The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Trip of a lifetime for intrepid friends
Fantastic memories for trio who took part in Mongol Rally
Being stuck on a boat for two days with no food and water might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but three friends from Courier Country took it in their stride when they participated in one of the world’s great adventure challenges.
Alan Mann and Euan Simpson, both 27, who have been friends since they went to Broughty Ferry’s Grove Academy together, were joined by Scott Lauder, 36, who is originally from Perth but who now lives in Dundee, on this year’s Mongol Rally.
To add to the discomfort there was only one working toilet on the boat for 500 people, but still the trio look back on the trip with fondness.
Over the course of four weeks this summer in a 2002 Nissan Micra, the three men travelled 12,000 miles through more than 20 countries.
The team – otherwise known as The TayKhans – even “accidentally” managed to come fifth out of 350 teams, raising £3,600 for Maggie’s Centre.
“It was fantastic – the experience of a lifetime,” said Alan. “It was unmatched by anything else I have done.”
Their friendship has survived the hardships though their car needed a bit of attention with a few punctures and some welding required along the way.
“It went really, really well with no real hiccups,” said Alan.
Their high-speed journey was necessary due to a need to finish in good time due to work commitments and they often drove through the night to make good time.
Borders were the worst part of the trip with it taking three-and-a-half days (including the two on a boat) to get into Turkmenistan.
The annoyance of the bureaucracy when crossing borders was offset by the many acts of kindness they were shown by local people as they made their way through Europe and beyond, to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, and then on to the official finish line in Ulan-ude, Russia.
“People bent over backwards to help us which was a heartwarming experience,” said Alan, a heating engineer.