An epic journey driving across Russia and China in a 64-year-old sportscar was always going to be an adventure, and Mark and Sheila Masters of Stratford are having plenty of that.
Since setting out in early June, the Stratford couple have driven from England, across Europe and through Russia to Mongolia in their 1947 two-seater MG TC.
They will travel across to Ulaan Baatar, down through China and on down through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. They are travelling with a British couple, also in an MG TC.
Their planned June 1 start was delayed by almost a week because of engine problems.
The couple travelled to England in May and the car was sent by sea. While visiting friends in Devon before the expedition began, Sheila slipped and broke her arm. It is now well on the way to being healed.
They are currently driving through Mongolia. We caught up with them via email:
``Here is a photo of Sheila reading the Stratford Press near Kosh-Agach which is in a beautiful part of Southern Russia just north of the Mongolian border that we crossed
the next day. This area and St Petersburg together with the friendliness of the people would have to be the high points.
All of the terrain during our three-week drive across Russia was almost dead flat and rather bland until we reached this beautiful area that is very similar to the Canadian Rockies. Very rough roads at times in Russia and absolutely shocking Russian drivers would have to be the low points. There is a lot of new road construction and other building projects underway, but Russia has a long way to go with its infrastructure and a lot of poverty with absolutely shocking housing conditions in some of the outlying villages.
We are now in Mongolia having just driven over a `hill' of 8350 ft where there is vegetation. We are travelling well and the car is performing well also but we have some challenging roads ahead of us so we will just take our time and take it easy. The village we are staying at tonight has many fellow overland travellers and back packers all experiencing this intriguing part of the world.
The Russian people have to be some of the most friendly and helpful individuals that we have experienced in any part of the world that we have travelled and I am sure that the Mongolians will be just as welcoming.''
Rough with smooth in Russia
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