“We’re heading for the Oasis” they said.
These people we met on the road who spoke something of our language, and were travelling overland, by whatever means, all said the same. Initially, we imagined a place with green palm trees and pools of refreshing clean water. But quickly we discovered they referred to the Oasis Cafe and Guest House in the eastern suburbs of Ulaanbaatar. Not quite such a romantic image, nor, you may imagine, a destination so vital.
But in the same way that moths are attracted to bright lights, and magnets drawn irresistibly to steel, people who travel overland are drawn here, as if by some invisible and powerful force.
- Four Romanian motorcyclists in the middle of driving 12,000 miles through Russia to raise money for children’s charities.
- Two young couples attempting to beat the world record for the longest distance ever travelled by quad bike – they’ll succeed if they get as far as Moscow. I have no doubt they’ll make it.
- A small team of Austrians driving a Nissan hatchback converted to electrical propulsion right around the world.
- Lee the plumber, a hulk of a man from Birmingham, with his wife Helen and eleven year old home tutored daughter Beverley, stopping off for essential repairs to their 1992 Defender – they are driving from France to Australia via China and the Indonesian islands, on their way to a new life in a country they’ve never visited, where they know no-one, and for which they have no visa – ‘yet’ says Lee.
- Gerald, a lone 45 year old motorcyclist, nursing a 1996 Kawasaki trial bike all the way from England to the Russian far east. And from there? – ‘who knows?’ he says.
- Ann and Joe, both in their twenties and from Belgium, on their way around the world in an ageing Nissan Patrol.
Like a golden thread running through fine cloth, there is something that runs through the character of those we have met here. Here we have met people who believe that the impossible can be made possible. Here we have found people who, often against the odds, are wresting life out of life.
And perhaps there is something in the notion that an invisible and powerful force draws them here.
Do you ever feel that force?
Do you hear it calling?
What will you do?
Hi guys – just wanted to say thanks for the blogs. Haven’t quite put the order in yet for the Toyota Landcruiser but am getting increasingly tempted.
Dave
NO NO NO NO NO – didn’t you read the one about us jump starting a tractor – only a Landy owner would be willing to try that one (especially while sporting a dodgy water pump) – let alone tow the tractor and his ger laden cart!! OK, I realise you were only joking but the other thing we’ve learned is that Toyota have different models for different parts of the world so even though the model appears all over the world the parts aren’t universal – LR might be decried for having only one model but at least all the parts will fit!!