Backtrack! Ilam 2021

Aug 31, 2022 | Asia, Featured

So this is not the first time in Iran, I was here the year prior, and did a bit more foot work since we didn’t have a car. So here is a little bit of our previous trip I thought fit in quite well. I guess we will start with my little adventure out to Zineh Gan cave. I...

Lazing Around Ilam

Aug 31, 2022 | Asia

So that’s how it done? Interesting. I have just spent the last 2 hours running around town trying to find fittings to fill up my LPG bottle and once I finally got a setup ready to go we drive past and see this:   Way to easy. Wish I knew prior. And boy do they...

Canyon Cruising

Aug 29, 2022 | Asia, Featured

Our end goal tonight is to arrive in Ilam and meet with some family, but of course the road zigs and zags, now the view is stunning so there are no complaints there, but some of the on coming traffic is driving shockingly dangerous even for my likes. It seems like if...

Back To The Bush

Aug 29, 2022 | Asia, Featured

With our time in the city coming to a close, we head back east towards Ilam, on route though we cut south slightly and head towards the town of Cham Chit, a small town that was surprisingly busy, although it is Eid. The crew wide awake We swap drivers now everyone...

They Only Stop Me…

Aug 29, 2022 | Asia, Featured

We leave town in the morning and do a small hunt for fuel, as per the normal to ensure we always have at least 1 full tank just in case we struggle to find fuel, The fuel line is long, but the guys are very friendly, 1 guy, a little to friendly, for the truckers that...

My Rice!

Aug 23, 2022 | Asia, Featured

Our pot of rice that is… spills all over the ground for our dinner… but more on that later. We have a freezing wake up, there is a slight wind and that is making the coffee a struggle to heat up as we are running very low on gas. During pack up our tent cover zipper...

Findin Fuel

Aug 22, 2022 | Asia, Featured

After arriving late at night in the dark we awake to a stunning view of mountains and the lake. There has been a light coating of snow while we slept as well, it seems to be following us with no signs of letting up, another issue being all the dogs from the previous...

Stewwww….

Jul 23, 2022 | Asia, Featured

Nothing beats a good stew on a cold day. And today was no exception. Waking up its not the hottest out, and the sun wont make an appearance for many many hours due to the parking location. So its coffee and go today. Pina completes our prestart and gives us the tick...

We Are In Iran!!!

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia, Featured

All eyes are on me as I roll past the heavy metal gate and into Iran, “Here we go, I whisper to myself” I get out of the car and the first guard approaches, He summons me to the back of the car and makes me open the rear door, I comply. He looks at the wall of stuff....

Down By The Border

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia, Featured

Now its getting good, wea re seeing road signs that say “Iran” finally. Asareh is over the moon excited. I can’t believe we are going to drive our own rig in. and as a bonus we do get some clear weather today. But first, breakfast. Our goal for today is to reach...

And More Snow?

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia

I was right, getting out of a warm bed to -5 is a struggle, no one wants to move, I now need to pack up a wet and frozen tent, my fingers are killing me but all with a smile on my face. Asareh is huddled as close as possible to the stove as it boils water, I assume to...

But Why The Snow?

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia

Grey skies all day today folks, and nothing will change for a while. But that okay, we enjoy our Turkish breakfast which was fantastic, and healthy. This allows us to normally run most of the day without having the need for a lunch. Which saves us driving time. Well,...

Here We Go Again

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia, Featured

This time with a CAT! Yes that is correct we have added a family member, Pina. Our Scottish fold. He has a nice little seat in the center of the car where he sleeps most of the time. Day 1 was a little exciting, as it was his first long long trip, he has been on many...

Home Time

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia

Second last day, leaving camp there is some angles on the track and I decide to get a feel for the wagon, 20 degrees feels very stable. Then its time to go check out some black sea cliffs, this is a great little side track through the fields next to the ocean....

Let’s Roll

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia

With Asareh loaded into an uber, I pack the rest of our stuff into the wagon and aim south, well sorta south, This blog will cover my 2 day drive as I head south towards Odessa. Starting with me leaving town I head towards Pereiaslav and then turn further south.  My...

Churches and Chillin

Jul 22, 2022 | Asia

Back in town, I will add they took our monitors away before we arrived… so maybe there is some residual levels we don’t need to know about? Either way we are back in town and ready for some museums! Well, more like a day in the park and we add museums to it. Our first...

Chernobyl Part 5 – Inside The Sarcophagus

Jul 21, 2022 | Asia, Featured

After we finished in the substation, it was time to head to control room 4, the room where it all happened. We continue walking down the golden mile through more full body scanners for radiation and move into rougher hallways, hallways that run along the original...

Chernobyl Part 4 – Outside The Sarcophagus

Jul 21, 2022 | Asia, Featured

Our second day seen most of our time spent in the actual powerplant itself. As I said before, it was in operation as a nuclear plant until 2001, but is still in use today, as pictures will show, for use as a sub-station. We started our tour with entering through side...

Chernobyl Part 3 – The Vehicles

Jul 20, 2022 | Asia, Featured

No our car didn’t make the cut… Although I would gladly go back if I could take it in again. During our trip we were not able to view the vehicle grave yard, as most has been cleaned up for scrap. But they did have a range of vehicle on display to see and of course...

Chernobyl Part 2 – Inside The City

Jul 20, 2022 | Asia, Featured

During our time here we spent a solid day almost exploring the city, well that is left of it, Founded in 1970 it was to be the poster child for soviet cities, it had averything, apartments, amusement parks, schools, the works. It was sectioned into micro districts...