgy cops just outside Shymkent who stung us for $50 – but everywhere else was fine.
“Crossing the border at Uzbek was something of a nightmare that involved a 12-hour wait – and trying to get petrol there was an absolute nightmare.
“All the other border crossings were fairly straightforward though – and best of all we had no issues with the car at all, even through Mongolia which has a reputation as a car killer.”
Mike cited Mongolia and the Altai region of Siberia as the high points of their 9147 mile, 26 day journey, adding: “Driving in Mongolia we kept to convoy groups of five cars and all of them had problems – bar our trusty Daewoo Kalos that simply sailed through the entire experience.”
Video – official Mongol Rally video from last year…..